SQN, Saxum, Peay, Mollydooker, BV, Paloma, R Wines

Tasted Sunday, July 18, 2010 by Loren Sonkin with 623 views

Introduction

I have been very busy lately as we have been moving, packing and unpacking and fixing the new and old house. I have spent little time on the BB's and drunk little wine until a glass at 10:00 at night. So when Charlie sent out the invite to get together for an after noon of "your favorite reds", I was up for the break. About 6 of us gathered to drink some wines blind. Everyone brought a good bottle from their cellar. It turned out to be a very good tasting and a great comparison for these wines.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 2001 Paloma Merlot 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    I had not had this wine in a few years. This bottle was still young and perhaps just a bit shy of peaking. It started off tight but with air it shows coffee, dusty attic, slight iodine notes and copious amounts of black cherries. Velvety texture. On the palate, flavors of boysenberries and blueberries. Slight heat at first but that dissipated. Nice acidity and some tannins left. Great wine and plenty of time left.

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  • 2008 R Wines Shiraz Southern Belle 78 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose is nice with black raspberries, coffee and toast. On the palate, I found it sweet, jammy and hot. Others found it not so bad in that aspect. 17.6% Alc. It had big fruit and seemed to tame a bit with air, but I did not like this wine. I was told it costs $20, and there would certainly be a market for it, but I am not a part of it.

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  • 2005 Mollydooker Shiraz Carnival of Love 94 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Inky purple, slight ruby at the rim. The nose is toasty, dusty with coffee grounds and black raspberries. On the palate, there is a nice complexity to this. It is surprisingly integrated and smooth and not showing its 16.5% alc. Nice finish. After some air, ti did get a tough of prunes on this finish. Nevertheless, this is really in a sweet spot for this wine drinking well. No hurry to drink.

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  • 2006 Peay Vineyards Syrah La Bruma 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Peay wines, or as we call them, Kemp's wines as he seems to have a few thousand bottles in his cellar, continue to impress. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose is dusty with cassis. Someone mentioned green, but I did not find that. Plenty of tannins. A nice complexity, this doesn't seem like it will get any better, but it is very tasty and enjoyable. Nice black raspberry notes. A fun wine to drink. At 13.9% alc., this was a pleasure.

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  • 2006 Sine Qua Non Syrah Raven Series 98 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    A spectacular wine. Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, leather, smoke and some toast. On the palate, this is huge but deft, and complex. Very smooth despite the 15.5% alc. Black cherries and black raspberries with a nice minerals streak. Long finish. Got better all afternoon long. Accessible right now but its best days are anywhere from 2 to 10 years ahead depending on your tastes. In a day of great wines, this was my favorite.

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  • 1994 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    An outlier for this group. Ruby in color, mostly clear and bright. The nose is showing some age but nice cassis, iodine, cherries and some leather. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is mature and complex. Lots of layering. It did put on some weight during the afternoon. Nice cassis, forest floor and a hint of mushrooms on the palate. Nice finish. Obviously struggling in a blind tasting with the other wines, it took some concentration, but was really a nice wine. No hurry, but I don't think it improves from here.

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  • 2007 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Inky purple in color. This started off a bit tight on the nose but soon exploded to show lots of espresso, black raspberries and bacon fat. On the palate, this is a huge wine but hides the 15.5% alcohol quite well. Delicious. Lots of black raspberry flavors. Long finish. Typical Saxum wine.

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