(non-blind - my wine) Medium minus ruby color - vibrant. Medium plus intensity aromatics, slightly reductive (rubber), with peach, red cherry, underripe cherry, and jammy/overripe blackberry (classic millerandage). Dry, medium plus body, medium plus alcohol - feels 14% (). Medium plus acid, medium plus tannins - papery and harsh.
I dig this style!
Laterals: Southern rhone GSM - oak and acid don't fit. Also it's too clean.
Varietals: 95% Zinfandel; 5% Petite Sirah Alcohol: 14.3% by vol. Time in oak: 10 months Oak: 20% aged in a 900 gallon French oak "foudre"; 80% older French oak
(blind) Deep ruby color. Medium plus intensity nose of blackcurrant, vanilla and baking spices (new oak). There's some development here. Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol - 14.5% (actually 15.1%), medium acid, medium plus tannins (chocolatey and oak-influenced). Persistent finish of chocolate and black fruit.
Based on the blackcurrant fruit and significant New Oak:
CA Cab - this would be classic CA Cab, but a little plush. CA Merlot - could be, it's plusher - lower acid, more chocolate. But I'd expect it to be a bit even plusher and more chocolatey.
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
(non-blind - my wine)
Deep ruby color. Intense nose of tense blackcurrant, dusting of spice and sawdust (partial new oak), and a hint of fresh-turned earth. Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol - feels 14.5% (actually 14.2%), medium plus acid, high tannins. Pyrazines on the midpalate are taking on a kind of burnt cigarette ash thing, which is cool. Structured and tight - needs time, but the fruit is there, especially on the nose.
Key features: new oak, blackcurrant, pyrazines, elevated alcohol.
(blind) Medium minus ruby color Medium minus intensity nose, dry earth, dried leaves, indistinct tart and black fruit. Slight raisination (smells like craisins). Slight black pepper. Slight brett. Dry, medium plus body, high alcohol - 14.5%, medium acid, medium tannins (dry and papery, very bitter). No notable new oak.
Thin-skinned grapes, high alcohol wines with millerandage and no new oak:
Southern Rhone GSM Blend - 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Zinfandel - this is too austere - ripeness isn't high enough and there's no oak. Mourvedre - e.g. Bandol - usually much darker, but the acid fits. Cahors - darker.
Final call: - 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Actually: 2011 Mourvedre - Morse, amador county. A little new oak
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
(non-blind - my wine) Medium minus ruby in the glass. Medium intensity nose. Menthol/eucalyptus. Initially smelled a bit dirty/funky, but it blew off. Underneath, some confected red and black cherry. A bit burnt/reductive (possible over-sulfured?). Slight hints of nutmeg (used oak), and some red raspberry. Dry with a ripe attack. Full-bodied, high alcohol (15%), medium minus acid, medium minus tannins, elevated bitterness. Hot and flabby.
50% Grenache, 25% Tinta Cao, 25% Graciano 20 months in used french oak
Decent for the style, but misses the intense ripe red fruit of the best examples. Laterals: S Rhone GSM (oak would contraindicate this)
2014 Dashe Cellars Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
(non-blind - my wine)
Medium minus ruby color - vibrant.
Medium plus intensity aromatics, slightly reductive (rubber), with peach, red cherry, underripe cherry, and jammy/overripe blackberry (classic millerandage).
Dry, medium plus body, medium plus alcohol - feels 14% (). Medium plus acid, medium plus tannins - papery and harsh.
I dig this style!
Laterals:
Southern rhone GSM - oak and acid don't fit. Also it's too clean.
Varietals: 95% Zinfandel; 5% Petite Sirah
Alcohol: 14.3% by vol.
Time in oak: 10 months
Oak: 20% aged in a 900 gallon French oak "foudre"; 80% older French oak
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2007 Séléné Merlot Frediani Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(blind)
Deep ruby color.
Medium plus intensity nose of blackcurrant, vanilla and baking spices (new oak). There's some development here.
Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol - 14.5% (actually 15.1%), medium acid, medium plus tannins (chocolatey and oak-influenced). Persistent finish of chocolate and black fruit.
Based on the blackcurrant fruit and significant New Oak:
CA Cab - this would be classic CA Cab, but a little plush.
CA Merlot - could be, it's plusher - lower acid, more chocolate. But I'd expect it to be a bit even plusher and more chocolatey.
Napa Cabernet - 2012.
Actually: 2007 Selene Merlot - Frediani vineyard
Good example of Merlot! Super-ripe.
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2013 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
(non-blind - my wine)
Deep ruby color.
Intense nose of tense blackcurrant, dusting of spice and sawdust (partial new oak), and a hint of fresh-turned earth.
Dry, full-bodied, high alcohol - feels 14.5% (actually 14.2%), medium plus acid, high tannins.
Pyrazines on the midpalate are taking on a kind of burnt cigarette ash thing, which is cool. Structured and tight - needs time, but the fruit is there, especially on the nose.
Key features: new oak, blackcurrant, pyrazines, elevated alcohol.
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2011 Morse Vineyards Mourvèdre Estate Reserve 80 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
(blind)
Medium minus ruby color
Medium minus intensity nose, dry earth, dried leaves, indistinct tart and black fruit. Slight raisination (smells like craisins). Slight black pepper. Slight brett.
Dry, medium plus body, high alcohol - 14.5%, medium acid, medium tannins (dry and papery, very bitter).
No notable new oak.
Thin-skinned grapes, high alcohol wines with millerandage and no new oak:
Southern Rhone GSM Blend - 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape
Zinfandel - this is too austere - ripeness isn't high enough and there's no oak.
Mourvedre - e.g. Bandol - usually much darker, but the acid fits.
Cahors - darker.
Final call: - 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape
Actually: 2011 Mourvedre - Morse, amador county. A little new oak
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2011 Happs East of Alice 80 Points
Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
(non-blind - my wine)
Medium minus ruby in the glass.
Medium intensity nose. Menthol/eucalyptus. Initially smelled a bit dirty/funky, but it blew off. Underneath, some confected red and black cherry. A bit burnt/reductive (possible over-sulfured?). Slight hints of nutmeg (used oak), and some red raspberry.
Dry with a ripe attack. Full-bodied, high alcohol (15%), medium minus acid, medium minus tannins, elevated bitterness. Hot and flabby.
50% Grenache, 25% Tinta Cao, 25% Graciano
20 months in used french oak
Decent for the style, but misses the intense ripe red fruit of the best examples.
Laterals: S Rhone GSM (oak would contraindicate this)
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