Cloudy Bay..... La Poja..... Torre Muga.....

7/2002. Brought locally Jul-02 for $38 (Current market price ~$25).
This pearl from New Zealand has been a particular favorite of Dorit for some years now. This is my first taste of the 2001 vintage.
COLOR: Very pale straw color with a touch of greenish tinge.
NOSE: Cheerful aromas of fresh grassy notes with lemony tones. Profound and impressive nose.
TASTE: Refreshingly crisp on the palate with excellent white fruit and grapy flavors. Vigorous and mouthfilling. Simply delicious.
LENGTH: Medium-long aftertaste that carries forward the acidity and flavors.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium bodied wine that is full of character. Fruit alcohol and acidity blend together perfectly.
OVERALL: Superb. As good a summer wine as one could wish for.
MARK: 18.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.

7/2002. Bought in auction Apr-91 for $60 (Current market price about the same).
La Poja is the flag wine of Allegrini, the Valpolicella (Veneto) producer known for his Amarone. It is a single vineyard wine, made exclusively of the Corvina Veronese grapes.
COLOR: Dark red-black color. No thinning around the rim.
NOSE: Impressive nose of complex black fruit, licorice and spices. Deep and powerful yet elegant aromas engulf the senses.
TASTE: Wild and exotic wine on the palate. Huge structure and punch, this monster delivers a multitude of flavors from semi-ripe black fruit to pungent spices. Excellent winyness with wonderful grip and focus. Vigorous, youthful with deep flavors, round tannins and good acidity. Wonderful.
LENGTH: Long and reverberating aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Full bodied blockbuster wine! Dense but elegant texture. Complex multi-flavored attack on the palate. Superbly balanced.
OVERALL:Superb. An unusual wine that is a pleasure to have now but will further improve with a few more years.
MARK: 18.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.

7/2002. Brought locally Apr-01 for $48. (Currant market price a bit more than that)
One of the celebrated modern-style Rioja. Made from selected grapes and aged in new oak.
COLOR: Medium purple/ruby. Some clearing around the rim.
NOSE: Wonderful combination of red-fruit aroma and that 'dusty' quality so typical of Spanish wines. Wood tones are there to compliment the harmonious nose.
TASTE: Mouthful of sweetish ripe fruit with added spicy flavors. Concentrated and winey. Perhaps not as complex as La Poja above, but compensates with being even tastier. Absolutely delicious.
LENGTH: Very long impressive aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium bodied wonderfully balanced wine at its peak but will last.
OVERALL:Superb. Totally charming and satisfying Rioja.
MARK: 18.5/20.aaaaaaaaBUY MORE? Yes.

Reach Me? yak@yakshaya.com

Copyright 1996-2003.
Jacob "Yak" Shaya.