1990 Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (12/29/2010)
A young bordeaux nose and color to match. Taste and nose of cedar, deep red cherry, currants and earth. Silky sweet tannins. Smooth and seamless. Gained weight in the glass. As night progressed, added an asian spice and soy nose. This is how you fall in love with Bordeaux. (99 points)
1999 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/29/2010)
Deep red purple he. Cocoa and red fruit on nose. More plum than cherry. Fruit carried from entry to finish. Alcohol is well integrated. Great pedigree really delivers. Fruit has a nice pucker. This is a fun wine. Some dreied blueberries on finihsh. Enought bottle age but not too much. (97 points)
2008 Sine Qua Non Kolibri - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (12/29/2010)
Orange marmalade, pineapple, lemon curd on palate with amazing acidity. On the nose, along with the tropical fruit, a beautiful array of field flowers. Color was somewhat cloudy. I would have guessed Roussanne if tasted blind. (95 points)
1995 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (12/29/2010)
Dusty nose with a little funk that blew off quickly. Mostle mature cherry, moss and earth with some cedar in background. Siftened up in the glass. Slightly tart/clipped finish. (94 points)
2003 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/29/2010)
A bit clunky at first but after a few sips, the fruit hits you likea brick. Lots of white pepper and chocolate mix nicely with pure red fruit. Get mostly grenache on my palate. Some nice asian spices add to complexity. (94 points)
2005 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/29/2010)
Drank side by side with the 2003 Rocket Block. They were different exoperiences but both excellent.Blueberry and chocolate on palate and nose. Baking spice as well. Huge finish, easier to drink than the 2003.More floral. Lots of glycerin and slghly more sweet than the 2003. Is 5 year window the right place for this wine for my palate? (94 points)
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Christmas Eve Tasty Wines
2007 Kongsgaard Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
Man do they make great chards. Even the non chard people at dinner fell in love with it. Tropical fruits of banana, pinneaple and melo intermix with just enough lemon. Oak was present but not overt. Aciditity was ample but not overbearing. Great long finish and tremendous weight to the wine. (94 points)
2004 Denner "The Ditch Digger" - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/25/2010)
Smooth rounded tannins, strawberry and cherries and a ripe and mature level and a soft mouthfeel. Time has treated this wine well. (93 points)
2007 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
It's all about the fruit. It's black and it's huge. A bit tannic and this stage but softened up about a hour into the journey.Great fruit profile of blackberry and cherry. Some chocolate in the mid palate. Just delicious. (93 points)
2007 Kongsgaard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
Probably just too young to make a real decision on this. At first glance, a muted nose finally revealed plum and black berry with some vanilla and cinnamon. I like the wine but it does not represent a value for the price in my mind. I have had better young 2007's for a fractioin of the price. (89 points)
Man do they make great chards. Even the non chard people at dinner fell in love with it. Tropical fruits of banana, pinneaple and melo intermix with just enough lemon. Oak was present but not overt. Aciditity was ample but not overbearing. Great long finish and tremendous weight to the wine. (94 points)
2004 Denner "The Ditch Digger" - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/25/2010)
Smooth rounded tannins, strawberry and cherries and a ripe and mature level and a soft mouthfeel. Time has treated this wine well. (93 points)
2007 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
It's all about the fruit. It's black and it's huge. A bit tannic and this stage but softened up about a hour into the journey.Great fruit profile of blackberry and cherry. Some chocolate in the mid palate. Just delicious. (93 points)
2007 Kongsgaard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
Probably just too young to make a real decision on this. At first glance, a muted nose finally revealed plum and black berry with some vanilla and cinnamon. I like the wine but it does not represent a value for the price in my mind. I have had better young 2007's for a fractioin of the price. (89 points)
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Christmas at the Stilleys
1997 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (12/22/2010)
WOTN for me. Funky nose, somewhat barnayrdy which almost blew off in an hour. Great nose and flavors of tobacco, cedar,leather and lead pencil. Dark purple bowl of awesome cherries. Soft tannins, put together well, great mouthfeel, smooth. (96 points)
2002 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/22/2010)
Slightly minty nose upon popping. Huge cab fruit, looks like a recent vintage in the glass. Dark purple. Vary complex and nice subtle spices in the background. Excellent wine. (94 points)
2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (12/22/2010)
This is a big wine. Huge fruit profile of cherry and blackberry. Still quite tannic but awesome flavors explode in your mouth. Revisit in 5+ years. (94 points)
1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (12/22/2010)
Mature red fruit, black truffles, soft round tannins, great backbone, good structure. Not gonna get better. These are the Italians I love. (93 points)
