Anderson Valley Tastings
Anderson Valley, Mendocino County
Tasted Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Thursday, August 16, 2007 by drdebs with 952 views
Introduction
A beautiful day out touring wineries in the Anderson Valley, focusing on pinot and sparklers
Flight 1 (33 Notes)
Closing
Biggest Revelation: 1997 Roederer L'Ermitage Brut
Best Value Pinot: 2005 Navarro Pinot, Mendocino
Pinot with Most Potential: tie between 2004 Navarro Pinot Methode a l'Ancienne and 2006 Deep End Blend.
Most Surprising Wine: 2005 Navarro Muscat Blanc Estate Dry
NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley 89 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Tasted in 750 ml and magnum bottles on same day. The 750: Very lively in the mouth, with aromas and flavors of yellow delicious apples, hazelnut, and toast. Creamy mousse, fine bead. The magnum: tastes very different due to longer time on the lees--much creamier and toastier, a very rich version of the brut in the smaller bottle.
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2000 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
One of the best US sparklers I've had in terms of complexity and finesse. Aromas of hay lead to a palate of creamy lemon, mineral and apple. Very nicely balanced, with small bead and creamy mousse.
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1997 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut 93 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Tasted in the magnum format. Just lovely--the best domestic sparkler I've ever had. Hay, apple, lemon, biscuit and mineral aromas and flavors. Super complexity with a tiny bead, creamy mousse, and a long lingering finish. Not cheap, but very French in style and substance.
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NV Roederer Estate Extra Dry 89 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
I liked this wine with its off-dry character. Aromas of brown sugar with a mouthful of toffee apple to follow. Typical Roederer delicacy of bead and creamy mousse.
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2005 Roederer Estate Chardonnay 85 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Peach and fruit cocktail aromas and palate, with lots of vanilla. No complexity.
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2005 Roederer Estate Pinot Noir 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Sweet blackberry and black currant nose leads to a restrained pinot with good acidity but there is not enough going on in addition to the fruit to hold this wine up.
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2003 Handley Brut Rosé 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Muted nose, lots of raspberry in the flavors. Simple and one-dimensional.
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2005 Handley Water Tower White 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
(8/15/2007)
This year's blend was 100% viognier, with floral and peachy aromas and flavors of peach and banana on the mid-palate. A little over the top for me.
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2005 Handley Chardonnay Dry Creek Valley 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
(8/15/2007)
Ripe, ripe apple aromas with honeysuckle to boot. Apples and mineral palate, with a silky texture. I liked this wine, with its restrained use of oak. Nicely done.
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2006 Handley Pinot Noir Rosé 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
(8/15/2007)
Had again at winery and this confirms my sense that this is an outstanding domestic pinot-based rose. Strawberry without any candied notes, bone dry, and silky.
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2005 Handley Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Had at winery and it tasted very different. Rose, violet, and chocolate aromas lead to dark cherry and chocolate flavors. Little bit hot, and didn't have that caramel note that I liked so much. Maybe needs more time or more air?
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2004 Handley Zinfandel 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Redwood Valley
(8/15/2007)
Nice zin with floral aromas that are very inviting. Cracked black pepper and blackberry flavors. Not quite hanging together for me, and a bit schizophrenic, but has potential with more bottle age.
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2005 Handley Zinfandel Gianoli Ranch 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge
(8/15/2007)
A plummy zin with cedar and white pepper notes, herbs, and minerals. Lots going on, and I want to see what it's like with more age. Fruit from JP and RP's ranch.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Chardonnay Première Réserve 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Buttery apple with a toasty oak finish.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Chardonnay Première Réserve 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Apples and lemons with lots of crisp acidity. A little rough and raw right now.
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2006 Navarro Vineyards Edelzwicker 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/15/2007)
Lovely wine for the money. Flower aromas, with litchi and lime palate.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Navarrouge 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
(8/15/2007)
Eight red varietals. Cherry blossom aromas, black cherry flavors with a fair amount of oak in the midpalate. Good red table wine.
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2004 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir "Méthode à l'Ancienne" 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Really impressed with this year's pinot MA. Nuts, earth, and mushroomy and truffley notes accent this pinot with its core of bright acidity and its cherry fruit. I think it will age very, very nicely.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Muscat Estate Bottled Dry 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Wild wine with pure orange blossom aromas and a searingly crisp and dry lemony palate and finish. Very clean wine, and schizophrenic in a good way--or at least a way that works! Perfect for sushi with wasabi.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Gewürztraminer Cuvée Traditional 89 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Floral and spicy gewurz that would be perfect with Thai or Indian food.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Rose aromas and juicy black cherry fruit are the entry to this very good wine with medium toast on the mid palate and a good balance already between fruit, spice, and acidity. Not as complex as the Methode a l'Ancienne pinot, but a great deal for the price.
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2004 Navarro Vineyards Syrah 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
(8/16/2007)
Huckleberry and cranberry dominate the fruity notes in this syrah. Good acidity, but I would prefer to taste more spice. I think this wine will continue to develop, though.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Muscat Cluster Select Late Harvest 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Not enough acidity for me in this honeysuckle and apricot dessert wine that is sweet with a slight coconutty edge. Doubt it will improve much with age, without the acid.
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2005 Navarro Vineyards Riesling Cluster Select Late Harvest 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
This has more acidity than the Muscat Blanc dessert wine. Very apricot, very sweet. The greater acidity might mean it will settle down a bit over time, but I'm not optimistic.
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2006 Navarro Vineyards Pinot Noir Deep End Blend 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Barrel sample: 90-92. Beautiful color and pinot texture on this wine, with rich cherry flavors and nice cedary notes underneath with some earth, mushroom, and thyme. Lots of acidity now, giving the wine the structure that promises great things to come.
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2003 Navarro Vineyards Riesling 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Very good. Apple and apricot with a little tropical fruit lift in the midpalate. Agree with other taster that this resembles a kabinett, but lacks the mineral dimension to make it outstanding.
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NV Scharffenberger Brut 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
(8/16/2007)
Decent domestic sparkler, and worth the money if you want something simple and can get it for around $15. Aromas are more attractive than the palate, with red fruit and citrus. Vanilla cream notes enter on palate. Short finish.
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NV Scharffenberger "Extra Dry" 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
(8/16/2007)
A little more weight and complexity than the Brut, with 1% more residual sugar and the same blend (60% pinot, 40% chardonnay of fruit). Appetizer wine, that would stand up well to sipping and having with a variety of foods. Not sweet by any means, so this is not a dessert wine.
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NV Scharffenberger Crémant 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
(8/16/2007)
Pleasantly surprised by the quality of this wine. Yeasty nose with peach and citrus notes gives way to a dry, peachy palate. Would be very good with food. Good value.
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2004 Scharffenberger Chardonnay Anderson Valley 84 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Muted vanilla nose, with muted fruit flavors. A dull wine, with nothing to grab your attention.
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2003 Scharffenberger Chardonnay Anderson Valley 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Bread and apple aromas with apple and toasted oak impression on the mid-palate and a finish of more bread and apple. A good chardonnay for pairing with food.
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2004 Scharffenberger Pinot Noir 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Black currant, five spice, and light chocolate aromas lead into a palate of black currant and vanilla. Silky texture. Not bad.
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2004 Scharffenberger Syrah 87 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(8/16/2007)
Plum and blackberry aromas with notes of tobacco leaf added in the midpalate. Vanillin finish. Wonder if this would improve some with age?
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