2610, 2011
Cantina Tollo Listed In Wine & Spirits As Top Co-Op
CANTINA TOLLO "Located in Central Italy's Abruzzo region, Cantina Tollo is a first-level co-op, where the farmers are also the owners of the company. It was founded in 1960 [...]
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blackberry, earth, spice, pretzel salt, smoky, mint, mocha, coffee, oak, on the nose. medium acid, medium tannins, on the finish. - This is the top bottling of Thomas Fogarty’s ambitious Bordeaux-aimed brand, and it shows, with regionally distinctive aromas of crushed rocks, blueberry, tar and smoke. The intriguing palate is elegance defined, with sexy tannins and mineral-driven flavors of black dirt, wet slate and squeezed blueberry.
- While the Estate is a singular voice, the Domaine is a chorus. Complex, given the five varieties in the seepage, this Cabernet has aromas of briary currant, sage, mint and sweet oak. Less tannins and acidity on the palate than is evident in the Estate, there is an earlier window of enjoyable drinking.
- Due to the soils in the vineyard, the Estate Pinot Noirs’ elegant, transparent style is more Burgundian than Californian, emphasizing wild strawberry, earth, blueberry and dill varietal characters. Cellaring the wine from five to twelve years pays handsome rewards.
- Although a mere mile away from Mount Eden as the crow flies, the terroir here is different and it shows. Medium ruby color, complex, earthy red fruit nose, the wine has a suave texture on the palate with richness and balancing elegance. This is a classic Pinot Noir reflective of its unique peak.
- The full-bodied Estate Chardonnay displays fine underlying acidity and a long finish. Hints of cardamom, anise and hazelnut add interest to the core lemon, mineral flavors. Of all Mount Eden’s estate-grown wines, the Chardonnay is most in need of further bottle aging at release, requiring an additional two to four years to fully reveal its true character. Many vintages are still fresh and enjoyable after fifteen years, explaining why Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay is considered one of California’s longest-lived white wines.
- As one would expect, this Chardonnay exhibits classic Mount Eden Burgundian style with detailed aromas and flavors of citrus, anise, dill and earth. More open in personality than the Estate at the same age, yet with all the length of the flagship.
- This luscious Pinot is impressive now for the power of its black currant, cherry, raspberry, vanilla, cola and Provençal herb flavors, with their firm backbone of acidity. It’s the kind of Pinot that dazzles from the first sip to the last, as it evolves in the glass. The tannins are sweet and gentle, but supportive enough to allow this gorgeous wine to age for six…
- Absolutely delicious, first-rate Chard from this veteran producer. Shows the prettiest balance of all its parts, and just about as good as California Chard gets. Ripely opulent in tropical fruit, apricot and tangerine flavors and crisp in limey acids, the wine’s 50% new oak adds luscious notes of buttercream, toast, smoke and vanilla.
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Mount Eden Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a Bordeaux-style blend of approximately 75% Cabernet, 22% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, although the seepage varies by vintage. This high mountain, cool coastal vineyard is an unusual site for California Cabernet Sauvignon, reflecting its refreshing acidity and moderate alcohol. Fine integrated tannins buttress characteristic flavors of red currant, blackberry and earth. Recommended cellaring is ten to fifteen years.