Winebar [2 Rosés, 2 Whts, & 8 Reds] from 05/31/19 + 4 Shared Bottles

Vintage Wines Ltd., San Diego, CA
Tasted Saturday, June 1, 2019 by srh with 120 views

Flight 1 - Winebar from 05/31/19 (12 Notes)

  • 2018 Weingut Salwey Spätburgunder Kabinett trocken Baden

    Germany, Baden

    N: Flowers slightly atop minerals with notes of grapes

    P: Med body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) very nicely counterbalanced by an acidity which controls the action into & through the LONG, tangy/swt finish with an OCCASIONAL hint of very, VERY slight bitterness. A nicely done, versatile style (quaff & entrees) for now & into '21. My EXC-; [I could find no other source with which to compare this vendor's $15.95.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2018 Meyer-Näkel Rosé Spätburgunder Ahr Rose

    Germany, Ahr

    From "the steepest vineyards in the world for P.N.," vines ave 25-35 yrs old; “From steep, south-facing vyds of predominantly weathered slate & greywacke soils, the P.N. grapes are picked by hand & transported to the winery in small boxes, gently processed, with the must being clarified by sedimentation. The cooled & strained fermentation takes place in s/s tanks. After several wks of storage on the lees, the filling takes place after about 6 mos. 12.0% ABV, 8.0 g/L R.S., & 7.6 g/L T.A.”

    N: Slightly closed; Straws with notes of minerals; Intensity lurking?

    P: Med body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an init spritzy acidity & ALMOST a puckerish component as it fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, tangy/swt finish with just the right amount of very, VERY slight bitterness to be a +. VERY nicely done for now & through '21! 12.0% ABV; My EXC-/ EXC. [This vendor's $20.95 is $3 < wine-searcher's next lowest.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2017 Freemark Abbey Sauvignon Blanc

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    92.2% S.B. (20+ yr old vines) & 7.8% Semillon (5 yr old vines) grown in the rich clay loam soils of the Freemark Abbey Wilson Ranch – St. Helena (49.6%), Yount Mill – Yountville (42.6%), & Oakville Reach – Lower Cardinale – Oakville (7.8%) Vyds; "60% s/s fermentation @ 50-62° F for 14 days, & 40% barrel fermentation @ 68-72° F for 7 days; No malolactic fermentation;" Aged in "s/s & neutral FR oak barrels; Aged in Barrel: 47 days;" 13.9% ABV, "Dry", 0.60g/100ml T.A., & 3.41 pH; 2,302 cases bottled March 2018.

    N: Slightly closed; Grn olives atop grass with toasty undertones

    P: MF, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt nicely offset by an acidity which evolves into a LONG, poss very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with an appealing tangy/swtness. A food style for now & through '20. My VG+/EXC-. 91 pts ("Very Good+") Ken's Wine Guide, & 90 Suckling. [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE price.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2017 CrossBarn (Paul Hobbs) Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    "Hand-harvested grapes pressed whole-cluster; 92% stainless, 8% barrel fermented using native & selected yeast strains; 100% native malolactic fermentation; 5 mos sur lie with weekly bâtonnage; Assemblage: February 2018; Minimal SO2 additions; Bottled unfined;" 14.1% ABV; 23,313 cases made.

    N: Butter (but with restraint), lemons, spice, & sandalwood also being present

    P: Med body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish OAK/frt met by a somewhat astringent acidity which only somewhat loosens its grip by the LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with (hopefully) a tangy/swtness coming on? I'm assuming this NEEDS another 6-12 mos. IF that "works", my VG+/EXC- *will* be on the the low side (particularly with respect to QPR) -- & this a potential steal! 91 pts ea WA, Suckling, & Vinous (Galloni), and 90 Points with "Editors’ Choice" from WE @ $27. [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE price.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2015 Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru Les Toussaints

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    "Planted in 1969 to a density of 10,000 vines/ha, & facing SW @ the foot of the slope, this plot of 2 acres has soil combining loam, clay, & limestone. Picked solely by hand into small crates, and sorted both in the vyd & at the winery;" Typically, "Vinified traditionally: completely de-stemmed in open vats, only natural yeasts, & pigeage or remontage 1x/day; Aged 14 mos in FR oak barrels (30% new), slow malolactic fermentation, & no racking; Bottled unfined & unfiltered."

