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Fast Times at the Frey's
Tasted August 20, 2016 by rocknroller with 324 views
Introduction
This was planned as a ribfest with syrah initially that was changed to a salmonfest with pinots on what ended up being a very cool, rainy evening instead of a bright, sunny hot patio party.
Flight 1 (2 notes)
White - Sparkling
2002 Philippe Prié Champagne Tradition Brut
90 points
Medium gold color. 2.5oz pour over 30 minutes. This wasn't quite as attractive as it has been, but having said that it was still very good. It just didn't have the finesse and overall appeal previous bottles. I'm not sure if this was bottle variation or we're starting to see a decline. This bottle was a bit oxidative in style, that I don;t really recall from past bottles; sour apple, a bit of almond meal, yeast and some depth shows.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Franck Bonville Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Prestige
91 points
Light gold color. 2.5oz pour over 30 minutes. I preferred this to the '02 Prie tonight. We have these periodically, but I was surprised to see I hadn't had the Prestige cuvee in a couple years. This has been the one that I prefer too. Very nice stylistically. The nose has tart green apple, yeast, and a little floral hint. The palate shows good balance, minerals with tart pear and tart apple, lighter, clean, and tasty.
Flight 2 (2 notes)
White
2010 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch
91 points
Lioght medium gold color. Drank a 2.5oz pour over 40 minutes. Drank this side by side with a '08 Kistler Durell. I've had this wine enough times now that I should be able to identify it in my sleep. The nose is tropical, though not overly so, oak and spice. The palate is tropical too, pineapple, melon, round, and some sharpness to the oak on the finish at time. I thought this was a tad flabby in the mid palate, though later I didn't notice it as much.
White
2008 Kistler Chardonnay Durell Vineyard
93 points
Medium gold color. Drank a 4 oz pour over an hour. Drank this next to a '10 Shafer RSR and there certainly was a big step up with the Kistler. A fairly big wine no doubt, but not such that it screams at you. I found it very attractive all around. The nose has lovely golden fruits, rich and complex with peah and melon in addition to a toasted oak that was complimenting the fruit well. The palate brings what you expect from the nose, a full bodied gem with depth and class, lemon, peach, butter brickle, almost a bit savory, great texture, it really caresses the mouth nicely, some toasted oak and long complex finish. Excellent. My #2 and group #3WOTN. 93+pts.
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red
2010 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Lia's Vineyard
87 points
Medium red color. PNP, followed a 2.5oz pour over an hour plus. This was a bit clunky, not firing on all cylinders, cherry, heat, spice, wood spice, sour dark red fruit on the nose and palate. Some of the heat resolved, but still just ok.
Red
2012 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Arroyo Grande Valley
88 points
Ruby hued medium dark red color. Followed a 2.5oz pour over an hour plus. Kind of ripe on the nose and palate, berries, cherry, a green edge, dried herbs.
Flight 4 (2 notes)
Red
2010 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard
93 points
Medium red color. PNP, drank a 4 oz pour over 90 minutes. Always a treat, this was no different. What I love here is the overall brightness of the fruit and the sheer elegance of how this drink. The nose shows the pretty red raspberries with hints of strawberry, spice and floral notes. The palate is medium bodied, lifted, great acid and pretty red berry fruits with a touch of red currant too. The balance is outstanding and this is just so good; delicious. The earth just started to show as this was into its second hour. This has been drinking great for some time now and shows no indication of slowing down anytime soon. With a lot of hair splitting, this got my vote for WOTN. 93+pts.
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Red
2008 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve
93 points
Medium dark red color. PNP, open an hour or two before pouring. Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes plus. Wow, this was pretty intense. Darker fruits, but still more to the red side. Very complex showing deep red fruits on the nose, spices, oak, and damp earth. The palate is striking, great intensity and depth, not over the top big though, deep red berries and nice earth, good spice notes and tannins that are appealing and the finish is 30 seconds plus. This just kept getting better, and looks to be rock solid down the road. Group WOTN and my #3 in a tight three way race.
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Flight 5 (1 note)
White
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia
92 points
Medium gold color. PNP, drank a 2.5oz pour over 40 minutes. It's always fun to drink these "old" Lopez wines. They are just so interesting and complex. This was no different. It had that slightly oxidative character, though not too much so in this instance. A bit candied on the nose too, complex phenols, high toned with a candied lemon sweetness. the palate shows the same oxidative, nutty quality, full bodied, lemon, and a medium plus finish.
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Flight 6 (2 notes)
Red
2013 AR.PE.PE. Rosso di Valtellina
89 points
Medium red color. PNP, drank a 2.5oz pour over an hour. Strawberries on the nose with plenty of youthful oak, smoke. The palate was lighter medium bodied, earthy, licorice, cherry, smoke, slightly sharp and very oaky right now. Definitely needed food and we were mostly done at that point. Also could benefit from a few years of age.
Flight 7 (2 notes)
White - Sweet/Dessert
1990 Château Cru Peyraguey
86 points
Very, very dark amber color. Drank a small pour over 30 minutes. This was quite advanced even for its age. The nose still has some appeal though with orange marmalade, and orange zest predominating. The palate however is rather sour, bitter, sour apple, bitter orange, brown sugar, sweet finish, a bit syrupy, interesting, but this bottle was well past peak.
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Château de Malle
90 points
Small pour. Tangerine, meyer lemon, citrus zest, spice and good acid.
Closing
I had the top three wines in a very tight 3 way race, flip a coin on any of them.
Group Voting:
#1 2008 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve PN(3+3+3+2+2+2+1=16pts)
#2 2010 St. Innocent Temperance Hill PN(3+3+2+2+2+1=13pts)
#3 2008 Kistler Durell Chardonnay (3+2+2+1+1=9pts)
2010 Shafer RSR Chard (3+1=4pts)
2012 Talley Arroyo Gr PN (3+1=4pts)
2002 Prie Brut (2=2pts)
1998 Lopez Tondonia Res Blanc (1+1=2pts)
2010 Christopher Lia's PN (1=1pts)