Sunday, July 5th, 2009

Brophy Clark, Pinot Noir, Ashley's Vineyard, 2005
Mt. Difficulty, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2005
Sanguis, Infidels, California, 2006

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Alondra, Chardonnay, Middleridge Ranch, Mendocino, 2008
Bonny Doon, Vin Gris de Cigare, California, 2007
Adelaida, School House Crush, Paso Robles, 2006
Cafaro, Emily Elizabeth Merlot, Napa, 2004
Slingshot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006

Villa Creek, Avenger, Paso Robles, 2006
Forlorn Hope, Mil Amores, Dewitt Vineyard, Amador County, 2006
Sanguis, Infidels, California, 2006

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

A. Rafenelli, Zinfandel, Dry Creek, 2005
Chateau Cantemerle, Haut Medoc, France, 1996
Silver Oak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley, 1998

And a slew of others

Sunday, June 27th, 2009

Didier Daguneau, Pur Sang, Blanc Fume de Pouilly, Loire, France, 2006
Bodegas Muga, Reserva, Spain, 2001
Reif, Cabernet Franc, Niagra on the Lake, Canada, 2004

Friday, June 26th, 2009

At the Conan O'Brien Show with Mike Smith

Jayson, Chardonnay, Napa, 2005
12 C, Cabernet Sauvignon, George III Vineyard, Napa, 2007
Myriad, Cabernet Sauvignon, Kenefick Ranch, Napa, 2007
Myriad, Syrah, Las Madres, Carneros, 2007
Alban, Syrah "Reva", Edna Valley, 2005
Jonata, Cabernet Franc, Santa Ynez, 2005

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

A great day of interesting wines

Corte Gardini, Bardolino, Italy, 2006
Sesti, Monteleccio, Montalcino, Italy, 2007
Sesti, Rosso di Montalcino, Italy, 2007
Guido Porro, Barolo, Italy, 2004
Cantine Valpane, Barbera, 2006
Cantine Valpane, Valpane, 2001*
Domaine Fontsainte, Corbieres, France, 2006
Domaine Gallety, Cotes du Vivarais, France, 2006

Casa Mendes Vinho Verde, Portugal, 2008 (Smoking deal!)
Kopke, Vinho Branco, Douro, Portugal, 2008
Quinta das Maias, Malvasia Fina/Encruzado/Verdelho/Cercial, Portugal, 2005
Quinta das Roques, Encruzado Reserva, Portugal, 2007
Quinta do Correio Tinto, 2006
Maias Tinto, 2007
Quinta dos Roques Tinto, 2006
Kopke Fine Ruby Port
Kopke Vintage Port, 2007

Wednesday, June 24th, 2009

Claiborne and Churchill

Gewurztraminer, Edna, 2007
Dry Riesling, Edna, 2007
Pinot Noir, Edna, 2006

Solid wines. Very solid.

Friday and Saturday, June 19th and 20th, 2009

Roessler Wines

Big Bend Estate, Chardonnay, Carneros, 2006
Red Label, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, 2006
La Brisa, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2007
Blue Jay, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, 2007
Dutton Ranch, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2006
Griffen's Lair, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2007

Also,
J. Rochioli, Chardonnay, Sweetwater Vineyard, 2006
Chasseur, Pinot Noir, Sonoma County, 2007

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Adelaida Winery
Pavanne, Paso Robles, 2006
Version, Paso Robles, 2007
Syrah, Anna Vineyard, 2006
Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, 2006
Version Red, Paso Robles, 2006
School House, Crush, Paso Robles, 2006
School House, Pinot Noir, 2006
School House, Recess Red, 2006
School House, Zinfandel, 2006
School House, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006


Matt Herbeck's Birthday
Torley, Fortuna, Hungary, NV
Curran, Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez, 2007
Chateau de Gigognan, Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, 2006
Beckman, Cuvee Le Bec, Santa Ynez, 2007
Tres Ojos, Garnacha, Calatayud, Spain, 2007
Chateau de Gigognan, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2005

Chateau La Louviere, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, 1985
Chateau Gloria, St. Julien, Bordeaux, 1985 (this was a highlight and the best of the '85 that I've yet had).

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

Modus Operandi Event with Jason Moore

Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, 2007
Vicarious Rose, Napa, 2007
Vicarious Red, Napa, 2006
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006
Antithesis, Napa, 2006

Pride, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa/Sonoma, 2004
Joeseph Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 1985

Sunday, June 14th, 2009

Sine Qua Non, Stars and Stripes Rose, California, 2007
Chateau Revelette, Rose, Provence, 2008
Dragonette, Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez, 2008
Papapietro Perry, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2006
Culler, Caeseda, Sonoma, 2006
Sanguis, The Wedding, California, 2004
Sanguis, Novillero, California, 2006

Good Stuff.

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Greg's Party

Booker, Vertigo, Paso Robles, 2005
Almaviva, Blend, Chile, 2003

Friday, May 29th, 2009

J. Wilkes, Pinot Blanc, Bien Nacido Vineyard, 2006
Domaine de Roches, Pinot Noir, Bourgogne, 2006
Bruno Colin, Maranges, La Fussiere, Burgundy, 2006
Joseph Swan, Pinot Noir "Cuvee de Trois", Russian River, 2006
Hollis, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2005

Astral, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Ynez, 2005
Peirson Meyer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

The Wines of Etude

Pinot Gris, Carneros, 2008
Chardonnay, Carneros, 2007
Rose of Pinot Noir, Carneros, 2008
Pinot Noir, Carneros, 2006
"GBS", Carneros, 2006
Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005

All great wines, but the Pinot Noir and the Cabernet were the two standouts.

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

On the docket for tonight . . .

Chateau Margaux, Pavillion Blanc, 2002 (delicious, appropriately aged, medium weight, nice citrus and lemon grass, perfect with Chevre)
Domaine Tempier, Bandol, 1993 (suprisingly good for an off-vintage in Bandol. The wine was begining to show age but still had a ton of life left in it. The original price tag was still on it, $17.99)
Sea Smoke, Pinot Noir "Botella", Sta. Rita Hills, 2005 (This is at a great place right now. I'd not open another for 2 more years. It's begining to flesh out, but still has some unpacking to do)

All in all, a great night of wine appropriately paired with Asparagus Bisque, Spinach Salad, and Salmon.

Saturday, May 23rd, 2009

Pierre Gimonet, Brut, 2000
Flowers, Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast, 2007
Scherrer, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2006
T.R. Elliot, Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, 2006
Pedestal, Merlot, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2006
Peirson-Meyer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005 (WOTN. Parker scored this wine poorly but I thought it was phenomenal. Really, really impressive).

Friday,

Tres Ojos, Garnacha, Calatayud, 2007
Brunier, Le Pigeoulet, Vin d'Pays, 2007
Mas Nuef, Rouge, Costieres de Nimes, 2007
Culler, Syrah, Caseda, Sonoma Coast, 2006
Epicurean, Grenache, Mc Laren Vale, AU, 2007

Alban, Viognier, Edna Valley, 2005
Sequel, Syrah, Columbia Valley, Washington, 2005
Alto Moncayo, Garnacha, Campo de Borja, Spain, 2006

Thursday Hodge Podge

Casa Cassera, Pinot Noir, "Burning Creek Vineyard", Sta. Rita Hills, 2001
Domaine Jean Bousquet, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2006
Chateau Destieuse, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, 2000
Mason, Merlot, Napa, 1998
Dunham Froese, Pinot Blanc, Okanagan Valley, 2007
Rombauer, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2002
Salanques, Cellar Mas Doix, Priorat, Spain, 2004
Louis Jadot, Beaulolais, France, 2007
Truchard, Cabernet Sauvigon, Carneros, 2002
La Fenetre, A Cote, Syrah, Santa Barbara, 2007
Weins, Petite Sirah, Temecula, 2006
Curtis, Syrah, Santa Barbara, 2006

