2005 Vidal-Fleury Crozes-Hermitage

I recently went through an enjoyable tasting of a small handful of wines from the 250 year old Rhone Negociant Vidal-Fleury. I was pretty impressed across the board; from the fresh, cherry-fruit Cotes du Rhone to the green olive tinged 2001 St. Joseph that's just starting to gain complex secondary characteristics, the wines were very nice. I ultimately settled on the 2005 Crozes-Hermitage to add to the list, both by the bottle and by the glass.




2005 Vidal-Fleury Crozes-Hermitage
"The nose is dominated by pure Syrah fruit - black fruits with blue fruit highlights - and subtle empyreumatic hints (leather, tar). This is what Syrah should smell like and almost never does in its mimicked Australian form Shiraz. Medium- to full-bodied but balanced and not bulky on the palate. Just enough tannic grip to create nice structure while remaining very approachable."

2005 Argiano Non Confunditor

Argiano Non Confunditor

Tuscany, Italy

40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 20% Syrah, 20% Sangiovese

2005, 14% Alcohol

Argiano is a noteworthy producer of Rosso di Montalcino and Brunello di Montalcino and stands among the giants of Tuscany with its well-known Super-Tuscan Solengo. Beginning in 2002 Argiano has made Non Confunditor each year as a more affordable alternative to Solengo that at the same time gives wine drinkers a taste of its more famous Super-Tuscan cousin. Non-Confunditor pays hommage to the winery's past as they are the Latin words written upon the Argiano Coat of Arms.

"Spicy black cherries with a touch of tobacco leaf and tree bark. The palate is initially tight with a good dose of chalky, vanillin tannins in the finish but opens nicely to become a masculine, licorice-laden wine that's perfect with red meats and stronger cheeses."