A Bunch of Wines on a Saturday Afternoon
Tasted Saturday, February 26, 2011 by Loren Sonkin with 774 views
Introduction
A bunch of us wine guys got together this cold, snowy afternoon to pop some corks. All the wines were drunk blind for a couple of hours before unveiling and then another hour or so after that. Thanks to Tommy K., there was all sorts of good foods to eat along side. We used to do this weekly but it had been a while. Sometimes life gets in the way, but it was great doing this again. Let's hope its not so long before the next time.
2003 J. Maki French Creek Ridge Vineyards Blanc de Blancs Reserve 86 Points
USA, Pennsylvania
Golden in color. The nose is very funky. Dried oranges and a decayed flesh quality (someone said fresh cut hay but it was more dried to me). Not bad, but much better on the palate. Lots of minerals. A bit of citrus. A bit rough on the finish. This was nice but perhaps a bit too old. Still worth drinking. Not as good as I remember a Brut I tasted last autumn.
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2004 Merk Friuli Aquileia Treuve Bianco 83 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Aquileia
Still hanging in, but over the hill for my tastes. Deep golden in color. The nose is ginger ale but also a green quality. Perhaps mint or maybe fresh cut mustard greens. On the palate, minerals and that herbal note is present. Slightly bitter with some pepper on the finish.
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1997 Swanson Alexis 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Ruby, cloudy and flat. I think this bottle had seen better days. The nose was iron and dried cherries. Soft texture. Liqueur like. Cherry liqueur. Its ok, but I wonder about storage all these years.
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2006 Lenotti Massimo Veneto IGT 89 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
Blind, I thought this to be a ripasso from veneto. Not sure about the ripasso, but really a nice wine. Dusty, sweaty and cherries on the nose. Soft texture. Showing a nice complexity. Coffee and dried cherries. Got better as the afternoon went on. I liked this wine.
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2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Sonoma Coast 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I could not wait to open a bottle. This is young but delicious. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. Shimmering bright. The nose is black raspberries, slightly earthy, black pepper. Sweet black raspberry fruit on the palate. Much bigger/fruitier than I was expecting for Sonoma Syrah. Wonderful texture. A steal at $25.
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1983 Joseph Phelps Insignia 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Some liked this more than I. Perhaps in another setting, but I did really like this wine. Ruby/brown/purple in color. The nose has dried currants and some floral notes. Maybe a dried flower quality. On the palate, kirsch with some heat. Showing some age but certainly drinking well Nice texture. Blind, I thought it was late 90's. Impressive for its age.
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2006 Noon Eclipse 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Inky purple in color. Some ruby swirls. The nose is lovely. Australia at its best with black raspberries, some vanilla, a slight green note that is not unpleasant. On the palate, smooth black raspberries and black pepper. complex. Long finish. Lovely wine that is at its early drinking prime.
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2007 Noon Eclipse 87 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
As much as I liked the 06, I thought this was a underwhelming. Ruby in color with some purple hues. The nose is dusty with red raspberries. On the palate, this is thin with some black raspberries. Short finish. I found only a slight, if that, resemblance to the 07.
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2006 Hyde De Villaine Syrah Hyde Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Purple/ruby in color. The nose is black raspberries with some violets. A slight amount if rubbery/reduction is noticeable. A decant or more cellar time should help that. Nice texture, very juicy. Some tannins. Smooth finish. Lots of black raspberries. Still young.
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2006 Lewis Cellars Syrah 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Inky purple in color. The nose has a lot of coffee grounds. Also black raspberries. On the palate, black raspberries and leather. Some heat on the finish. Good solid wine.
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2002 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
This was good but somewhat surprisingly showing past prime and a bit over the hill. Slight aquarium notes on the nose with some black raspberries. On the palate, the fruit seems a bit muted and under ripe. Black raspberries. It is smooth and there are some tannins. Not sure how representative this bottle is or was. I enjoyed it but I would have expected a little more freshness.
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2008 Loring Wine Company Divergence 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
I can see how lovers of Clio love this wine. I liked it a lot, but the oak was a bit problematic for me as it is with the Clio. I am not sure what Brian says, but I suspect it will age just fine. 55% Cabernet, 45% Mourvedre. Lots of oak on the nose. Plenty of fruit (cassis and black raspberries) on the palate, with lots of oak. Some heat. It got better as the air calmed it down a bit. Screw capped.
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2002 Isabel Sauvignon Blanc Noble Sauvage 90 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
Interesting dessert wine. A nose of honey and oranges. More oranges on the palate. Not much cut but plenty of tasty fruit. Easy to drink. A fun wine if not complex.
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