Monday, May18th, 2009

Schuh Box Dinner



Chateau de Baumard, Chenin Blanc, Loire, 1989

Sine Qua Non, The Petition, California, 2005

Sea Smoke, Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills, 2004

Domaine Tempier, Rose, Bandol, 2007

Atlas Peak, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2003

Betts & Scholl, Hermitage, 2004

Azelia, Barolo, 1999

Pira, Barolo "Marenca", 1999

Saturday, May 16th, 2009

Kalin, Sauvignon Blanc, Potter Valley, 1997
Domaine Solitude, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvee Barbarini, 2000
Booker, Fracture, Paso Robles, 2006
Betts & Scholl, Hermitage, France, 2004

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

-Herbeck Family, Red Blend, Central Coast, 2006
-Curran, Grenache Blanc, Santa Ynez, 2007
-Kaesler, Semillon, Barossa, 2005
-Ampelos, Syrah Rose, Santa Ynez, 2006
-Spottswoode, Lyndenhurst, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2004
-Tres Picos, Garnacha, Spain, 2006
-Cannonball, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2006
-Nickel and Nickel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Regusci Vineyard Block 4, Stag's Leap, 2005
-Raymond, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 1990
-Navarro Lopez, Tempranillo, Gran Reserva, Spain, 2001
-Simi, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander, 2005
-The Wolftrap, Syrah, Mouvedre, Grenache, South Africa, 2006


All in all, a very good night of wine. The highlights are predictable . . . the 1990 Raymond Cab was drinking well, the Nickel and Nickel, and the Spottswoode.

Wednesday, April 22nd

I've dropped the ball once again. It's been weeks since my last update. However, I'm back on track. I've had great wines in the past weeks. But here is the notes from the past weekend. Actually, it's not even a comprehensive list of wines from the weekend. I probably had 20 that aren't listed here, but here's a start. More to come!

On a quick Santa Barbara weekend trip we tasted a lot of wine at Dragonette, Demetria, Stolpman, and Clos Pepe. However we also brought the following bottles. I'm hesistant to attach point values, but I feel my notes don't concisely convey my qualitative assessment, so, with a grain of salt . . .

Sine Qua Non, Whisperin' E, Santa Barbara, 2002
A blend of Rousanne, Chard, and Viognier. This was almost neon green and golden, literally almost the color of the Olive Oil we used to cook with that night. It was showing a suprising amount of oxidation. It had a smokey nutty nose, trademark viscousity, peach pit, and more stone fruit flavors. Pure with plenty of acid to pair food with but plenty of richness to enjoy on it's own. It was a delightful wine. 92 points

Rivers Marie, Chardonnay, B. Theirot Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, 2007
I was anxious to try this. It fits most descriptions written on this board already. It plows onto the palate with richness but then kind of tightens up and finishes with a crisp acidity, beckoning you back for more. People have likened this to Chablis. I wouldn't agree to that, but it is certainly a more linear and svelt Chardonnay than most from Sonoma Coast. I loved it and can't wait to drink it again. We killed this bottle quickly. 94 points

Rivers Marie, Pinot Noir, Occidental Ridge, Sonoma Coast, 2006
Still to young to drink, but I had waited long enough. It continuously evolved over the course of 2 days. It started out with pure dark, tart fruit, and then changed to sassafras and root beer, and always maintained great texture, power, finesse, acidity, and all around enjoyability. It's a good first showing. 92 points.

Chateau Beaucastel, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 2000
This was the best red of the night. Gorgeous bouquet, tons of complexity, softness and richness. It has red raspberry, a briary savage character, meatiness, and yet a feminine potpourri. The next day it was even more expressive and tenacious. 95 points.

Alban, Syrah, Reva, Edna Valley, 2004
This was plush and plummy, black and tarry, tons of richness and opulence. It was drinking a black velvet pillow soaked in blackberry perserves and infused with bacon grease. Seamless! Plenty of acid. Delicious, but super ripe. 93 points (however, I'm sure many others would love this much, much more).

Alban, Syrah, Reva, Edna Valley, 2005
This has more density and tannin structure than the 2004 and the acid is much more agressive as well. It's puckering. Other than that, it shows a lot of the same flavors, simliar ultra-ripeness and ultra-concentration, but not the same soft plushness yet. I think that this is superior to the 2004, but may take 3+ more years to unearth its secondary characteristics. 93 points.

Wolf, Cabernet Franc, Napa, 2004
This thing rocks. It's like Cab Sauv, but so soft and supple. Black fruit, soft tannin, firm stucture, fully ripe. Probably my favorite domestic Cab Franc. It's drinking in its prime right now. 93 points.

Wednesday, April 8th, 2009

Random Day

-Tilia, Sauvignon Blanc, Slovenia, 2007
-Slipstream, Chardonnay, Adelaide, 2006
-Bibich, Riserva, Croatia, 2006
-The Black Chook, Shiraz/Viognier, AU, 2007
-Mr. Riggs, The Gaffer, Shiraz, McLaren Vale, 2006
-Weinrieder, Riesling Eiswein, Austria, 2002
-Batic, Valentino, Vipava, Slovenia, 2003

-Benton Lane, Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2007
-Claiborne and Churchill, Pinot Noir, Edna Valley, 2006
-Castello di Bossi, Chianti Classico, Italy, 2004
-Red Lion, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2006
-Andrew Murray, Esperance, Santa Ynez, 2006

Tuesday, April 7th, 2009

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

A Big Day of CdP 2007 "The Vintage of a Lifetime" according to Parker.

All of the wines were excellent. In other vintages there always seems to be variation from producer to producer, whereas here, all of the wines seem to be top notch efforts. Are they the best CdP's ever produced? Only time will tell.

I think that a major strength in this vintage will be found in the less expensive appellations of Cotes-du-Rhone, Rasteau, Gigondas, Costiere de Nimes, Seguret, etc. I've had some ridiculous values.

-Lafond, Roc-Effie, Tavel, 2008 *
-Dom des Escornvailles, CdR, Les Sablieres, 2007 ***
-Dom Cayron, Gigondas, France, 2006 **
-Bosquet des Papes, CdP Tradition, 2007**
-Bosquet des Papes, CdP Cuvee Chante le Merle, 2007**
-Bosquet des Papes, CdP Ala Glorie de Mon Grand-Pere, 2007**
-Chateau Fortia, CdP Tradition, 2007*1/2
-Chateau Fortia, CdP Cuvee Baron, 2007 *
-Clos des Brusquieres, CdP, 2007*
-Cuvee du Vatican, CdP Reserve Sixtine, 2007*** (awesome, tied for WOTN)
-De La Cote de l'Ange, CdP Tradition, 2007**
-De La Cote de l'Ange, CdP Vieilles Vignes, 2007*
-Le Vieux Donjon, CdP, 2007
-Mas de Boislauzon, CdP Tradition, 2007**
-Mas de Boislauzon, CdP Cuvee de Quet, 2007*
-Moulin-Tacussel, CdP, 2007*** (tie for WOTN)
-Moulin-Tacussel, CdP Hommage a Henry Tacussel, 2007**
-Pierre Usseglio & Fils, CdP Tradition, 2007*** (tie for WOTN)
-Pierre Usseglio & Fils, CdP "Cuvee de Mon Aieul", 2007* (shocker)


Legend
CdP = Chateauneuf-du-Pape
CdR = Cotes-du-Rhone
*** = Excellent
** = Very good
* = Good
WOTN = Wine of the night

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

More of the same from yesterday.

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Italian Wine

-Terlano, Muller Thurgau, Alto Adige, Italy, 2007
-Terlano, Lagrein Rose, Alto Adige, Italy, 2006
-Sardati, Monica di Sardegnia, 2006
-Di Milano, Aglianico, Molise, Italy, 2005
-Farnese, Sangiovese, Italy, 2006

-Colin, Bourgogne Blanc, France, 2006
-Colin, Santennay, Burgundy, France, 2006
-Domaine Tempier, La Migoua, Bandol, France, 2006 (this wine was awesome).

