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The Wines of Thomas Rivers Brown
Orange County, CA
Tasted March 24, 2007 by Paul Lin with 3,156 views
Flight 1 - Whites and Bubbles (3 notes)
White
2005 Loring Wine Company Chardonnay Clos Pepe Vineyard
90 points
Notes of citrus rind and minerals. Plush mouthfeel. Flinty finish. Nice!
White - Sparkling
N.V. H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve
91 points
A delightful and rich Champagne. Red apple notes and vibrant mouthfeel.
White - Sparkling
1997 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut Millésimé
90 points
Nose of green apple, nutmeg, and toast. Lemon peel on the palate. A soft, more feminine style of Champagne.
Flight 2 - Rivers-Marie (3 notes)
Red
2003 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines
92 points
Nose of wild red berries, strawberries, earth, and spice. On the palate, strawberries, roasted meat, and forest floor. Firm acidity. Silky texture. Elegant. 91-92 points.
Red
2004 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
91 points
Nose of ripe red berries and mineral. On the palate, candied strawberries and raspberries and toasted oak. Firm acidity. Give this one more year. 90-91 points.
Red
2005 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard
93 points
Layered nose of candied red fruit, boysenberry, and cherry pie. On the palate, ripe raspberries, earth, mineral, and spice. Nice acidity. Lush and opulent, yet elegant and drinking very well now. This is a winner!
Flight 3 - Outpost (7 notes)
Red
2004 Outpost Grenache
This seemed off to me. The fruit seemed subdued, almost hidden, and the wine seemed heavy with earth, charcoal, and spice. No rating.
Red
2005 Outpost Grenache
88 points
Barrel sample. Nose of black cherries and pepper. On the palate, concentrated notes of crushed black and red fruits, pepper, and garrigue. 88-89 points.
Red
1998 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain
90 points
Rich notes of raspberry chocolate truffles and caramel. This has aged well.
Red
2003 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain
This seemed off to me. Only the faintest note of blackberry fruit. Mostly what I got was a mouthfull of black pepper and charcoal. Not pleasant. No rating.
Red
2004 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain
88 points
Notes of blackberries, tar, white and black pepper. Silky and rich. 88-89 points.
Red
2005 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain
89 points
Barrel sample. Juicy blackberry and red currants. White and black pepper accents. 89-90 points.
Red
2004 Outpost Petite Sirah The Other
87 points
Intense and concentrated blackberry flavor. A bit rough on the palate.
Flight 4 - Cabernet Sauvignon (4 notes)
Red
2004 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points
Notes of cassis, crushed raspberries, cedar, and charcoal. Rich and seductive. Got even better after several hours of being open.
Red
2004 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon "Old Sparky" Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
90 points
Notes of black currant, tobacco, lead pencil, and herbs. Creamy texture. Palate seems quite mature for such a young wine.
Red
2004 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
94 points
A silky and sexy wine! Just glides right across the palate. Notes of cassis, espresso, cigar box, and vanilla. A precocious wine, nuanced and quite distinguished.
Red
2004 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium
93 points
Notes of cassis, licorice, sweet mint, and vanilla. Long finish. Polished and absolutely delicious!
Flight 5 - Miscellaneous Reds (4 notes)
Red
Red
2003 Dehlinger Pinot Noir Estate
88 points
Strawberries and other red fruits. Hint of roasted meats. 88-89 points.
Red
2005 Jaffurs Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard
89 points
Notes of black and red fruit and a hint of vanilla. Creamy texture.
Red
2003 Robert Foley Claret
92 points
A huge wine! Notes of molasses and cinnamon and juicy black fruit. 92-93 points.