    N: Vanilla with wild straws, blk rasps, & poss plums trying to horn their way in

    P: LM body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt firmed by just a SMIDGIN of astringent pucker which, surprisingly, only slightly resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a bitter/swtness to the relatively few dusty tannins with an ULT pleasantness. For now with food, & should hold into, if not through, '23. 13% ABV; My EXC- in a fairly substantive style. 94 pts WE @ $45, 91 Vinous (Tanzer), 90 Burghound, 16/20 La Revue du Vin de France, & 15/20 Bettane et Desseauve. [This vendor's $43.95 is $1 < the lowest of wine-searcher's 3 postings.]

    Note: Cf'd to 3/16/2019, today I found this CONSIDERABLY > approachable & relatively < structured. I'm GUESSING that *may* be the result of today's wine having had markedly > air time in the small tasting glass before I was able to get to it?

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2016 Argiano Non Confunditur Toscana IGT

    Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

    C.S., Merlot, P.V, & Sangiovese grown in loam soils on a plateau @ 300 m elev; "Pre-fermentativemaceration for 2 days -maceration of the skins in the must for about 2 wks. Alcoholic & malolactic fermentation in temp controlled s/s tanks - the different varietals are vinfied & aged separately, then blended just before the bottling. Aged for a few mos in 2nd & 3rd passage barriques & tonneaux." 13.91% ABV, 1.0 g/L > R.S., 5.16 g/L T.A., & 3.58 pH; "About 100.000 bottles produced."

    N: RIPE berries, pyrazines, earth, & oak -- in no particular order; Intensity lurking?

    P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which, while staying within hailing distance of the init frt, transitions into a LONG, balanced, POSS very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the fairly innocuous, DUSTY tannins. DESERVES 12-18 mos (although should be QUITE approachable now with decanting), then drinking for 4 yrs more? My EXC-/EXC, the higher arguably for the QPR of this vendor's $14.95, which puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's listings. 93 pts Suckling

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2017 Benovia Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    "A collection of heirloom clones of P.N. like Calera, Swan, Pommard, Mt. Eden, & Chalone as well as newer FR selections like Dijon 777 & 943, from the Martaella Estate, Cohn Estate, Tilton Hill Estate, & Zio Tony Ranch Vyds; Destemmed & cold soaked for 8 days, indigenous yeast fermentation (open top) lasted for > 2 wks; Aged 16 mos in FR oak (37% new) before bottling in February 2019; 1,450 cases released March 2019. 14.1% ABV, 0.60 g/100ml T.A., & 3.59 pH;

    N: Fragrantly RIPE (poss jammy?) berries with notes of choc

    P: LM body; RNDISH entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt (threshold R.S.?) offset by an astringent pucker which basically loses ALL its snap as it transitions into a LONG, tangy/swt/bitter trialectic to the virtually non-existent, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '22, & may improve a BIT through '19. I have @ least SOME problems with SUCH a ripe, relatively unstructured style, so my my VG+ (88,89/100) will undoubtedly be on the low side for some/(many?). [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2015 Domaine du Clos des Fées Rouge Le Clos des Fées

    France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Côtes du Roussillon

    Typically, "Selected plots of old hillside vines on limestone-clay soil. A blend of equal parts Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, & Carignane. Search for optimum phenolic ripeness, adapted for ea varietal & terroir. The harvest is brought in & stored in a refrigerated truck. Vinification is done in 5 hl puncheons, de-vatted when warm, malolactic fermentation & ageing in 100% new oak barrels. All operations such as pumping-over, racking, & barrel topping are done by hand, without pumps. Aged for 18 mos on lees. Unfiltered."

    N: CLOSED, but SEEMS ripe, deep, poss even brooding; Intensity lurking?