-Pride, Merlot "Vintner's Select Cuvee", Sonoma, 2006 (After all the French and Italian wines, this tasted super ripe and heavily seasoned in oak. A nice wine, but it's a bit much for me this night).
-Kobalt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

-Sylvain Bailly, Sancerre Rouge, France, 2005
-La Planeta, Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, 2007
-Chateau Mille Roses, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, 2003
-J, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2006
-Donovan-Parke, Pinot Noir, Sonoma, 2007
-Charles Cimicky, Shiraz, Trumps, Barossa, 2006
-My family's homemade Tempranillo from Sonora, 2008

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

Chateay Cahuzac, Fronton Rose, "L'Authentique", France, 2006
Mas Grand Plagniol, Costieres de Nimes Rose, 2007
Dom. Bunan, Ch. La Rouviere Rose, Bandol, 2007
Meulenhof, Riesling, Spatlese, 2007 (1 liter)
Eugen Muller, Forster Mariengarten Riesling Kabinett, 2007
Spreitzer, Oestericher Lenchen Riesling Kabinett, 2007

Revelette Rose, 2008
Lamonthe de Haux, 2008
Atrea, The Choir, Mendocino, 2007
Terraces, Zinfandel, Napa, 2006
Culler, Syrah, Casaeda, Sonoma Coast, 2006

Trefethen, Chardonnay, Napa, 2007
Trefethen, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

-Chateau St. Martin de Garrigue, Provence, 2008
-Lauantureax, Petit Chablis, 2006
-Chateau La Roque, Pic St. Loup, 2006
-Villa di Geggiano, Chianti Classico, Italy, 2006
-Guid Parro, Dolcetto d'Alba, Italy, 2005
-Guid Parro, Barbera, Italy, 2006
-Domaine Poujol, Languedoc, 2007
-Tintero, Moscato d Asti, Italy, NV
-Domaine La Tour Vielle, Banyuls, France, NV

Saturday, March 28th, 2009

Friday, March 27th, 2009

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Bighorn, Chardonnay, Sonoma, 2007
Expression 44 degrees, Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon, 2006
Expression 44 degrees, Pinot Noir, Willakia, 2006
Expression 39 degrees, Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, Annahula Vineyard, 2007
Bighorn, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005

Plus a bunch for Hodge Podge

Tuesday, March 24th, 2009

-Salvestrin, Sauvignon Blanc, St. Helena, 2007
-Salvestrin, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005
-Modus Operandi, Vicarious, Napa, 2006
-Clos Pepe, Pinot Noir, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills, 2007
-Clos Pepe, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Estate

-Belle Pente, Pinot Gris, Oregon, 2007
-Solorosa, Pinot Noir Rose, Russian River Valley, 2008
-Solorosa, Rose, RRV, 2008
-Belle Pente, Pinot Noir, Willamette, 2007
-Scherrer, Pinot Noir, RRV, 2006
-Bonny Doon, Ca del Solo, San Benito, 2006
-Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Volant, Red, 2004

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

Qupe, Marsanne, Santa Barbara, 2005

Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Same as yesterday, plus . . .

-Chateau Ste Michelle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cold Creek Vineyards, 2004 (good, but nothing exciting.)
-Jean Raphet, Clos Vougeot, Grand Cru, 1996 (tired and not great. Somewhat dissappointing.)

Friday, March 20th, 2009

-Saxon Brown, Semillon, Cricket Creek, Alexander Valley, 2007
-Holly's Hill, Mourvedre, El Dorado, 2007
-Green Lion, Merlot, Napa, 2006
-Ramian, La Morra, Napa, 2005
-Bray, Alicante Bouchet, Shenendoah Valley, 2005

-Lewis, Merlot, Napa, 2003 (Delicious)
-Chateau Montelena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 1978 (slightly tired, but still enjoyable. A unique experiance.)

Thursday, March 19th, 2009

Started off the day with . . .
Mantanzas Creek, Sauvignon Blanc, 2007
Mantanzas Creek, Chardonnay, 2006
Mantanzas Creek, Pinot Noir, 2006
Mantanzas Creek, Merlot, 2005
Arrowood, Viognier, 2006
Arrowood, Chardonnay, 2005
Arrowood, Syrah, 2003
Arrowood, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2004

Sineann, Pinot Noir, Oregon, 2007
Brandbourg, Pinot Noir, Umpqua, 2006
Anam Cara, Pinot Noir Reserve, Willamette, 2005
Gramercy, Syrah, Lagniappe, WA, 2006
Owen Roe, Ex Umbris, Syrah, Columbia Valley, WA, 2007

All the wines above were good, especially Sineann and Owen Roe.

Hodge Podge

I knew it would happen sooner or later. Instead of the Hodge Podge being about sharing great wines with people who appreciate great wine, it turned into a display of shockingly mediocre, and dare I say, undrinkable wine. Even more surprising, some people liked all the wines!

I'm afraid that the sad truth may be that I am the one who is now jaded. Perhaps I have become the wine snob I always swore I would never become. Or perhaps grocery store wine produced by the millions of cases is not even palateable for a non-professional. Alas, I did not stand alone in my judgement of the wines last evening. Many of the tasters were too appaulled at the low quality of wines, some of which were produced by reputable producers . . . and then others produced by casino resorts and spas. Check the list below.

Some wines, like the Lebanese and the Hug, were truth attempts at bringing interesting wines and pushing the envelope of our palates. Others, were just completely "flacid" (to use Evelyn's term), uninteresting, and sad examples for what winemakers spend their lifes doing.

There was 1 or 2 saving graces in the evening, but all in all it was the poorest showing yet for a Hodge Podge.

Here are the wines. Can you guess which were the highlights?

Martin Weyrich, Reserve Nebbiolo, Paso Robles, 2004
Casillero del Diablo, Carmenere, Chile, 2007
Hug, Mourvedre, Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard, 2007
Hill Family, The Barrel Blend, Napa, 2005
Vino Sin Ley, Monastrell, Spain, 2006
Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino, Merlot, Central Coast, 2005
Donavan-Parke, Pinot Noir, California, 2007
Hedges, Three Vineyards, Columbia Valley WA, 2006
Massaya Classic, Cinsault/Cab Sauv/Syrah, Lebanon, 2006
Inama Vin Soave, Soave Classico, Italy, 2005 (this was perhaps the Wine of the Night)
Quilceda Creek, Red Wine, Columbia Valley, 2004 (also a contender for the WOTN)

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Yet another night of Rockstars!

-Cannonball, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, 2006
-L'Escrime, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2001
-Wall Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006
-El Felino, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina, 2007
-Sparrow Hawk, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oak Knoll, Napa, 2005
-Blankiet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paradise Hills, Napa, 2005
This is near perfect. The wine is super polished, not a single flaw and just pure velvet on the palate. Love it, but not enough rawness to keep me interested.

-Lillian, Syrah, White Hawk, Santa Barbara, 2005
This was the WOTN for me. Exotic, roasted meat, lavendar, and tons of purity. Just a raw and exciting beast of a wine, but on a leash and perfectly tailored. Get some!

-Kuleto, Zinfandel, Napa, 2007
A good Zin, but I'm not a Zin lover, and this didn't wine me over. I'm sure plenty of people would love it.

-Cliff Lede, Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena, Napa, 2006
This is my second Cliff Lede in the past few months, and once again, I'm super impressed. The wine was a pure delight and has all the things that I love in Napa Cabernet including a sense of place and singularity. I'll beging carrying this soon.

-Delectus, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 1996
This was a true treat. The wine was perfectly aged, although will certainly continue to hold for another 5+ years easily. It was slight scorched red fruit quality and just a touch of cedar box. It was also showing cinnamon and potpourri. Delicious and delightful.

Hodge Podge of Rockstars!

Due to a rough week, we opened some goodies tonight.

Chateau Monbousquet, Saint-Emillion, Grand Cru, 1999
This was stunning. I've said it before, the more I drink wine, the more I want to drink older Bordeaux. It's so great. This isn't even a great vintage but it is so seductive. Release price was $35! Unreal value at $35. I can't imagine it getting much better, but it certainly will hold up for another 10 years. The nose evolved over the course of 1 hour. From cedar, coffee, bittersweet chocolate, creme de cassis, black fruit, it was a delight to smell. The palate was perfectly tailored, with lots of complexity and just the right amount of punch, wrapped in a velvet glove. This was my WOTN by far.

