NOSE: intense; very nice minerality with some sweetness that was somewhat aged in character, but not at all oxidized.
BODY: medium-light bodied; light amber color -- a very beautiful-looking wine.
TASTE: strong note of baked apples and pears is off-set by the perfect amount of minerals; very rich, but only lightly sweet; medium-length finish. Gorgeous wine. My WOTN.
-- double-decanted before tasting: decanted for 3 hours -- -- tasted non-blind -- NOSE: ripe red fruits; tight ... not bad, but not memorable either.
BODY: mahogany color of medium-depth; medium bodied
TASTE: distinctively CA in style; very ripe red fruits with a bit of earthiness; too oaky, and way too hot ... bottle says 14.1%, but this drinks far hotter -- searingly hot.
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: pretty bouquet of dark raspberries and sweet oak
BODY: clear; garnet color of medium-light depth
TASTE: oak!! 2x4. oak treatment is so over-the-top I find this offensive; a bit hot; perhaps if this were laid-down for many years the oak would recede to reveal a nice wine, but there's no way of telling right now.
NOSE: leather and garrigue; a bit chalky; tight ... initial raspberry aroma dissipated by the time this was poured 5 hours after first opening.
BODY: mahogany color of medium-deep depth; medium-full bodied; some fine particulate matter suspended in the wine
TASTE: very tight right now; primary raspberries and blackberries with a secondary hint of funk; tannic; hot finish; seems closed-down right now. Hold.
-- popped and poured -- -- tasted non-blind over 3 days --
NOSE: dark, smoky bouquet with intense florals (violets); dark fruits; hint of oak; chalky; pronounced cinnamon incense; hint of black licorice emerges on Day 2;
BODY: lots of fine particulate matter is suspended in the wine; purple-garnet color of great depth; medium-full bodied
TASTE: Day 1: very oaky, strong black cherry fruits with a hint of smoke; full palate; tannic. Day 2: oak toned-down quite a bit now; tannins fully integrated on Day 2; very interesting iodine/peat note has come forward; otherwise same as Day 1 ... this is slowly getting better; Day 3: same as Day 2 ... I think Kim Marcus summed it up well: "A muscular, strapping Touriga, with concentrated flavors ...". At its price point, I'm sold ... barely. Will buy another to give it a few years in the cellar. If you must drink now, decant overnight.
2004 Château Soucherie Anjou Blanc 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: juicy melon fruits with ample minerality
BODY: golden yellow color; medium bodied
TASTE: nice acidity and minerality; coating mouthfeel; alcohol not noticeable; a very easy-drinking wine.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90
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2004 Müller-Catoir Mußbacher Eselshaut Riesling Kabinett 87 Points
Germany, Pfalz
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: seems very tight; some minerality and sweetness;
BODY: pale golden yellow color; medium bodied
TASTE: lightly sweet with pronounced minerality; full palate with notes of very ripe pear; Hold.
B: 50, 5, 10, 15, 7 = 87
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1995 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Goldert 93 Points
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: intense; very nice minerality with some sweetness that was somewhat aged in character, but not at all oxidized.
BODY: medium-light bodied; light amber color -- a very beautiful-looking wine.
TASTE: strong note of baked apples and pears is off-set by the perfect amount of minerals; very rich, but only lightly sweet; medium-length finish. Gorgeous wine. My WOTN.
B: 50, 5, 13, 17, 8 = 93
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2005 Bruno Colin Santenay Vieilles Vignes 90 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Santenay
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: lots of spiciness; some non-descript red fruits; hint of pinot funk.
BODY: light garnet color of medium-light depth
TASTE: cherry pie with a slight citrusy note; medium-length finish; well-balanced, but tannic right now; Hold. My second-favorite WOTN.
B: 50, 5, 12, 16, 7 = 90
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2004 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
-- double-decanted before tasting: decanted for 3 hours --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: ripe red fruits; tight ... not bad, but not memorable either.
BODY: mahogany color of medium-depth; medium bodied
TASTE: distinctively CA in style; very ripe red fruits with a bit of earthiness; too oaky, and way too hot ... bottle says 14.1%, but this drinks far hotter -- searingly hot.
B: 50, 5, 11, 14, 6 = 86
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2006 Kutch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: pretty bouquet of dark raspberries and sweet oak
BODY: clear; garnet color of medium-light depth
TASTE: oak!! 2x4. oak treatment is so over-the-top I find this offensive; a bit hot; perhaps if this were laid-down for many years the oak would recede to reveal a nice wine, but there's no way of telling right now.
B: 50, 5, 12, 13, 6 = 86
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2003 Wolff Vineyards Teroldego 91 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, San Luis Obispo County
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: very spicy; interesting notes of pine, cigar, and black licorice ... a vegetal hint too.
BODY: ruby color of medium-deep depth; medium bodied
TASTE: black licorice; spicy cigar wrapper; oaky; medium-long finish. I really enjoyed this wine.
B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 7 = 91
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2001 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 90 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
-- double-decanted: decanted for 2 hours --
-- tasted non-blind --
NOSE: leather and garrigue; a bit chalky; tight ... initial raspberry aroma dissipated by the time this was poured 5 hours after first opening.
BODY: mahogany color of medium-deep depth; medium-full bodied; some fine particulate matter suspended in the wine
TASTE: very tight right now; primary raspberries and blackberries with a secondary hint of funk; tannic; hot finish; seems closed-down right now. Hold.
B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 8 = 90
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2005 Quinta do Vallado Touriga Nacional Douro 91 Points
Portugal, Douro
-- popped and poured --
-- tasted non-blind over 3 days --
NOSE: dark, smoky bouquet with intense florals (violets); dark fruits; hint of oak; chalky; pronounced cinnamon incense; hint of black licorice emerges on Day 2;
BODY: lots of fine particulate matter is suspended in the wine; purple-garnet color of great depth; medium-full bodied
TASTE: Day 1: very oaky, strong black cherry fruits with a hint of smoke; full palate; tannic. Day 2: oak toned-down quite a bit now; tannins fully integrated on Day 2; very interesting iodine/peat note has come forward; otherwise same as Day 1 ... this is slowly getting better; Day 3: same as Day 2 ... I think Kim Marcus summed it up well: "A muscular, strapping Touriga, with concentrated flavors ...". At its price point, I'm sold ... barely. Will buy another to give it a few years in the cellar. If you must drink now, decant overnight.
Day 1:
B: 50, 5, 13, 15, 7 = 90
Days 2 & 3:
B: 50, 5, 13, 16, 7 = 91
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