USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Pretty cherry fruit and a herb-tinged note to the nose -- this seems more Oregon than Russian River. There's little of the clove, rhubarb, or cola notes that this wine had on release. Initially simple but very pleasant, I came back to this in the middle of the tasting and thought it had added some depth of flavor. I liked this. Holding on nicely, but it's time to drink up in the next couple of years.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
Nothing on the nose. On the palate there's some bright cherry fruit but overall, the impression is of a simple, tight, and angular wine. The finish is short. This wine needs fruit.
A bit reduced. Some candied orange peel, red cherry fruit, black walnut, and dark chocolate on the nose. Tart cherry fruit -- very pure on the palate but with some coarse, grippy tannins. Not as concentrated as I would like, but really nice. Similar in style to last week's 2000 Casa di Neri -- but, with less depth. Nice stuff.
Hugely aromatic and pleasantly green on the nose -- not unlike a Togni Cab. A bit of Christmas candy too. A bright wine that's right in its sweet spot. Not particularly deep or concentrated, but it's developed some nice secondary aromatics and it has a nice mouthfeel. A solid wine that has improved with age.
This is a beautiful, regal wine that is holding a lot back right now. Very pure -- black walnut again, which seems odd in a Pomerol -- I actually thought this to be a 2000 Montrose. Paradoxically both generous and austere at the same time, if that's possible. Aromatically, there's a lot going on -- and, on the palate the wine is mouth coating and finishes very long. At the same time, you're left with the impression that you've just been teased. This will be great. Huge upside to this one, IMO.
Sweet beet, rhubarb mixes, and multi vitamin mixes with dark berry fruit on the nose. The palate isn't any more appealing. The finish is very short, thankfully. Not recommended.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Very ripe with some heat -- maybe too ripe, but the serving was a bit warm. A bit Amarone-like, even, with some volatility on the nose, dried berry fruit on the palate, and a pleasant bitterness in the finish. Some garrigue brings you back to CdP. Very mouthfilling, with a huge mid-palate -- it's a really big wine that should show better in a few years.
What beautiful fruit! Very pure and fruit driven wine with super-ripe (but not over-ripe) black fruit balanced with some acidity and powdery tannins. I love the energy this wine has on the palate -- and the nose is very pretty. Reminds me a bit of the Pax Cuvée Keltie. Nice stuff -- I would drink it now before the sexy fruit fades. Better today than tomorrow, I think...
Explosive -- and, to some, quite offensive apothecary nose. The table got into a tense discussion over whether the wine was or was not corked. Craig and I are usually among the more sensitive to TCA in the group and neither of us found even get a suggestion of taint in the wine. In the end, I was convinced that a couple of my esteemed fellow tasters were confusing this bizarre medicinal note for TCA. In any case -- the wine was explosively aromatic -- mainly this medicinal quality and eucalyptus. It reminded me of a Sean Thackery Orion or a Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache. Very full -- but balanced, too. I liked this more the longer I thought about it. Others were quick to dump -- either thinking it was corked or just plain 'off'. I really think it is what it is -- and, that when we see it again (which we will) we'll find it shows similarly.
Simple, yoghurt-y dark berry fruit. Simple, pleasant, a little sweet -- not really deserving a note. Not bad at all -- just not especially interesting either.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
A dark berry mixed with coffee aroma I associate with St. Emilion. Quite pure and dense with good balance provided by some grippy tannins. Not at all heavy -- very good for a right bank 2003 -- the fruit is pure, deep, and fresh, not at all stewy or baked. Nice stuff.
Golden color. Wonderfully aromatic -- a brulée note with peach, honey, and apricots. Perhaps a little rustic, but the wine is fresh and full. Very, very nice. It makes a great argument for not pouring this sort of wine at the conclusion of a tasting.
1998 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Pretty cherry fruit and a herb-tinged note to the nose -- this seems more Oregon than Russian River. There's little of the clove, rhubarb, or cola notes that this wine had on release. Initially simple but very pleasant, I came back to this in the middle of the tasting and thought it had added some depth of flavor. I liked this. Holding on nicely, but it's time to drink up in the next couple of years.