Saxum, James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles, 2005
Everyone loves Saxum, and it's obvious why. This wine was rich, opulent and expressive. After the Monbousquet, the alcohol seemed searing. It's really ripe, really extracted and is turned up to full-volume. I don't know why I keep opening these in their youth. I'm sure it will become great with a few more years of age, but for now, I'm not really that interested in drinking it.

Mollydooker, The Boxer, Shiraz, McLaren Vale, 2006
Oily, viscous, and mouthfilling. This Shiraz packs tons of wallop, flavors and intensity, but in a really greasy and oily package (in a good way). The wine penetrates the palate and overwhelms your sensory inputs so that all you can think about is this rich juice. It demands attention, pulses, and is alive with a heartbeat. If you like Aussie Shiraz for it's bigness, you can hardly do better than Mollydooker.

Chateau Margene, GSM, Paso Robles, 2006
Actually dominant in Mourvedre, this wine shows classic Paso halmarks. Overall, a really interesting and enjoyable bottle.

Beringer, Alluvium, Knight's Valley, 2004
Merlot dominated blend from Sonoma. This wine was sexy, silky, and just plump enough. I liked it a lot. $25 is a very fair price.

Bedford Thompson, Mourvedre, Santa Barbara, 2003
This one stumped everyone. We all thought it was Port-like and overripe. It showed a bit of residual sugar and no sense of age at all. Further we all thought it to be high in alcohol and it turned out to be 13.5%. Stumpper.

Covenant, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006
This was splash decanted for a moment before consumption. Everyone guessed it correctly. It was delicious, but really tough to get it to show any life. It was really tightly wound. Should be a great wine in a few years.

Chateau Destieux, Saint Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, 2000
This was a great bottle. I've never heard of this producer, but the wine was great. It showed a bit of ripeness, which is indicative of the vintage, and a lot of class and pedigree. Overall, a great wine.

Wednesday, March 11th, 2009

Tolaga Bay, Muscat, New Zealand, 2007
Tolaga Bay, Chardonnay, New Zealand, 2007
Ramian, Viognier, Babcock Ranch, 2007
Ramian, La Morra, Cinnamon Hill, 2005
Dark Horse, Gunfighter, Sonoma, 2006

Page, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, 2007
Page, Le Nu, Chardonnay, Napa, 2007
Page, Proprietary Red, Napa, 2004
Page, The Stash, Napa, 2005

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

Juris

Juris, Pinot Noir, Selecion, Austria, 2006
Juris, St. Larent, Austria, 2006
Juris, Pinot Noir, Reserve, Austria, 2003
Juris, St. Larent, Reserve, Austria, 2003
Juris, Pinot Noir, Reserve, Austria, 2000

Friday, March 6th, 2009

Another big day of superstars.

Vina Cobos, El Felino, Malbec, Mendoza, 2007
This was awesome. It's under $20 and it's awesome. It's the Paul Hobbs project in Argentina.

Flux, Tempranillo/Graciano/Mourvedre, Lake County, 2008 (Barrel Sample)
This is barrel sample made by Mark Herold. Opaque purple in color, with vibrant edges. It will not be bottled for 12 months. It had soaring aromatics and tremendous purity. It's tough to gauge at this young state, but suffice to say, it's delicious. Still has vibrant acidity, but lacks body and texture. It should retail for $35 when it is release in 18 months.

?????, Petite Sirah, St. Helena, 2005
This was good. It's just some small vineyard in St. Helena, small production, can't remember the name but it was fine.

Kobalt, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2006
Another stunner Kobalt. Same price as last year. To me it was more concentrated and rich than last year, but Kevin (the owner) claimed that it was more elegant than the previous vintage. Go figure. The wine rocks. It's all blueberries and creme, really finely grained tannin, richness but also plenty of finesse, their is just a touch of sweetness to the fruit, and the finish lingers with slight cocoa and vanilla bean nuances for over a minute. It's one of the great Napa Cabs in the $100 price range.

Bond, Cabernet Sauvignon, Vecina, Napa, 2002
WOWZA! Bond is one of the greats. Part of the Harlan Portfolio, Bond is also made by Bob Levy from highside vineyards in different parts of Napa. The wine showcases all the class and form of Harlan, but isn't as opulent. I dare say, I think I prefer Bond to Harlan. It is slightly more firm and poised. The wine is NEAR PERFECT. What is it missing? I'm not sure, but I hesitate to claim it's absolute perfection. I really wish I could afford these wines, because I would buy by the case. They are sensational!!!!!!! If you own this wine, don't be afraid to open it. Pervious experiences with Bond had me thinking that I should age the wine for 10 years, but this was different. It was absolutely singing right now. Get into them!

Lillian, Syrah, White Hawk Vineyard, California, 2005
Maggie Harrison is the owner, she was assistant winemaker at SQN for 10 years. Her entire training has come from Manfred Krankl, and it shows in the wine. This is a new contender for finest wine in the ultra-concentrated, super-ripe, but plenty of structure and tannin sytle of Sine Qua Non, Alban, Saxum, etc. I loved it. I loved smelling it. It's a great wine, and a seminal work of Mrs. Maggie Harrison.


PInot Noir Night
Dominque Morel, Beaujolais Village, 2007 - Awesome
Domain de Roche, Bourgogne Rouge, France, 2006 - Awesome
Grouchau Cellars, Pinot Noir, Toute de Suite, Willamette, Oregon, 2007
Chesebro, Pinot Noir, Arroyo Seco, California, 2007 - Awesome
Harmonia, Pinot Noir, Willamette, 2007 - Awesome
Alma Rosa, Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, 2007 - AWesome
Ken Brown, Pinot Noir, Cargassachi Vineyard, 2006 - Awesome
Au Bon Climat, Pinot Noir, Knox Alexander, 2006 - Awesome

Comment on the Pinot Noir?

Thursday, March 5th, 2009

Mas d'en Compte, Priorat, Spain, 2005
Parker 94. It was surprisingly soft, the last 3 times I had this wine, it was super dense and hardly tannic. This was a very pleasent showing of the wine, and it still has 10 years (easily) of life left in it.

Raymond, Cabernet sauvignon, Reserve, Napa, 2005
This was good, textbook, varietally corrent Cab from Napa. Nothing more, nothing less.

Linne Calado, Outsider, Paso Robles, 2006
75% Zin with the balance being Syrah and Mourvedre. It was good, but not really my style. It has Zin transparency, juiciness, and fruitiness, but with a little extra depth interest due to the Rhone grapes.

Teusner, Albert, Barossa, 2004
This was delightful. It didn't seem like standard Barossa to me. Perhaps 2004 wasn't as hot as normal? It was a little subdued, and I actually guessed it to be Cali Grenache. It is mostly Syrah with the balance being Grenache and other Rhones. A great wine from a great producer.

?????, Malbec, Mendoza, 2006
Don't remember the name of this one. It was a $20 Malbec and it was good.

Altozano, Verdejo/Sauvblanc, Spain, 2007
Vina Borgia, Garnacha, Campo de Borja, Spain, 2007
Protocolo, Tinto, Spain, 2006

Wednesday, March 4th, 2009

This was a full day of tasting.

Brundlmayer, Gruner Veltliner, Kamptaler Terrassen, 2007
Brunlmeyar, Gruner Veltliner, Alte Reben, 2002
Brundlmeyar, Riesling, Zobinger, Heiligenstein "Lyra", 2007
Brundlmeyar, St. Laurent Ried Ladner, 2003

Lucas & Lewellen, Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, 2006
Queen of Hearts, Pinot Noir, Santa Barbara, 2007
Mandolina, Dolcetto, SBC, 2007
Mas, Malbec, Mendoza, 2007

Bouchard, Bourgogne Blanc, 2006
Naia, Verdejo, Rueda, Spain, 2007
santa Julia, PInot Noir, Argentina, 2008
Uco, Urban, Malbec, Mendoza, 2007
Urban, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2005
Onix, Priorat, Spain, 2006
Can Blau, Monsant, Spain, 2007
Green Lion, Merlot, Napa, 2006
Chateau la Greffiere, Macon la Roche-Vineuse, 2007
Bucklin, Zinfandel, Sonoma, 2006
Jean Louis Tribouley, Les Bacs, VdP, 2007
Yann Chave, Croze Hermitage, 2007

Whew. That was a tough one. The Brundlmeyar wines are among the finest in Austria, but their expensive. All the Spanish stuff was awesome, as was the 2007 Rhones . . . Surprise, surprise.

Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009

Just 1 . . .

M. Chapoutier, La Bernardine, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, France, 2005
This was a great wine. Not nearly as large and brooding as most '05s that I've had. It's actually very elegant and subtle, but with plenty of polished tannin that will prevent age from coming too quickly. This is a great under $50 CdP buy.

Saturday, February 28th, 2009

I had about 10 wines this day, but didn't notate them.

Friday, February 27th, 2009

Nickel & Nickel, Merlot, Suscol Ranch, Napa, 2005
Terrabianca, Il Tesoro, Tuscany, 2004
Ladera, Merlot, Howell Mtn, Napa, 2005
Realm, Farella, Napa, 2005 (WOTN)
Mt. Veeder, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005
Crocker & Star, Cabernet Franc, Napa, 2005
Owen Roe, Cabernet Sauvigon, Walla Walla, 2006

Blind Hodge Podge

Martin Codax, Albarino, Rias Biaxas, Spain, 2006
Domaine Mourges du Gres, Les Galet Rouge, 2003
Domaine Mourges du Gres, Les Galet Rouge, 2006
Demetria, Syrah, Santa Ynez, 2005
Chateau St. Jean, Cinq Cepages, Sonoma, 1994 (This was stunning how young it tasted. I guessed it to be a current release Cab from Sonoma. I didn't get any age on it at all. The quality was good, but not great. It will continue to develop over the next 10 years.)

We had a bunch of other wine that was not memorable.

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

Early in the day-

Cotes du Coast, Vio-Rous-Mars, CA, 2006
San Liege, Grenache, CA, 2006
Sans Liege, The Offering, CA, 2006
Sparrow Hawk, Cab Sauv, Oak Knoll, 2005
Hansen, Cabernet Sauvignon, Paso Robles, 2006 (Barrel Sample)

Late Night

Pio Cesare Barolo Vertical

Just a 3 year vertical of Pio Cesare Barolo with pork loin in fig marmalade.

'96 - WOTN. Perfectly subdued, lovely floral aromas, soft edges, but still plenty of firm tannin.

'97 - Off. The bottle was just not quite right. It wasn't tainted, just dumb. It never improved.

'98 - This wine showed the potential to be as good as the '96 but still very muscular and tough. I liked it a lot but it was just slightly clumsy in its "bigness".

I think that all 3 wines will benefit from an additional 10 years, so no rush.

Friday, February 20th, 2009

-Realm, Absurd, Napa, 2005
As expected from Realm, this was a great wine. It wasn't as exciting as some of the other bottlings I've had, but still showcased the house-style. It was great.

-D.R. Stephens, Cab Sauv, Moose Vineyard, 2005
WOW! It was a stunner. Deep, rich, unctuous, beautifully complex, dark, long, just a stunning Cabernet. WS 96 and RP 90. I'll leaning much more towards the high 90s with this one. It's awesome.

-Myriad, Syrah, Las Madres, Carneros, 2006
Black fruit, creamy palate, a lot of appeal but not a ton of complexity. Awesome for the price.

-Quivet, Syrah, Las Madres, Carneros, 2006
Just a step down from the Myriad but still a great wine.

-Hudson, Syrah, Carneros, 2006
This wine is underappreciated. It's a Northern Rhone style with a lot of muscle. The opposite of Alban or SQN's reductive style. It's firm and tannic, but not at all harsh.

Thursday, February 19th

-Valdicava, Brunello di Montalcino, Italy, 2003
This was a WS 98 pointer. While I loved it, I think that 98 points is a bit of a stretch. It seems to be in a bit of a closed phase. Hopefully it will begin to unfold in a few years.

-Fisher, Cab Sauv, Herb Lamb Vineyard, Napa, 1999
This was showing lovely at the moment. It was just appropriately aged with soft tannin and beautifully complex.

-Hill Family, Chardonnay, Napa, 2006
-Beckman, Le Bec Cuvee, Santa Ynez, 2006
-Gain Bay, Cabernet Family, Napa, 2006
-David Bruce, Petite Sirah, Central Coast, 2006

Catching Up

Holy Cow, this thing gets hard to keep up with.

I've had plenty of great wines in the past couple of weeks. I haven't been writing them down, but I'll rattle off a few here and then keep up with this daily from now on.

-Charles Heidsieck, Champagne, NV
-David Arthur, Eleveation 1147, Napa, 2004
-Saxum, Broken Stones, Paso, 2004 (magnum)

And a bunch of others.

Friday, Feb 13th, 2009

Pinot Noirs

Boeckel, Pinot Noir, Alsace, 2007
Sylvain Bailly, Sancerre Rouge, France, 2006
42 Degrees, Pinot Noir, Tasmania, 2006
Waipara, Pinot Noir, NZ, 2006
Walter Hansel, Pinot Noir, The North Slope, 2006
TR Elliot, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2006
Auteur, Pinot Noir, "Ophelia", 2007

Saxum, James Berry Vineyard, 2005 (Magnum) - Excellent.

Thursday, Feb 12th, 2009

I forget

Wednesday, February 11th, 2009

The Day I Engaged Gina C.

What in the world would one drink on such a momentous occasion? With all the other planning, should the bottle even be considered? I'd hate for her to think that any amount of energy or brain power went to anything other than her on this day, especially to an inanimate obsession of mine that already distracts too much of my attention that should be devoted to her.

But alas, I'm conflicted; we'll want to celebrate, won't we? We can't celebrate with sparkling water. I should chill something with bubbles just in case. I won't open it unless she asks me to. I'm doing this for her.

So now, what do we chill? The most expensive bottle in the store will do just fine. Incidentally (or perhaps not so), it's also one of my favorite Grower-Champagne's each year, in years they make it that is.

Jean Milan, "Terres de Noel", Blanc de Blancs, Grand Cru, 2002

Popped the question, popped the cork, it couldn't have been more appropriate. It paired perfectly with the vegetable/jambalaya, spicy, soupy dish. It played a role, but was completely in the background and didn't conflict with any of the circumstances of the evening. It will go down as being a wine that we always think fondly of, and stock heavily for special occasions.

2 days later Gina asked, "What kind of Champagne did we drink on Wednesday? That was pretty good." I responded, "That one that comes in the fancy wrapper." "Oh yeah. That's a pretty bottle" she noted. That's all the validation I needed.

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Dinner at the Napa Rose

-Canard Duchene, Brut, Champagne, NV
-Some Trocken Riesling
-Nora, Albarino, Rias Biasxas, Spain, 2007
-David Arthur, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa, 2007
-Domaine Tempier, Blanc, Bandol, France, 2006 (This was the first "good" wine of the night. The others were fine, but not worth mentioning)
-William Seylem, Pinot Noir, Russian River, 2007 (I liked this as well. Not great, but fine for a appellation designate wine)
-Ambullneo, Mastiff Cuvee, 2006
-Chateau Puy Arnuad, Cotes de Castillon, Bordeaux, France, 2005
-Stanton, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, 2005 (This was good, but big and hugely fruity, not as much concentration as many other wines in that price point, but also not as much structure or elegance, it's just big and fruity . . . but enjoyable. At $35 a glass????????)
-Inniskillin, Cabernet France, Icewine, Canada, (Vintage ?) (Excellent)
-Chateau d'Yquem, Sauternes, 2003 (Always a highlight. However the 2003 is just too young and probably will never be as good as the 2001. Still a light light and closed at this point in its life)

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

I'll update this later

Friday, February 6th, 2009

I'll update this later, but for now

David Arthur, Elevation 1147, Napa, 2004

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

WOW! This event was called Cults and Classics. It was mostly Cults, and mostly 100 point wines.

