Wines at Chris and Renee's home.
Chris and Renee's
Tasted Sunday, October 27, 2013 by Loren Sonkin with 646 views
Introduction
Our friends Chris and Renee had friends in from out of town visiting them. They decided to invite some fellow wino's over and open some good bottles. We all chipped in. It is fun drinking like this as there are always old favorites, new wines, and wines that I had been hoping to drink. Add in some surprises and good food, and of course, great company, and it was a great evening.
Flight 1 (25 Notes)
Closing
Thanks and it was great to meet need friends and visit with old ones as well.
2008 Walter Hansel Winery Chardonnay The North Slope Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Not sure how long this had been opened. Creamy vanilla on the nose. Creamy texture which I liked, but still seemed like a lot of oak. Bitter on the finish which intensified in the glass. Its fine, but not great.
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2011 Auteur Chardonnay 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I think this had been open for 24 hours (in the fridge). I really liked it. Dusty and lemon candies on the nose. Soft and silky texture. It has this lemon candy taste that is really enjoyable. Mouth puckering yet flavorful. Long finish.
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2008 Ramey Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
More of a style thing here. Never been a fan, but I find these wines consistent and often crowd pleaser. A good amount of oak and vanilla on the nose. It is a big wine and old style Cal Chard. Lots of grapefruit and vanilla and lemon curd. Slight heat on the finish. I know a lot of people who would love this!
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2011 Carlisle Grüner Veltliner Steiner Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Had this a few times now. I really enjoy this. Not what I think of when I think of Gruner, but maybe I should consider this Cal Gruner. Its lean and clean. Seltzer water and some citrus. Nice balance. Nice body. Nice finish.
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1985 Buehler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
There were three old cabs on the table, I thought all three would be shot. I was wrong. Ruby in color. The nose is nice. Bordeaux like, thinking left bank but not a classified growth. Cassis, tobacco, slightly earthy. On the palate, still fruit left and a lot of tannins. Not complex, but some layering. Nice balance. Drinking well. Seemed to improve with air. Very nice showing.
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1985 Kendall-Jackson Cabernet Sauvignon Clear Lake 83 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Clear Lake
I was sure that this would be shot. Nope. Ruby/brown in color. The nose has some oxidation. Slight tobacco and cassis. On the palate, there is some sweet fruit on the attack. Again, no real complexity but there is fruit. Certainly acidic at this point, but not to the point of being undrinkable. Checking back later in the night, it had fallen a bit but was still alive.
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1985 Ritchie Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Wow, this wine rocked. Not, good for an older wine good, just good. The nose is earthy, funk, tobacco, leather and cassis and cherries. Full bodied, slightly acidic. Layered and complex. Improved when tasted a bit later. Nice finish. Really impressive.
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1994 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 89 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This was past prime but still very nice. ruby in color. The nose is slight, dusty with some spice. Simple but tasty on the palate. No complexity, but nice cherry/raspberry fruit with an under layer of forest floor notes.
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2004 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Ruby in color. The nose is nice, not big, but dusty with dark cherries, and some black raspberries. Layered complexity. drinking very well at the moment. Nice wine.
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2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 93 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Drinking quite well. Still youthful. Clean. Aromas of dark cherries, spice and floral notes. Great texture. Layered tightly on the palate. Unwinds in the glass. Lots of fruit. Did I say clean? It is. Best days are approaching.
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2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County
This bottle had been open for a while. The nose is nice, cherries, dark cherries. A bit tight on the palate, but showing layered complexity. No signs of brett or other flaws. Good fruit. I would hold these at this point.
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1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
I thought this bottle was really nice. Others didn't seem as enthralled. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has dark cherries, raspberries, some leather and some spice. Layered and complex. Nice juicy texture. Still plenty of fruit. Nice balance.
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2009 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
A nose of spice, cedar and some cassis. Very tannic. Heat on the finish. My wife liked this more than I, but to me it was generic, over oaked and just ok.
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2007 Peterson Winery Zinfandel 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
A new wine for me. This was very good. In the Joseph Swan vein of Zin. A nice Bordeaux styled nose. Good raspberry fruit. Complex and not over powering. In a nice place.
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2006 Carlisle Zinfandel Carlisle Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Wow, is this Zin signing. My Carlisle wines never seem to make it this old. This is delicious. Complex, still youthful. Layered with fruit (cherries, raspberries), some spice, bramble and very smooth. Wonderful wine.
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2003 Turley Zinfandel Moore "Earthquake" Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
An odd nose. I liked it but it seemed like Tootsie Rolls. Chocolate candy with confectionary sugar. Lots of ripe fruit, mostly raspberries and black raspberries too. More traditional on the nose. A big zin, still young. Lots of fruit, a bit of complexity.
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2009 Dehlinger Zinfandel Guadagni Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Nice, not in the class of the other Zins on the table IMO. Cocoa, raspberries and bramble on the palate. Soft and easy to drink. doesn't seem like more time would improve it, but Dehlingers often do need time. Nice enough now though.
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2010 Booker Vineyard Oublie 92 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
This is a big wine. delicious. A wall of flavor. Black raspberries and black pepper. Don't know what happens when it gets older but very delicious, if not complex, right now.
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2009 Epoch Estate Wines Authenticity 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
The nose has a lot of VA which I found problematic. Not as bad on the palate, but still and issue. Also dusty on the nose. Lacking the complexity I usually find in Epoch wines. Perhaps this wasn't a proper bottle, but I don't know. I like this producer, but hoped for more from this bottle.
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2005 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard 95 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
This is in a great spot right now. Still young and vibrant. A nose of black raspberries, grilled meats and black pepper. Juicy texture. Lots of fruit on the palate. No sign of alcohol or heat. Long finish.
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2008 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 96 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
From Magnum. This is big and fruity. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper some bacon fat and a slight bit of prunes. Sweet and juicy to drink. No sign of alcohol. The pruney notes are not on the palate. This goes down smooth and easy. Has a ripe sweetness that is a bit reminiscent of a "dry port". Not for everyone for sure, but I loved it. There was also a bottle of this in 750 format. It was quite similar. Perhaps a bit tighter on the nose but more expressive on the palate. Not a big distinction either way.
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2009 Saxum Paderewski Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Very nice. Much softer than I remember this being. Not as huge as some, although still big. drinks more Zin like than Syrah. Some heat on the finish. Great raspberry and black raspberry fruit.
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2007 Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa Bierzo Valtuille la Cova de la Raposa 89 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo
Purple in color. The nose has dust, plums and cranberries. Interesting wine. Seems like it is going to be big and then drops down a weight class. Nice acidity. Crowd seemed to like it.
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2011 SonkinCellars Persona
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Drinking well IMO. More approachable at this stage than either the 09 or 10 were.
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2007 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard 97 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Mike P arrived late (and without chocolate chip cookies), but that was ok, as he brought what was my WOTN. Saxum just crushed it on 07. This is in a great spot right now. Its big and rough on the nose (in a good way). Lots of black raspberries and black pepper. Some grilled and decayed meats as well. Wonderful texture. Lots of black raspberry fruit. So smooth and juicy. No heat. Just delicious.
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