Flourish Wines
Suavia
Soave Classico Garganega 2020
The 2020 Soave Classico is remarkably pretty, perfumed and refined, with crushed apple and chamomile complemented by dusty florals. It finds a balanced middle ground between succulent ripe fruits and zesty acids, as its silken textures soothe the palate. A flourish of salty minerals and sweet florals seals the deal, as the 2020 tapers off long yet fresh. This is a lovely entry-level Soave. Well done. (Eric Guido, Vinous, April 2022)
— 3 years ago
Château de Beaucastel
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc White Rhone Blend 2019
Domaine de Terrebrune
Bandol Mourvedre Blend Rosé 2020
Limpid orange. Mineral-accented blood orange, strawberry, floral and succulent herb scents show fine definition and pick up a spicy nuance with air. Chewy and densely packed yet energetic and sharply focused on the palate, offering vibrant red berry, bitter cherry, citrus pith and honeysuckle flavors and a deeper peach pit flourish. The mineral and floral notes return on the very long, precise finish. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, June 2021)
— 4 years ago
Fanti
Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese 2004
Meat sauce night part II. Always even more complex after it refrigerates overnight.
The nose expresses, ruby, lush, floral fruits of; blackberries, both black & regular plums, dark cherries, black raspberries with strawberries & creamy raspberries along the edge of the glass. Still a good presence of toasted barrel, anise to black licorice, vanilla, dark spice, nutmeg & clove, sweet tarriness, French expresso roast, mixed berry cola, used leather, dry & fresh tobacco leafs, sandstone & limestone, black pepper, herbaceousness-sage dominate, graphite, shades of menthol & mint, underbrush, dry clay, dry crushed rocks, stones, rich, turned, dark earth with bright, fresh & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple framed in violets & a field of lavender.
The body is round, juicy, clean & full. Wire to wire beautiful on the palate. The tension, structure, length and balance have hit second gear but, still needs more time in the bottle to flourish. This is bottling that will long haul to 30 years plus with proper storage. I will be saving at least one bottle to that age. The tannins are still sizable & meaty. Ruby, ripe, lush, candied/floral fruits of; dark currants, blackberries, both black & regular plums, slight sour/tart dark cherries, black raspberries with strawberries & creamy raspberries. Still a good presence of toasted barrel/shavings, anise to black licorice, dark spice with heat, sweet tarriness, French expresso roast, bright mixed berry cola/licorice, caramel, dark chocolate, nutmeg, clove, vanillin, used leather, dry & fresh tobacco leafs, sandstone & limestone, black pepper, herbaceousness-sage dominate, graphite, shades of menthol & mint, underbrush, dry clay, dry crushed rocks, stones, rich, turned, dark earth dry top soil with bright, fresh & candied florals that are; dark, red, purple framed in violets & field of lavender. The acidity is a cool stream & light on its feet. The finish is well balanced, elegant, nicely kittened that goes from ripe & juicy into dry tannins, earth & spice persisting endlessly.
The only faults that stick out to me is the ABV (a little hot) & believe they could dial back the amount of new oak & barrel toasting level. These do calm some with more time in the decanter but, not enough. — 5 years ago
Raventos i Blanc
de Nit Rosé Cava Blend 2016
This energetic pink bubbly from one of Spain’s iconic producers displays intense red berry, blood orange and floral character with a mineral flourish. Chewy and tightly focused, the 2016 shows a refreshingly bitter edge on a dry, persistent finish that emphatically repeats the floral theme. $25.00 (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, October 2018) — 7 years ago
Fattoria Le Terrazze
Rosso Conero Montepulciano 2019
The 2019 Rosso Conero, 100% Montepulciano, mixes succulent red fruits with cracked stone mineral tones and spiced citrus. It’s soft in texture yet high in energy, impressive for its shear drinkability. A salty flourish combines with tart berries throughout. $22.00 (Eric Guido, Vinous, September 2022) — 3 years ago
Pieropan
Soave Classico Garganega 2020
The 2020 Soave Classico wafts up with enticing notes of kiwi and sour melon contrasted by savory herbs. It’s deeply textural and round in feel, with a tart interplay of lemon and lime that’s nicely offset by a pleasant inner sweetness. There’s wonderful harmony here, as the 2020 tapers off with green botanicals and a flourish of minerality. This “entry-level” Soave Classico from Pieropan punches well above its price point. Since Pieropan makes three different bottlings, one from each tank, of their Soave, I thought it prudent to add the lot number for reference. (Lot# 26.10.21) (Eric Guido, Vinous, April 2022)
— 3 years ago
Wm. Harrison Vineyards & Winery (William Harrison)
Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2016
William Harrison cabernet franc 2016. Their best cab by far!!!!! I am so happy to have discovered this small family winery. The bouquet is lovely with aromas of dark berry pie. The initial palate brings an immediate flourish of blackberry jam and rhubarb. This is followed by a rush of leather, mineral soil, moss, and oak. The finish then comes dragging in with a beautiful chocolate and spicy finish. This will be perfect with a nice square of Dove dark chocolate. Hang on… Oh yes!!!!! A perfect compliment. It takes a little finesse to make a very good cab Franc and this Family has done an incredible job of it. Im ordering 6 more bottles right now! — 4 years ago
Cortijo Los Aguilares
Tadeo Serranía de Ronda Petit Verdot 2017
A minor ingredient in Bordeaux blends, Petit Verdot is one of those grape varieties that enjoy greater popularity away from home. Notoriously late-ripening, grapes can have difficulties undergoing veraison in Bordeaux, especially in cold years, remaining unusable green berries (hence its name, “little green”). While Petit Verdot often fails to ripen in Bordeaux, it seems to flourish in warmer regions, such as some parts of Australia, California and Spain, where its long-cycle offers winemakers a hedge against global warming. With over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, the region of Ronda in southern Spain has turned out to be an ideal location for Petit Verdot - which even here, doesn’t get picked until late October or early November.
