1 | Wine | Page 361

"Light and fresh, with a flash of green plum dancing along, followed by peach and floral hints."

"Firm and intense, with a tight core of dark berry, spice, licorice framed by chewy tannins."

"A huge, muscular wine. In 2005 the wine shows a decidedly fruit-driven, fresh style. The purity of fruit here is remarkable. The dark, brooding quality that is often present in the wine is absent, while floral, perfumed elements dominate in this vintage. The fruit remains dense, ripe and primary. From start to finish, this is a remarkable Bric del Fiasc."

"This shows how powerful Argentine Malbec can be, with a torrent of blackberry, boysenberry and bittersweet ganache notes. But there's exceptional drive and focus here as well, with a great graphite spine driving through the spice- and floral-infused finish. A stunner for its combination of power and precision, and the best wine yet from this winery."

"It has a striking bouquet of bacon fat and smoke that soars from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy, dry tannins and a core of dusty red fruit. It shows good weight towards the masculine, structured finish with mulberry and cedar lingering in the mouth. This is a modestly priced wine with grand ambitions."

"Pretty wine with a lovely deep ruby color. Give it a little time to open up – it's worth the wait to get the fragrant floral nose – and some light barnyard funk, then spice. The mouthfeel is light and smooth and the flavors carry plum, cherry notes and bit of herb that finishes with the perfect bite of spice. The tannins are soft and smooth. This is a wine that could be sipped on its own or paired with some strong cheeses that would bring out more of its fruit notes. A typical Loire Valley wine, it carries all the trademark aromas and flavors of the terroir but still has a really comfortable price." - Nancy Koeneman, Binny's Champaign