Cellartracker Over the Hill and In the Woods Party

The purpose of this event was to help jaybird7 get rid of some of her wines that were deemed "over the hill" based on their CT drinking windows. It was a also a celebration of getting all of her wines into CT and now knowing that these wines were OTH. In preparation for this event, nominations were taken from guests as to which wines to drink from the list of wines outside their drinking windows. There were more than what we sampled!

• 2008 Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Very pale gold color. Nose is predominantly grapefruit with some other citrus . The palate is light with grapefruit, citrus, tart, plenty of acid. This is a solid QPR, usually a crowd pleaser. Not for those who don't like a lot of grapefruit on their SB's.

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• 2006 Frei Brothers Chardonnay Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Light-medium gold color. This was one of the pleasant surpises of the evening. The nose is intriguing with smoke, pleasant notes of butter and oak, but certainly not either oaky or buttery in general, green apple. The oak on the nose smells like the end of a fresh cut plank of oak - very pure. The palate is fresh and lively, a bit of spice, green apple, oak, smooth texture, medium finish. I really like this. Balanced and elegant.

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• 2005 Samuel's Gorge Grenache Flawed

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  vinegar.

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• 2006 Babcock Pinot Noir Grand Cuvée 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Medium-light red color. I agree with vanpe003 that this does improve significantly from opening. Pop and pour. This starts out a little sweet on the nose, cherry and strawberry, and some spice. The palate is light, but develops depth and becomes a little bolder over 1-2 hours, good acid, integrated tannin, consistent fruit, medium fiinish with a tad of spice on the end. The sweetness on the nose resolves. All suggest this still has a little mileage left. Started out at 88+ and went to 90 over an hour plus.

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• 2006 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Appellation Series Contra Costa County Flawed

  USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Contra Costa County

  You could maybe have drank this if you had to, but all that was left was alcohol shrouded in spice. This was long since gone.

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• 2005 Hartford / Hartford Court Zinfandel Russian River Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. Blackberry and blueberry on the nose, pepper, herbs. The palate is black and blue fruits with a strong herbal core. Still has significant tannins. Drinking well, appears may be able to go a bit further, but why?

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• 2003 Rosenblum Cellars Zinfandel Annette's Reserve

  USA, California, North Coast, Redwood Valley

  This was another zin that had faded significantly. It was drinkable, black fruit, hi alcohol, peppery. Impression now is 84pts.

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• 2005 Jeff Runquist Petite Sirah "R" Enver Salman Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

  Purple/red color. Nose has blackberry, plum, blueberry, there is a sweet element - brown sugar, carmel/butterscotch, with some florals developing. The palate shows black and blue fruits, blackberry liqueur, sweet blueberry pie. There is depth here without being jammy. Medium finish.

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• 2000 Flora Springs Trilogy 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red/purple. Great nose, floral, cassis, mulberry, earth, violets. Nice velvety mouthfeel, good concentration, elegant, cassis, earth, round integrated tannins, mineral. long finish. This was from a magnum and was wonderful. My WOTN and group WOTN. 92+pts.

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• 2004 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Innisfree 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color. Nose shows creme de cassis, a nice fruit forward nose and palate, well balanced, nice finish. borderline 90-89+Pts. I have always liked this wine, it is a very good QPR/entry level cab from Phelps.

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• 2004 Wyndham Estate Shiraz Show Reserve 87 Points

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Very dark red/purple. Loads of eucalyptus and herbs on this, blackberry. Palate is quite fruity, blackberry, herbal. 87-88pts.

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• 2004 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Vintner's Selection Dry Creek Valley 82 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Very dark red color. This was unbalanced and harsh on the palate with prominent alcohol, spice, oak and hash tannins. Black fruits, but they are overwhelmed.

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• 2003 Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage 84 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  Very dark red color. Nose is herbal, red fruits, sweet, earth, a bit hot. Palate is red fruit, herbs, alcohol.

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• 2006 Natalie's Estate Winery Athena Dionysus 87 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Dark red color. red fruits, prominent tannins, herbal. So-so. Not exciting.

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As one might expect, there were mixed results for wine performance over the night. Certain wines with a better pedigree, ie. the Flora Springs Trilogy, showed that drinking windows are merely a guideline. On the other hand, wines of a somewhat lesser pedigree, do not necessarily hold up. The clear and unanimous WOTN was the 2000 Flora Springs Trilogy. As I expected this was the best wine and was just fine, escpecially from a magnum, but I doubt that 750's would be in any danger yet either. The Zinfandels did not fair as well, with the trend being that their fruit did not hold up to the alcohol over time. All in all, it was a great night of fun, food, wine, and education.