Cortijo Los Aguilares’ Tadeo is one of Ronda and Spain’s most recognized Petit Verdot bottlings. Sourced from the estate’s El Calero plot at 900m (nearly 3,000 ft) elevation in Ronda, in the province of Málaga. Fermented in stainless steel and aged in French oak for 15 months. Dark ruby color with purple rim. Fragrant, very attractive, complex nose with layers of black fruit (bramble), smoke and graphite, herbal notes, sweet spices, vanilla and violets. Full-bodied, structured, powerful tannins. Impressive. — 4 years ago
Reata
Whiplash California Chardonnay 2017
So delicious! Snippets of happiness in the form of cinnamon, butter, crisp apple. Feels like an Autumn wine, a season we are all hoping will come. One must search for small pockets of air in which to expand and flourish in times of grim despair, and I think I found it in this wine. NH Liquor. — 5 years ago
Flourish
California Cabernet Sauvignon
Not bitter at all. Val really liked it. Beau didnt have it. — 6 years ago
Château Mourgues du Gres
Galets Rosés Costières-de-Nîmes Rosé Blend 2021
Bright orange. Ripe red berry and citrus fruit scents are complemented by a building floral nuance. Smoothly blends weight and energy, offering fresh strawberry, bitter cherry and blood orange flavors that are sharpened by a spicy white pepper flourish. Closes smooth, broad and long, with a snap of minerality and the floral note repeating. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, July 2022)
— 3 years ago
Caves Coopératives de Donnas
Donnas Valle d'Aoste Nebbiolo Blend 2018
The 2018 Donnas opens slowly in the glass with a pretty display of violets and rose, a whiff of exotic spice, wet stone and wild berries. It’s silky and round in texture, with a dense and savory wave of red and black fruits that saturate the senses. Inner florals and anise linger over a twang of sour citrus, as this tapers off lightly structured yet long, leaving a hint of plum and a peppery flourish. Lovers of cool-climate Nebbiolo will love this Valle d’Aosta take on the variety. (Eric Guido, Vinous, June 2022)
— 3 years ago
Casa D'Ambra
Tenuta Frassitelli Ischia Biancolella 2020
Sweetly scented and delicately perfumed, the 2020 Biancolella Tenuta Frassitelli opens in the glass to reveal baked apples and pears complemented by white flowers, a dusting of sweet spice, lemon zests and hints of vanilla bean. It’s rich and weighty upon entry, yet it is quickly lifted by cooling herbal tones, as orchard fruits wash across the palate, leaving a mineral tinge behind. This resonates on pretty inner florals and a flourish of green citrus, tapering off lightly structured and classically dry. I followed the 2020 Biancolella Tenuta Frassitelli for three days, watching it slowly evolve. Remarkably, the last glass was certainly the best. Bury this in your cellar to watch it fully come to life over time. 93+ (Eric Guido, Vinous, January 2022)
— 3 years ago
Musto Carmelitano
Serra del Prete Aglianico del Vulture 2015
Crushed ashen stone, undergrowth and hints of animal musk are the first notes to greet you as the 2015 Aglianico del Vulture Serra del Prete opens up in the glass. With coaxing, spiced black cherries and rosemary join the fray. This is silky, almost fleshy in feel, with juicy acids enlivening flavors of ripe woodland berry and blood orange. You don’t notice those Aglianico tannins until the finale, which boasts an exotic flourish of tropical citrus and inner violet tones. The Serra del Prete may be an atypical expression of Vulture, but it’s one that I find quite pleasurable. (Eric Guido, Vinous, July 2021)
— 4 years ago
Pisoni Vineyards
Estate Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir 2018
Deep, shimmering garnet. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, cherry cola, potpourri and exotic spices, all sharpened by a smoky mineral flourish. Deeply concentrated yet energetic in the mouth, offering sappy, mineral- and spice-drenched black raspberry, cherry, boysenberry and rose pastille flavors that spread out steadily through the back half. Shows sharp definition and finishes extremely long and appealingly sweet, with polished tannins and lingering floral and blue fruit notes. The combination of power and finesse here is quite something. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, October 2020) — 5 years ago
Flourish
California Red Blend 2018
Fruity, fresh, light. Low alcohol taste. Low tannins. — 6 years ago
Château de Haute-Serre
Cahors Malbec 2014
Funky and herbaceous, peaty forest floor character. Good mid palate core and a finish that shows some mineral flourish. — 6 years ago
Delectable Wine
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The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino captivates with its wild floral perfumes, balsam herbal tones and vivid black cherry fruit. This is pure and lifted, but almost fleeting in feel, revealing its saline minerals up front before giving way to notes of young strawberry and inner rose. Only a hint of fine tannin remains, as a pleasant flourish of inner sweetness tapers off to nuances of pomegranate. The 2018 is ready to please today, and probably has another three to possibly five years of pleasurable drinking in front of it. (Eric Guido, Vinous, October 2022)
— 3 years ago