    P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which mostly resolves by the LONG, reasonably balanced/pleasant finish with POSS an incipient, quasi-bitter flatness. Overextracted? Or, simply in a "shut-down" phase that the winery mentions "usually" happens in its "2nd yr"? IF the latter, my VG/VG+ (86-89/100) might be EXTREMELY low. 96 pts WA and 15.5/20 Bettane et Desseauve. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2016 Brown Estate Zinfandel

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    "100% Estate Grown Zin from Brown Estate – Big Field, Chiles Valley, Mickey’s, Rosemary’s; Chiles Valley District; Aged 12 mos in 30% new oak, 50/50 FR/AM."

    N: Blkberries, poss blk cherries, with undertones of smoke? Intensity lurking?

    P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (suspect threshold R.S.) counterbalanced by an astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/SWTNESS to the dusty tannins. Deserves/NEEDS through '19, then drinking for 3-4 yrs more. Nicely done in the flirting with R.S. style. 15.2% ABV; My EXC-. 90 pts WS. [Check with this vendor if interested in their very COMPETITIVE price.]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2015 Bodega Catena Zapata Cabernet Sauvignon Catena Alta Historic Rows

    Argentina, Mendoza

    95% C.S. & 5% C.F. "sourced from Lot 3 of the La Pirámide Vyd, Lot 2 of the Domingo Vyd, & Lot 2 of the Nicasia Vyd; Vyd lots are harvested at different times. Whole berries are hand loaded into small format fermentation bins & 225-500 L barrels. Lots are treated individually: fermentation & maceration last for 16–35 days using wild yeasts. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in barrel; Aged for 18-24 mos in FR oak, depending on the vyd & harvest time." 13.5% ABV, 5.84 g/L T.A., & 3.55 pH; Bottled unfined & unfiltered, 18,000 bottles produced.

    N: Slightly closed; Smoke slightly atop berries & pyrazines; Intensity lurking?

    P: LM, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which loses MUCH of its punch by the LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/swtness to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, then approaching its 10th. A potentially elegant style that, cf'd to "typical" Napa, is likely a steal. My EXC-, more down the line? 93 pts Suckling and 92 ea WA, Dunnuck, & Vinous (Tanzer). [This vendor's $31.95 is $3 < wine-searcher's next lowest!]

    Note: Had considerably > time in a small tasting glass than when tasted on 5/11/2019

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2016 Odette Cabernet Sauvignon Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    82% C.S., 10% Merlot, 4% Malbec, & 4% P.V.; "Fermentation took place in fully jacketed s/s fermenters after a 4 day cold soak at 50° F. Macerations lasted 8-14 days at a maximum temp of 95° F. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrel & finished up in late winter. The blend was crafted in the early spring of 2017 granting sufficient time to marry together over the next 15 mos. The wine was aged in 75% new FR oak for 20 mos prior to bottling."

    N: Closed; Vanilla slightly atop ripe berries? Intensity lurking

    P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the LONG, BALANCED, already elegant finish with a tangy/swtness to the MINIMAL, dusty tannins. For now & through '24 (hopefully). While I *can't* SLAM a wine of SUCH approachable elegance, paying ≈$150 for a wine that is peaking (or VERY close) < 3 full yrs after vintage?!? 15.2% ABV; My EXC- (90,91/100, on that scale), which takes into consideration what *I* feel to be poor QPR. 95+ pts ea WA & Dunnuck, and 94 Vinous (Galloni). [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price!]

    Note: This had ≈2 hrs in a small tasting glass before I was able to get to it.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2015 Wirra Wirra Cabernet Sauvignon Dead Ringer

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    100% C.S. (vines ave 20 yrs of age) from the shallow red clay over limestone to deep sands over ironstone soils of the Seaview, Blewitt Springs, & Onkaparinga Hills Vyds, elev. 262-787 ft; Fermented in a 2t open fermenter, & aged 17 mos in FR barriques; 13.5% ABV, 0.5 g/L R.S., 7.2 g/L T.A., & 3.4 pH:

    Known as "The Angelus C.S." in Australia;

    N: RIPE berries with notes of choc, spice, & undertones of earth? Intensity lurking?

