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Sineann wines and whole bunch of other stuff
Our home
Tasted July 3, 2011 by Loren Sonkin with 1,101 views
Introduction
My old college buddy (Purdue '80) Peter Rosback was in town. As is our custom, we invited 50 of our friends over to meet Pete and sample some of his wines. Pete brought a bunch, I threw in a bunch from my cellar and lots of people brought wine or food or both. I tried to find a good cross section of old and new friends for Peter to meet and to help spread the word about his wines. Most wines were just popped and pured and consumed over 5 hours. I did have an SQN dessert wine and a Madeira that had been lying around, open, for a while. Both seemed popular, but I have already posted my notes on those. There was also a bottle of 2009 SonkinCellars Persona opened, but I will refrain from commenting on it.
Flight 1 - Sineann White wines (7 notes)
I think Peter's whites are some of his best wines. They don't get the buzz the reds do, and that is true for lots of Oregon whites i am sure.
White
2010 Sineann Pinot Gris
92 points
This is quite fresh. Really has some intensity to it as well. Drinks really well. Good minerality. Some citrus especially on the nose. Great balance. Delicious.
White
2009 Sineann Pinot Gris
90 points
We opened two bottles of this vintage. One of mine and one from Peter. Not sure which I had, but while I liked this, I liked the 2010 a bit more. It had more excitement to it. This is still young and drinking well, as I would expect, but seemed to lack the intensity of the 2010.
White
2010 Sineann Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
92 points
Wow, what a nose. Certainly speaks to NZ with its gooseberry and tropical fruit notes along with lots of grapefruit. It does seem to be more focused than most. Great mouth watering acidity. Balanced. Not overpowering with food.
White
2008 Sineann Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
91 points
Really delicious and ageing nicely. The exuberant fruit is fading but in its place is a lovely piercing minerality balance with great acidity. There is a complexity and layering going on now. While youthful, it seems to be in the the pre-teen years and doing fine. I suspect the screw cap helps that.
White
2010 Sineann White Table Wine
88 points
This is a "cheap" white that Sineann makes that Pete was almost apologetic for. It has some RS (I think he said 6%), but on a hot night outside, it went down easily and did not tastes too sweet. It has a lovely slightly viscous texture. I believe its a blend of the leftovers after bottling the varietal wines. For $10, this drink fine and the bottle was emptied and enjoyed. No need for apologies.
White
2010 Sineann Gewürztraminer Resonance Vineyard
91 points
So when I first starting tasting the Sineann whites (circa 2002), the Gewurzs were always the weak sister for my palate. Lacked typicity. IMO, that changed around 2006 and they have been firing well since then. This one has a more "Alsatian" profile if you will. Nice nose with lychees and minerals. Lush texture. Goes very well with food. I think it needs a year or two to develop more.
White
2007 Sineann Riesling Medici Vineyard
90 points
Always one of my favorites in the portfolio, this is in an interesting phase. It has lost its exuberance, but still no signs of petrol or even middle age. To some extent that leaves it in an awkward phase right now, especially on the nose. Yet, the acidity and texture come thru. Tasting later in the night, it was refreshing on the palate and the fruit (mostly grapefruit and some peach) was starting to emerge. At this point, I might hold these for a couple of years.
Flight 2 - Other Whites (5 notes)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Mawby Talismon
90 points
I had just been saying to someone that Mawby makes the best sparklers in the US, and then Steve walked in with this bottle. Perfect timing. I like these wines because the fruit is in check and the wine is about piercing acidity but still with fresh fruit, citrus and slight strawberry notes. Nice amount of mousse. Good texture. Long finish. Lovely wine.
White
2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Albariño Abrente
88 points
My first time trying this wine. The nose is very nice and varietally consistent. Crushed shells and sea air notes take me to the beach. Nice texture but the wine drinks somewhat hot and clumsy on opening. I tried it later on and with some air this got smoother, but the palate never reached the level of the nose. Perhaps with a bit more age. That said, I really enjoyed it. The bigger question for me is how does this compare to the $15 Albarinos from Spain. Probably about the same. I have a couple more bottles that I want to try on their own before making up my mind.
