Saturday, June 2, 2012

Tasting notes from a busy month of May - Do you have any of these in your cellar?

2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c - USA, California (5/29/2012) My WOTN. Blueberry and kirsch, hedonistic and just plain yummy. Over the top profiles with baking spices and pure genius fruit. A wow wine. Wish I had more. (98 pts.) 2007 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley (5/29/2012) A close runner up to the SQN Atlantis. Absolutely gorgeous wine with some mocha, violets, bright blue fruit. This is a powerful but elegant wine and it didn't have the typical road tar extras that I have had with other Revas. Best young Reva I have had to date. (97 pts.) 1989 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (5/29/2012) Still very alive with a great mouthfeel. Somewhat dry finish. SEamless integration of fruit and forest floor. Roasted plums and mature cherries. Real sense of earthiness and mushroom brought it all together. A memorable wine. (96 pts.) 1990 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Goldert - France, Alsace, Gueberschwihr, Alsace Grand Cru AOC (5/29/2012) Liquid gold. Zesty and sexy. Great yellow fruit, citrus profile without being cloying. I picked up lemon, bananas and some pineapple. (96 pts.) 2002 DuMOL Pinot Noir Ryan - USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley (5/29/2012) Muted red raspberry and strawberry fruit at first that then opened up and blossomed. Floral and rose pedal nose. More feminine style which I prefer. Light entry, well balanced. (92 pts.) 1990 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (5/29/2012) Decanted for 10 hours. Roasted red fruit, cedar and cigar box. A bit hollow in the mid palate. (91 pts.) 2009 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (5/29/2012) Big lemon curd nose and profile. Clean, easy to drink with crisp acidity. A nice palate cleanser. (88 pts.) 2006 Roar Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (5/29/2012) Somewhat piney nose and taste followed by cherry cola. For me, this is a heavy handed style that I don't care for anymore. A lot of heat with finish. FWIW, all others really enjoyed it. (87 pts.) 1995 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (5/19/2012) This wine is in a fabulous place. Young, vibrant with cherries, tobacco, loam and nice chewy tannins. Well integrated, great backbone, Very well balanced. Everyone's favorite of the night. (96 pts.) 2007 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (5/19/2012) Yellow/greenish hue. Great lemon fruit profile with a dash of creme brulee. Nice structure, not overly oaked. Pure fruit with awesome acidity (95 pts.) 2003 Mas Doix Priorat - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (5/19/2012) Plum and black cherry. Big and beautiful wine. Didn't feel the heat. (94 pts.) 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils Clos Vougeot - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru (5/19/2012) This was a powerful wine that is still a bit wound tight. Profile of cherries and raspberry, with a meaty chewy disposition. It started to loosen up upon decanting. Fruit forward, with a sense of terrior and minerality. This needs another 5+ years and it will be singing. (92 pts.) 2006 5 Puttonyas - Hungary (5/19/2012) Pineapple and carmel profile with some green apple thrown into the mix. Great acidity with just the right amount of sweetness. Great way to finish a meal. (91 pts.) 2001 Martin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Collector's Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (5/16/2012) Young wine with great structure. Big and tight, not ready yet to drink. Has promise. Profile of chocolate and cherries. Has a lot of character, almost of late harvest. Let it rest a few more years. (91 pts.) 2001 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Coach Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) I popped this at the end of the night to redeem the corked 95 Fisher Lamb. This is not a pop and pour wine due to its tannic structure. I took the other half home and just jammed a cork in it and stuck it in the cellar. The next night, it was rocking with bright red fruit and integrated tannins. Day two score would be mid 90s. (88 pts.) 1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) Winner, winner chicken dinner. Great black and red cherry fruit, dry finish but incredibly well balanced and layered with mature fruit. (96 points) 1997 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) This wine was ridiculously good. Vibrant, rich, chewy. Drinking young but very well integrated. Pure dark cherry fruit. Great balance. Awesome finish. (95 points) 1999 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley Wine Auction Maya Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (5/16/2012) Wow, this was young and delicious. Black fruit profile with a great finish with some tobacco at the end. (94 points) 1995 Opus One - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) Bordeaux like on palate. Nice acidity and backbone. Flavor profile of mature cherries and earthiness. The wine is at peak, but not tired. Some in group felt it was a bit barnyardy but I viewed it on thedusty and rustic side. (92 points) 1992 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) Light on its feet, bright red fruit, drinking young. Cianti like. Great entry, good mid palate but finishes with too much acid, (91 points) 2001 Vérité La Joie - USA, California, Sonoma County (5/16/2012) WE think that this was an off bottle as it did not show that well. Nice fruit but hollow in the mid palate. (89 points) 1976 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) Mature cherries on the nose with some rose pedals. More oak than fruit on palate. Mature cherries, still alive but on down slope. Acidic finish at first but picked up weight and mellowed as night continued and became more balanced. (88 points) 1995 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lamb Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/16/2012) Corked (NR/flawed) 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/12/2012) Just a great wine once again. Mature fruit, bordeaux-esque, that had a nice feminine side to it. (95 points) 2005 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (5/12/2012) My first go with this label and it was a pleaser. Pure red cherry fruit, ripe but not overdone. Appeared to be made in a style that let the fruit do the talking. (93 points) 2006 Turley Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (5/12/2012) Fruity, spicy and yummy. This ended a night of three big cabs and it was just what the doctor ordered. Plum, blackberry dominated with some nice white pepper and a brambly, dusty component. (90 points) 2005 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (5/11/2012) This bottle continued to perform nicely. I noticed that someone else had a brett issue with this wine and he had none. Dark mature cherries, nice tannins, not smooth yet not harsh and a great backbone with excellent structure. (91 points)

No comments:

Post a Comment