Winebar [4 Whites, 8 Reds, & 4 *shared* bottles] from 03/22/19

• 2017 Domaine Lecomte Quincy

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Quincy

  "Soils dominated by sands & gravels are based on clayey gravels located on the lacustrine limestones of Berry."
  
  N: Slightly closed; Grass, minerals
  
  P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by TANGY acidity which drives the bus into & through the LONG, firm, still tight finish which NEEDS through '19 for the N & P to meld. My VG+ for now, but potentially a couple of notches higher IF, as I suspect, it comes together. [This vendor's $17.95 is $1 > than the only other current wine-searcher entry.]

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• 2017 Domaine Girault Sancerre Le Grand Moulin

  France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre

  From an 8.6 acre vyd with S-by-SW sun exposure planted between 1980 & 1990 in "90% Kimmeridgian marls (the so called “terres blanches” - white soils of Sancerre) and 10% coarse chalky pebbles & fragments which typically yield ≈48 hl/ha;" Typically, "The grapes are sorted, destemmed, & pressed gently by pneumatic press. After the juice has settled, alcoholic fermentation begins with native yeasts, lasting from 1-2 mos on the lees & in s/s tanks. Around March or April, the wines are cold-stabilized for 4 days & then bottled. No fining, light filtration (Kieselghur)."
  ≈3,750 cases produced.
  
  N: ATTRACTIVE *flowers* atop grass, rest tough to parse
  
  P: MF, poss Med, body; Very RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt firmed by acidity which evolves into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish which CURRENTLY shows mostly bitterness. NEEDS 12, poss 18, mos to come together (e.g., have P catch up to N), but potentially a powerhouse. My EXC-, more eventually? [Check with this vendor if interested in their competitive price.]

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• 2016 Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Typically, 45% Grenache Blanc, 30% Clairette, 20% Bourboulenc, & 5% Roussanne grown in clay with sand & limestone soils; "Pneumatic pressing, static cold settling, & matured on the lees for 4 mos. Malolactic blocked. Only the Roussane is vinified & aged in 228-l oak casks before final blending," the 3 primary vars seeing ONLY vats. 14% ABV
  
  N: CLOSED, or at the least, elusive early on; However, after 2+ hrs in a small tasting glass, it had VERY much opened, budusyu noting limestone with hints of shale & just a TOUCH of petrol. As he put it, NOT unlike an entry level German Riesling!
  
  P: MF body; VERY RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met y firming astringency which loses MOST of its toughness as it morphs into a LONG, VERY slightly bitter finish that only ULT shows a pleasantness. VG+ *right* now, but 2 YRS from now?? (At this juncture I'd advise cellaring in hopes a swan will emerge.) ;) 92 pts WE @ $40, 91 WA, 90 Vinous (Raynolds), & 4/5* drinkrhone.com . [This vendor's $26.95 is $2 < wine-searcher's next lowest.]

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• 2016 DuMOL Chardonnay Wester Reach

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Frt from 13-44 yr old vines (Old Wente, Mt Eden, & #4 clones) from the Ritchie, Lorenzo, Dumol Estate, Dutton-Hansen, Dutton-Jentoft, & Charles Heintz Vyds; "Barrel fermented & aged 12 mos in 35% new FR oak followed by 4 mos settling in tank. Complete malolactic fermentation." 2,950 cases
  
  N: Slightly closed; Smoke, toast, POSS butter, with floral/mineral notes; Intensity lurking?
  
  P: Med, poss MF, body; VERY RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish OAK/frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by buttressing acidity which fairly seamlessly evolves into a very LONG finish with an ENTICING tangy/swtness. LOTS goin' on here for now & poss as long as '22. IMPRESSIVE stuff! 14.3% ABV; My EXC/EXC+. 95+ pts WA, 94 Suckling, & 93 Jeb Dunnuck. [Check with this vendor if interested in their *very* COMPETITIVE price!]
  
  Note: Likely from the same bottle as Vinnut

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• 2013 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  N: Closed; Seems RIPE, deep, but with a touch of V.A.?
  
  P: Med, poss LM, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by some puckerish astringency as it enters into a LONG, balanced finish with a TANGY/swtness (65:35) & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of very, VERY slight bitterness to the virtually non-existent, very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '21, assuming the potential V.A.™ doesn't interfere. My VG+/EXC-. [Check with this vendor if interested in their apparently CLOSE-OUT price!]
  
  ™A *very* experienced taster agree with me on this, though ≈90 min or so later, from the same small tasting glass, budosyu DIDN'T notice any V.A.

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• 2014 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT

  Italy, Veneto, Veronese IGT

  Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
  
  N: Closed, but vanilla atop ripe berries?
  
