Rioja Faustino 2001
musty, mushroom nose
animal embalmed in salt
wild game hanging in the attic
eastern spices
cloves cinnamon
moist body of a belabored horse
bleeding
sickly sweet vanilla
and savage chocolates


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glendronach 15 year old
easily drowned by water
needs to be opened and kept for 3+ months
otherwise strong solvent
but properly aged
rich nose
cream sherried raisins
rum confectionary
sour citrus arrival
complex blend
of bright coffee
and dark chocolate
alternating with figs
rock salt
bits of smoke
enveloping
black dessert finish.

Domaine Faiveley Nuits-Saint Georges 2009
faint cassis, cinnamon and sweet plum nose
watery cherries held in lines of vanilla
high wave of bitter herbs
then sour strawberries
lingering
echoing at times
more vanilla and herbs
and jam confectionary
A deep  purple boundary
between the lake and the woods
At least one hour decanting required

papantonis 2010
greek varietal agiorgitiko
cloudy red
strong nose of cherries at first
then to cassis and pepper
soft arrival of red fruits and vanilla
at times a bit watery
undercurrent of acidity emerges after aeration
very gentle tannins leading to bits of chocolate
similar to montepulciano or cheap chianti
pleasant but indistinct like its vague red cloud
greece during roman occupation

house lustau san emilio pedro ximenez
brown red syrup
burnt caramel and raisin nose
full strong arrival of raisins
sweetening entire palate and then lingering for minutes
acidity allows some complexity in shades of raisins
and medicinal herbs
as if my mouth were embalmed with essence of raisins
dry, luxuriant
a flashy pharaoh in the deserts