Loved the cut and edginess of this. Lots of mineral and lime notes on the palate. Don't expect those yeasty, bready notes that some of the big house Champagnes can have. This was all about finesse, minerality, and acidity. Very good.
While not as briny and Raveneau-like, this was still very good chardonnay. 15.5% alc? Whatever. Tons of class here with beautifully rich and edgy lemon and lime flavors on the palate. Has that Californian brightness with the weight of a Chablis. Yum.
Another example of a modern-styled Californian chardonnay that teetered on the too-sweet line for me. This didn't have the cut and edge that I like in Chardonnay...but it did have expressive lemon and lime flavor.
Rich and dense nose of lemons, limes, vanilla, and marzipan. The palate was equally big and bold and while not the style of Chardonnay I like, seemed well made. Thought the sweetness of the palate was just a bit too much for me.
Oh so good. Tons of briny notes which melded well with a lot of beeswax, lemon, and lime. Has an incredibly powerful nose and hefty body, but the finish is all elegance. Beautiful sherry!
Beautiful nose that just screamed Italy. Had some tar, but more floral elegance. Just gorgeous stuff. The palate was raw and reddish but had a lot of power. I had this blind so I thought the varietal was something less powerful and more approachable than Nebbiolo so think of my surprise when i saw it was Nebbiolo from 2006! This was my first Ar.Pe.Pe. wine, and was incredibly impressed.
I was proud I called this as 2006 Austria...but thought it was Riesling, not Zierfandler. The fruit was vibrant with a lot of chalk, and spice. Had a bit of the typical Austrian riesling peachy/mango note....but a bit more dense and edgy. A really good wine.
A very dark, and deep syrah. Lots of dark cherries, bacon, and blackberries on the nose. The palate was so big and modern with lots of blackberries, dark cherries, and vanilla. I wasn't too keen on this wine...thought the oak influence really took over and dominated the flavors here.
A lot of dark cabernet fruit here...spicy, rich, and deep. Found this to be on the more balanced side of things when it comes to Califorrnia cabernet. Definitely has the dark spice notes, but also is nicely balanced with mineral and acid notes on the finish.
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Lots of raspberry, cherry and spice. A very modern pinot with a good deal of soot, spice and vanilla on the palate. Not a bad wine, but I wasn't wowed by it.
A very fine syrah. Tasted blind, there's no chance I would have thought this was Cote Rotie. It didn't have the meaty, earthy edge that Cote Roties can have...and smelled more like a really dank Cru Beaujolais.
Its palate was edgy, dark and wonderfully snappy. Doesn't have the body you'd expect from a Cote Rotie but it has a lot more acidity and balance. Will be interesting to see what happens to this with age.
1998 Soter Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton
Loved the cut and edginess of this. Lots of mineral and lime notes on the palate. Don't expect those yeasty, bready notes that some of the big house Champagnes can have. This was all about finesse, minerality, and acidity. Very good.
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2006 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Rancho Santa Rosa 92 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
While not as briny and Raveneau-like, this was still very good chardonnay. 15.5% alc? Whatever. Tons of class here with beautifully rich and edgy lemon and lime flavors on the palate. Has that Californian brightness with the weight of a Chablis. Yum.
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2007 Robert Young Estate Winery Chardonnay 85 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Another example of a modern-styled Californian chardonnay that teetered on the too-sweet line for me. This didn't have the cut and edge that I like in Chardonnay...but it did have expressive lemon and lime flavor.
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2005 Aubert Chardonnay Quarry Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County
Rich and dense nose of lemons, limes, vanilla, and marzipan. The palate was equally big and bold and while not the style of Chardonnay I like, seemed well made. Thought the sweetness of the palate was just a bit too much for me.
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2011 Henri Jouan Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos Sorbé Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru
All pickle juice.
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NV Equipo Navazos La Bota de Fino 35 "Macharnudo Alto" 92 Points
Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry
Oh so good. Tons of briny notes which melded well with a lot of beeswax, lemon, and lime. Has an incredibly powerful nose and hefty body, but the finish is all elegance. Beautiful sherry!
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2006 AR.PE.PE. Valtellina Superiore - Sassella Stella Retica Riserva 92 Points
Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Valtellina Superiore - Sassella
Beautiful nose that just screamed Italy. Had some tar, but more floral elegance. Just gorgeous stuff. The palate was raw and reddish but had a lot of power. I had this blind so I thought the varietal was something less powerful and more approachable than Nebbiolo so think of my surprise when i saw it was Nebbiolo from 2006! This was my first Ar.Pe.Pe. wine, and was incredibly impressed.
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2006 Stadlmann Zierfandler Mandel-Höh 91 Points
Austria, Niederösterreich, Thermenregion
I was proud I called this as 2006 Austria...but thought it was Riesling, not Zierfandler. The fruit was vibrant with a lot of chalk, and spice. Had a bit of the typical Austrian riesling peachy/mango note....but a bit more dense and edgy. A really good wine.
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2005 Terry Hoage Vineyards Syrah The Hedge
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
A very dark, and deep syrah. Lots of dark cherries, bacon, and blackberries on the nose. The palate was so big and modern with lots of blackberries, dark cherries, and vanilla. I wasn't too keen on this wine...thought the oak influence really took over and dominated the flavors here.
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2005 Robert Young Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Scion 87 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
A lot of dark cabernet fruit here...spicy, rich, and deep. Found this to be on the more balanced side of things when it comes to Califorrnia cabernet. Definitely has the dark spice notes, but also is nicely balanced with mineral and acid notes on the finish.
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2005 Philippe Leclerc Gevrey-Chambertin Les Platières 84 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin
Lots of raspberry, cherry and spice. A very modern pinot with a good deal of soot, spice and vanilla on the palate. Not a bad wine, but I wasn't wowed by it.
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2011 Marie et Pierre Bénetière Côte-Rôtie Cordeloux 92 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
A very fine syrah. Tasted blind, there's no chance I would have thought this was Cote Rotie. It didn't have the meaty, earthy edge that Cote Roties can have...and smelled more like a really dank Cru Beaujolais.
Its palate was edgy, dark and wonderfully snappy. Doesn't have the body you'd expect from a Cote Rotie but it has a lot more acidity and balance. Will be interesting to see what happens to this with age.
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