USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
(6/27/2014)
Coravin 6/27/14: Youthful appearing medium ruby color without bricking; nose is medium intensity, thin red cherry fruits, high acid, some faint baking spices; palate is medium bodied, very high acid but with good density of fruit to back it up, tightly coiled red fruits, very slight integrated tannin; finish is medium length. A very young modern balanced pinot with some great components on the palate, somewhat weaker on the nose, that seems like it might benefit from some age. Lacks the complexity on the nose of the best Pinot and overpriced for what it is showing now, but I would be interested in trying a more mature example. 90 Update: With 30 minutes of air, the nose opens up with more balance, ripe fruit, slight spice, acidity and thin fruits have integrated; palate is balanced, light-medium bodied, juicy red fruits. Was a weak 90, but now is a solid 90+ and a great example of balanced california-styled pinot. 6/28: Remainder opened- Similar to yesterday, solid california pinot. 89-90
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
(6/28/2014)
Aromatic, but slight chemical/plastic note, slight spice, red fruit, but chemical is distracting; palate is light-medium bodied, good spice and red fruit, intense through the midpalate; finish is short-medium length. Perhaps an interesting wine, but the chemical note on the nose and the lack of any complexity or depth make it a poor choice for the price. Doesn't have the haunting nose I look for in great pinot. Decent, drink now. 87
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
(6/28/2014)
Medium ruby with age-appropriate bricking; nose of moderate intensity, black fruit, blackberry, interesting notes of soy, slight asian spices; palate is full bodied, still some structured tannins, slightly drying through the midpalate, good black fruit on the palate; finish is medium length. Good overall. Unclear whether the tannins will integrate more and the fruit will come out with more secondary character or whether the tannins will get more drying as time goes on and the fruit drops out. We shall see, and I have a lot more bottles to follow. 90 1 hour air: nose has more complexity than when first opened, nice. 90-91
Ruby-purple color with very minor bricking; fabulous nose with moderate intensity, great black fruits with a dominant note of eucalyptus, slight mint, wonderfully complex; palate is full bodied, rich ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, fully integrated tannins that only give it a bit of extra structure towards the end of the midpalate, some depth of flavor; finish is long with some structure, some black fruit, and slight mint. Wonderful wine at peak of maturity. 93-94
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
(6/28/2014)
Ripe red fruits, some secondary character with tobacco; palate is full bodied, fresh, mature red fruit, nice fruit through the midpalate; medium length finish. Well balanced, mature right bank Bordeaux. Drink in the next few years.
Pomegranate, red fruits, lovely Asian spices, spicy red fruits; full bodied, great spice, slight white pepper, big red fruits with great ripeness, not over-ripe, no extra alcohol showing; medium length finish. A lovely bold and balanced turley, drinking really well now. 91-92
2011 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Stiling Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
(6/27/2014)
Coravin 6/27/14: Youthful appearing medium ruby color without bricking; nose is medium intensity, thin red cherry fruits, high acid, some faint baking spices; palate is medium bodied, very high acid but with good density of fruit to back it up, tightly coiled red fruits, very slight integrated tannin; finish is medium length. A very young modern balanced pinot with some great components on the palate, somewhat weaker on the nose, that seems like it might benefit from some age. Lacks the complexity on the nose of the best Pinot and overpriced for what it is showing now, but I would be interested in trying a more mature example. 90
Update: With 30 minutes of air, the nose opens up with more balance, ripe fruit, slight spice, acidity and thin fruits have integrated; palate is balanced, light-medium bodied, juicy red fruits. Was a weak 90, but now is a solid 90+ and a great example of balanced california-styled pinot.
6/28: Remainder opened- Similar to yesterday, solid california pinot. 89-90
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2010 La Rochelle Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
(6/28/2014)
Aromatic, but slight chemical/plastic note, slight spice, red fruit, but chemical is distracting; palate is light-medium bodied, good spice and red fruit, intense through the midpalate; finish is short-medium length. Perhaps an interesting wine, but the chemical note on the nose and the lack of any complexity or depth make it a poor choice for the price. Doesn't have the haunting nose I look for in great pinot. Decent, drink now. 87
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1999 Château Péby Faugères 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
(6/28/2014)
Medium ruby with age-appropriate bricking; nose of moderate intensity, black fruit, blackberry, interesting notes of soy, slight asian spices; palate is full bodied, still some structured tannins, slightly drying through the midpalate, good black fruit on the palate; finish is medium length. Good overall. Unclear whether the tannins will integrate more and the fruit will come out with more secondary character or whether the tannins will get more drying as time goes on and the fruit drops out. We shall see, and I have a lot more bottles to follow. 90
1 hour air: nose has more complexity than when first opened, nice. 90-91
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1997 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard Diamond Mountain 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
(6/28/2014)
Ruby-purple color with very minor bricking; fabulous nose with moderate intensity, great black fruits with a dominant note of eucalyptus, slight mint, wonderfully complex; palate is full bodied, rich ripe blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, fully integrated tannins that only give it a bit of extra structure towards the end of the midpalate, some depth of flavor; finish is long with some structure, some black fruit, and slight mint. Wonderful wine at peak of maturity. 93-94
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1998 Château La Couspaude 90 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
(6/28/2014)
Ripe red fruits, some secondary character with tobacco; palate is full bodied, fresh, mature red fruit, nice fruit through the midpalate; medium length finish. Well balanced, mature right bank Bordeaux. Drink in the next few years.
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2003 Turley Zinfandel Dogtown Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi
(6/28/2014)
Pomegranate, red fruits, lovely Asian spices, spicy red fruits; full bodied, great spice, slight white pepper, big red fruits with great ripeness, not over-ripe, no extra alcohol showing; medium length finish. A lovely bold and balanced turley, drinking really well now. 91-92
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