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Some nice wines over the last two nights
Tasted May 13, 2015 - May 14, 2015 by Loren Sonkin with 341 views
Introduction
A busy couple of nights drinking wine. Night one out to dinner with some friends before going to the Tribe game and night 2, at a private club with a new acquaintance who likes wine.
Flight 1 (3 notes)
At a casual dinner at a downtown eatery. There was also a bottle of the 2012 SonkinCellars Unmasked added. The wines were drunk non-blind with food over an hour or so. There were four of us.
White
2011 Corison Gewürztraminer Corazón
91 points
I seemed to like this more than the group, but I love Gewurz. Great nose of lychees. Very forward. I am again surprised on the ripeness in 2011 this wine achieved. Clearly not old world with more fruit than acidity. No bitterness that sometimes plagues this grape either. Refreshing, fruity. A great starter for the evening.
Red
2007 Domaine Saint-Damien Gigondas La Louisiane
92 points
Really in a nice place right now. A nose of boysenberries, spice and some earthiness. Full bodied. Plenty of fruit left. Nice acidity. Medium to full bodied. Juicy. Nice boysenberry fruit with some earthiness. No hurry. Getting close to peak though.
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Red
2004 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape
94 points
I have been really enjoying the 04's lately. As a general rule, they seem to be entering peak drinking for my tastes. This was no exception. Purple/ruby in color. The nose was great with raspberries, dark cherries, spice and leather. Full bodied. Great juicy texture. Lots of layers of fruit and earth and spice on the palate. Long finish. Beautiful wine. Not a monster, but not reticent either.
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Flight 2 (3 notes)
Consumed over two hours at the Pine Lake Trout Club between the two of us. Drunk consecutively although the last bottle was not finished.
Red
2010 Screaming Eagle Second Flight
94 points
This seemed a bit more developed than the last time I had it. Purple in color. Cassis, spice, black cherries, black licorice on the nose. Very nice texture. Depth. Easy to drink but also a very interesting complexity. Layers of fruit and earth. Smooth. Long finish. This is still young and appears to be really developing well. Great now, but I would hold for a bit.
Red
1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste
93 points
Allowed to breathe for 8 hours and then decanted prior to serving. I think this was about the right amount of air at this point. drinking very well. Purple in color. The nose has cassis, slight funk, slight dust, slight spice, but all in a seamless complex package. On the palate, still plenty of fruit, medium tannins, lots of layered complexity. Great balance. Obviously plenty of time left, but this was a delicious bottle.
Red
2008 Saxum Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard
95 points
This really needed more air than it got. The subject of Paso Robles and Syrah came up, so we poured a glass each and I sent the bottle home with my host. Still, a great wine on pop and pour. At this stage, it is still primary. The nose has black raspberries, black pepper and grilled meats. Smooth and no sign of alcohol. Delicious. Balanced. Tons of fruit. While very deep, the wine needs time to unwind more. I would bet its better tonight.
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Closing
Good thing there is a night off tonight before the weekend.