Lightly reductive nose with maybe a bit of sulfur which has definitely receded since my last go with this. Rich for a Spatlese but very pretty. Even, focused palate showing a strong note of apples. Very nice. I'm not sold on wines aging under screw caps so I wonder if this is in stasis or if it is aging in a way similar to as it would under cork. Pretty young to judge either way. Drinking very well however it may be aging.
Nose of cranberries and apple skins. More lean feeling than expected but somewhat chunky and short. This probably could have used more air to be fair but I'm not such a fan of these these days.
The label actually says the fruit for this came from Paso Robles from a vineyard by the name of 'Shell Creek' if memory serves. Great color still. Terrific nose right off the bat. Bright fruited with notes of fruit skins, rich chocolate, leather and wet lava rocks. The fruit is still quite rich feeling on the palate and nicely balanced with acids with a strong chocolate flavor. A very good wine for at least a half hour before it began fade.
Very cloudy. Musty nose showing tart fruit, mushrooms and having a strong spicy character. Tart palate with lots of grip for Pinot, especially considering the age. Long palate of cranberries with a big apple skin finish. This was surprising for the age though not all together great to drink. Faded pretty quickly.
Decanted about three hours prior to consumption. Strong sweaty sock brett on the nose along with some leafy and potting soil notes. Very tight palate with strong tannins. Its built nice but I couldn't get it to give up much. Will check in on the second half of the bottle tonight. Forgot about the extra half of a bottle for an extra day. Two days later this has opened on the nose quite a bit but only partially on the palate. The nose is a dead ringer for a classic left bank Bordeaux with a strong cigar box quality along with some leafy notes and a hint of brett lingering in the background. Richly fruited bring more savory than red fruited. The acidity shows more prominently today underneath it all, call it meidum. The tannins are still pretty harsh and even a bit green which is my one reservation. This needs a lot of time in any case but I like where it could go a lot. Very good potential but don't touch for 5-10 years.
Aromas of sharp red fruits. Juicy palate with a sweet tart character and a sharp, tannic finish. I'm wondering if this was best when younger while the fruit was fleshier.
Bright ripe berries on the nose with a bit of heat. Lean and tannic with good acids giving it balance. Fruit driven flavors still being somewhat modern or candied in expression. With no secondary expression this didn't come off like a Cab. Interesting.
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Reserved nose showing some rubbery tar notes. Fairly tight with forward fruit. Light tannin and juicy tartness. If the fruit opens in an interesting way this should be a nice near term Shiraz.
Big bright jammy fruit on the nose. Juicy palate showing big dark berry fruits with notes of fruit skins and a light grip. More forward than expected given the maker.
Dark, heavy nose showing ripe blackberries with some leafy characters. Densely fruited and juicy. Lists 8% Malbec which is unusual for Cali Cab. Probably still needs some time.
Listed as being made with something called "Noble Madeira Negro". This smelled and drank something like a P/X Sherry, very similar actually. Nose of tea and raisins. Rich and still thick palate showing sweet raisins with a twinge of heat. Fairly nice overall and not showing like its going anywhere anytime soon. A nice surprise.
Bottled in 1995. Musty nose that reveals a strong dark caramel aroma with some sweet, lightly roasted nuts. Focused palate that is a bit tart. Still pretty sweet with caramel flavors and a bit of heat. I wanted to like this more than I did. It was a bit more sweet than I prefer my Tawnies.
2008 Domaine Gavoty Côtes de Provence Blanc Cuvée Clarendon
France, Provence, Côtes de Provence
This came off somewhat sweet and round to me. The other notes make me think I should have let it sit a while.
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2004 Louis Roederer Champagne Blanc de Blancs
France, Champagne
Fairly tart with the fruit having a green streak.
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2007 Selbach-Oster Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Lightly reductive nose with maybe a bit of sulfur which has definitely receded since my last go with this. Rich for a Spatlese but very pretty. Even, focused palate showing a strong note of apples. Very nice. I'm not sold on wines aging under screw caps so I wonder if this is in stasis or if it is aging in a way similar to as it would under cork. Pretty young to judge either way. Drinking very well however it may be aging.
