BBQ Reds + 5 Shared Reds & a Winebar Retaste

• 2014 Quivira Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  92.5% Zinfandel, 7.5% Petite Sirah; 14.5% ABV, 0.70 g/100 ml T.A., & 3.43 pH;
  
  N: Slightly clsd; Vanilla with ripe berries/
  
  P: MF, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker that pretty much resolves as it morphs into the LONG, BALANCED finish with a swtness to the few dusty tannins & OCCASIONAL very, VERY slight bitterness. For now with food, but deserves another 8-12 mos, then drinking for 3 yrs more? My VG+/EXC-. 90 pts ea Connoisseurs' Guide ["Good Value"], WS, & WE @ $24. [This vendor's $17.95 is at the top of the wine-searcher competition.]

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• 2014 Château Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry Prestige

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Saint-Drézéry

  65-80 yr old Grenache (55%?) & 45 yr old Syrah (45%?) from "...the limestone-rich terroir of Saint-Drézèry in the eastern Languedoc," fermented & aged in concrete tanks for 12 mos.
  
  N: Ripe, jammy berries, but NOT over the top; Smoke later
  
  P: LM body; Rndish entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some firming structure which transitions into a LONG finish with a tangy/SWTNESS (35:65) to the dusty tannins. For now & into (poss through) '21. 15.0% ABV; My VG+/EXC-, with the emphasis being upon the latter. 91 pts WA & 83 @ '17 Decanter World Wine Awards. [This vendor's $15.95 puts it in the top quartile of wine-searcher's offerings.]

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• 2014 3 Rings Shiraz

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  100% Shiraz from vyds yielding 3.0 tons/acre; 15.0% ABV, 1.2g/l R.S., 6.7g/l T.A., & 3.64 pH; 4.500 cs made
  
  N: Slightly closed; Ripe berries with notes of pyrazines?
  
  P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry wiht ALMOST swtish frt met by SOME firming structure which morphs into a LONG finish with a bitter/SWTNESS (30:70) to the dusty tannins. For now & poss through '21? My VG+/EXC-. 89 pts ea WS & WE @ $20, and Commended @ the '17 Int'l Wine Challenge. [This vendor's $14.95 puts it in the lower part of the top 1/3 of wine-searcher's listings.]

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• 2015 Càntele Primitivo Salento IGT

  Italy, Puglia, Salento IGT

  Typically, 100% Primitivo (planted 1972-1983) grown in calcareous, siliceous, & clay soils; Aged in barriques for approximately 6 mos.
  
  N: Slightly closed; Smoke, berries
  
  P: LM body; NICE frt met by some puckerish astringency which morphs into a LONG, balanced finish with a bitter/SWTNESS (15:85) to the dusty tannins. For now & through '20. My EXC- given the approachability & QPR of this vendor's $9.95 which puts it @ the top of wine-searcher's listings! 88 pts WA, 87 WS, & 85 WE @ $15.

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• 2016 Losada Vinos de Finca Bierzo

  Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo

  Old vines Mencía grown on gentle slopes with predominantly clay soils, aged 9-10 mos in FR oak barrels
  
  N: RIPE berries with notes of smoke? Intensity lurking
  
  P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE frt met by astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, still puckerish finish with a definite swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS through '20, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more? My EXC-, given the QPR & potential with cellaring. 96 pts Suckling. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

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• 2016 McPrice Myers Syrah Right Hand Man

  USA, California, Central Coast

  532 cs, but sold out @ the winery
  
  N: Ripe melding of SMOKE, berries, & poss pyrazines
  
  P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses the BULK of its snap as it transitions into a LONG finish with a swtness to the still considerable dusty tannins. DESERVES another 2 yrs, then drinking for 2-3 yrs more? 15% ABV; My VG+/EXC-. [This vendor's $15.95 is $4 < the next lowest of wine-searcher's limited postings.]

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• 2015 Loring Wine Company Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  Clos Pepe is a sandy soil vyd in the northern valley of the Sta. Rita Hills. Aged 10 mos in FR oak (15% new); 14.3% ABV, 3.65 pH; 150 cs
  
  N: Red rasps & straws with notes of stems?
  