2005 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/22/2010)
Had late in the evening so the note is short. Absolutely delicious. Felt like a speed date that I would want to revisit. Big black and red cali fruit. Not for the faint of heart. If you like young cabs, go for it. (93 points)
2005 Turley Zinfandel Old Vines - USA, California (12/22/2010)
Peppery, nice blackberry and blueberry fruit. Some heat but didnt get in the way. (92 points)
1994 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia (12/22/2010)
Some fennel on the nose. Color is still ruby red. Somewhat thin on entry. Fruit is there but drying out. Others who had wine in their glass longer than I did said it opened up beuatifully later. (87 points)
2007 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (12/22/2010)
Disappointment of the night. Has a sweet nose, almost merlot like in its bouquet. Entry and flavors are overwhelmed by heat and alcohol. Disjointed and very tight. You fill in the blanks: 1) Has more alcohol than ... 2)Hot as a ... (85 points)
WOTN for me. Funky nose, somewhat barnayrdy which almost blew off in an hour. Great nose and flavors of tobacco, cedar,leather and lead pencil. Dark purple bowl of awesome cherries. Soft tannins, put together well, great mouthfeel, smooth. (96 points)
2002 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/22/2010)
Slightly minty nose upon popping. Huge cab fruit, looks like a recent vintage in the glass. Dark purple. Vary complex and nice subtle spices in the background. Excellent wine. (94 points)
2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (12/22/2010)
This is a big wine. Huge fruit profile of cherry and blackberry. Still quite tannic but awesome flavors explode in your mouth. Revisit in 5+ years. (94 points)
1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (12/22/2010)
Mature red fruit, black truffles, soft round tannins, great backbone, good structure. Not gonna get better. These are the Italians I love. (93 points)
2005 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/22/2010)
Had late in the evening so the note is short. Absolutely delicious. Felt like a speed date that I would want to revisit. Big black and red cali fruit. Not for the faint of heart. If you like young cabs, go for it. (93 points)
2005 Turley Zinfandel Old Vines - USA, California (12/22/2010)
Peppery, nice blackberry and blueberry fruit. Some heat but didnt get in the way. (92 points)
1994 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia (12/22/2010)
Some fennel on the nose. Color is still ruby red. Somewhat thin on entry. Fruit is there but drying out. Others who had wine in their glass longer than I did said it opened up beuatifully later. (87 points)
2007 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (12/22/2010)
Disappointment of the night. Has a sweet nose, almost merlot like in its bouquet. Entry and flavors are overwhelmed by heat and alcohol. Disjointed and very tight. You fill in the blanks: 1) Has more alcohol than ... 2)Hot as a ... (85 points)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Wines from Our Office Hoilday Party at 32 East
All of these wines were purchased from their amazing list.
2007 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (12/7/2010)
Dark black cherry and blueberry fruit ooze down the side of your mouth with a vanilla chaser. Just a really fun young wine to drink. (92 points)
2008 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (12/7/2010)
Bowl of cherries and baking spices. Pine needles and a nice sweet oak. Smooth finish. (92 points)
2007 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Kenward Family Wine Cimarossa Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (12/7/2010)
Very enjoyable. Mostly cherries/plum and a backdrop of loam. The oak was pretty substantial and I hope it will become more integrated. Big mouth feel. Just rough around the edges and finish is still a bit tight. We popped and poured. This may act better with some air. (91 points)
2006 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (12/7/2010)
This wine has strawberry fruit and ample oak but is somewhat hot and disjointed at the time. I think that the fruit will overcome some of the other issues with time but it did not hold up to the 2008 Sea Smoke Southing. Heat and alcohol were abundant on finish. (88 points)
2007 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (12/7/2010)
Dark black cherry and blueberry fruit ooze down the side of your mouth with a vanilla chaser. Just a really fun young wine to drink. (92 points)
2008 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (12/7/2010)
Bowl of cherries and baking spices. Pine needles and a nice sweet oak. Smooth finish. (92 points)
2007 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Kenward Family Wine Cimarossa Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (12/7/2010)
Very enjoyable. Mostly cherries/plum and a backdrop of loam. The oak was pretty substantial and I hope it will become more integrated. Big mouth feel. Just rough around the edges and finish is still a bit tight. We popped and poured. This may act better with some air. (91 points)
2006 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (12/7/2010)
This wine has strawberry fruit and ample oak but is somewhat hot and disjointed at the time. I think that the fruit will overcome some of the other issues with time but it did not hold up to the 2008 Sea Smoke Southing. Heat and alcohol were abundant on finish. (88 points)
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Wines from the Week of Thanksgiving
2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (11/25/2010)