White
2010 Sean Thackrey Viognier Lyra Noble Vineyard
91 points
From Magnum. This is the most Rhone tasting Viognier I have tasted from the US. Normally, I find them hot and alcoholic for my tastes. This was 14.3% but in balance. Lovely floral nose, clean and refreshing. On the palate, this was smooth and refreshing. Not complex (I wonder what happens with some age), but still enjoyable and fun. I will be curious where this one goes and how it develops.
White
2004 Marcel Deiss Grasberg
93 points
This wine was excellent. I think this was from a Cinderella offering a few months ago. Drinking very well. Showing some slight signs of age on the nose with the fruits not being exuberant but not showing old age. Nice full bodied texture. Well balanced. Lots of interesting complexities and layering. Long finish. Wonderful wine.
White
2005 Michel Redde et fils Pouilly-Fumé Cuvée Majorum
89 points
My second time with this wine. It seems it is starting to get a bit tired or perhaps it was the setting. Still, it has some lovely mineral notes with bits of grapefruit. Nice balance. Probably got a bit over shadowed just by its style and might show better on the table by itself. No slouch though and still brings something to the party.
Flight 3 - Pink wines (2 notes)
Rosé
2009 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel La Dame Rousse
88 points
Very nice wine and a warm summer evening. Some strawberries, hints of watermelon. Clean and refreshing. Nice balance. Always a crowd pleaser.
Rosé
2010 Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina Rubentis
90 points
I liked this more than the 09 version. Slightly spritzy and refreshing. Nice aromas of cherries and cranberries. Drinks very smooth. Nice acidity. Goes very well with food. Long finish.
Flight 4 - Sineann Reds (11 notes)
Red
2008 Sineann Pinot Noir McGinlay's Vineyard Marlborough
89 points
Interesting Pinot. Lovely nose. Some funk, macerated cherries, bit of forest floor. On the palate, this lacked some intensity. Pete described it as savory and I think that works. Its very nice to be sure, but not at the level of his better Pinots IMO, but that may just be a stylistic thing. For those who think Sineann Pinots are too full throttle (something I disagree with), they may like this more than I.
Red
2004 Sineann Pinot Noir Resonance Vineyard
94 points
This got a lot of wows. This is really in a nice zone right now. Two bottles were opened and drained. The nose is wonderful with cherries, cherry juice, funk, slight damp forest floor notes. Still on the younger side of mature but entering a plateau where if you have a bunch, these should be looked at. Nice acidity. Clearly, IMO, of Oregon, and as good as 95% of anything I ever had out of Burgundy. JM2C.
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Red
2005 Sineann Pinot Noir Schindler
92 points
Drinking well, but still seems to need more time. The first year with glass corks and (like screw caps), I think still needs some time to develop. Nice cherry profile. Very clean. There is some layering but quite tightly wound. Delicious though.
Red
2009 Sineann Pinot Noir Reserve Schindler
93 points
Talk about a baby. This was very primary, yet, the in your face aspect of big cherry pie fruit was quite delicious. Like looking into a clear but very deep pool and you can't see the bottom. What you can taste is great, but there is so much waiting to be found. The texture is silky and lush at the same time. Very broad on the palate. Nicely balanced. Should be lovely in ten years.
Red
2004 Sineann Pinot Noir Schindler
93 points
Just a step behind the 04 Resonance, but this was singing as well. Not as much depth or funk (I think the vines are younger). The cherry fruit is delicious and there is a lot of layering of fruit in various stages. Nicely balanced. Still not fully mature but getting there. I think I underestimated the quality of these 04's when they were younger as this and the Resonance are really ageing better than I would have thought.
Red
2008 Sineann Pinot Noir Wy'east
91 points
The 2008 vintage was a great one IMO in Oregon and it lifted many vineyards to outperform including this one. Excellent nose of cherries and cherry pie filling. Very clean. On the palate, this has some tight layering and is fuller than prior vintages. More round as well. Has a lush texture which is nice. Needs time of course, but should improve.
