From the Cellar

Elderton Tantalus : Cork vs Screwcap

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Category: Uncorked Tonight

This is another of my "found reviews", and is an interesting comparison between cork vs screwcap ... let's get to it:

(July 16, 2021) ... On a random Friday in July I had a wine-loving friend over (is there any other kind) and we decided to give this experiment a try - here is what we found out:

2002 ... This one is sealed under cork, and the CellarTracker folks had given it a combined score of 80.5; not great, but heck it's a wine that says drink within 2-3 years - I suspect many people, like I did, waited too long - and so with too many years under its belt I decided to give it a try. This 70/30 Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blend starts off herbal, floral, maybe even some fauna. On the palate, it is port-like with herbs and smoke. The fruit, whatever is there any way, is dried out with hints of blackberry on the finish - surprisingly drinkable when first opened, with licorice and spice beginning to show signs of life ... but then about 30 minutes in it falls off the table with almost no finish, grit and sediment are everywhere and that is pretty much all you can taste  ... this wine has nothing left to give.

2003 ... This one is sealed under screwcap, I am assuming the same blend numbers apply, and it still says 2-3 years drinking window on the back. The CellarTrack folks have given this one an 88. This one starts out all fruit, sweet and succulent with notes of blackberry and cherry kicking it off and giving it charm, while the acidity seems to punch at the tongue. Lots more dark fruit emerges then adds in roasted coffee beans and mocha - this is a deliciously aged Australia red, with a long finish. Even as it opens it remains lovely and drinkable for a couple of hours anyway - or until the bottle was gone.

For those who doubt the viability of screwcap this really speaks volumes.

Three from Torres (Spain) + A Bonus (Argentina)

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Category: Uncorked Tonight

I found this lost review in a pile of reviews ... thought it was worth posting ...

(March 20, 2021) ... Tonight I decided to open up three wine from Torres, along with something else that was burning a hole in my palate to try.

2001 Coronas ... Absolutely horrific.
Totally undrinkable plonk. It's a brown liquid, calling it forest floor would be kind and an upgrade.

2001 Gran Sangre de Toro ... There is bricking around the edges, but it still has a nice color, it is a wine made with Grenache, Carinena & Syrah. Certainly, it is old and earthy with slightly smoky notes, but there is a smoothness to it and maybe some dried fruit lingering in the background - 100% better than the Coronas.

2013 Purgatori ... Red and black fruit with hints of mocha and a good tannin structure ... When first opened you really get the wood, but that dissipated as it remained open. By the hour mark we're looking at a wine rich in dried raspberry - smoky - meaty - and dark cherry.

2006 Clos de los Siete (Argentina) ... This is a Michel Rolland wine. Sweet oak notes of vanilla smoke and definite tannin bite. Still very much alive, though I'll have to wait till it opens a little bit to see where it goes. There's a darkness to the fruit, but it's slightly dried with a hint of burnt coffee and bittersweet chocolate. Nice finish, by the end of the wine it is quite delicious with all it's smoky, mocha, and dark dried fruit.