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2008 DuMOL Chardonnay Russian River Valley
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Buttery lemon nose. Richly flavored but falls off at the finish leaving this short.
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2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Miron
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Nose of cranberries and apple skins. More lean feeling than expected but somewhat chunky and short. This probably could have used more air to be fair but I'm not such a fan of these these days.
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1978 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Not gone but not very interesting at this point. Drinking alright with a clean palate but the fruit hasn't left much to keep one coming back.
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1977 Dry Creek Vineyard Petite Sirah California
USA, California
The label actually says the fruit for this came from Paso Robles from a vineyard by the name of 'Shell Creek' if memory serves. Great color still. Terrific nose right off the bat. Bright fruited with notes of fruit skins, rich chocolate, leather and wet lava rocks. The fruit is still quite rich feeling on the palate and nicely balanced with acids with a strong chocolate flavor. A very good wine for at least a half hour before it began fade.
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1978 Alexander Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Very cloudy. Musty nose showing tart fruit, mushrooms and having a strong spicy character. Tart palate with lots of grip for Pinot, especially considering the age. Long palate of cranberries with a big apple skin finish. This was surprising for the age though not all together great to drink. Faded pretty quickly.
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2007 Adelaida Pinot Noir HMR Estate
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
There is a herbs du Provence note on the nose among lots of berries with some heat. Rich and concentrated yet lean in feel. Tannic and short.
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2005 Charles Joguet Chinon Clos du Chêne Vert
France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon
Decanted about three hours prior to consumption. Strong sweaty sock brett on the nose along with some leafy and potting soil notes. Very tight palate with strong tannins. Its built nice but I couldn't get it to give up much. Will check in on the second half of the bottle tonight.
Forgot about the extra half of a bottle for an extra day. Two days later this has opened on the nose quite a bit but only partially on the palate. The nose is a dead ringer for a classic left bank Bordeaux with a strong cigar box quality along with some leafy notes and a hint of brett lingering in the background. Richly fruited bring more savory than red fruited. The acidity shows more prominently today underneath it all, call it meidum. The tannins are still pretty harsh and even a bit green which is my one reservation. This needs a lot of time in any case but I like where it could go a lot. Very good potential but don't touch for 5-10 years.
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2005 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Aromas of sharp red fruits. Juicy palate with a sweet tart character and a sharp, tannic finish. I'm wondering if this was best when younger while the fruit was fleshier.
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1999 Fisher Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Lamb Vineyard
USA, California, Napa Valley
Bright ripe berries on the nose with a bit of heat. Lean and tannic with good acids giving it balance. Fruit driven flavors still being somewhat modern or candied in expression. With no secondary expression this didn't come off like a Cab. Interesting.
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2006 Shirvington Shiraz
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Reserved nose showing some rubbery tar notes. Fairly tight with forward fruit. Light tannin and juicy tartness. If the fruit opens in an interesting way this should be a nice near term Shiraz.
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2006 Woodenhead Pinot Noir Wiley Vineyard
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Big bright jammy fruit on the nose. Juicy palate showing big dark berry fruits with notes of fruit skins and a light grip. More forward than expected given the maker.
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2004 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
Dark, heavy nose showing ripe blackberries with some leafy characters. Densely fruited and juicy. Lists 8% Malbec which is unusual for Cali Cab. Probably still needs some time.
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1973 Christian Brothers Vintage Port
USA, California
Listed as being made with something called "Noble Madeira Negro". This smelled and drank something like a P/X Sherry, very similar actually. Nose of tea and raisins. Rich and still thick palate showing sweet raisins with a twinge of heat. Fairly nice overall and not showing like its going anywhere anytime soon. A nice surprise.
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1968 Warre Porto Reserve Tawny
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Bottled in 1995. Musty nose that reveals a strong dark caramel aroma with some sweet, lightly roasted nuts. Focused palate that is a bit tart. Still pretty sweet with caramel flavors and a bit of heat. I wanted to like this more than I did. It was a bit more sweet than I prefer my Tawnies.
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