Wines are in drinking order.
•1997 Domaine Joseph Roty Charmes-Chambertin Très Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru (1/30/2011)
Rasberry and strawberry with some woodsy undertones combine with flint and chalk. This is an elegant yet powerful wine. Palate is deep and finish is long and sophisticated. (94 pts.)
•2008 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Old Vines Summa - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/30/2011)
This wine was the second wine of the night. It followed the Josepgh Roty Charmes Chambertin. Not an easy slot in the drinking mix. I liked this wine much more than the rest of the crowd. It was a bright light red color that oozed freshness. Nose was all cherry with a touch of blueberry behind it. The rap from the group was that it lacked a finish. I would descirbe it as a thin. Very pure fruit with a a violet/spring flower bouquet. Extremely well balanced. May not be a long term ager but awfully good right now. (92 pts.)
•2006 Rhys Pinot Noir Swan Terrace Alpine Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (1/30/2011)
I absolutely adored this wine. It is so different than the Cali style of brawn and alcohol. This wine had power but finesse. Like a Ferrari, not a muscle car. Upon opening, it was a little restrained. Extremely well structured. Fruit was red cherry, pomegranate and some rasberry in the mix. The fruit was powerful but not in your face. This is very young and I am committing to hiding these for3- 5 years to see how they develop. Hopefully some secondary flavors will emerge. I thin k this wine may be on the verge of greatness in the future. (95 pts.)
•1988 Gaja Barolo Sperss - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (1/30/2011)
Bummer but this wine was corked. No doubt about it. NR (flawed)
•1996 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (1/30/2011)
Everyone else like this a lot more than me. It started out with a great body in entry but I found it thin in the mid palate. There was plenty of red fruit but it was non-distinct. Also caught some blueberry and rosemary on the finish. As night went on it became more floral but did not stand up to its 1997 brother. (88 pts.)
•1997 Gaja Langhe Nebbiolo Sperss - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (1/30/2011)
WOTN: Huge mouth full of fruit. Incredible dark berries and blue fruits. Perfect match with the short ribs. One of the best Italian wines I have had in some time. Stong, stiff finish. Forest dirt and aromas float past the mid palate. (97 pts.)
•2004 La Spinetta (Rivetti) Barbaresco Vürsù Vigneto Gallina - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco (1/30/2011)
Now this is good stuff. Explosion of bright cherry fruit in your mouth. Lighter in style but had great acidity that brought depth and complexity. Minute long finish. (95 pts.)
•2000 Monte Faustino Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1/30/2011)
Paired amazingly with dessert. Raisins and dried plums were the dominate flavors. Not as unctuaous as I remember, a bit lighter on its feet. Excellent wine. (91 pts.)
•1996 Badia a Coltibuono Vin Santo del Chianti Classico - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Vin Santo del Chianti Classico (1/30/2011)
I has my dbouts that we could outdo the Amarone after dessert. But this delivered. I would compare it to a Tokaji light. QAlmonds, citrus, creme brulee. Awesome fruity mouthfeel. Finished with a wonderful acidic kick. Nice carmel color. Didn't feel the heat. (93 pts.)
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
Wines by the Fire Pit
•2005 Robert Foley Claret - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (1/8/2011)
Hedonistic, chewy and loaded with black and blue flavors. Right amount of oak works well with blueberry compote and black cherry pie. Nice vanilla, cinnamon and baking spices on finish. Outstanding. (95 pts.)
•2000 Monte Faustino Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1/8/2011)
Mature cherry and raisin nose with a slight port like mouthfeel and finish. Some glycerin slides this beauty in the mid palate. Great food wine. In a very good place. (93 pts.)
•2005 Saxum Broken Stones - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/8/2011)
Drank with dessert. Went well with chocolate. Blueberry is the main profile with a thick chewy feel that carries a finish for a full minute. Alcohol level did not get in the way. (93 pts.)
•2006 Booker Vineyard The Alchemist - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/8/2011)
Followed the 05 Saxum Broken Stones and it did not skip a beat. Testament to the wine making ability at Booker. Blackberry, blueberry and an awesome gamey texture. I think it brings so much pleasure as a young wine. Why wait for the next. Popped and poured. (92 pts.)
•2006 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Pommard Clones - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/8/2011)
Great place for this wine. Purity of bright red fruit. Strawberry and raspberry blast. Nice acidity and soft tannins. Solid. (92 pts.)
•2007 Torrin The Maven - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/8/2011)
Purety of fruit and slightly lighter profile than the Booker and Saxum before it. It held up to those big boys. Really nice way to finish a night. (90 pts.)
Hedonistic, chewy and loaded with black and blue flavors. Right amount of oak works well with blueberry compote and black cherry pie. Nice vanilla, cinnamon and baking spices on finish. Outstanding. (95 pts.)
•2000 Monte Faustino Amarone della Valpolicella Classico - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico (1/8/2011)
Mature cherry and raisin nose with a slight port like mouthfeel and finish. Some glycerin slides this beauty in the mid palate. Great food wine. In a very good place. (93 pts.)
