P: Med body; NICE frt QUICKLY met by an astringent pucker which only somewhat mitigates by the LONG, bitterSWT finish with just a TOUCH of tanginess. NEEDS through '19, then easily making its 10th. 93 pts ea WA, & WS + #12/Top 100 for '16 @ $28, 91 Guía Peñín, and 88 (Bronze) Decanter World Wine Awards. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $30].
Addendum: Also tasted 10/15/16 + 1/14, 2/11, & 11/11/17
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: An INTERESTING melange of earth & jammy berries
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much works itself out by the LONG, somewhat tangy, bitterswt finish. Approachable now, but BETTER if held through '18, then drinking for several yrs more. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $43].
Addendum: Also tasted 5/27/17, 9/29/18, & 9/22/19, today’s (sans decanting) being the MOST approachable.
P: Med body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker that pretty much resolves by the LONG, spicy, slightly tangy, pleasantly bitterswt finish. A *nicely* balanced style that DESERVES 6-9 mos, then drinking for @ least 3 yrs more. [As of late Feb '20 I saw no other sources on wine-searcher].
94% Zin & 6% P.S.; 15.9% ABV "This wine blends lots from select vineyards in top growing regions: El Dorado (50%), Amador (25%), Lake (14%), & Napa (11%)."
N: JAMMY berries with notes of pyrazines
P: MF body; Notable swtness (suspect threshold R.S.) met by a VERY slightly astringent pucker which nicely extends through the LONG, tangy/swt, very, VERY finely tannic finish. A *relatively* balanced style of "swt" Zin for drinking now & through '19. Bronze @ Dan Berger's '17 Int'l Wine Comp. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows several sources from $28-$38].
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
“94% Shiraz, 4% Grenache, & 2% Mataro from a Vyd with a predominately E exposure. Soil varies from sandy loam at the top of the hill to heavier loam & clay as it transcends down the hill towards the creek. The dry climate forces the vine roots, ranging from 15 – 20 yrs, to delve into the ancient underlying geology consisting of quartz, ironstone, & limestone. “The grapes were traditionally vinified in open fermenters, & basket pressed then matured in a combination of AM, FR, & E European oak barrels for 12 mos. 14.2% ABV, 1.1 g/l R.S., 6.5 g/l T.A., & 3.66 pH;”
N: Closed, but seems ripe/jammy
P: MF body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by a TOUCH of astringent pucker which pretty much loses its "bite" by the LONG, nicely balanced finish. Approachable now, though 6 mos or so MIGHT improve it. LOVELY stuff for drinking through '20, quite possibly longer. 94 pts James Halliday (8/’16), 93 Wine & Spirits (2/’17), & 90 WA (8/’16). [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $32 & $40].
Addendum: Unless frt was masking underlying structure, I certainly found this FAR > approachable than others here.
P: Med body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, tangy/swt finish. LOVELY now (though I'd recommend a decant), + could well improve through the end of the yr before providing enjoyable drinking through '19, poss longer. Gold @ the '17 S.F. Chronicle Intl. Wine Comp. in the $24 - $27.99 class. [While NO sources show for this vintage as of Feb '20, subsequent vintages SHOULD be available in this producer's admirably consistent style!]
2012 Abadia Retuerta Selección Especial Sardon de Duero
Spain, Castilla y León, Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y León
75% Tempranillo, 15% C.S., & 10% Syrah; 14.5% ABV; 31,150 cases produced.
N: Smoke atop ripe, jammy berries; More to give?
P: Med body; NICE frt QUICKLY met by an astringent pucker which only somewhat mitigates by the LONG, bitterSWT finish with just a TOUCH of tanginess. NEEDS through '19, then easily making its 10th. 93 pts ea WA, & WS + #12/Top 100 for '16 @ $28, 91 Guía Peñín, and 88 (Bronze) Decanter World Wine Awards. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $30].
Addendum: Also tasted 10/15/16 + 1/14, 2/11, & 11/11/17
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2013 Emiliana Coyam Los Robles
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
N: An INTERESTING melange of earth & jammy berries
P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which pretty much works itself out by the LONG, somewhat tangy, bitterswt finish. Approachable now, but BETTER if held through '18, then drinking for several yrs more. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 1 source @ $43].
Addendum: Also tasted 5/27/17, 9/29/18, & 9/22/19, today’s (sans decanting) being the MOST approachable.
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2014 Aliane Rasteau
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Rasteau
N: CLOSED; Some garrigue?
P: Med body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by some astringent pucker that pretty much resolves by the LONG, spicy, slightly tangy, pleasantly bitterswt finish. A *nicely* balanced style that DESERVES 6-9 mos, then drinking for @ least 3 yrs more. [As of late Feb '20 I saw no other sources on wine-searcher].
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2015 Rombauer Vineyards Zinfandel California
USA, California
94% Zin & 6% P.S.; 15.9% ABV "This wine blends lots from select vineyards in top growing regions: El Dorado (50%), Amador (25%), Lake (14%), & Napa (11%)."
N: JAMMY berries with notes of pyrazines
P: MF body; Notable swtness (suspect threshold R.S.) met by a VERY slightly astringent pucker which nicely extends through the LONG, tangy/swt, very, VERY finely tannic finish. A *relatively* balanced style of "swt" Zin for drinking now & through '19. Bronze @ Dan Berger's '17 Int'l Wine Comp. [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows several sources from $28-$38].
Addendum: Also tasted 7/29 & 12/9/17.
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2014 Kay Brothers Shiraz Basket Pressed Amery Vineyards
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
“94% Shiraz, 4% Grenache, & 2% Mataro from a Vyd with a predominately E exposure. Soil varies from sandy loam at the top of the hill to heavier loam & clay as it transcends down the hill towards the creek. The dry climate forces the vine roots, ranging from 15 – 20 yrs, to delve into the ancient underlying geology consisting of quartz, ironstone, & limestone.
“The grapes were traditionally vinified in open fermenters, & basket pressed then matured in a combination of AM, FR, & E European oak barrels for 12 mos. 14.2% ABV, 1.1 g/l R.S., 6.5 g/l T.A., & 3.66 pH;”
N: Closed, but seems ripe/jammy
P: MF body; Rndish entry with ALMOST swtish frt met by a TOUCH of astringent pucker which pretty much loses its "bite" by the LONG, nicely balanced finish. Approachable now, though 6 mos or so MIGHT improve it. LOVELY stuff for drinking through '20, quite possibly longer. 94 pts James Halliday (8/’16), 93 Wine & Spirits (2/’17), & 90 WA (8/’16). [As of late Feb '20, wine-searcher still shows 2 sources @ $32 & $40].
Addendum: Unless frt was masking underlying structure, I certainly found this FAR > approachable than others here.
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2014 Jeff Runquist Zinfandel "Z" Massoni Ranch
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
“82% Zin & 18% Petite Sirah;”
N: Slightly closed; Smoke, blueberries
P: Med body; Rndish entry with almost swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which stays within hailing distance of the init frt as it evolves into a LONG, BALANCED, tangy/swt finish. LOVELY now (though I'd recommend a decant), + could well improve through the end of the yr before providing enjoyable drinking through '19, poss longer. Gold @ the '17 S.F. Chronicle Intl. Wine Comp. in the $24 - $27.99 class. [While NO sources show for this vintage as of Feb '20, subsequent vintages SHOULD be available in this producer's admirably consistent style!]
Note: Also tasted on 12/3/16, + 1/1 & 3/18/17.
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