Summer and Fall 2022 Wine Adventures

Corolla, NC & Three Rivers, MI & Dogwood Grove, VA
Tasted Tuesday, November 1, 2022 by pgb67 with 144 views

Introduction

A collection of the best wines that we served, drank, enjoyed, slurped over the past couple of months.

Flight 1 - Robust Reds (4 Notes)

When you need to pull out a crowd pleaser ...

  • 2018 Carlisle Zinfandel Papera Ranch 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Opened this summer at the beach and it maybe lost something amongst the suntan lotion and aloe and hot summer sun. Not too complex but nice notes of blueberry, vanilla spice, fresh figs.

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  • 2011 Saxum Syrah Booker Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Customarily when the Saxum mailer arrives, the next Saxum to be opened out of the cellar absolutely shines, leading to a new order – funny how that works! This one hit all my favorite high notes for a Cali Rhone – blackberry, orange peel, cracked pepper, smoked meats. Very delicious.

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  • 2010 Saxum Broken Stones 91 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Unlike the ’11 Booker, this one seemed to be a bit longer in the tooth, although like the Papera, it was consumed at the beach which isn’t always the best spot for pondering complex vino. Black fruits on the palate and floral elements on the nose, along with a more austere herbal and peppery character.

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  • 2012 John Duval Wines Plexus 88 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

    I’m still drinking the occasional Australian shiraz even though it seems I’m in a minority. Unfortunately this one didn’t deliver and came across as a bit astringent and stern, with inflections of pepper and spice but overly feint fruit notes

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Flight 2 - Pinots etc. (3 Notes)

Pinot continues to be a favorite grape, although sangiovese is terffic as well.

  • 2014 Etude Pinot Noir Fiddlestix Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Focused, bright, leafy, cool. Not as stunning as higher end Cali Pinots but this is a good value and gets the job done. Quite consistent through the vintages as well!

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  • 2010 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay

    I love introducing people to wines they’ve never tried but have heard about, and Red Burgundy falls into that category. I really don’t think the typical wine consumer has tried it because it has gotten really expensive and the naming conventions scare people off. Nevertheless, I was pleased that a bigger group loved this wine when I poured it at a gathering. Complicated, elegant, cool with notes of violet, dark pinot fruit, and plum.

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  • 2015 Fontodi Chianti Classico 90 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Surprisingly dense and brooding with licorice and tar character accented by black currant and blackberry. Enjoyed it, although this bottle was not for casual drinkers.

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Flight 3 - Vin de France (4 Notes)

Lots of French wine this year.

  • 2010 Pauillac de Lynch-Bages Berrys' Own Selection Pauillac 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Perhaps I've overrated it out of nostalgia for trips to the BBR shop in St. James, but this wine showed a lot of class and pedigree and represented a classic vintage well. Showed a saturated full-bodied richness on the palate and tastes/aromas of crème de cassis, graphite, and floral elements.

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  • 2016 Château Haut-Bages Libéral 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    I had this soon after the 2010 Pauillac and it was nice to try a more recent vintage Pauillac to compare. Predictably this had a fresher verve to it and more poignant fruit notes of blackberry and plum. Nevertheless, it would benefit from a bit more aging, but also fine to enjoy now.

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  • 2019 Château Soucherie Anjou Cuvée Les Rangs De Long 93 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou

    Like the BBR shop wine above, this Anjou exudes memories of trips to the Loire. Lemony and butterscotch-accented palate with notes of crushed seashell. Delicious but complicated and sophisticated.

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  • 2018 Ducard Philibert Chablis 1er Cru Montmain 91 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    Very interesting wine that almost has a flicker of oxidization which makes it feel like it is living on the edge and is oh so interesting. Notes of browned butter, dried pineapple, ginger paste.

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Flight 4 - WOW wines (4 Notes)

My favorites from the past couple of months.

  • 2005 Alloro Vineyard Pinot Noir 94 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains

    Such a unique wine for me, an almost 20-year old Oregon Pinot that I first drank in 2007 and loved so much I bought a box. Alas, this is the last of it, but it continues to provide drinking pleasure. Now it is quite soft but surprisingly long, with a firm structure and characteristics of raspberry and crushed stone.

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  • 2010 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon Corona Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Such a classy wine that has aged wonderfully with elegant fragrances and tastes of plum sauce, fig ganache, and sweet spices. Balanced, integrated, lovely.

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  • 2019 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

    A fruit bomb in the best sense of the phrase, but at the same time shows some old world elegance. Explosive initial flavors of black cherry are balanced out by sophisticated notes of mocha and sage. Enjoyable to drink.

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  • 2008 Paolo Scavino Barolo 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Very impressed that this wine was so long and tannic after all these years. Very classic Barolo flavor and aromatic profile showing dried cherry, strawberry, mint, iron, stony minerals and a dusty, pleasing finish.

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