•2005 Saxum Broken Stones - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/8/2011)
Drank with dessert. Went well with chocolate. Blueberry is the main profile with a thick chewy feel that carries a finish for a full minute. Alcohol level did not get in the way. (93 pts.)
•2006 Booker Vineyard The Alchemist - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/8/2011)
Followed the 05 Saxum Broken Stones and it did not skip a beat. Testament to the wine making ability at Booker. Blackberry, blueberry and an awesome gamey texture. I think it brings so much pleasure as a young wine. Why wait for the next. Popped and poured. (92 pts.)
•2006 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Pommard Clones - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/8/2011)
Great place for this wine. Purity of bright red fruit. Strawberry and raspberry blast. Nice acidity and soft tannins. Solid. (92 pts.)
•2007 Torrin The Maven - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/8/2011)
Purety of fruit and slightly lighter profile than the Booker and Saxum before it. It held up to those big boys. Really nice way to finish a night. (90 pts.)
Thursday, January 6, 2011
TN's Our Group's Bring Somethng Different or Off Radar Screen Night
1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (1/6/2011)
WOTN: rose pedal and violet nose. Dark red/purple in glass. Doesn't show it's age. Fleshy quality in palate. Developed a meaty nose.Black olive notes with ripe cherry. Chewy texture. Delicius. Shrug your shoulders kind of yummy. So easy to drink. Smooth tannins. (95 points)
2006 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (1/6/2011)
Second fave of the night. Big, beautiful black and blue fruit. Spicy, somewhat hot at first but mellowed out. Caught some mint and chocolate on the nose. Somewhat dusty finish. Fruit profile of blackberry, bllack cherry and blueberry. Finished with some nice spices. (94 points)
2004 Two Hands Shiraz Bella's Garden - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (1/6/2011)
This wine showed nicely. Decadent fruit bomb. A bit over the top but really fun to drink. A bit of a sourish thing with great blueberry fruit. I am sorry to admit it but I really enjoyed it. It brought me back to my Aussie phase of drinking. (91 points)
2007 Fantesca Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (1/6/2011)
Well balanced, lighter style. Nice profile of red cherry. Laid back style worked for me. Very smooth and easy to drink.Somewhat of a flat curve from entry to finish. (91 points)
2007 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (1/6/2011)
Great minerality. Some wet fur, light funk on nose but not on palate. Great sense of purity of deep red fruit. Chewy but not overdone. I like this much better than the group which found it uniteresting. I would call it Cayuse Cailloux lite. (90 points)
2000 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (1/6/2011)
Boredeaux blend on nose. Ripe cherry fruit. Somewhat one dimensional. Decent, not special. Not worth the price of addmission. (87 points)
2007 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Camins del Priorat - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (1/6/2011)
Light style, tastes like a grenache/syrah blend. easy to drink, red fruit with some bacon fat. NOt overly complex. (85 points)
2005 Imagery Estate Winery Lagrein Artist Collection - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/6/2011)
Tight, tannic, sour finish. Rustic blackberry was covered by the tannins. Didnt work for me but others really liked it. (84 points)
2007 Klee Syrah - USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley (1/6/2011)
Too much pepper! My tongue felt like it was sprayed with mace. (84 points)
2007 Clos Thales Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Clos d'en Coulon - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (1/6/2011)
Port like, slaty, extracted. Yuck! (80 points)
WOTN: rose pedal and violet nose. Dark red/purple in glass. Doesn't show it's age. Fleshy quality in palate. Developed a meaty nose.Black olive notes with ripe cherry. Chewy texture. Delicius. Shrug your shoulders kind of yummy. So easy to drink. Smooth tannins. (95 points)
2006 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (1/6/2011)
Second fave of the night. Big, beautiful black and blue fruit. Spicy, somewhat hot at first but mellowed out. Caught some mint and chocolate on the nose. Somewhat dusty finish. Fruit profile of blackberry, bllack cherry and blueberry. Finished with some nice spices. (94 points)
2004 Two Hands Shiraz Bella's Garden - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (1/6/2011)
This wine showed nicely. Decadent fruit bomb. A bit over the top but really fun to drink. A bit of a sourish thing with great blueberry fruit. I am sorry to admit it but I really enjoyed it. It brought me back to my Aussie phase of drinking. (91 points)
2007 Fantesca Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (1/6/2011)
Well balanced, lighter style. Nice profile of red cherry. Laid back style worked for me. Very smooth and easy to drink.Somewhat of a flat curve from entry to finish. (91 points)
2007 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Contender - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (1/6/2011)
Great minerality. Some wet fur, light funk on nose but not on palate. Great sense of purity of deep red fruit. Chewy but not overdone. I like this much better than the group which found it uniteresting. I would call it Cayuse Cailloux lite. (90 points)
2000 Viña Almaviva S.A. Almaviva - Chile, Central Valley, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto (1/6/2011)
Boredeaux blend on nose. Ripe cherry fruit. Somewhat one dimensional. Decent, not special. Not worth the price of addmission. (87 points)
