W. H. Smith Wines - Fact Sheets

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W.H. Smith 2007 Purple Label Piedra Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
95 Points Wine Enthusiast December 2009
You don't want to open this wine any time soon. It's tightly wound and immature, offering a blast of primary fruit flavors that haven't yet integrated it's technically bone dry, with waves of black cherries, blackberries, mocha, anise liqueur and smoky oak vanillins, followed by a long, spicy finiah. Hold unil 2012, if you can, and should drink well beyond that. Cellar Selection - S.H.

W.H. Smith 2007 Bronze Label Piedra Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
93 Points Wine Enthusiast December 2009
This is really an exquisite Cabernet. It shows the intensity and purity that Howell Mountain brings to wine, with a superb structure of fine, complex tannins and acidity. Flavorwise, the blackberries, black currants, cassis, blueberries and chocolate have an edge of raisins, but not too much, just enough for a spicy bite. Beautiful now and through 2015, in a proper cellar. - S.H.

W.H. Smith 2008 Hellenthal Vineyard Pinot Noir
93 Points Wine Enthusiast December 2009
Released at the age of one year, which is disappointing as the wine will surely gain in the bottle. It's young and acidic and fruity, with complex waves of cherries, red currants, beef tartare, sautéed wild mushrooms with a splash of soy and balsamic, orange zest, pepper and the sweet sandalwood of smoky oak. Very fine, but needs at least a year in the bottle. - S.H.

W.H. Smith 2008 Maritime Pinot Noir
92 Points Wine Enthusiast December 2009
There's a very good wine in here, but the winery has released it far too early, which shifts the burden of cellaring to the buyer. Right now it's all primary fruit, acidity and oak. But the fruit is beautifully layered in tiers of roasted blackberries, grilled cherries and cola, and the oak is splendid. This dry, silky wine desperately needs to be held until at least late 2010, and should drink well through 2014.
Cellar Selection - S.H.