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Old Vines Offline III
Mi Casa
Tasted October 17, 2015 by River Rat with 472 views
Introduction
This was my 3rd annual edition of the California Old Vines Offline. Mainly field blends and Zinfandels from vineyards planted pre-1960 from but also containing Mataro, Petite Sirah and the occasional White Blend. There usually isn't much structure to these events as we get together to grill some dead animal drink wine. This year saw a lean towards Ravenswood Old Hill and Ravenswood in general. Just the way it worked out. On game day we could only field 8 people so we did the best we could with a large roster of wines.
Not real comprehensive notes as many are from memory. I was able to revisit a few the next day but not all.
Flight 1 - Starters (3 notes)
Some bubbles and Old Vine White Blends
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis
Lovely starter with generous fruit on the nose and palate. Fresh and lively while a bit sweet. I preferred it on day 2 as the sweetness was toned down in favor of more acidity.
White
2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Compagni Portis
This wine had amazing aromatics nose of fresh cut flowers and stone fruits. Palate was complex and well balanced while the finish was creamy and mineral laced. Drank best chilled and better on day one. The alcohol came to the forefront after a day open.
White
2012 Carlisle The Derivative White
This wine arrived just as we were shutting down the starters and was a great compliment to its predecessors. The waxy Monte Rosso Sémillon was dominant on the palate and accented by light citrus notes. Wonderful texture and seamless from start to finish. Drank chilled. Best of the flight.
Flight 2 - Corks started coming out (4 notes)
Red
1996 Villa Mt. Eden Zinfandel Grand Reserve Monte Rosso Vineyard
First red of the evening and a portent of things to come. The nose was a touch madeirized but the underlying blackberry fruit was still abundant and tannins yet fully resolved. Never had a chance to revisit but wanted to. Remainder went home with a guest.
Red
1995 Nalle Zinfandel Henderlong Ranch
This wine took a while to open up. It started out a touch barnyardy and tight but after a couple hours the dark brambly fruit exploded into a complex palate of blackberry, plum, black cherry and dried flowers. Very expressive for its age. Soft and pleasing right through the finish.
Red
1998 Limerick Lane Zinfandel Collins Vineyard
Redemption! My last bottle of this was ruined by a failed closure but this one was great. Dried black cherry and boysenberry on the nose, palate still fairly young with black fruit but a tart cranberry edge to the palate. Nice richness and balance, even on a sample I tried the following morning, with fully resolved tannins. Really pleasing wine all around.
Red
2007 Carlisle Zinfandel Montafi Ranch
The youngest red of the evening and the first bottle to be emptied. What does that say for our palates? Montafi/TomFeeney Ranch may be Carlisles best fruit source. It sure produces exceptional wines that not only age gracefully but drink great young. One of the best, if not the the best, RRV Zinfandels you can buy. Layers and layers of fruit, wonderful acidity and abundant tannins all interacting in harmony.
Flight 3 - Ravenswood Old Hill Vertical and others (7 notes)
Red
1991 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill
Oldest Ravenswood of the evening. Solid showing with some oxidative notes on the nose but balanced structure beneath. Fruit is turning a bit earthy and tannins are resolved. Nice to see how well these Old Ravenswood Zins holdup.
Red
1997 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill
This was the first of a 3 consecutive year vertical and was my least favorite of the three. Extremely ripe sweet fruit was almost pruney. Powerful tannins followed but in my estimation not enough acidity. This may change with more bottle age as the fruit and tannins settle down. Right now it not showing good balance. Hold.
Red
1998 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill
This vintage changed the direction from the ripe '97 to a red fruited profile, better balance with some acidity still holding it all together. The nose had a strong mushroom note that was a little off-putting for me and I poured out my first glass without tasting. On re-visit I found the underlying fruit to be enjoyable. The nose was difficult for me though.
Red
1999 Ravenswood Zinfandel Old Hill
This Old Hill brought it all. Fresh red and black fruit, lifting acidity and mellow tannins. It really shows off what was a great vintage for California Zinfandel and is aging gracefully. Rivaled the '91 for best Old Hill of the evening.
Red
1999 Ravenswood Zinfandel Belloni
This has more of that mushroomy nose but not as intense as the '98 Old Hill. Color was great with no bricking, fruit was dark and pure with ripe blackberry reminiscent of RRV Zinfandel. A touch simple but easy to re-taste. Good but not memorable, was hoping for more complexity but I think RRV Zins are best in their first 10 years.
Red
1996 Ravenswood Zinfandel Dickerson
This was the only Napa Valley entrant of the evening and was the most disappointing of the Ravenswood lineup. The nose was almost non-existent the fruit leaned red and a touch sweet which wasn't bad but the tannins were bitter. I found some redeeming qualities but on re-visit the morning it just didn't stand up well to the competition.
Red
1994 Ravenswood Zinfandel Sonoma County
This was the final Ravenswood of the evening. "20th Anniversary" Sonoma County Zinfandel. The nose was a bit madeirized but the palate was rich red and black fruit that was well balanced and enjoyable. For a 21yr old appellation blend it was impressive.
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Flight 4 - Surprises and Memories (3 notes)
Red
1983 Hacienda Del Rio Zinfandel Leno Martinelli Vineyard
95 points
This is the second time I have had this wine in the past 3 months and it continued to impress me. Fresh nose, dark red fruit, dried flowers, wonderful balance and lots of life left. A 32 year old Zinfandel with lots of life left? Alan thought it could go another 10yrs which kind of mirrored my note from August. To think what this iconic vineyard is capable of and then seeing what Martinelli makes from its fruit makes me scratch my head. 14.5abv, beautiful balance, still nicely structured, I was very fortunate to have procured two bottles with such great provenance. Kudos to whomever gave them up for auction. Could be my WOTY. Definitely my WOTN.
Edit: I normally do not score wines but this one deserves the credit it is due.
Edit: I normally do not score wines but this one deserves the credit it is due.
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Comment
Red
2000 Ridge Zinfandel Late Picked Nervo
flawed
We opened this to pair with dessert but it was dead. The nose is overwhelmed by VA.
Red
1983 Foppiano Petite Sirah
We busted into this one after half the guests had departed. Chiming in at a mere 12.5abv we felt we could handle one more so out came the cork. This was probably the most surprising wine of the night. It poured like a Pinot Noir with a cranberry color. The nose was red fruited as was the palate with generous acidity, a Grenache like freshness to it and not the overpowering tannins I have come to expect from PS. A different take on an old favorite from one of the pioneers of PS in California. Kudos!
Closing
We had quite a few unopened bottles at the end of the evening due to the small guest turnout and inflated opinion of our ability to power through them all.
2001 Turley Pesenti
2003 Turley Uebberoth
2005 Turley Vineyard 101
2005 Talty Dry Creek - This one I have opened one bottle of subsequently: The other night I grabbed this '05 Talty that I had slated for my Zin party last month but never was opened. Boy is this a delicious wine. No signs of slowing down with age. I may hold my next one for 10 more years. Yeah right... But it would easily make it. Bright red sweet fruit, red cherry jolly rancher candy, bramble, spice, great acidity and balanced tannins. Real fun.
2002 Swan Stellwagen
2010 Carlisle Rossi Ranch
2001 Ridge Lytton Springs
2007 Ridge Lytton Estate
1993 St Francis Old Vines
2000 Sausal Century Vines
Looking forward to the 4th iteration of this event. Always fun, eye opening and memorable.