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2011 Angludet

Another sleeper of the vintage from Angludet, the 2011 exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as a sweet bouquet of licorice, spring flowers, black currants and cherries. With medium body, silky tannins, surprising stuffing and succulence, this seductive, lush, well-endowed Angludet can be enjoyed over the next decade.

2010 Apparita, Castello Di Ama

The 2010 L???Apparita is a pure expression of Merlot with bold fruit nuances of cherry and black fruit at the core. This vintage is especially sophisticated and fine: Evidently those cooling diurnal shifts during the growing season have contributed to the overall elegance and prestige of this beautiful varietal wine. It promises a slow and steady evolution over the next ten years.

2007 Apparita, Castello Di Ama

The 2007 L???Apparita (Merlot) is another outstanding wine, but it is the least interesting of the estate???s high-end 2007s. The warm growing season doesn???t appear to have been as kind to the Merlot as it was to the other grapes grown on the property. Super ripe dark fruit, sweet French oak and chocolate emerge from this supple, round Apparita, with just enough minerality on the finish to provide a measure of balance. The wine???s persistence and length are first rate but a slight overripe quality lingers. The Merlot grown in these high-altitude vineyards has a way of developing immense nobility with bottle age, so it will be fascinating to see what happens here.

2009 Apparita, Castello Di Ama

Stunning as usual, the 2009 L???Apparita (100% Merlot) starts off slow but builds steady momentum and intensity. This is a seamless and beautifully integrated expression that sees fine contrast between acidity, structure and fruity extract. The wine is still tight, so give it time to complete its bottle evolution.

2008 Apparita, Castello Di Ama

The 2008 L'Apparita (Merlot) is very, very beautiful. This is a gorgeous vintage for the Apparita. Sweet dark cherries, chocolate, mint, licorice and spices are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass. The 2008 possesses striking inner perfume and sweetness. The 2008 is a decidedly mid-weight vintage, but it works. Graceful and elegant through to the long finish, the 2008 Apparita is a wine that convinces for its balance and overall sense of harmony. This bottle is far better than the two examples I tasted last year.

Arnauld

2008 Astralis Shiraz, Clarendon Hills

Also deep garnet-purple in color, the 2008 Astralis is a little reduced and brooding on the nose showing aromas of dark berries, meat, liquorice and dark chocolate. Big, full-bodied and rich in the mouth it has balanced acid along with medium-firm grainy tannins. It finishes long and balanced.

2006 Astralis Shiraz, Clarendon Hills

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2006 Astralis has stunning nose redolent of warm blackberries, meat, toast and charcoal, infused with notes of smoked duck, anise and a slight bit of peat. Though still very youthful, this big, rich, and powerful full-bodied wine has firm yet velvety tannins, a vibrant acid line and is very long on the finish.

2010 Astralis Shiraz, Clarendon Hills

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2010 Astralis is still quite primary eliciting aromas of black plums, blueberry compote and blackcurrant liqueur with a savoury and baking spice undercurrent plus a fragrant whiff of violets. Very structured, fine and complex in the medium to full-bodied mouth, this wine is revealing much more than when I first tasted it a year ago and is now showing layer upon layer of black fruit preserves, mocha, toast and spices before finishing with great length. Extraordinary wine.

Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay