Nerdy California Wines
Domaine - Washington, DC
Tasted Saturday, November 9, 2013 by isaacjamesbaker with 953 views
Introduction
This was officially pitched as the California "hipster" tasting at Domaine Wine Storage in DC. I guess that means obscure wines, strange varieties, funky winemaking methods, quirky winemakers. Whatever, we used this as an excuse to open some off-the-beaten-path kind of wines. Some stalwarts in here too, but overall I tasted some really good stuff out of quite a diverse group. Of course, there were another five or ten wines I didn't get to, but one does one's best. Cheers!
2009 Ryme Ribolla Gialla Vare Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Interesting, nerdy stuff, but also a food-friendly wine. Waxy and oily on the nose, with apricots and all sorts of herbs. Oily on the palate but with brisk acid, making this a taut, lively wine. Flavors of white cherry, apricot and mixed herbs and oils. A bit of funk and tonic on the finish. A lot of people might be put off by this wine, but I think it's pretty, engaging and stimulating.
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2011 Iconic Wines Chardonnay Heroïne 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
My first time with an Iconic wine, and I'm already a fan. On the nose, green and yellow apple, whipped honey. On the palate, the creamy apple fruit is blended with honey, nougat and hazelnut. But the mineral verve and fresh acid keep this wine tight and ripping. Delicious stuff that should please all Chardonnay fans.
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2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Compagni Portis 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Tons of wildflowers on the nose, with sea salt and smashed banana. Creamy on the palate, but full of acid. I get banana and orange peel, mixed with perfume and some herbal undertones. A white blend that has a little bit of everything.
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2012 Matthiasson Syrah Rosé 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
One of the best roses I've tasted in a long time. Copper-rose petal color. On the nose, I get a lot of cracked pepper, watermelon rind, wild strawberry and jalapeno. On the palate, the grapefruit and blood orange fruit tastes zippy and crisp, with notes of white pepper and sea salt. So fresh and focused, with a long finish.
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2011 Donkey and Goat Roussanne Stone Crusher 90 Points
USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado
An orange-lemon color. Smells like orange peel, flowers, a hint of iodine. Rich and oily on the palate, but the acidic concentration is awesome. Flavors of green apple, orange marmalade, mixed nuts, baking spices. Lots of complexity here. Unlike many Cali Roussannes, this wine restrains itself, and offers some intrigue. Delicious.
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2011 Two Shepherds Centime Saralee's Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Delicious stuff. I love the saline aspects to the grapefruit and apricot. Rich but focused, complex spice and nutty notes.
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2007 Salinia Chardonnay Saint Marigold 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
One of the craziest Sonoma Coast Chards I've ever tasted. Thick yellow color. Smells like lamp oil, apricot and honeycomb. Thick in texture but the acid tears this wine up. Flavors of apricot, dried pineapple and wax, mixed in with Sherry notes of hazelnut and sea brine. Almonds and apple peel on the finish. Rich, but dry and nervy throughout. A Chardonnay that refuses to be categorized.
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2012 Arnot-Roberts Trousseau 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast
A clear, strawberry color in the glass. Earth, pepper and pickles top the cranberry and sour cherry aromas. Mild tannins, brisk acid, with lots of sour cherry and wild strawberry fruit. Sage, pepper and pickle notes accent the fruit. Light, easy-drinking, but full of character. Beaujolais-like in its freshness, but this shows a lot of funky, earthy tones that remind me of Jura. Intellectually stimulating, but tasty as well.
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2011 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Silver Eagle Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
This bottle had been opened the day before, and I think the time helped this out a lot. Juicy cherries and rhubarb on the nose. The palate is fresh and silky, with fine tannins and medium acid. The cherry and strawberry fruit is laced with pepper, cola, tobacco and hints of vanilla. Smooth, crisp, a very pleasurable Sonoma Coast Pinot.
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2011 Brick House Gamay Noir Ribbon Ridge 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
An interesting Oregon take on Gamay. Sour and black cherries on the nose. The palate shows tangy acid, tart strawberries and cranberries, and lots of green pepper, pickles and green vegetal notes. Fun, unique, but a bit strange perhaps. A nice peppery kick to the finish. Fresh and light, perhaps a year or two will tone down some of the greener aspects?
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2009 A Tribute to Grace Wine Company Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard 89 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Strawberry greens, sour cherry and pepper on the nose. Tary and fresh on the palate, with sour cherry and wild strawberry, mixed in with white pepper and all sorts of spices. Fresh and lively, not as dense and overdone as a lot of Central Coast Grenache.
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2005 Pax Syrah Kobler Family Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
This Pax Syrah seems to be in a perfect place right now. Smells like smoke, violets, kirsch, cocoa powder, kalamata olives. The palate is full and rich, but not overbearing. Plums and blueberries blend with notes of charcoal, olive tapenade, lavender and smoke. Delicious and complex, this wine still has some time ahead of it.
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2009 Jemrose Grenache Foggy Knoll 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
An excellent Sonoma Grenache, Jemrose continues to impress me. I get lots of juicy berries on the nose, mixed in with pepper and spice. Fine tannins, juicy acid, and lots of bright red fruit. The pepper, anise, coffee, oak and earthy flavors are pure and complex. Yum.
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2010 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
A huge amount of blueberry, chocolate and coffee on the nose. Creamy and silky on the palate, with easy-drinking tannins. Lots of coconut and mocha on top of the bluberry and plum fruit. A bit too full and opulent for my tastes, but still quite nice.
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