Showing quite well right out of the bottle, no decanting necessary. Evolving aromas, still lively on the palate with dusty tannins, medium acid and velvety red and black fruits. Some real nice earthy, charcoal, cedar and tobacco elements, the latter of which became more evident with time. Bold and full but showing lots of nuance. Seems in prime drinking condition, maybe a few more years if in perfect condition, but no problem drinking up now.
A light golden color with thick legs in the glass. Nose starts off with nuts and butterscotch but transitions to unique notes of green olive, spiced apple cider and oyster brine. Creamy body but bright acid, this wine is still lively but softened. The green pear and melon fruit is laced with notes of sea salt, oyster brine and raw almonds. Not exhausted, but probably shouldn’t have been aged this long. Still, for Christmas, my family had a lot of fun tasting it and discussing it. I don’t think I’d ever recommend this wine now to a casual wine drinker, but definitely an interesting and memorable experience. I’ve only ever had the 2006 vintage, but I’d like to try some newer vintages soon to see what’s going on.
Cork was raised up just a bit, and soaked almost all the way through, so I was a bit concerned. Upon first opening it, the wine was muted and seemed tired, and I was resigned to it being a poor bottle. But I came back after three hours and gave it another shot, and things had totally changed. Turned from stale and tired to lively and floral. Dusty tannins, tart acid, red plum and currant fruit. I do get a bit of that “smoke taint” I hear about from the wildfire smoke that hit in this vintage, but other elements of the wine come out. I get some sage, pickle and dried flowers, too. Probably not the best showing, but perhaps this is as good as one can hope for. Still turned out fun.
Nutty and salty on the nose, with some spiced cider, green olive and oyster notes. On the palate, ripping acid, tart green apple and pear fruit, but there’s also these interesting richer notes of orange marmalade and preserved lemon. A chalky and mineral presence as well. Served to the fam with some roasted chicken with lemon and fennel, and it cut through it all. For $18, this is perfect for my palate and wallet.
Four years since my last bottle and this is holding up wonderfully. Smells plummy, dark and loamy, rich with some baked notes but some black olive and bacon. Juicy, fleshy palate with bright acid and the tannins are dusty but still strong. Mushroom and black olives coat the currant and plum fruit. Some slight baked plums and candied apple peel, but those highly rich elements are balanced by enough freshness and some softening from age. It all works out. Last bottle, but I'd like to try this again in two. 57% Syrah, 31% Petite Sirah, 12% Grenache. My dad and brother loved it, so I was happy.
Such a good rose, this is also a crowd-pleaser. Love the tanginess and brightness of the wine, and the mineral and floral complexity. Lots of oceanic elements to the generous fruit.
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
(12/27/2014)
Nose of deep berries and roasted fruit compote, dried figs, toasted oak, wintergreen and mocha. Deep and plummy on the palate, blueberries too, tart but rich with firm tannins, moderate creaminess and accents of mocha, charcoal, caramel and cedar. One more bottle, will hold off for two years or so.
Smoky and baked fruit on the nose. Juicy, tart, soft tannins not much in the way of structure. Very smoky and berry driven, candied apple and red licorice. Notes of mocha and anise candies. I tasted and used the rest for mulled wine.
2011 Cantine Terranera Fiano di Avellino 83 Points
Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino DOCG
(12/24/2014)
Pretty simple and straightforward stuff, white peach and lime mixed with white flowers and some honeysuckle. Creamy but fresh, just not very complex.
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2004 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(12/24/2014)
Showing quite well right out of the bottle, no decanting necessary. Evolving aromas, still lively on the palate with dusty tannins, medium acid and velvety red and black fruits. Some real nice earthy, charcoal, cedar and tobacco elements, the latter of which became more evident with time. Bold and full but showing lots of nuance. Seems in prime drinking condition, maybe a few more years if in perfect condition, but no problem drinking up now.
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2005 Maldonado Chardonnay Los Olivos Vineyard 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(12/25/2014)
A light golden color with thick legs in the glass. Nose starts off with nuts and butterscotch but transitions to unique notes of green olive, spiced apple cider and oyster brine. Creamy body but bright acid, this wine is still lively but softened. The green pear and melon fruit is laced with notes of sea salt, oyster brine and raw almonds. Not exhausted, but probably shouldn’t have been aged this long. Still, for Christmas, my family had a lot of fun tasting it and discussing it. I don’t think I’d ever recommend this wine now to a casual wine drinker, but definitely an interesting and memorable experience. I’ve only ever had the 2006 vintage, but I’d like to try some newer vintages soon to see what’s going on.
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2008 Ici/La-Bas Pinot Noir Les Révélés Elke Vineyard 86 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
(12/25/2014)
Cork was raised up just a bit, and soaked almost all the way through, so I was a bit concerned. Upon first opening it, the wine was muted and seemed tired, and I was resigned to it being a poor bottle. But I came back after three hours and gave it another shot, and things had totally changed. Turned from stale and tired to lively and floral. Dusty tannins, tart acid, red plum and currant fruit. I do get a bit of that “smoke taint” I hear about from the wildfire smoke that hit in this vintage, but other elements of the wine come out. I get some sage, pickle and dried flowers, too. Probably not the best showing, but perhaps this is as good as one can hope for. Still turned out fun.
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2012 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon California 84 Points
USA, California
(12/25/2014)
Grapey and juicy, a bit astringent on the finish, but a decent everyday drinker.
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2010 Domaine Didier Grappe Chardonnay Côtes du Jura 90 Points
France, Jura, Côtes du Jura
(12/26/2014)
Nutty and salty on the nose, with some spiced cider, green olive and oyster notes. On the palate, ripping acid, tart green apple and pear fruit, but there’s also these interesting richer notes of orange marmalade and preserved lemon. A chalky and mineral presence as well. Served to the fam with some roasted chicken with lemon and fennel, and it cut through it all. For $18, this is perfect for my palate and wallet.
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2006 Paul Dolan Vineyards Deep Red 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
(12/26/2014)
Four years since my last bottle and this is holding up wonderfully. Smells plummy, dark and loamy, rich with some baked notes but some black olive and bacon. Juicy, fleshy palate with bright acid and the tannins are dusty but still strong. Mushroom and black olives coat the currant and plum fruit. Some slight baked plums and candied apple peel, but those highly rich elements are balanced by enough freshness and some softening from age. It all works out. Last bottle, but I'd like to try this again in two. 57% Syrah, 31% Petite Sirah, 12% Grenache. My dad and brother loved it, so I was happy.
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2013 La Pitchoune Pinot Noir Vin Gris 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
(12/27/2014)
Such a good rose, this is also a crowd-pleaser. Love the tanginess and brightness of the wine, and the mineral and floral complexity. Lots of oceanic elements to the generous fruit.
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2009 Six Prong Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills
(12/27/2014)
Nose of deep berries and roasted fruit compote, dried figs, toasted oak, wintergreen and mocha. Deep and plummy on the palate, blueberries too, tart but rich with firm tannins, moderate creaminess and accents of mocha, charcoal, caramel and cedar. One more bottle, will hold off for two years or so.
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NV Bodegas Volver Monastrell Alicante Tarima 83 Points
Spain, Valencia, Alicante
(12/27/2014)
Smoky and baked fruit on the nose. Juicy, tart, soft tannins not much in the way of structure. Very smoky and berry driven, candied apple and red licorice. Notes of mocha and anise candies. I tasted and used the rest for mulled wine.
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