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Red
2009 Sineann Cabernet Franc Champoux Vineyard
92 points
One of the better labeled Cab Francs IMO. Year in and year out, this is a wine that needs bottle age to really show what it has. The fruit is ripe and shows just a hint of green tobacco, but a lot of black cherry and cassis. Primary. Excellent acidity. Long finish. I would wait at least 5 years before revisiting. It is delicious right now though but has a lot more to offer.
Red
2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Block One
95 points
Another wine whose best days are ahead (and the score may improve a point or two). From the Champoux vineyard, this is a Cab made to go the long haul IMO. Wonderful cassis, cedar, black cherry and spice box. For those who love Quilceda, I think this is comparable for $60. Needs at least 5 to 10 more years to really unwind for my tastes, but the crowd gave it lots of oohs and ahhs. There is plenty of oak here, but I think the fruit is there to integrate but it will take some time.
Red
2008 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon
88 points
This is a nice value in Cabs. For the most part, I am not a huge fan of Washington Cabs and I think this falls into that category. Not as ripe as Napa or as expressive as Bordeaux blends, it is still very solid. Good black cherry fruit. Some oak. Might improve with cellaring.
Red
2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Lazare Vineyards
90 points
I thought this over oaked typical Napa on release. I will say it has improved more than i thought it could/would. It is still a Napa Cab and the oak still has a presence, but the fruit has held up and it is developing. Nice cassis, tobacco and some blueberry shake. I would hold this for a while and see how it develops. I have a lot more hope now. There is some heat, but within reason.
Red
2009 Sineann Merlot Champoux Vineyard
87 points
I have found Sineann Merlots do develop with time, so perhaps this will as well. Not sure what to say. The nsoe is nice with some candied chocolate covered cherries. Also plenty of oak. On the palate, the oak and alcohol seem to predominate. There is some cherry fruit. I have been fooled before with the Merlot fruit lasting longer than I thought. Its a decent wine and the Merlot fans int he crowd (both of them) had some really good things to say about this . Time will tell.
Flight 5 - Other Reds (13 notes)
Red
2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Gold Mine Ranch
92 points
Always one of the best Zins out there, this did not disappoint. Purple in color. The nose is black cherries, spice and bramble. Lush, velvety texture. Balanced and smooth. As the party wound down, I filled my glass and sat out back watching the fire, fireflies and occasional fireworks and this worked well with all three. I am glad to have friends on the list as it is the only list I am waiting to get on.
Red
1974 Château La Grave a Pomerol Trigant de Boisset
85 points
A friend brought this over saying he had no idea where else to open it. We decanted for sediment and served. It was solid and alive if unspectacular. Still, kind of fun and drank better than I might have though. Still some cherry fruit to go with some dried cherries. Balanced, which, for a wine like this, is really the key I think for still being drinkable after 37 years from vintage.
Red
2006 Jaffurs Syrah Verna's
93 points
I might have under rated this, but I have more in the cellar to try. Just a great Syrah. Starting to shed its baby fat and move into adolescence. Black raspberries, black pepper, and maybe some grilled meats. Smooth. The kind of wine that you want to keep sniffing and gulping. The bottle was drained quickly.
Red
2006 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard
97 points
I love these wines. My guilty pleasure perhaps? Inky purple. The nose is huge with black raspberries, white pepper and bacon fat. So much depth. On the palate, this is huge but light on its feet. I get no heat, but others found some. Complex yet young. Lots of depth. Incredible texture. Great backbone of acidity. Long finish. Just a wow wine.
Red
2007 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée
97 points
Wow, did this bottle impress me. My first one to be opened. The only thing that surprised me was how accessible and open it was. I wouldn't say mature, but its not a baby either. I may drink these faster than i thought, but if all my bottles are this good, who cares. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is textbook with cherries, raspberries and black raspberries along with some spice and floral notes. Incredible texture. Smooth and silky. On the palate, juicy raspberries with depth and complexity. The only wine I took a second glass of (it was my bottle), just to see if after a bunch of wine, I still thought as much, and I did. Really performed above my high expectations. And nothing over ripe about this bottle.