First words out of our mouths were Smoooooooooooth. This iwne is accessible, easy to drink and an expected fruit bomb. Blueberry and cherry pop around your mouth in a purple haze. Lots of vanilla and cinnamon follow the fruit. This is clearly a baby. Hedonistic, over the top and a blast to drink. We drank without food but i think it would show even better with a chunk of beef. (96 points)
2001 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (11/25/2010)
This was a total surprise. I had tucked this away in a bin and it was all but forgotten. The wine delivered plenty of mature fruit - mostly plum and black cherry. I would call the fruit adolescent, not infant and not over-the hill. The oak was well integrated and the tannins were firm, but sweet, luch and velvetty. (93 points)
1995 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/25/2010)
Great ingredients but just way too young. Tobacco, plum, black cherry. Forest moss. Still very tannic. Try in 5 years. (91 points)
2003 Fisher Vineyards Cameron - USA, California, Napa Valley (11/25/2010)
Decent but not memorable. Somewhat flat mouthfeel and finish. (89 points)
2007 Stolpman Roussanne L'Avion - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (11/25/2010)
Nice Rousanne tropical fruit, nice mouth feel. Subtle lemon, pinapple and a nice nuttinesss (87 points)
2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (11/24/2010)
Five years in and this wine is starting to show its beautiful colors. Cherry, rasberry and some cranberry round out an elegant mouthfeel. This is a special wine and my favorite pinot in 2010. I will let the last bottle sit another few years. It was special. (94 points)
2004 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County (11/24/2010)
We popped and poured this. Initially, there was a bit of a sulfury funk. We aggressively decanted and swirlled and after ten minutes the funk blew off into a wonderful mix of minerality, terroir and bright fruit. Cranberry and rasberry dominate. The subdued alcohol allowed a lighter mouth feel than the Sea SmokeTen that was before it. This wine had a sense of place to it. Excellent acidity brought the whole package together. (93 points)
2005 Russian Hill Estate Winery Pinot Noir Leras - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (11/22/2010)
Great purity of fruit in this medium bodied pinot. Rasberry, cranberry and pomegranate meld into a great mix of red fruit with ample earthiness. Awesome body to this wine. Ample acidiity ends with a decent but not great finish. (93 points)
2006 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (11/21/2010)
Somewhat monolithic, simple and not that interesting. Red fruit, mostly cherry and rasberry. Vey little mouthfeel. A bit of a woodsy note (oak and pine). Tart finsih. Color looked older than the age of the wine. (86 points)
First words out of our mouths were Smoooooooooooth. This iwne is accessible, easy to drink and an expected fruit bomb. Blueberry and cherry pop around your mouth in a purple haze. Lots of vanilla and cinnamon follow the fruit. This is clearly a baby. Hedonistic, over the top and a blast to drink. We drank without food but i think it would show even better with a chunk of beef. (96 points)
2001 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (11/25/2010)
This was a total surprise. I had tucked this away in a bin and it was all but forgotten. The wine delivered plenty of mature fruit - mostly plum and black cherry. I would call the fruit adolescent, not infant and not over-the hill. The oak was well integrated and the tannins were firm, but sweet, luch and velvetty. (93 points)
1995 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/25/2010)
Great ingredients but just way too young. Tobacco, plum, black cherry. Forest moss. Still very tannic. Try in 5 years. (91 points)
2003 Fisher Vineyards Cameron - USA, California, Napa Valley (11/25/2010)
Decent but not memorable. Somewhat flat mouthfeel and finish. (89 points)
2007 Stolpman Roussanne L'Avion - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (11/25/2010)
Nice Rousanne tropical fruit, nice mouth feel. Subtle lemon, pinapple and a nice nuttinesss (87 points)
2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (11/24/2010)
Five years in and this wine is starting to show its beautiful colors. Cherry, rasberry and some cranberry round out an elegant mouthfeel. This is a special wine and my favorite pinot in 2010. I will let the last bottle sit another few years. It was special. (94 points)
2004 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County (11/24/2010)
We popped and poured this. Initially, there was a bit of a sulfury funk. We aggressively decanted and swirlled and after ten minutes the funk blew off into a wonderful mix of minerality, terroir and bright fruit. Cranberry and rasberry dominate. The subdued alcohol allowed a lighter mouth feel than the Sea SmokeTen that was before it. This wine had a sense of place to it. Excellent acidity brought the whole package together. (93 points)
2005 Russian Hill Estate Winery Pinot Noir Leras - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (11/22/2010)
Great purity of fruit in this medium bodied pinot. Rasberry, cranberry and pomegranate meld into a great mix of red fruit with ample earthiness. Awesome body to this wine. Ample acidiity ends with a decent but not great finish. (93 points)
2006 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (11/21/2010)
Somewhat monolithic, simple and not that interesting. Red fruit, mostly cherry and rasberry. Vey little mouthfeel. A bit of a woodsy note (oak and pine). Tart finsih. Color looked older than the age of the wine. (86 points)
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