Winetology

02/01/2021

18/11/2020

Philip 2013 - Cabernet Sauvignon

“Deep, dark purple color. The nose offers intriguing black cherry, balsamic herbs, coffee and lightly toasted oak. On the palate, this w**e shows harmonious flavors of dark fruit, dried flowers, chocolate and vanilla. An exotic, full-bodied w**e with complex character and polished tannins.”

Barolo 2014

“The color of the w**e is ruby red with garnet reflections. The perfume is clean and intense, with hints of vanilla, spices, dried rose and undergrowth. The taste is dry, soft, full, velvety, harmonious, long, and persistent.

Ideal for dishes with red meat and also cheeses.”

Clos Pissarra - El Ramón

“El Ramon (meaning the one known as Ramon in Catalan) refers to Ramon Marco, our vineyard manager, whose passion and commitment to his work is what helps us produce the quality of w**es we strive for. This bottling is made up of three vineyards all within the town of Bellmunt del Priorat. The w**e is made of about 50% Grenache, 20% Carignan, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Syrah. Yields on these very steep hillsides, were the only thing you see on the ground is slate (locally referred to as licorella) are typically less than 1 ton to the acre!”

10/11/2020

DISCIPLES 2016

“Balanced and inviting, the w**e opens with a concentrated nose of ripe strawberries, red plum, allspice, vanilla and a touch of black licorice and cigar box. A smooth and enveloping entry of dark red fruits and creme anglaise leasds to a fresh and bright mid-palate. The soft and integrated tannins finish at length with a pleasing texture of bakers chocolate.”

Production:

156 barrels

Blend Composition:

76% Zinfandel, 13% Charbono, 6% Grenache, 5% Petite Sirah

Winemaker: Kevin A. Fox

The Crane Assembly

https://www.thecraneassembly.com

09/11/2020

MACHETE 2016

“A gothic mauve with a vivid neon rim, the w**e appears almost black in the glass. Notes of wet stone, black plum and crushed gravel reverberate from within. Bold upfront, the palate is all-enveloping with mixed berry crepe, black licorice and a touch of char. Layered and omnipotent in weight, the w**e finishes with ripe Petite Sirah tannins, providing a pleasant closing texture.”

Orin Swift Cellars

TEETER-TOTTER 2016

“The magic of Teeter-Totter is captivating. It is as thrilling and as memorable as cannon-balling into a swimming pool as a rambunctious child. The variations from vintage to vintage are what keep it interesting and endlessly enchanting for all of us! Sometimes great w**e doesn’t have to take itself so seriously. That’s the charm of Benoit Touquette’s masterpiece. Teeter-Totter is exactly the type of w**e that we all whole-heartedly adore, it doesn’t have to try too hard, it needs no explanation and it’s ready to drink now. Its effortless grace and balance shines from the moment you pop the cork until the very last drop!”

“Benoit, the mastermind w**emaker who has been awarded eight 100-point scores from Robert Parker for the w**es he has produced for Realm, in addition to others we cherish and champion with pride: Jack Quinn, Kata and Fait-Main. He was Andy Erickson's right hand man at Screaming Eagle back in the day and also the protégé of the world's top consulting w**emaker Michel Rolland. Let’s be crystal clear, he is a ‘Cabernet Genius’ and Teeter-Totter is no exception! We sing the praises of this w**e all year long, and when the new vintage comes around, it is our joy to shout its arrival from the rooftops announcing it to Benoit's fans. Teeter Totter is a creamy, juicy and 100% drool-worthy w**e. Red fruit and bright blueberry notes at first glance that evolve into darker tones of spices, chocolate and black fruit. The palate is as soft as velvet and as refreshing as it gets – the perfect red for right this second.”

“Each year Benoit’s blend varies in his "effort to capture all the incredible diversity that Napa Valley has to offer with different varietals, terroir, elevation, and exposure.” The fruit, however, is always sourced from multiple premium vineyards that Benoit works with regularly in Calistoga, Rutherford, Yountville and Saint Helena when crafting his Cabernet knockouts for Jack Quinn, Realm, Kata and Fait-Main. This year’s blend is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (St. Helena, Rutherford, Yountville), 5% Charbono (Calistoga), 5% Zinfandel (Calistoga), and 5% Petit Sirah (Calistoga). Once again, a most brilliant and cohesive equation! Aged in 65% new French oak, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is powerful, well balanced and boasting with fresh aromatics. Pops of blackberry, raspberry and vanilla first grabs your attention then invites you into a bouquet of thyme, French lavender and violets.”

https://teeter-totter.com

07/11/2020

Bodegas Carmelo Rodero

Carmelo Rodero Reserva 2015

“Tinta del País (Tempranillo) 90% Cabernet Sauvignon 10%

From our own vineyards with vines over 30 years old.

This is a great w**e, superbly balanced yet suggestive. Intense bigarreau cherry red color with subtle purple highlights, bright russet and amber rims displaying its aging.

Delightfully subtle on the nose, with ripe fruit notes perfectly blended with the wood aging, leading us to special aromas (vanilla, cinnamon) and the stimulating scent of roasted coffee or toasted bread.”

“Very meaty on the tongue, with a lingering finish and fully balanced acidity. The harmony of the soft, mature tannins fill your palate with enjoyable textures.”

Serve at 16-18 ºC

Bodegas Emilio Moro

Malleolus 2011

“Very deep, intense cherry red in colour, this Malleolus presents a concentration typical of the 2017 vintage, a result of the low yield mentioned above. It has a dense, ripe aroma, with good intensity and a great personality. The balance between ripeness and freshness is excellent, and its months of ageing in 500-litre barrels has granted it´s great complexity. It is powerful and structured in the mouth, with good balance and a long, persistent passage.”

“This w**e is elaborated with grapes of the variety Tinto Fino 100%, and has macerated with it’s owns skins for 18 days. Following malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats, it is aged in French oak barrels”