Chateau Margaux, 1982 - So pretty. This bottle was drinking in its prime right now. It just had light, soft tannin, pretty red fruit, it was awesome in a very elegant way. This was the WOTN for many.

Chateau Lafite Rothschild, 1986 (Magnum)- Weak follow up to the '82 Margaux. This was more rustic and cedary, less fruit.

Chapoutier Cote Rotie la Moedoree, 1991 - This was thin and light with a little brett going on. Not great.

Guigal, La Turque, Cote Rotie, 1995 - This was awesome. It is super dense, viscous and rich without being overripe. It's a great wine.

Gaja, Sori San Lorenzo, 2001 - Obviously still very young. It was pretty amazing. The tannin wasn't harsh so it was still enjoyable in it's youth. It has a lot more acidity than the previous wines and is so polished that it's hard to claim any flaws. This was a near perfect wine.

Kutch, Pinot Noir, Kanzler Vineyard, 2007 - - Good. I'll need more experience with this.

Kutch, Pinot Noir, (Not sure which vineyard), 2007 - Also good.

Sine Qua Non, Papa, Syrah, 2003 - This was my WOTN. Perhaps because I donated it, or perhaps I wanted to love it, but it simply was the finest California Syrah I've ever had. Other people claimed it to be their favorite as well. Coffee, cedar, red fruit, black fruit, density, plushness, finesse, candied lavender. Indescribable.

Sine Qua Non, Into the Dark Grenache, 2004 - Ultra ripe, Still showing tons of oak. Almost not drinkable . . . yet. I'd give this 3 years. It's super opulent.

Sine Qua Non, Ode to E Grenache, 2004 - Very good, but again, Ultra ripe. The Grenache (as opposed to the Syrah) shows more juiciness and candied character, whereas the Syrah has the meatiness and structure to balance out the ripeness. Still an amazing wine though.

Sine Qua Non, Ode to E Syrah, 2004 - Loved it. Only outdone by the Papa.

Sine Qua Non, Atlantis Fe Syrah, 2005 - This was good, but I can't remember details about it.

Quilceda Creek, Cab Sauv, Washington, 2002 - Awesome, awesome Cab. Super polished and much more refined than the Colgins.

Quilceda Creek, Cab Sauv, Washington, 2003- Only outdone by the 2002.

Quilceda Creek, Cab Sauv, Washington, 2005 - This was still showing a lot of oak, but it was a great wine.

Colgin, Cab Sauv, Cariad, Napa, 2001 - Well, this is my first really experience with Colgin. It's massive, ultra ripe, heavily oaked, but stunningly good. Really a near-perfect wine.

Colgin, Cab Sauv, Cariad, Napa, 2002 - This is the quintessential Colgin. It has all the massiveness of the other wines, but just perfectly tailored, perfectly balanced, and everything in the right place. This is possible the best Napa Cab of the style that I've tasted.

Colgin, Cab Sauv, Cariad, Napa, 2003 - Also very good.

Colgin, Cab Sauv, Cariad, Napa, 2004 - This vintage has a lot of charm. It was my second favorite.

Colgin, Cab Sauv, Cariad, Napa, 2005 - Are we done yet?

Shafer, Cab Sauv, Hillside Select, 2002 (Magnum) - This was surprisingly a little out of balance. It was showing a bit too much oak and a little heat. Of course, it's in the context of all these other great wines, so perhaps it'd be the highlight of any other Thursday night.

Hundred Acre, Cab Sauv, Kayli Morgan, 2001 - This was really, really impressive. Late in the night, but stood out as being awesome.

Hundred Acre, Cab Sauv, Kayli Morgan, 2002 - Corked. Don't you hate when that happens to your $300 bottle?

Modus Operandi, Cab Sauv, Napa, 2006 - This was just out for people to have at will. It was good.

Maybach, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, 2005 - We drank this after the tasting, during dinner. Surprisingly, it was one of the best Cabs of the night. Right up there with any of the Colgins or QCs, perhaps even better!

Abreu, Cabernet Sauvignon, Madrona Ranch, 1989 - This wine was just tired. It wasn't very good. We left almost the whole bottle.

Covenant, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2004 - Very good showing.

All in all, this was a stellar event. I was pretty drunk in the end. I'm not going to lie to you.

Wednesday, February 5th, 2009

I'll post these later

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

I'll post these later

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

I drank a lot of wine this night, but didn't take notes on anything and the night was such a flurry that I don't really even remember much of the wine. All it was very enjoyable though.

-Rivers Marie, Pinot Noir, Summa Vineyard, 2004
-Abreu, Cabernet Sauvignon, Madrona Ranch, 1989
-Kosta Browne, Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, 2006
-Ambullneo, Mastiff, 2003
-Amon Ra, Shiraz, Barossa, 2007
-White Rock, Claret, Napa, 1999
-Xtant, Red, Napa, 200?
-Justin, Justification, Paso Robles, 2006
-Bacio Divino, Cabernet Blend, To Kalon Vineyard, 1999

The highlights were the Amon Ra and the White Rock

Saturday, January 31st, 2009

Same wines as yesterday, plus . . .

Jadot, Gevrey Chambertin "Le Petit Somthing", 1er Cru, France, 2002
Brewer Clifton, Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, 2007

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Benvolio, Pinot Grigio, Fruili, Italy, 2007
Laurent Miquel, Viognier, Nord Sun, France, 2007
Drei Dona, Sangiovese, Italy, 2006
Las Rocas, Garnacha, Spain, 2006
Grand Bois, Cuvee Tres Soueres, Cotes du Rhone Villages, 2007

Markham, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2003
Dalle Valle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2003

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

Waipara Springs, Chardonnay, New Zealand, 2007
Waipara Springs, Dry Riesling, New Zealand, 2007
Waipara Springs, Riesling, New Zealand, 2007
Waipara Springs, Pinot Noir, New Zealand, 2007
Wellington, Merlot, Sonoma, 2004
Wellington, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma, 2004

Frog's Leap, MErlot, Napa, 2005
Enkidu, Syrah "Odyssey" RRV, 2004
Canis Major, Zin, Perotti Vineyard, Dry Creek, 2005

Wednesday, January 29th, 2009

J. Wilkes, Pinot Blanc, Bien Nacido, 2006
Saxon Brown, Semillon, Cricket Creek, 2007
Joseph Swan, Pinot Noir, Cuvee de Trois, RRV, 2006
Saxon Brown, Pinot Noir, Black Kite, Anderson Valley, 2007
Saxon Brown, Syrah, Parmalee Hill, Sonoma, 2005
Mara, Syrach, Syrah/Merlot, California, 2006

Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

Bott-Geyl, Pinot d'Alsace, Alsace, France, 2007
Bott-Geyl, Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France, 2007
Bott-Geyl, Riesling, Alsace, France, 2007
Some Cornas, France, 2006

Friday, January 23rd, 2009

-Sete Cepas, Albarino, Rias Biaxas, Spain, 2007
-Xavier Clua, Tinto, Terra Alta, Spain, 2006
-Las Rocas, Garnacha, Catalunya, 2005
-Hacienda Don Ramon, Tempranillo, Rioja, Spain, 2006
-La Planeta, Tempranillo, Ribera del Duero, Spain, 2007

-Arietta, Quartet, Napa, 2006
-Grace Family, Cabernet Sauvignon "Blank Family Vineyard", Napa, 2005
-Torrin, Syrah, "Akasha", Paso Robles, 2006

Aaron, what was the cab you brought this night? (Leave a comment)

Thursday, January 22nd, 2009

-Hug, Pinot Noir, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco, 2006
-Perrin, Cotes du Rhone Villages, Vinsobles, 2004
-Hahn, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, 2006

Thats it.

Wednesday, January 21st, 2009

Bordeaux Deconstructed

-Chateau Grimard, Bordeaux, 2006
-Chateau Paveil de Luze, Margaux, 2004
-Chateau Petit Bocq, St. Estephe, 2005

-La Playa, Carmenere, Colchagua, Chile, 2006
-Maipe, Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina, 2008
-Wayne Thomas, Petit Verdot, McLaren Vale, 2005

-Hahn, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, 2006
-Chateau Vaugaudry, Chinon, France, 2005
-King, Merlot, Solano County, 2007
-Gain Bay, Cabernet Family, Napa, 2006

Saturday, January 18th, 2009

Same wines as yesterday, plus-

-Chateau Montelena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, 2005
This was soft and plummy, not nearly as masculine as I would have expected. I actually liked it a lot, because of its easy-drinkability.

