Mid-week fun times with some fun people — even Queen Grand was in attendance, and who would want to miss that! Had a blast hanging with new and familiar faces, alike.
2005 Lagier Meredith Syrah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over one hour –
NOSE: restrained Nose showing hints of spice (cumin), meat, smoke, and oak; a bit volatile.
BODY: medium-light to medium bodied
TASTE: tart/sour; not big; some alcohol flavor; red fruits. A follow-up with the winery confirmed suspicions that this bottle was likely suffering from low-level TCA. NR (flawed)
2007 Wind Gap Wines Syrah - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over a couple hours –
NOSE: a bit stinky; earthy olive; juicy; not overripe smelling; Cornas-in-California; lots of maple after 30 un-disturbed minutes in the glass.
BODY: medium-light bodied; quite lean for a CA syrah.
TASTE: lots of green and black olive; very food friendly (paired beautifully with lamb); light spiciness; clean; lithe; 12.7% alc. is not noticeable; not a big CA fruit-bomb; probably my favorite wine of the evening.
2002 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc Le Méal - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 30 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
NOSE: perfumy florals; minerally; seemed reserved.
BODY: tan-golden yellow color; full bodied
TASTE: lots of typical Rhone minerals; hint of cigar wrapper; 14% alc. not noticeable; open; there was something about this that I can’t quite put my finger on that made me feel it was just a little off.
1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 20 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
NOSE: very tight Nose: kirschy Twizzlers and an odd little green streak.
TASTE: medium bodied, with red fruits on the somewhat flat and musty palate; not nearly as good as a bottle I had at the domaine 4 weeks prior – something was a bit off with this bottle.
2008 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Old Vines Summa - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 20 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
NOSE: open and expressive Nose showed lots of cherry, underbrush, and blueberry.
TASTE: medium-light bodied; open-knit, and lacking in structure; red berry flavors with oak flashing behind; a bit tart/sour; came across as alcoholic to me – was surprised to see 14.1% on the label; not tannic.
2007 Domaine les Pallières Gigondas Les Racines - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 15 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
– 80% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 7% Cinsault, 5% Clairette.
NOSE: very tight; smelled a bit spoofy.
BODY: dark garnet color of great depth; medium-full bodied.
TASTE: 14.5% alc. is a tad noticeable; grippy tannins; dark fruits; tasted a bit off – cooked.
2005 Château la Bienfaisance - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 10 minutes after bottle had been open for an hour or two –
NOSE: oak and banana bread; not complex.
BODY: purple color of great depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: strong drying tannins; purple fruits; earthy; minerally; I wonder if the fruit will outlast the tannin. Not bad, not great.
N.V. Yalumba Muscat Museum Reserve - Australia, New South Wales (12/1/2010)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 15 minutes after bottle had been open for a half hour –
NOSE: tawny; nutty; alcoholic.
BODY: auburn color; full bodied.
TASTE: viscous on the palate with a strong sugary pecan flavor; long finish; a bit alcoholic.
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