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