2007 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Camins del Priorat - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (1/6/2011)
Light style, tastes like a grenache/syrah blend. easy to drink, red fruit with some bacon fat. NOt overly complex. (85 points)
2005 Imagery Estate Winery Lagrein Artist Collection - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/6/2011)
Tight, tannic, sour finish. Rustic blackberry was covered by the tannins. Didnt work for me but others really liked it. (84 points)
2007 Klee Syrah - USA, Oregon, Columbia Valley (1/6/2011)
Too much pepper! My tongue felt like it was sprayed with mace. (84 points)
2007 Clos Thales Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes Clos d'en Coulon - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Vin de Pays des Côtes Catalanes (1/6/2011)
Port like, slaty, extracted. Yuck! (80 points)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Years Wines
1967 Château d'Yquem - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (1/2/2011)
Liquid gold in a bottle. Deep carmel color. Oozes richness on the nose. Extremely well balanced and elegant. Great matrue whie fruit. Loved it again. Sublime. (97 points)
2004 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/2/2011)
WOTN. Wow! Dark brooding fruit, black rasberry and cherry with a finish that goes on forever. First bottle was corked. Bummer. Next one was great. Then we coaxed a last one out of the cellar. Yeah baby. This wine was seamless with soft tannins and some blueberry on the finish. No apparent heat. My favorite Martinelli to date. (97 points)
1997 Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (1/2/2011)
Absolutely delicious. Alive, sophisticated, fruit well integrated with the whole package. Awesome light lemon overtones and great acidity. (96 points)
2002 Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (1/2/2011)
Fabulous wine with mature white fruit, peaches, lemon with a light carmel color. Lots of citrus on th epalate and a subtle nuttiness. Most important, the minerality, limestone and wet rocks really made this a special wine. (96 points)
2001 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/2/2011)
Big fruit, big mouthfeel, just plain big. Black fruit of cherry and blueberry. Extremely well knit and integrated. Still a little heavy on the oak. Even better on day 2. Scored a 96 on day 2. (95 points)
1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/2/2011)
Still very young. Great structure with plum and cedar as main flavor components. Also a bit oaky. Smooth sweet tannins. Just was lacking something to make it great. Fell apart about an hour into the glass. (89 points)
2004 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1/2/2011)
Tropical fruit and floral nose. Slightly tired fruit, lacked the vibrancy that I like from these grapes. Soft round edges. Mellow and regal. This would merit a higher score if it wasn't the wine after the 2002 Ramonet. (89 points)
2006 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/2/2011)
Disappointment of the night. Maybe in a wierd stage of evolution. Lemon and creme brulee on the nose and palate. Short finish. Did not hold a candle to the white Burgundy - 2002 Ramonet. I am beginning to wonder if these wines are worth the price of admission. (88 points)
Liquid gold in a bottle. Deep carmel color. Oozes richness on the nose. Extremely well balanced and elegant. Great matrue whie fruit. Loved it again. Sublime. (97 points)
2004 Martinelli Pinot Noir Blue Slide Ridge - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/2/2011)
WOTN. Wow! Dark brooding fruit, black rasberry and cherry with a finish that goes on forever. First bottle was corked. Bummer. Next one was great. Then we coaxed a last one out of the cellar. Yeah baby. This wine was seamless with soft tannins and some blueberry on the finish. No apparent heat. My favorite Martinelli to date. (97 points)
1997 Salon Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (1/2/2011)
Absolutely delicious. Alive, sophisticated, fruit well integrated with the whole package. Awesome light lemon overtones and great acidity. (96 points)
2002 Domaine Ramonet Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru (1/2/2011)
Fabulous wine with mature white fruit, peaches, lemon with a light carmel color. Lots of citrus on th epalate and a subtle nuttiness. Most important, the minerality, limestone and wet rocks really made this a special wine. (96 points)
2001 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/2/2011)
Big fruit, big mouthfeel, just plain big. Black fruit of cherry and blueberry. Extremely well knit and integrated. Still a little heavy on the oak. Even better on day 2. Scored a 96 on day 2. (95 points)
1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/2/2011)
Still very young. Great structure with plum and cedar as main flavor components. Also a bit oaky. Smooth sweet tannins. Just was lacking something to make it great. Fell apart about an hour into the glass. (89 points)
2004 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1/2/2011)
Tropical fruit and floral nose. Slightly tired fruit, lacked the vibrancy that I like from these grapes. Soft round edges. Mellow and regal. This would merit a higher score if it wasn't the wine after the 2002 Ramonet. (89 points)
2006 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/2/2011)
Disappointment of the night. Maybe in a wierd stage of evolution. Lemon and creme brulee on the nose and palate. Short finish. Did not hold a candle to the white Burgundy - 2002 Ramonet. I am beginning to wonder if these wines are worth the price of admission. (88 points)
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