Friday Afternoon Delight

Six of us gathered for a little wine nooner with some excellent wines and food. Wow. Great afternoon into the evening!

• 2012 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Pale gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 25 minutes. Opens more in glass to reveal tropical notes, mild oak, some saline infused minerality. The palate has good depth, well balanced, fairly lithe, tropical, just a hint of butter, lighter body, light wood, fairly good texture, and a medium finish. I found this well balanced and very friendly and given its youth, a wine I think will be even better in two years. A good value out of Napa. 90+ to 91pts.

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• 2008 Moreau-Naudet & Fils Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Light gold color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 20+ minutes. A really nice nose with sea air, minerals, and citrus; fresh on the palate, very vibrant, orange zest, citrus, saline minerality, light toast on the finish. This is in a wonderful place and a fine time to wrap it up. 91+pts.

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• 2002 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz E & E Black Pepper 94 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Very dark red/purple color, 2mm cleared margin. PNP, drank 1+ glass over 4 hours. Wow, have I mentioned I love this wine. Yeah, sorry, I have - but damn, this is good stuff. This is off the hook good. I love the complexity and elegance and balance. The nose offers up crushed blueberries and blackberries, tar, creosote, dry earth, white pepper, florals, and oh so subtle eucalyptus that completely evaporates over 30 minutes. The palate is just pure elegance, medium bodied, layered with pretty fruits, black and red with blueberry, blackberry, and dark raspberry notes that just glide across the palate. Nicely spiced with white pepper and tar on the long enticing finish. Just plain delicious, my and group WOTN. THIS is what Australia can do. 94+ to 95pts.

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• 2006 The Standish Wine Company The Relic 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 3hr + aeration. The nose starts off a bit subdued but takes on depth over 20 minutes. Really nice big black fruits, blackberry, cassis, violets, dried earth and twigs, moderate eucalyptus, forward. The palate is dense, full bodied, great texture, well balanced, slightly savory, eucalyptus, with some meat on the finish. Well done. The prep on this wine served it very well. My #3 and tied for group #2 WOTN. 92+ to 93pts.

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• 2003 Château Pontet-Canet 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Very dark red/purple color. 90 minutes decant, drank 1 glass over 3 hours. There's a nice perfume on the front end with damp earth, cassis, graphite, some red fruits. The palate is full bodied, deep, cassis, black raspberry, plenty of tannin that is moderately firm, and gravelly mineral finish. Very good, still fairly primary still but should improve over the next 5+ years. I'd give this 3-5yrs for optimum drinking. 92+(+)pts.

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• 2007 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 1.5hrs. Drank 1+ glass over 3 hours. Very tight up front, gradually gives up some of what lurks, oak, blackberry, black fruits, scorched earth and hints roasted game. The palate is primary but very deep with road tar, black fruits, oak, tight, dense, nice but astringent grippy tannins, pepper. This has a great deal of potential but is very young and despite a decant needs more time. Score reserved, but impression is 90-93pts.

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• 2007 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 90+ min, drank 1 glass over 2.5hrs. 90CS, 10M. The nose has black fruits, cassis, nice, dill. The palate has raspberry, dill, full bodied, bold but sweet black fruits, some earth, dust, more tannins, grippy on the finish and some heat show later. Youthful, hold. 91+(+) to 92pts.

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• 2006 Andrew Will Champoux Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

  Purple/red color. Decanted for an hour. Drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. 57C, 35CF, *M. Very nice fruit forward nose with blueberry, raspberry, cassis, and vanilla. The palate has lovely purity of fruit, fruit of forest pie, boysenberry, blueberry, creme de cassis, lots of glycerin, lush, silky texture, ripe but well balanced and ready to drink. My #2 and tied for group #2 WOTN.

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• 2001 Château Sigalas Rabaud 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Medium dark gold color. From 375ml. PNP, drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Lovely nose of tangerine, spices, lightly floral, orange marmalade. The palate is fresh, youthful but open, tangerine, orange marmalade, not too sweet and good acidity. 92+ to 93pts.

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WOTN - 2002 E & E Black Pepper Shiraz (3+3+3+3+2=14pts)
#2 WOTN - 2006 The Standish the Relic (2+2+1+1+1=7pts)
#2WOTN - 2006 Andrew Will Champoux (3+2+2=7pts)
2003 Pontet Canet (3+1+1+1-5pts)
2007 Snowden The Ranch (1=1pts)