Dinner with Mike Grammer

This was a fabulous dinner at Pera with Mike Grammer and a group of SF winos. The theme ended up being Syrah, which was a lot of fun since it's not normally the focus of a dinner. The wines were universally excellent, but the highlights for me were the Crozes-Hermitage, the Sydnee, and the sweet wines especially the 2001 Suduiraut.

• 1997 Domaine des Baumard Savennières Clos du Papillon 86 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières

  Has some oxidation from aging; nose has nice floral notes; palate has good acidity, medium body. Lacks substance.

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• 2002 Weingut Karlsmühle Kaseler Nies'chen Riesling Spätlese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Petrol, light sweet white fruits, peach, pear, saline/salt; palate is medium bodied, balanced sweetness and salinity; finish is a bit short but very good. 90-91

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• 2010 Michel Gassier Costières-de-Nîmes Nostre Païs Blanc 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes

  Superb wine. I'm not the biggest fan of rhone blends, but this was excellent. Floral, peach, white fruit, fresh nose; clean crisp palate, white fruits; medium finish. 91-92

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• 2010 Domaine Maestracci Vin de Corse Calvi E Prove Blanc 90 Points

  France, Corsica, Vin de Corse Calvi

  My first Corsican wine. Nose was savory with anise, spices, and some minty/leafy component; palate had great acidity and minerality. A solid, well built wine overall. 90

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• 1997 Dehlinger Syrah 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Lovely clean nose with smoke, red fruit, meaty/gamey notes; palate has clean red fruit, balanced acidity, medium-full bodied. I think this is ready to drink now but still young and will last a while if needed. Excellent. My last bottle. 93
  Update: Held up well on day 2 and 3. This likely has more life left in it. Excellent wine!

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• 1994 Dehlinger Syrah 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  More subtle than the 1997, somewhat reticent nose, some fruit with hints of smoke; full bodied, balanced. 90

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• 1988 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

  Profound nose, meaty, spices with black fruits, some minerality, smoky; integrated tannin, good acidity, nice structure with a masculine/gritty feel, nice black fruit profile; solid medium-length finish. One of my absolute favorite wines in this lineup.

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• 2005 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Brambly red fruit, baked red cherry; tannic, young, needs time to flesh out, red cherry fruit, very good clean acidity; medium length finish. In a somewhat awkward stage. Broad range of scores for now... the wine will declare itself. 88-92

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• 1999 Paloma Syrah 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Showing some alcohol, thin red fruit; tannic. The balance isn't quite right here. Doesn't compare favorably to the other syrah tasted.

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• 2008 Rhys Syrah Horseshoe Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Smooth ripe red fruit, reticent; smooth, red fruit, strong tannins, very young. Hard to tell how it will develop given that I don't have much experience with Rhys. Should be at least good, possibly very good or excellent. 88-93

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• 2008 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Nose of black olives, savory, a bit hot; big, ripe palate with EtOH, blackberry, and sweet-tasting fruit. 86

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• 2006 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Kimberly's 85 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Nose has a bit of funk, a bit hot, red fruit; palate is balanced, full bodied, overwhelming tannins. This got a lot of air (hours) before we tried it, but it needed much more. 85

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• 2009 Five/Five Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Simone 75% Black Sears, 25% Ink Grade 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Soft, balanced fruit, complex spice; good structure, ripe black fruit, juicy, but with good acidity; nice clean finish.

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• 2009 Five/Five Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Sydnee 85% Ink Grade, 15% Gerlach Ranch 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Spicy, herbal (like some cab franc), black pepper; clean, precise palate, very young, tannic; nice clean finish. This was excellent, and I preferred the Sydnee to the Simone.

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• 2001 Château Suduiraut 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From a half, open 1.5 days for air (Critical in this wine at this age!!!). Absolutely stupendous nose of dried apricot, apricot and peach marmalade, coconut, hints of orange; palate is balanced with a full body, fabulous tingling acidity, coconut, spices, and great complexity; very long finish (tasting it on the way home...). 98++ Right now this was drinking perfectly, only maybe a small bit young (after 1.5 days of air). This has a long life ahead of it.

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• 1998 Alois Kracher Welschriesling TBA #11 Zwischen den Seen 91 Points

  Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

  My first Kracher. Tawny brown color; this had a nose of concentrated orange rind, herbal tea, caramel; syrupy body, has relatively low acid compared to the sugar, tea flavors, savory but also sweet, huge concentration. Overall this is a very unique style, but not necessarily better than my sauternes favorites. 91-92
  Update: Day 5- the last bit in the bottle was still lovely, but lacking a bit of freshness and vibrancy especially in the finish. Still excellent. I'm going to have to find more Kracher.

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• 2004 Royal DeMaria Gewürztraminer Icewine 90 Points

  Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

  On the nose this has fresh, lifted fruit, a somewhat tingly sensation in the nose that I get with all icewine; palate has fabulous fresh concentrated fruit, orange rind, sweet, lacking a tad bit of acidity; short finish. This is a treat and a unique experience, but perhaps this is just a bit over the hill. 90-91

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