Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino 2007
decanted roughly
sweet raspberry and vanilla nose
with hints of hazelnuts
arrival filled with rich chocolate covered blueberries
with a few candied red fruit
held by undercurrent of acidity
leading to
smooth minerality
with bits of pepper
that is covered with more bitter chocolates
strong tannic structure
finishing with incense smoke

Such a high quality alcohol.
Drank an entire bottle in one sitting
with minimal effects.

B cellars sangiovese 2008
rich raspberry aroma like zinfandel
cherry jam arrival, cloves, cinnamon
sweetened citrus and velvet chocolate finish
but this shape shifter
it gains herbal notes
mint
and some cocoa
and the finish transforms to lemoned red tea
before it sweetens again with soft splashes of vanilla
a cotton candied aroma
tipsy at a childhood festival

Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir 2012
rich red fruit nose
edged with minerality
cluster of strawberries on arrival
rolling down garnet silk
both deeply sour and elegantly rich
hazelnuts that are washed down
by soft lemons and raspberries
sweet fruit chocolate structure
bright finish
echoing with light jam

English picnic by the river