  P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE frt beautifully counterbalanced by some almost swtish pucker which morphs into a LONG finish of the same ilk, including a swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. [FYI, when the remainder of this bottle was shared @ home, a relative found the acidity too much for him.] My EXC-, *easily* more when one takes into account the QPR of this vendor's [closeout?] $23.95, an UNBELIEVABLE $22 < wine-searcher's next lowest entry! 92-94 pts WA, 92 PinotFile, 92 & 'Very highly rec,' CA Grapevine, 91 points & 'Outstanding,' Burghound, and 88 WE @ $54.

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• 2001 Shirvington Shiraz

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Dr. Tom, THANK you for sharing this iconic wine! :)
  
  Apparently, 100% barrel fermented & aged in new AM oak for > 12 mos
  
  N: Creamy oak atop ripe berries with notes of earth
  
  P: LM body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by some swtish structure which quite loses its "punch" by the the end of the LONG finish with a swtness to the remaining dusty tannins. For now & a yr or 2 > its 20th, + MAY still improve? My EXC. 98 pts WA, 93 WS, and 92 & 96 RJonWine. [Interestingly, wine-searcher still show 2 U.S. vendors @ $80 & $125.]

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• 2005 Château Boyd-Cantenac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Thanking for yet another CHERISHED tasting eperience, Dr. Tom!
  
  Planted to 60% C.S., 25% Merlot, 8% C.F., & 7% Petit Verdot in soils of mostly gravel & sand
  
  N: Vanilla & berries with undertones of pyrazines; Intensity lurking?
  
  P: LM body; LOVELY frt met by some puckerish astringency which somewhat resolves as it transitions into the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a swtness to the dusty tannins, & a BIT of final quasi-bitter flatness that concerns me at least somewhat. I'd likely cellar this 2 yrs more, then expect it to make its 20th? My EXC- (I'm quite possibly downrating unnecessarily), though I also feel more IS poss in a couple of yrs. 92 pts WS, 91 Jeff Leve, 90-92 Falstaff Magazine, 17.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve, 17/20 La Revue du Vin de France, 16.5/20 Vinum Wine Magazine, and 16, 16.5, & 16.5-/20 Jancis Robinson!

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• 2003 The Hess Collection Mountain Cuvée

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Arturo, THANK for sharing this EXCELLENT wine! :)
  
  N: Vanilla slightly atop ripe berries with notes of pyrazines
  
  P: LM body; NICE frt met by puckerish astringency which, without ever losing touch with the frt, morphs into a LONG, very, VERY slight tangy finish with a refined swtness to the dusty tannings. For now with food, but really DESERVES another 2 yrs, the drinking for a yr or 2 beyond its 20th, I'd imagine. IMPRESSIVE! 14.5% ABV; My EXC, poss more. 88 pts WE @ $35, 87 WS, 17/20 Vinum, and Silvers from '06, '07, & '08 Mundus Vini.

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• 2003 Marchesi di Barolo Barbaresco

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Dr. Tom & Dan, THANK you for the collaboration! :)
  
  N: Slightly closed; Roses, poss tar? Notes of spice?
  
  P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by puckerish astringency, but still with that initial swtness as it slowly, seamlessly morphs into a very LONG finish with a swtness to the still puckery tannins. DESERVES/NEEDS 2-3 yrs (poss more) [although 1 experienced taster felt it was PAST its prime!], then making its 25th? My EXC, & more to come! 88 pts WS. [Purchased @ $34.95 (SLIGHTLY stained label), 'twas apparently this vendor's last bottle. However, wine-searcher still shows 1 U.S. source @ $39.98.]

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• 2016 Faiveley Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands

  France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey 1er Cru

  Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
  
  N: Smoke atop berries with flowers & undertones of spice; Fragrant; Intensity lurking?
  
  P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt met b some puckerish astringency which evolves into a LONG finish with a swtness to the fairly considerable, dusty tannins. Marked potential, but NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then easily making its 10th. My EXC-/EXC. [This vendor's $39.95 is as good as any on wine-searcher.]
  
  Note: This MAY have been from the same bottle as what I tasted on 8/31/18. Nonetheless, I was concerned that in my haste I'd not looked DEEPLY enough for the underlying structure.

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One of the most striking things was how the Primitivo, though MARKEDLY less expensive, "belonged" with the others.