Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 5/6/2017

Could only taste 6 because this was more or less my lunch break, and Cellar on Greene is next door to Chick Fil A. The crowd was pretty sparse because this was graduation Saturday at the University of South Carolina. As usual the wines were pre-tasted by experts so not a bad one in the bunch.

• 2015 Weingut Dürnberg Riesling Falkenstein 90 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich

  Always interested in trying wines from Austria, this one is quite exceptional. There is a vibrant liveliness any wine would covet. The nose is expressive spicy minerals, wet earth and mulled apples. The color is deep golden. Has very large viscosity, but also a delicate elegance. Not necessarily fruity, the aromas and flavors are "Old World" terroir driven minerals and spices. Extremely clean, crisp and linear. Really well balanced and integrated probably from the day of release. The flavor on the finish leans toward peach pit and apricot pit and maybe some viscous guava and pomegranate.

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• 2015 Montinore Estate Borealis 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  We have tried this several time before, so knew what to expect. Some may disagree, but to my palate the 1.6% residual sugar is just enough to mostly drown out the other merits of this wine. My notes try to give this one a chance because of some lively bright fruit and sandalwood. They made it in a fruit forward, crowd pleasing style.

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• 2014 Charles Smith Chardonnay Eve 89 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  This easily has the stuffing for an 88-90 point Chardonnay or maybe more. Seems they designed it to be one of those white wines ready to drink upon release. Though only moderately concentrated, is quite complete. One of those wines vibrantly fresh and alive. Some ginger spice with mulled apple and pear. Really solid from lips through mid palate and finish with vanilla, caramel, cider and molasses behind the orchard and citrus fruit.

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• 2014 Santa Barbara Winery Pinot Noir Central Coast 86 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Pretty much a prototypical 86 point California Pinot. The 14.6% alcohol determines the flow of flavor and aroma evaluations. The nose is fairly shy, but definitely Pinot. My initial impression was that of a heavily filtered wine, but it could be the extreme ripeness culled out some of the flavors. The color is darker than typical. It is very rounded and smooth in a manipulated way. To it's credit, this flavor profile is quite unique for a Pinot. Think the terroir has some merit. They made this in a crowd pleasing style.

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• 2015 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Villages Cuvée 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  I also thought this was big, rich and juicy for a Pinot. The color is more red than purple. Really friendly and tasty in a rounded, fruity, easy drinking style. Has a touch of typical Pinot barnyard earthy funk on both the nose and palate. Very nicely balanced to the point where the fruit and non fruit flavors are equally prominent and integrated. Just enough oak. Just a little different from typical.

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• 2015 Day Zinfandel 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Ehren Jordan has created a throwback Zin that has balance and character rather than being a fruit bomb. Has a really aromatic nose that practically leaps from the glass while being poured. The palate is a little more subdued, and probably in it's "dumb" stage at this point in time, and could actually use a decant. One of the tell tail signs we are drinking this too young is a more prominent acid profile than typical. All kinds of spicy, peppered red and dark fruit that in a disciplined manner maintains it's delicate elegance. Not big on oak. Just inspired wine making and quality grape growing.

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