From the Cellar

Just because I started a website called OntarioWineReview.com doesn't mean it's All-Ontario-All-the-Time. When I kick back at night my mood (and sometimes my curiosity) decides my wine of choice. And the title should read, "Uncorked and Un-Screwed Tonight" ... but that just sounds wrong.

Tenuta Monteti 2016 Toscana (Maremma)

11 Apr 2023

Monteti

 

A Maremma (Tuscany) wine that is Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon with 18 months in French oak.

Opens easily - it's not that old, so I have high hopes

NOSE: pencil shavings, pretty smoked-cherry and subtle cedar

TASTE: mocha, coffee, dry, cinnamon, smoke with good acidity and a long finish..

1.5 - 2 hrs later ...
notes of cherry and spice, it is slowly smoothing out, the fruit is darkening

24 hrs later ...
Oh boy ... what a gorgeous wine - even better than the first day ... smooth and silky with a touch of smoke and a touch of tannins.

Bottom Line ...
Fruit has emerged with smoky notes, the tannins have dropped way down and there is lovely clean acidity. This is a silky wine. Beauty.

 

 

Clos des Moiselles 2015 Cotes de Bourg

24 Mar 2023

 

Upon opening ... Cork has wine one-third up, but the colour of the wine is good: red with a little bricking, slight orange tinge, but nothing extreme - this wine is in good shape. It's a blend of Merlot (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (42%) and Malbec (8%). Clos des Moiselles

NOSE:  Cherry and blood orange with spice and smoke.

TASTE:  Still a lot of grit from the tannins, lots of dark fruit and smoke with a little cinnamon and spice to back it up.

1.5 hrs later ... Notes of cough syrup and Halls and NyQuil, but all with that cherry undertone.

3 hrs later ... Dusty and oaky palate, the fruit is beginning to dry out though, but the nose is still appealing and alluring.

4+ hrs later ... Most of the fruit is gone, the wine is very dusty; but the nose continues to hint at something interesting. Think I'm going to give this an overnight wait-and-taste.

22 hours later ... This wine held overnight quite well - it seems to be in some sort of stasis. It really hasn't changed from the four-plus hour mark. Not sure how much longer it's going to hold. But it was still drinking as good as it did 22 hours ago.

Bottom Line ... It was better in its first two hours; but that the wine stayed pretty static after the three/ four hour mark is a pretty good testament to the way the wine will continue to age. Though I would just drink it pretty soon and within the first few hours of opening. Cheers

 

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