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 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.