Ben's USA @ Brunswick House

Brunswick House
Tasted Tuesday, May 23, 2017 by SimonG with 220 views

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

Lardo, garlic soughdough
Smoked Tarama, popadom
Grelot onions, black lentils, pickled mustard, soughdough
Jersey royals, nettles, cured salmon, horseradish

  • 2014 Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Double-decanted four hours. Clean and fresh with melon and slightly pear-scented aromas. Nicely mineral and lean without being mean. A white fruited florality. Consistent with my previous note. ****

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  • 2012 Rhys Chardonnay Horseshoe Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Double decanted 12 hours. Having recently had an imp of this that was tightly coiled and needed a fair amount of air, I double decanted this, but logistical considerations meant that it had to have a full 12 hours of air. Upon opening it seemed more evolved than the imp, and this obviously didn't change with the extended aeration. Ripe and rich nose with more than a whiff of buttered popcorn. Broad but with some focus, and nicely poised and quite a mineral line on the finish. A slightly blowsy front end and a leaner finish. This is good, but a slight disappointment cf previous bottles of Horseshoe or Alpine, extended airing didn't help but there's probably an element of bottle variation given it seemed more evolved from the get-go. ***1/2

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

Cornish sardines, gem hearts, mojo verde
Smoked bavette tartare, peas, clams, oyster leaf
Burrata, broad beans, kumquat, dill
Farinata, violette potato, peas, asparagus, cow's curd
Hake, rainbow chard, lemon, caper, shrimps

  • 2013 Domaine de la Côte Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills 93 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Lovely transparency and definition of fruit in the bright red and citrus spectrums. Perhaps not quite the mid-palate luxe, or the full span of fragrance out of these (claret-style) glasses, but still very lovely. Lots here, but dressed up in floaty silk chiffon rather than plush velvet. Consistent with previous note, this is joyous. ****

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  • 2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 91 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Declassified Alpine and Horseshoe estate fruit. Reasonably dark with quite a spicy nose. Fuller, denser and with a slightly savoury element. Opens up to smooth, dark but sweet fruit. Ready and moreish. This is drinking well, and relatively easily cf the Alpine which still needs time. ****

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  • 2009 Rhys Pinot Noir Alpine Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

    Denser, dark fruit but again with a savoury edge. A touch of flat cola. Similar profile to the Santa Cruz, but currently a little denser and duller. The better wine, but currently lacking a little pizzaz without being completely dormant. ***(*)

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Flight 3 (5 Notes)

Plaice, cauliflower, barista, lemon
Saddleback, sprouting broccoli, anchovy, bottarga
Barbary duck, white beans, wild garlic, trotter

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