    P: LM body; RNDISH entry with very NICE, almost swtish frt met by an astringent PUCKER which somewhat works itself out by the LONG, still very slightly puckerish, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with a hint of swtness to the DUSTY tannins. NEEDS through '21, I'd guess, then EASILY making its 10th. My EXC-/EXC, the higher likely eventually. 94 pts James Halliday, 08/01/2017. [This vendor's $49.95 is $5 < wine-searcher's lowest!]

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 - Shared Bottles from 06/01/19 (4 Notes)

  • 2013 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor

    Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

    Dr. Tom, THANK you for the opportunity to retaste this bottling, which a book we have on S. Am. wines lists as 1 of its (reliably) "crazy good Cabernets". :)

    91% C.S. & 9% C.F. planted in loam soils with a large amount of stones below that, which yielded 5 tons/ha; "The frt from each vyd block was vinified separately in small-vol s/s tanks. Alcoholic fermentation lasted 10 days between 25-28° C with 4–6 pumpovers/day. Upon completion the tanks were hermetically sealed for 10-20 days post-fermentation maceration at 23–25° C;" Aged 15 mos in FR oak barrels, (66% new & 34% 2nd-use); 14.5% ABV; 3.64 pH; 7,4000 cs bottled November 2014;

    N: RIPE berries with tobacco slightly atop with a depth I can't quite parse (Tom felt it was a metalic note which DIDN'T come through on the P.)

    P: MF body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by a BIT of astringent pucker which pretty much works its way out by the very LONG, very, VERY slightly bitterish finish with an elegant tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. Approachable now with food, this DESERVES another 6-12 mos, then making its 10th. A fairly elegant food wine that impresses with its overall presence! My EXC/EXC+. 96 pts ea Suckling & Descorchados, 93 ea Wine & Spirits, Jeannie Cho Lee, WA, & WS, 92 WE @ $120, and 17+/20 (2x) Jancis Robinson! [This vendor's $86.95 now puts it in wine-searcher's top 20% -- IF it's still in stock.]

    Note: 1st tasted on 10/13/2018.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Chanson Père & Fils Beaune 1er Cru Bastion

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    ¡Mil gracias, Arturo! :)

    Frt grown in a mix of clay & limestone; "The Premiers Crus vyds of Domaine Chanson are aged in casks [this vintage for 15 mos] in the Bastion cellars. This cuvée is a blend of grapes sourced from selected plots among the Premiers Crus of the domaine located on the hill of Beaune."

    N: Cherries working their way atop vanilla with hints of oranges & notes of flowers; Natural oxygenation; Intensity lurking

    P: LM body; Very NICE, ALMOST swtish "frt" met by an astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly transitions into a LONG, BALANCED finish with a perfect, bitter/swt dialectic that I can imagine being GREAT with food! AT its APEX, but I suspect it will hold through '22 min. A *very* IMPRESSIVE wine! 13.5% ABV; My EXC+ (94,95/100). 91 pts WS in '08.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Yverdon

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    Dan, THANK you for sharing this SENSATIONAL mountain C.S.! :)

    N: RIPE berries with notable pyrazines with notes of choc; Intensity lurking

    P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which QUITE resolves by the very LONG, BALANCED finish with an attractive bitter/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. For now & through '23 safely, poss making its 20th? 14.9% ABV; My EXC+. 93 pts & "Cellar Selection" from WE @ $70, 92 RJonWine, 90 WE, & 89 Tanzer.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Ferrari-Carano Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

    THANK you for sharing, Esther! :)

    N: Closed; Creamy oak with notes of dill & smoke coming on? Choc as well?

    P: Med, poss MF, body; Rndish entry with nice, ALMOST swtish frt met by some astringent pucker which loses ALMOST all its bite by the LONG finish with a bitter/SWT (choc?) veneer to the remaining dusty tannins. Drinking nicely NOW, & SHOULD be safe through '22, MAYBE even making its 20th? 14.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 86 pts WS & 85 WE @ $38. [As of early Jun '19, wine-searcher still shows 1 vendor @ $40].

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

×
×