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Red
2008 Amavi Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon
87 points
A nice enough Washington Cab (not my favorite). Purple in color. Lots of oak, black raspberries, blueberries. Balanced it unspectacular. Solid. Perhaps it will age well and improve. It did seem to have some complexity lurking underneath.
Red
2001 Rainoldi Valtellina Superiore - Inferno Riserva
92 points
Really drinking well. This is Nebbiolo and drinks liked a solid Barolo. Showing a nice complexity, there is still some cherry fruit. Lovely nose of cherries, tar and roses. It does not have the intensity of Barolo, but is developing quite well.
Red
2006 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir Chileno Valley
91 points
This is coming along well. Still youngish and more time would not hurt. Cherries, some funk, and some damp forest floor. On the palate, it stood out from the Oregon Pinots but I would not say typical of California. A different Cal style perhaps. Anyway, this is very good and will improve.
Red
1997 Qupé Syrah Reserve Bien Nacido Vineyard
89 points
This was from Magnum. It seems to be mature and I would not hold any longer, especially from 750. Purple in color. Nice black cherries and black raspberries. Also some black pepper on the nose. Medium bodied. Smooth. Some complexity.
Red
2005 Favia Rompecabezas
88 points
I liked this more than a prior time trying a few years ago. It has a nice nose of plums, dark cherries and pomegranate. On the palate, this is smooth and drinks easily. There is an underlying layering that is interesting. Nice balance. Seems to be at maturity.
Red
2003 Domaine Ponsot Morey St. Denis Cuvée des Grives
90 points
Some loved this more than I. It has nice big cherry fruit on the nose and the palate. I did not find much complexity. It does have a delicious factor to it. This was from Magnum so perhaps it just need time to develop. It is outstanding, but in a night with great wines, it was just part of the pack for me. Perhaps I just don't get Burgundy as much as some. FWIW, I thought this was Peter Rosback's WOTN.
Red
2008 Outpost Grenache
90 points
I got to this late at night and it got my attention. Nice cherry and dark cherry fruit. A nice streak of acidity. Seemed a bit sweet, but not RS. Just ripe. Some heat on the finish.
Red
2007 Carlisle Syrah Papa's Block
91 points
Needs time, but really excellent. Black raspberries, white pepper and some grilled meats. Great texture. Pinpoint attack. Broadens into a big round fruit filled mouthful. Delicious. I would hold for 3 more years, but alas, I own none anyway.
Flight 6 - Dessert wines (3 notes)
Red - Fortified
2005 Riebeek Cellars Cape Vintage
88 points
This is a ruby port styled wine. I don't know the grapes. Ruby/purple in color. On the nose, it is sweet raspberries and confectionery sugar but pleasant. On the palate, it is nice although the finish is marred by some alcohol and heat. Nice raspberries candied notes. Interesting and certainly worth drinking. Not sure about the pricing.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2008 Peller Estates Vidal Blanc Icewine Andrew Peller Signature Series
90 points
Nice wine made from Vidal Blanc. Aromas of canned peaches which is very good. Slightly viscous. Sweet. Easy to drink. Not super complex but very good. From a 200ml so it went fast.
Red - Fortified
2007 Sineann Zinfandel CJ Zinfandel Port
89 points
Fun wine. Dark purple in color. The nose has raspberries, some bramble, and some dark chocolate notes. On the palate, this is sweet. I don't get heat or alcohol, but I know this was fortified. Not complex, but interesting and certainly fun.
Closing
In the end, it was a great evening. Nature cooperated so we could go from the backyard, to the living room and back. The evening finished next to the fire pit with thousands of fire flies blinking away and some neighbors shooting off rogue fireworks. Good times. I hope Pete comes back soon. Always glad to have an excuse.