Quick TNs from a business dinner at a NY's Smith & Wollensky restaurant.
Beringer Napa cabernet 1992
WOTN. Very faint nose of dark berries and earth. Purple color withy a slight bricking at the rim. Medium body, 14.1% abv. Black currants, earth and some glycerine. Very smooth and almost creamy. Very easy to drink. Tannins fully resolved, with the oak nicely integrated and providing a warm vanilla background. Medium/long finish. Very, very nice.
San Leonardo 1999
Bordeaux blend from Trentino, Northern Italy. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% cabernet franc, 10% merlot. Nose of compoted red fruit. Medium/full body, 13% abv. Very dry, with hints of smoke and black pepper. Slightly tannic. Wood is noticeable, the wine is aged for 24 months in barriques. Very good. Medium finish.
Marcarini barolo 2001.
Great nose of flowers and wet earth. Beautiful ruby red color. Medium body, with chalky tannins. Cherries, flowers, tobacco and earth. Very nice but not nearly ready to drink. Others at the table enjoyed it more, I believe the wines needs at least five years or more to start showing its best. Very good future.
Trapiche Vina Jose Blanco malbec 2003
100% single vineyard malbec. Very darp purple color. Aroma of super ripe berries and caramel. Very full body, 14.5% abv. Extremely sweet and thick. Barossa meets Mendoza. Soft, jammy, not tannic. This bottle showed rather ready to drink. Almost a desert wine. Flamboyant.
Astrales Ribera del Duero 2001
Tempranillo from Ribera. Initially super tight, with nothing on the nose. It opened up only after two hours from opening, very slowly, exhibiting typical dusty cherry aromas. Medium/full body, 14% abv. It eventually revealed very nice crushed cherry fruit, with classy minerality and oak still to be better integrated. This wine needs two to three years at least. Very good future.