2005 Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Becs Fins

2005 Tardieu-Laurent Côtes du Rhône Villages Les Becs Fins
France, Rhone, Southern Rhone, Cotes du Rhone Villages

Wine Rating:  90

Uncorked: 2008.01.08 – CTS DMin NYC Wine Ministry

This bottle was a pleasant surprise! Fresh cherry and tart raspberry in the nose along with plenty of cedar and earthiness. Subtle oakiness. In the mouth it is what a Cote du Rhone ought to be… a nice balance of dark, ripe fruit followed by spice, oak, and rich earthiness. Beautifully round tannins make for a long, balanced finish. This is an excellent wine at a bargain price.

Excellent value.

$14.99  Winfield-Flynn Wines NYC

2005 Bodega Renacer Malbec Punto Final Reserva

2005 Bodega Renacer Malbec Punto Final Reserva
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, La Consulta

Wine Rating:  92

Uncorked: 2008.01.15 - CTS DMin NYC Wine Ministry

A subtle and sophisticated improvement over its non-reserva sibling. This wine is seductive in every way. The color is gem-like with inky depth. Generous in the nose with dark cherry, blackberry, chocolate, a hint of smokiness, and pepper. This bad boy was wrapped tight in the mouth — definitely would benefit from bottle aging and/or decanting. It was an explosion of flavors — dark currant, black cherry, ripe plum, and dark jammy strawberries. The fruit flavors continue as the wine washes over the mouth with velvety cedar and rich tobacco. The enduring finish of earthy, chewy, tannic flavors completes this excellent wine’s seduction. Definitely recommend this mouthful of flavor!

$17.99  Sussex Wines, NYC

2006 Bodega Renacer Malbec Punto Final

2006 Bodega Renacer Malbec Punto Final
Argentina, Mendoza

Wine Rating:  91

Uncorked: 2008.01.15 - CTS DMin NYC Wine Ministry

Malbec is a grape that was traditionally used in Bordeaux blends in France, but has come to its own fame as Argentina’s most important varietal.  It’s a fairly “big” wine that stands up well to a variety of foods.  It has become one of my favorite wines to serve with anything from grilled steaks to burgers and even tacos.

This is a mouthful of wine, slightly more rustic and playful than its Reserva sibling.  Beautiful dark garnet color.  Dark cherry, blackberry, mocha, and toasted oak in the nose.  Multiple layers of concentrated flavors in the mouth.  Big, jammy fruit in the front (cherry, plum with the skin on) followed by spice, mocha, and leather in the mid-palate.  The finish was round and flavorful with a slight tannic punch.  A luscious experience in the mouth.  This is an outstanding value.

$10.79  Sussex Wines, NYC

2006 La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti Bricco Quaglia

 

2006 La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti Bricco Quagloa
Italy, Piedmont, Asti

Wine Rating:  91

Uncorked: 2008.01.10 – CTS DMin NYC Wine Ministry

Group consensus:  This is a party for your mouth!

Moscato d’Asti is a sparkling wine made from the Moscato Bianco grape in Italy’s Piedmont region.  It is fruity and semi-sweet with pleasant effervescence.

This Moscato d’Asti is a pale yellow with medium bubbles.  White peaches, honey, and wildflowers in the nose.  Smooth and light in the mouth with crisp white peach and pear flavors, hints of lemon, and a bit of minerality.  Surprisingly well balanced for a semi-sweet wine.

Tasters loved the addition of a fresh strawberry slice to their glass!

$19.99  Winnfield-Flynn Wines, NYC

Wine Ministry NYC

Good friends, good fellowship, and plenty of good wine!  Two weeks in New York City for a doctoral seminar afforded plenty of opportunities to experience Wine Ministry and expand our palates.  We had some great ones and a couple of lousy ones, and even found a couple that Nancy liked!  Plenty of “big reds” to satisfy the stronger mouths, and several more accessible reds for everyone to enjoy.  And a couple of “party for your mouth” wines just to make us smile.

There are lots of wines to review, so I’ll start with the wines that garnered the most enthusiastic reactions from the group that gathered in 17-G…