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1998 Louis Jadot Corton-Grèves 77 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru
Nothing on the nose. On the palate there's some bright cherry fruit but overall, the impression is of a simple, tight, and angular wine. The finish is short. This wine needs fruit.
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1996 Fattoria Ambra Carmignano Riserva Elzana 89 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Carmignano
A bit reduced. Some candied orange peel, red cherry fruit, black walnut, and dark chocolate on the nose. Tart cherry fruit -- very pure on the palate but with some coarse, grippy tannins. Not as concentrated as I would like, but really nice. Similar in style to last week's 2000 Casa di Neri -- but, with less depth. Nice stuff.
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1993 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Hugely aromatic and pleasantly green on the nose -- not unlike a Togni Cab. A bit of Christmas candy too. A bright wine that's right in its sweet spot. Not particularly deep or concentrated, but it's developed some nice secondary aromatics and it has a nice mouthfeel. A solid wine that has improved with age.
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1998 Château L'Eglise-Clinet 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
This is a beautiful, regal wine that is holding a lot back right now. Very pure -- black walnut again, which seems odd in a Pomerol -- I actually thought this to be a 2000 Montrose. Paradoxically both generous and austere at the same time, if that's possible. Aromatically, there's a lot going on -- and, on the palate the wine is mouth coating and finishes very long. At the same time, you're left with the impression that you've just been teased. This will be great. Huge upside to this one, IMO.
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2001 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 82 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Sweet beet, rhubarb mixes, and multi vitamin mixes with dark berry fruit on the nose. The palate isn't any more appealing. The finish is very short, thankfully. Not recommended.
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2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 91 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Very ripe with some heat -- maybe too ripe, but the serving was a bit warm. A bit Amarone-like, even, with some volatility on the nose, dried berry fruit on the palate, and a pleasant bitterness in the finish. Some garrigue brings you back to CdP. Very mouthfilling, with a huge mid-palate -- it's a really big wine that should show better in a few years.
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2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
What beautiful fruit! Very pure and fruit driven wine with super-ripe (but not over-ripe) black fruit balanced with some acidity and powdery tannins. I love the energy this wine has on the palate -- and the nose is very pretty. Reminds me a bit of the Pax Cuvée Keltie. Nice stuff -- I would drink it now before the sexy fruit fades. Better today than tomorrow, I think...
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2001 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vines Kangarilla 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon
Explosive -- and, to some, quite offensive apothecary nose. The table got into a tense discussion over whether the wine was or was not corked. Craig and I are usually among the more sensitive to TCA in the group and neither of us found even get a suggestion of taint in the wine. In the end, I was convinced that a couple of my esteemed fellow tasters were confusing this bizarre medicinal note for TCA. In any case -- the wine was explosively aromatic -- mainly this medicinal quality and eucalyptus. It reminded me of a Sean Thackery Orion or a Clarendon Hills Romas Grenache. Very full -- but balanced, too. I liked this more the longer I thought about it. Others were quick to dump -- either thinking it was corked or just plain 'off'. I really think it is what it is -- and, that when we see it again (which we will) we'll find it shows similarly.
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2004 Buehler Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Simple, yoghurt-y dark berry fruit. Simple, pleasant, a little sweet -- not really deserving a note. Not bad at all -- just not especially interesting either.
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2003 Clos Les Lunelles 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux
A dark berry mixed with coffee aroma I associate with St. Emilion. Quite pure and dense with good balance provided by some grippy tannins. Not at all heavy -- very good for a right bank 2003 -- the fruit is pure, deep, and fresh, not at all stewy or baked. Nice stuff.
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1999 Château de Rayne-Vigneau 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Golden color. Wonderfully aromatic -- a brulée note with peach, honey, and apricots. Perhaps a little rustic, but the wine is fresh and full. Very, very nice. It makes a great argument for not pouring this sort of wine at the conclusion of a tasting.
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