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Tasting Notes

Cignale Colli Della Toscana Centrale IGT, Castello di Querceto 2004
Toscana, Italy
93 points
Imported in Japan by WINE WAVE Inc.
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend.  Lovely nose of cassis, dark cherry, earth, mocha and a touch of morel.  Medium body, medium to high acid.  High level of finely grained tannins.  Great concentration and elegance.  Long, layered finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Pouilly-Fuisse V.V. Secret Mineral 2007, Denis Jeandeau
Burgundy, France
91 points
Imported in Japan by DIONY CO., LTD
Very buttery nose with supporting aromas of ripe apple, poached pears, apricots and butterscotch.  The palate is quite ripe and concentrated with medium to high acidity to balance.  Judicious use of oak.  Long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Il Vino "Dal Tralcetto" Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2007, Cantina Zaccagnini
Abruzzo, Italy
90 points
Imported in Japan by MARUKAI CORPORATION
Deep garnet-purple colour.  Ripe cherry and tobacco leaf aromas with a touch of game.  Medium-full body with good concentration of fruit and a medium to high level of balancing acidity.  Medium+ level of grainy tannins.  Long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Chateau Lamothe-Cissac 2005, Domaines Fabre
Cru Bourgeois Haut-Medoc, France
89 points
Imported in Japan by BONILI JAPAN CO., LTD.
Deep garnet colour.  Cassis, pencil shavings, cloves and a little coffee on the nose.  Medium to high acid, good concentration and balance.  Medium+ level of grainy tannins.  Long finish. Tasted July 2009.

Pernand Vergelesses Les Pin Vieille Vigne 2007, Domaine Doudet
Burgundy, France
89 points
Imported in Japan by INFINI INCORPORATED
Good intensity of cedar, pineapple, peach and melon aromas with hints of butter and oatmeal.  Medium+ acidity and decent concentration of peach and pineapple flavours.  Oak still a little disjointed, needs 6-12 months to marry.  Long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Belle Vallee Cellars Syrah 2004
Rogue Valley, Oregon, USA
89 points
Imported in Japan by GENOS GROUP KK
Very deep garnet purple.  Intense blackberry, blueberry, liquorice and cardamom.  Medium to high acid, full body and very concentrated.  Medium to high level of chewy tannins.  Long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Gundian Albarino 2008, Adega Veldes S.L.
Rias Baixas, Galicia, Spain
88 points
Imported in Japan by DHC Corporation
Intense nose of peaches, pears, kaki and honeysuckle.  Crisp acidity and good concentration of pure, clean fruit.  Some white pepper in the medium to long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Domaine Moreau Naudet Chablis 2006
Burgundy, France
88 points
Imported in Japan by Cordon Vert CO., LTD.
Delicate green apple and lemon tart aromas with a waft of peach blossom.  Crisp acidity, good concentration and balance.  Some chalkiness in the medium to long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Marlborough, New Zealand
88 points
Imported in Japan by MHD Diageo Moet Hennessy K.K.
Intense aromas of gooseberry, grapefruit, guava and grass plus a whiff of asparagus.  Concentrated vegetal and tropical flavours on the palate with crisp acidity.  Medium to full body.  Long finish.  Very in-your-face style.  Tasted July 2009.

Nero d’Avola, Feudo Arancio 2008
Sicilia, Italy
87 points
Imported in Japan by Mottox Inc.
Medium garnet colour.  Warm strawberry and raspberry aromas with notes of stewed tea and forest floor.  Full body with medium to high acidity.  Medium level of soft tannins.  Medium to long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Domaine Andre Brunel Grenache 2007
Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, France
86 points
Imported in Japan by Inaba ＆Co.,Ltd.
Medium garnet colour.  Spiced raspberry aromas with a dash of black pepper.  Medium to full body, medium to high acid and a medium+ level of silky tannins.  Medium+ finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Chablis 2007, Luc Javelot
Burgundy, France
85 points
Imported in Japan by GEKKEIKAN
Creamy lemon / lime aromas with a whiff of slate.  Very crisp acidity and moderate concentration of citrus fruits on the palate.  Medium body, medium+ finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Château Saint-Maurice Côtes Du Rhône Blanc Cuvée Vieilles Vignes 2006
Côtes Du Rhône, France
85 points
Imported in Japan by VALORJAPAN, INC.
Honeyed peaches and ripe apple aromas on the nose.  A little spicy.  Medium+ acid and low to moderate concentration of peachy flavours.  Medium body.  Medium+ finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Bertha Lounge Cava Brut Nature NV
Penedes, Spain
84 points
Imported in Japan by Sensho CO.,LTD.
Pure lemon curd and pear aromas with a touch of toast.  Medium to high acidity and rather large bubbles.  Moderate intensity of citrus fruits and a little creaminess.  Medium+ finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Syrah Vieilles Vignes 2008, Marquis de Beaucel
Vin de Pays d’Oc
84 points
Imported in Japan by ROYAL OF JAPAN, LTD.
Deep garnet-purple colour.  Intense aromas of blackberry, warm cassis and a touch of anise.  Medium to high acid and a medium level of rounded tannins to support the fleshy if simple blackberry fruit.  Medium finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Anakena Carmenere Single Vineyard 2007
Rapel Valley, Chile
84 points
Imported in Japan by AGRI CO.,LTD.
Deep garnet-purple colour.  Rubbery, reduced nose with a base of stewed plums and tomato leaf.  Full body, medium to high acidity and a medium level of fine grained tannins.  Concentrated plum and slightly vegetal flavour.  Medium to long finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Pierre Thomas Merlot 2006
Vin de Pays d’Oc, France
79 points
Imported in Japan by Kimura Co., Ltd.
Medium to deep garnet colour.  Vague plum aroma.  Simple, dilute flavours.  Medium acid.  Medium level of chewy tannins.  Short finish.  Tasted July 2009.

Hartenberg Fundi 2006
Stellenbosch, South Africa
77 points
Imported in Japan by Wine Press International Co., Ltd
Deep garnet colour.  Intense aromas of warm blackcurrant and capsicum with a slightly medicinal character.  The medicinal character follows through on the palate with a bitter edge.  Medium+ acidity and medium+ level of astringent tannins.  Medium to long finish.  Tasted July 2009.   

Tomi White 2006, Suntory Tominooka Winery
Yamanashi, Japan
75 points
Produced and distributed in Japan by Suntory Wine International Limited
Quite a lot of oak stands out on the nose with a strange pot-pourri / perfumed soap core.  A lot of oak on the palate.  There's a funny medicinal / foxy flavour in the medium+ finish.  Tasted July 2009.