-Orin Swift, The Prisoner, Napa, 2007
This was the best showing yet of 2007. It's starting to fully integrate and I feel this may possibly be the finest vintage of The Prisoner yet.

Friday, January 16th, 2009

Some Frechies and then some Donated Bottles

-Tissot, Traminer, Arbois, 2006 (Definately the Wine of the Night!)
-Chidaine, "Les Truffeux", Montloius Sur Loire, France, 2006 (Stellar!)
-Sylvain Bailly, Sancerre Rouge, Loire, France, 2006 (100% Pinot Noir from Sancerre. It's delicious and light, and just a lovely expression of the grape.)
-Tissot, Poulsard, Arbois, 2006 (Awesome, Nebbiolo-like with its light extract but hard tannin shell. It tastes of strawberry and rhubarb. Just a lovely wine.)
-Chateau Grimard, Bordeaux, 2006 (Good)

-Cosentino, Meritage, Poetry, Napa, 2004 (Loved it. Great, no-nonsense drinking)
-Bad Dog, Cabernet Sauvignon, Milpitas, 2004 (This was pretty decent. It's a homemade wine from someone's backyard, but clearly has the influence of a professional winemaker. It is soft, plush, full bodied Cabernet. Just a night little wine.
-Domaine la Milliere, Cotes du Rhone, Vielle Vigne, 2005 (This was awesome stuff. Loved it.)

-Booker, Fracture, Paso Robles, 2006 (Full, inky, thick, almost in the style of SQN. It's more reductive than the last time I had it. And the alcohol seemed better concealed. Good bottle.)

-Noon, Shiraz Reserve, Langhorne Creek, 2005 (This is a Parker 99 pointer! Aussie Shiraz isn't my style of wine, but this was undeniably great. It was opaque and thick, but pulsed with nuance. It was open for about 4 hours in a decanter, and it showed great immediately. Aaron, mentioned that it showed even better after tasting the Booker, which is made in a similar style but not quite as polished.)

Thursday, January 16th, 2009

A Whole Bunch of Wine

-Calera, Pinot Noir, Central Coast, 2006
-?????, Pinot Noir, New Zealand, 2006
-?????, Barbera d'Alba, Italy, 2006
-Robert Craig, Affinity, Napa, 2005
-Terra Valentine, Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mtn., 2005
-Viader, Cabernet Sauvginon "Dare", Napa, 2006
-Numanthia, Termes, Spain, 2006
-Seghesio, Zinfandel "Old Vine", Sonoma, 2006

The Viader was the Wine of this Flight

Blind Tasting
-ZD, Chardonnay, California, 2007
-Bonny Doon, Syrah, Central Coast, 2006
-Spicerack, Syrah, "Punchdown", Sonoma Coast, 2006
-Domaine Ligneres, "Norte Dame", Corbieres, France, 2003
-McKeon-Phillips, Bella's Nebbiolo, Santa Barbara, 2005
-Feather, Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, 2004

Feather was the Wine of the Night. It's evolving very nicely. It's opened up a bit in the past 12 months and is showing a lot of purity.

Wednesday, January 15th, 2009

Aussie

Longboat, Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ, 2007

I can't remember the name of the following wines, but they were all from Jess Jackson's import portfolio. I'll update it when I check the exact details.

Viognier, AU, 2007
Rousanne, AU, 2006
Chardonnay, AU, 2006
Shiraz, AU, 2006
Grenache, AU, 2006

Good stuff, but not particularly unique.

Sanford, Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills, 2006
It's good. Soft, silky, delicate, but the alcohol is something that I can't ignore any longer. It is just slightly high. Overall thumbs up.

Tuesday, January 14th, 2009

Slipstream, Chardonnay, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2006
Slipstream, Sauvignon Blanc, McLaren Vale, Australia, 2006
Delille, D2, Yakima, Washington, 2006
The Delille was really good, however it conflicts with my commitment to buy less expensive wines in 2009. The wine was awesome though.

Saturday, January 10th, 2009

Fattoria Failla, Verdicchio, Italy, 2006
Zenato, Lugano, Italy, 2007
Quinta dos Roques, Encruzado, Portugal, 2006
Farnese, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, Italy, 2006
Alto Moncayo, Garnarcha 'Veraton', Campo de Borjo, Spain, 2006
Protocolo, Tinto, Spain, 2006

Again, I think I had something else, but I can't remember what it was.

Friday, January 9th, 2009

All Italian Fool

-Fattoria Laila, Verdicchio, Italy, 2006
-Zenato, Trebbiano, Lugana, Italy, 2007
-Zenato, Valpolicella, Italy, 2006
-Elio Grasso, Dolcetto d'Alba, Italy, 2005
-Arceno, PrimaVoce, SuperTuscan, Italy, 2004

-Orin Swift, Papillon, Napa, 2005
-Paro, Zinfandel, Russian River, 2007

I had something else, but I can't remember what it was.

Thursday, January 8th, 2009

Awesom and intersting day of tasting-

Tissot, Traminer, Arbois, 2006

Tissot, Chardonnay, Arbois, 2006

Tissot, Vin Jaune, Arbois, 2000

Tissot, Poulsard, Sas Souffe, Arbois, 2005

Tissot, Spirale, Arbois, 2005

These are all incredible wines. They're super unique. A will do more research and report back.

Roessler, Chardonnay, Clos Pepe, Sta. Rita Hills, 2006

This was awesome.

Travaglini, Gattinara, Italy, 2003

This is a great little Nebbiolo from a lesser known DOCG in Piedmonte. 'Nuff said.

TR Elliot, Pinot Noir, Queste, Russian River, 2006

This is such a great wine that no one is award of. Very, very pretty, with a lot of complexity and depth, and a very appealing subtlty.

Saxum, Broken Stones, Paso Robles, 2005

This is probably the 5 time I've had this in the last 12 months. It's always good, but I'm getting burned out on the style. It showed a lot of flash, but just a bit too intense for my liking at the moment. It is a great wine for the release price of $45, but hard to justify the current marker value of $75+.

Massena, The Moonlight Run, GSM, Barossa, 2005

This was very similar to the Saxum. It has all ripe fruit, raspberry jam, chocolate, and alcohol. Good, but not for me.

J. Runquist, Zinfandel, Amador County, 2006

Really a great showing for this wine. Kind of a darkhorse. It was almost more refined than the Saxum and the Massena. A lot of fruit, but not overdone, just a great, pure, fresh Zin.

Monday, January 5th, 2009

I know I drank wine before the 5th, but this is the first tasting worth noting.

California Chardonnay Showdown - Blind

The Concept:
4 High-Scoring California Chardonnay's served Blindly to 4 guests. The guests knew that the theme was Chardonnay, but did not know which producers were included in the tasting. My hope was to identify the "true" quality of the wines without any hype, and whether or not they are worth the hefty pricetags.

Each guest was given a sheet to evaluate the wines. The evaluations included basic catagories like "Aroma" and "Color" but also allowed for a reevaluation as the wine developed at the 1 hour mark, and the 2 hour mark, and how if was affected by food, then a final "Final Assement" after the bottle was consumed, taking into account the evolution of the wine.

In the end, we did not attach point values, but we did arrange the wines in order according to our favorites.

The overall consensus was that the Diatom was least favorite one the table and the Kongsgaard and Peter Michael were contenders for 1st and 2nd place. I liked the Aubert a lot, but all three others rated it as their 3rd favorite.

*Another interesting note - this wines were sampled by a 5th person 24 hours later and he favored a completely different order! 1st Diatom, 2nd Kondsgaard and Aubert, and then 4th Peter Michael. So, apparently this is completely subjective. Who knew?!

