Right out of the bottle - no air. - Dark ruby color.
- Explosive nose of blackcurrant (both tart and ripe), black liquorice, eucalyptus and herbs (they have aromatics bordering their vineyard), charred toast, perfectly ripe black plum, and well-integrated cinnamon and nutmeg (French oak). This needs some time to integrate but is firing on all cylinders now.
- Dry, medium plus body, elevated alcohol (feels 14%), elevated acidity (really bright), high tannins. Muscular and elegant all at the same time. Needs a bit of air.
Nose: - slightly reductive - burnt match / burnt rubber - medium intensity - mostly neutral aromas. - underripe stone fruit, vague apple - strong dose of washed cheese rind - suggesting lees contact - possible hint of vanilla / new oak - i'll confirm on palate
Palate: - dry - medium alcohol - 13% - elevated acid - elevated bitterness - slight impression of tannins
relatively neutral - no signs of oak - stainless steel or neutral oak.
Initial conclusions:
elevated acid and bitterness - federspiel gruner - more likely to have lees stirring and reduction - pinot grigio - - not an albarino - no notable terpenes - chablis - no due to bitterness - muscadet - no due to bitterness - savennieres - bitterness isn't classic - N. rhone marsanne-roussane blend - alcohol isn't as high as I'd expect - and acid is too high.
Final conclusion: 2015 federspiel gruner - I don't particularly like this call because lees stirring isn't too common, and I don't find any herbaceous character.
2015 classic Domaine l'ecu muscadet
analysis: half logic error - we need to understand the 2015 vintage is riper half typicity error - super bitter, riper than usual, medium plus acid. not austere.
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
(blind) Visual: - medium straw, yellow hints
Nose: - elevated intensity aromatics - distinct key lime pie (oak + pyrazines) - slight grapefruit pith / thiol character - hints of passionfruit / tropical fruit (again, thiols)
Palate: - dry - medium body - medium alcohol 13% - high acid - slight bitterness but probably due to oak - doesn't seem like phenolic bitterness to me - medium plus finish - acid plus passionfruit and cream
Initial conclusions: - oaked pyrazines means either CA Fumé Blanc or Bdx Blanc - too low alcohol and mineral for CA
Final conclusion: given the low ripeness and high acid, I'm guessing 2013 Bdx blanc, Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon, entry-level quality, $25
2014 Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc - Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand - I totally misidentified the ripeness as oak.
2013 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
(non-blind - my wine)
lyndenhurst 2013
Right out of the bottle - no air.
- Dark ruby color.
- Explosive nose of blackcurrant (both tart and ripe), black liquorice, eucalyptus and herbs (they have aromatics bordering their vineyard), charred toast, perfectly ripe black plum, and well-integrated cinnamon and nutmeg (French oak). This needs some time to integrate but is firing on all cylinders now.
- Dry, medium plus body, elevated alcohol (feels 14%), elevated acidity (really bright), high tannins.
Muscular and elegant all at the same time. Needs a bit of air.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Domaine de l'Ecu Muscadet Classic 80 Points
France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet
(blind)
Visual:
- clear, bright
- pale straw
Nose:
- slightly reductive - burnt match / burnt rubber
- medium intensity - mostly neutral aromas.
- underripe stone fruit, vague apple
- strong dose of washed cheese rind - suggesting lees contact
- possible hint of vanilla / new oak - i'll confirm on palate
Palate:
- dry
- medium alcohol - 13%
- elevated acid
- elevated bitterness
- slight impression of tannins
relatively neutral - no signs of oak - stainless steel or neutral oak.
Initial conclusions:
elevated acid and bitterness
- federspiel gruner - more likely to have lees stirring and reduction
- pinot grigio -
- not an albarino - no notable terpenes
- chablis - no due to bitterness
- muscadet - no due to bitterness
- savennieres - bitterness isn't classic
- N. rhone marsanne-roussane blend - alcohol isn't as high as I'd expect - and acid is too high.
Final conclusion:
2015 federspiel gruner - I don't particularly like this call because lees stirring isn't too common, and I don't find any herbaceous character.
2015 classic Domaine l'ecu muscadet
analysis:
half logic error - we need to understand the 2015 vintage is riper
half typicity error - super bitter, riper than usual, medium plus acid. not austere.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc Wairau Valley 88 Points
New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough, Wairau Valley
(blind)
Visual:
- medium straw, yellow hints
Nose:
- elevated intensity aromatics
- distinct key lime pie (oak + pyrazines)
- slight grapefruit pith / thiol character
- hints of passionfruit / tropical fruit (again, thiols)
Palate:
- dry
- medium body
- medium alcohol 13%
- high acid
- slight bitterness but probably due to oak - doesn't seem like phenolic bitterness to me
- medium plus finish - acid plus passionfruit and cream
Initial conclusions:
- oaked pyrazines means either CA Fumé Blanc or Bdx Blanc
- too low alcohol and mineral for CA
Final conclusion: given the low ripeness and high acid, I'm guessing 2013 Bdx blanc, Sauvignon Blanc with Semillon, entry-level quality, $25
2014 Goldwater Sauvignon Blanc - Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand
- I totally misidentified the ripeness as oak.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Mazzocco Zinfandel Verano 83 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
(blind)
Visual:
- Medium minus ruby color.
Nose:
- ripe to overripe plum
- tart cherry
- ripe peach
- slight amaro / herbal bitterness
Palate:
- dry with a ripe attack
- medium bodied
- high alcohol - 15.5%
- elevated acid
- medium tannins
- elevated bitterness
I'm confused
Zinfandel - too tannic
GSM australia - my guess.
actual; 16.2% Mazzocco sonoma zinfandel, verano, dry creek valley. 2013
18 months french oak.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue