A Rainy Wednesday Inside

With nothing better to do on a dreary, rainy day, a couple of us decided to open a few bottles. Since it was cool, this went in a different direction than usual.

• 2010 Ramey Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Light gold color. PNP, drank 2 glasses over the course of 90 minutes. I really enjoyed this, such a great value in Cali chards. Always excellent and delivering close enough to the SVD's. Quite restrained and Burgundian in nature, reminding me of a good 1er Meursault. On the glowing nose which really blossoms over the first 15-20 minutes in glass there's fresh cut apple, pineapple, lemon, lemon chiffon, slightly tropical, very light oak and some mineral. The palate is very nice with a medium full body, not at all heavy, just a nice sense of texture followed by lemon, lemon chiffon, a hint of tangerine, apple, and a toasted long finish with a touch of mineral at the end. The acid blends well and the oak is integrated and restrained. In the honey hole now, drink over the next 2-3 years. Kills at the 24 I paid for this.

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• 2005 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for about an hour and drank 2+ glasses over 2 hours plus. I had this about a year ago and I don;t remember who brought it, but the similarities are there and the development as well. This benefited by air and time in glass, really rounding out well and losing an initially bit of heat on the palate. The nose is sweet from the start but even that improves; nice deep red and black berry fruits, with cassis and black cherry on top of some higher toned mountain huckleberry like fruit. There is just a bit of earthiness and a depth that comes in after the second hour in the decanter that isn't there initially. The palate is round from the start, showing a bit of alcohol, though not obtrusive and a very thin green streak on the mid palate on top of the ripe dark fruits. This then gives way to a much cleaner deep dark fruit; hi toned mountain-like blackberry and cassis fruit, profile that leaves the heat behind and integrates well with a silky tannin profile along with some dust and a touch of graphite on top of some pepper and spiced oak over a medium plus finish. This really got better over the second hour. I'd say this is in the sweet spot now and will get just a bit better to where a decant is not needed over the next 1-2 years. 92(+?)pts.

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• 2006 Clarendon Hills Grenache Kangarilla 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

  Very dark purple red color. Decanted for about an hour plus here; drank 2 glasses over 90 minutes plus. The nose is the highlight here, showing baked red cherries, complex spices, cedar, anise, pepper, and a bit meatiness. The palate is deep and has nice fruit, black raspberry, black cherry, roasted steak, warmer, oak, lots of anise, firm dry tannins and too much heat on the back end. Though I like the wine in general, it is marred by the heat that I just can't get past. I worry about this holding together much longer. 90+ to 91pts.

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• 2007 Clarendon Hills Syrah Hickinbotham 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon

  Very dark purple color. This got a hefty 3 hour decant and a run through the Venturi; drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. Very big, quite ripe, blackberry, cedar box, a bit earth, cassis and black plum. The palate is dark, dense and chewy, glycerin, full bodied, alcohol, a touch of green down the center, blackberry, raisin, fig, spice, oak, pepper. Many good things with a few detractors to hold this back from being more enjoyable.

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• 2012 Schild Estate Shiraz 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Very dark red color. Decanted for about 30 minutes. Drank 1 glass over an hour. There's some nice black fruit with a bit of red raspberry along with some fine Italian leather, and light savory elements. The palate is medium full body, not as heavy though, despite the ABV at 14.7%. There is a sense of lighter red berry fruit that I appreciate, and no overt heat on a clean tasty medium finish. Nice QPR and approachable now. FWIW, I'm not a fan of the new label. 90+pts.

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• 2005 Domaine des Baumard Coteaux du Layon Cuvée Le Paon 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Coteaux du Layon

  A nice treat to have this again today. Paired with ripe Colorado peaches, delicious! See previous note, carbon copy! In the world of dessert wine; you're hard pressed to find anything close for the money.

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