My overall assessment is that the wines are not worth the heafty price tags. At under $100, the Aubert and Peter Michael are justifiable, but at secondary market prices, they are not. I'd prefer to drink Delhinger, Walter Hansel, or a handle of other producers at a fraction of the price and nearly the same level of quality.

Here are the wines in the overall order that they were prefered on Monday night:

Kongsgaard, Chardonnay "The Judge", Napa, 2005
RP: 98 points
Tanzer: 98 points

This was my 2nd favorite overall. It was incredibly intense, gorgeously perfumed with lemon oil and white flowers. It had a oily, rich, viscous palate feel, but with an awesome backbone of acidity. Oftentimes with that richness, it's tough to tease apart the nuances of the wine, not the case here. It was super-complex and even moreso with food. It showed a lot of brightness and also a real sense of place. It had mineral undertones and a certain uniqueness that one could probably identify if they tasted this wine frequently enough. I liked it a lot and think that it shows tremendous potential.

“The 2005 The Judge Chardonnay flirts with perfection. Incredibly intense flowery notes along with a liqueur of honeysuckle and crushed rocks complete with some tropical fruit, quince, orange, and pineapple characteristics. This intensely full, fresh, lively, gorgeous white benefits from 22 months aging in barrel, and bottling off the lees unfiltered.” Robert Parker, 98 points

“Good bright yellow. Brooding, mineral-driven aromas of peach, pungent stone, smoke and nuts. Extraordinarily dense and tactile in the mouth, with a distinctly saline character to the superconcentrated flavors of peach, lemon and liquid stone. Conveys a much sweeter impression today than the 2006 Judge but without any loss of vibrancy. Perhaps most impressive of all on the whiplash of a finish, which features palate-saturating peach and apricot fruit flavors and great tannic support. It's tempting to say that this monumental Chardonnay is Burgundian, but it would be hard to find a Burgundy with the sheer size to stand up to this. Kongsgaard advises drinking it between 2010 and 2016.” Stephen Tanzer, 98 points

Peter Michael, Chardonnay "Belle Cote", Sonoma, 2005
RP: 95 points
Tanzer: 93 points

This was everyone elses 2nd fav, but my 3rd fav, a very close 3rd. It was more restrained in style. Still flashy, but not as rich and opulent as some of the other wines. It smelled of lavish oak and vanilla. It had the most femininity and delicateness, in the best possible way. It lacked a little mid-palate focus. It then rebounded with a light, but beautifully lingering finish that sailed on. As I write these notes, it seems like a style that highly appeals to me, but that night it was overshadowed by the other wines.

“The Chardonnay Belle Cote is always a more exotic wine. There are 2,200 cases of the 2005 Chardonnay Belle Cote, a wine with undeniable notes of crushed stones, white peach, orange, nectarine, and quince. Medium to full-bodied, with zesty acidity, stunning minerality, and a firm structure, this is a gorgeous, French-styled Chardonnay that should drink nicely for up to a decade.” Robert Parker, 95 points

“Hazy pale gold. Explosively perfumed nose, with intense iodine and smoke notes accenting ripe orange and pear aromas. Remarkably concentrated citrus and mineral flavors are deepened by sweet butter, smoked meat and an exotic cherry pit note. Really stains the palate and finishes on a zesty citrus pith note, with outstanding persistence.” Stephen Tanzer, 93 points

Aubert, Chardonnay, Lauren Vineyard, Sonoma Coast, 2006
RP: 96 points
Tanzer: 92 points
WS: 93 points

I'm just a big fan of Aubert. Other felt this wine was disjointed and unbalanced. I thought it was particularly exotic with more tropical fruits like Guava and Passion fruit. It was definately unfiltered and murky which adds a lot of texture to the mouthfeel. The oak gave it a caramel and hazelnutty character and the acidity seemed to pulse across the palate. I loved the uniqueness of this wine and will continue to purchase my full allocation.

“The 2006 Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard is a brilliant effort. One has to admire Aubert’s ability to turn out something of this majesty in such a challenging year when so many Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards were filled with botrytis. Lemon blossom, orange marmalade, and white currant aromas jump from the glass of this light straw-colored cuvee with a greenish hue (a characteristic that also appears in the Aubert 2007s). Beautiful notes of tropical fruits and crushed rocks are present in this gorgeously rich, full-bodied, well-focused Chardonnay. All the Aubert Chardonnays offer abundant power, vivid acidity, and dramatic, laser-like focus.” Robert Parker, 96 points

“Palish green-yellow. Intriguing aromas of white peach, green tea, pear, nectarine, spices and minerals. Dense and powerful, but the flavors of nectarine and minerals are kept fresh by a green-appley acidity and a minty nuance. I find this stony, flinty wine a bit youthfully musclebound today. The slightly dry-edged finish features good spicy lift and a suggestion of butterscotch.” Stephen Tanzer, 92 points

“Pure, complex fruit is shaded by mineral and light, cedary wood, yet the core fruit flavors of ripe white peach, apricot and subtle pear flavors make for an intriguing flavor profile. Needs time. Best from 2009 through 2014.” Wine Spectator, 93 points

Diatom, Chardonnay, Babcock Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, 2007
RP: 94 points

This wine basically got creamed by all the others. Interestingly, it was the favorite or our "lone taster" 24 hours later. On Monday, tasters commented on it being underripe (which I think is just in context to the other wines which are ultra-ripe). I found it to be very unique in flavor profile, but also superficial. The flavors were bubble gum, and red fruit, along with the standard green apple. It was very round on the palate, but also seemed tight still (note the 2007 vintage). Interestingly, no one identified the fact that there was no oak on the wine. It is fermented and aged in stainless, but goes through full malolactic and comes out awefully rich for a wine that doesn't have oak. It was a pretty poor showing for Diatom, but perhaps it could have been the wine of the night in a different line up.

“The 2007 Chardonnay Babcock is much more exotic, with ripe pineapple, pear, white currant, quince, and some subtle earthy, loamy soil undertones. The wine has fabulous fruit, sensational flavor penetration on the palate, but no sense of heaviness. Extraordinary precision gives this wine amazing vibrancy in spite of its formidable size. It is hard to know how these will age, but they seem incredibly pure and very long, although I would still opt for drinking them in their first 2-3 years of life.” Robert Parker, 94 points.

Wednesday, December 31st, 2008

New Years Eve 2008

It's New Year's Eve, you gotta go big, right? We had an assortment of Champagnes. The finest of which was-

R.H. Coutier, Grand Cru, NV

and then we went for the gusto.

Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville, 1998

The short story is, it's not worth the price tag. However, it is a phenomenal bottle of wine. 1998 is "off-vintage" by most critics assessment, however, I've found that they are drinking beautifully right now and much better than most 1997s that I've had (which was a vintage that the critics loved).

While this isn't the best vintage ever produced by Screagle, it shows all the same hallmark character that the winery is known for. Tremendous density and plushness, without the Port-like overripness that Harlan showcases. It honestly reminded me of Lafite-Rothshchild in a warm vintage. It was showing at its finest about 4-5 hours after being opened. For all its massiveness, it was incredibly delicate and light-footed. The flavor profile was a smorgasbord of black fruits and cream with a penatrating and lengthy finish.

I loved this wine. It's very hard to justify such a extraodinary price tag, but there is no denying the greatness of this producer. I've previously only had the 2002 vintage, which was equally compelling and perhaps even more nuanced. I wish I could drink it more frequently.

With all the changes happening at the winery (new ownership and winemaker) it'll be interesting to see how the new vintages differ. I doubt that they would let quality suffer, but I certainly hope that they continue to produce the same house style that they established the brand with. It's like Van Hallen with Sammy Haggar, sure, it's familiar and you're still going to sing along, but it's just not same as David Lee Roth. You know what I'm saying?

Tuesday, December 30th, 2008

Myriad, Syrah, Los Carneros, 2006

A great wine from Mike Smith. It has ultra polished tannins, with a silky mouthfeel. The nose boasts of roasted meats and lavendar. The palate is still somewhat simple, not a ton of depth, but it makes up for it in charm and overall likeability. Its a great wine that I doubt will age long, but is perfect for near-term drinking.