AlphaMikeFoxtrot
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2019 Hartford / Hartford Court Zinfandel Old Vine Russian River Valley
4/26/2024 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 89 Points
Not the worst pull for a client dinner at a random country club in Orange County. Especially with 5 years on it. Decanted for an hour.
Ripe black cherry, ripe red plums, black pepper, "wild berries", ripe blackberres, espresso/mocha and cedar on the nose. Medium + intensity of aromas. Palate is more primary, showing a burst of ripe black cherry followed by plums and a little bit of cedar and coffee. Texturally sandy.
Medium + body, medium acid and medium - tannin. 15.1% ABV and hides it pretty well. There's definitely oak here; but this reigns in the worst excesses seen, unfortunately, on a lot of California Zinfandel. Plenty of varietal character. Drinking quite well now, and structure tells me it won't get much better from here.
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2017 Château Fonbadet
4/24/2024 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 90 Points
"International style" Bordeaux here; but a little more even handed than some examples. It's a Rolland wine, though I'm not sure of his level of involvement. Hardly my preferred style of Bordeaux, but least this has astringnecy and graphite on it.
Dust, tobacco, graphite, cedar wood, ripe plums, ripe black currants and cinnamon on the nose. Everything smells a little caramelized, with the slightest hint of green bell pepper undeaneath it all. Medium + intensity of aromas. The palate opens with a burst of red fruit, followed by cardamom, dark chocolate and dried hibuscus. No GB pepper to be seen on the palate. Texturally inky and slightly astringent, which balances out the oak quite well.
Medium + body with medium + acid and medium tannin. I think 7 years of age put this in a great spot. It'll go 2-5 more; but I am not sure if it will go longer than that. Great pairing with a grilled filet.
I've had WAY WORSE "international style" Bordeaux than this, at twice the price.
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2020 Zulal Voskehat Aghavnadzor
4/24/2024 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wearing four years pretty well. Honeysuckle, ripe cantaloupe, ripe passion fruit, ripe pear and a hint of pineapple on the nose. Overall tropical and perfumed, with an elegant medium intensity of aromas. The palate adds ripe yellow apple, grass, anise, dried rosemary and lemon juice. A hint of stony bitterness emerges on the finish. Texturally rounded and a little creamy; but not in too overbearing a way.
Medium + body with medium acid. Overall clean and herbal. I think 4 years is a perfect age for this. Drink now.
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