Hatton Estate 2006 Bordeaux Blend

cellared

2006 Tirohana Estate Pinot Noir

Date tasted: August, 2011

Where: MPLS

Notes: We initially encountered this wine during a tour of the Martinborough region in late 2008, whilst living and working in nearby Wellington. We loved this "young" wine then as an embodiment of the Côte d'Or Burgundy style-- simple, generous, mellow and balanced. We shipped a case back on our return and have held the last bottle for three years now in anticipation of our return to New Zealand, this time as permanent residents.We shared this bottle with friends Matt and Beth, who are celebrating their first year in Minneapolis.

The wine, which we remembered as translucent ruby-colored, smelled musty and poured out a deep, opaque purple. No corking here, though (the Kiwis sagely use screw tops), but rather a maturation into a wine that reminded Matt of California Cab and me a bit of good Malbec. The wine opened up nicely over the course of an hour-- with acid up front, followed by tart notes of cherry and earthy cranberry, then finishing with a long, pleasing minerality. I do not know how much longer this wine will hold, but it structure at 5 years is remarkable.

2006 Cannubi Boschis Barolo

Date tasted: June, 2011

Where: Minneapolis

Price: $$$$$$$$

Notes: luscious and smooth right out of the bottle, and a little more fruit-forward than some other vintages. Not sure about the structure or how it would have evolved over time, as the majority of the bottle was "poached" by some bloke at the dinner party, who probably had no idea he was drinking $75/glass wine and couldn't tell the difference between this grand Barolo and boxed wine (am I a little bitter, perhaps?)