Stompin' Good

"Estampa" is Spanish for "stamp" which translates to "stomp" for all you western cowboys. And stomp on the Aussie pretender this wine does. The Estampa, Gold 2004 from the Colchagua Valley in Chile is a blast from the past - an old Bordeaux style blend of Cab Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Carmenere and Petit Verdot (it's missing the merlot, however). But, Bordeaux in the mouth it's definitely not! Black as the ace of spades in the glass, it has an intense nose of deep dark black fruit. Full bodied, this is a rich style of wine with all sorts of berries and a little tar and licorice for complexity. Velvety tannins. Wow. And all for $18. Get yer assess to the LCBO asap to snap up what's left, cowboy!!!
Ok, I gave the ring-bolt another chance. The last vintage I tried was praised by the critics, I thought it was quite ordinary. So, I gave the 2004 another chance. This wine is cabernet sauvignon from Margaret River in Australia, an area that makes more restrained wines than one expects from Oz. Subtle nose of mulberries. Lean style with blackberries and hint of chocolate. A straight forward cab that really does nothing to distinguish itself. Underwhelming. Overpriced at $20, I think the experiment with this producer stops here.
Cheers!! And for those who celebrate this kind of thing, MERRY CHRISTMAS!!