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.