  P: Med body; NICE, almost swtish frt met by astringent pucker which transitions into a LONG, very, VERY slightly puckerish finish with a discrete swtness to the relatively few dusty tannins. Unless a fan of high acidity, NEEDS through '20, then making its 10th. 13.5% ABV; My EXC-, arguably higher for the QPR of this vendor's $16.95, which puts it in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's MASSIVE # of vendors.

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• 2016 Denner The Dirt Worshipper

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
  
  N: FRAGRANTLY *ripe* berries slightly atop notes of dill? Intensity lurking
  
  P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which only SOMEWHAT resolves by the LONG, still puckerish finish with a distinct swtness & OCCASIONAL very, VERY slight bitterness to the considerable, dusty tannins. NEEDS a BOATLOAD of time (through '23?) [although budsoyu respectfully disagreed], then drinking most if not ALL of the 20's? My EXC, with more likely... eventually! [Check with this vendor if interested in their COMPETITIVE price.]

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• 2013 El Enemigo Gran Enemigo

  Argentina, Mendoza

  Cf. the CellarTracker Article link [lower lft] to get specific info for this vintage, including acclaim.
  
  N: Closed; RIPE berrie with undertones of pyrazines; Intensity lurking
  
  P: Med, poss MF, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by an astringent pucker which somewhat resolves by the LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/swtness (45:55) to the dusty tannins, & OCCASIONAL *glimpses* of a very, VERY slight bitterness. DESERVES into '20, then for at least 4 yrs more. My EXC; [There's apparently been a price increase IF having to repurchase, as this vendor's $71.95 now puts it in the middle part of the bottom 1/2 of wine-searcher's postings.]

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• 2016 Mollydooker Shiraz Blue Eyed Boy

  Australia, South Australia

  Frt from the ff McLaren Vale Vyds: Coppermine Road, Long Gully Road, & Mollydooker Home; Barrel fermented & matured: 100% AM oak (58% new, 42% 1 yr old); 16% ABV, 2.8 g/L R.S., & 3.57 pH; 12,302 cases made.
  
  N: Slightly closed; DEFINITELY ripe; Intensity lurking
  
  P: Med body; RNDISH entry with ALMOST swtish frt (approaching threshold R.S.?) met by an astringent pucker which loses virtually ALL its snap by the LONG, balanced finish with a DEFINITE swtness to the scant, dusty tannins. For now & through '22, I'd imagine. At LEAST "decent" in its style. My VG+/EXC-; 92 pts WA, 90 WS, & 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson. [This vendor's $41.95 puts them in the TOP 10% of wine-searcher's listings.]

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• 2015 Château Ormes de Pez

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  49% Merlot, 44% C.S., 6% C.F., & 1% Petit Verdot aged 16 mos in FR oak barrels (45% new wood)
  
  N: Closed; Vanilla with RIPE frt underneath; Intensity lurking!
  
  P: MF body; Rndish entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG, BALANCED finish with an attractive tangy/swtness to the surprisingly few dusty tannins. (Frt currently masking structure?) 13.5% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. Approachable now, though DESERVES through '20, then drinking for _ more? 94 pts Suckling, 93 WE @ $29, 91 pts Tim Atkin, 90-92 Falstaff Magazine, 90 ea Decanter & Vinous (Galloni), 87 Jeff Leve, 16 (2x) & 17-/20 Jancis Robinson, 16/20 La Revue du Vin de France, & 15/20 Bettane et Desseauve. [This vendor's $34.95 is as good as any currently on wine-searcher.]
  
  Note: Today this came across as more approachable than it did on 2/9/2019, possibly because today it had been open a good 90 min > than it had previously.

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• 2013 Arista Winery Pinot Noir Perli Vineyard

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge

  From a “remote vyd… 7 mi in from the Pacific Ocean... @ an elevation of almost 1,800 ft… with soils that contain more rocks than dirt & treacherous slopes that approach almost 60%;”
  
  N: Slightly closed; Attractively RIPE straws, probably more towards the dk frt side of the spectrum, with notes of earth as well?
  
  P: MF, poss Med, body; RNDISH entry with NICE, almost swtish frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which pretty much resolves by the LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. For now & through '22, + could still improve through '19. Impressively done in a BIG, fairly extracted style. 14.2% ABV; My EXC-/EXC. 93 pts WS, 91 Vinous (Galloni), & 90 WE @ $64. [I saw no other source with which to compare this vendor's $79.95, although it looks like the '15 & '16 of this are upwards of $100.]

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• 2015 Domaine Anne-Marie Gille Nuits St. Georges Les Brulées

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges

  Vines planted from 1924-1999 in clay and limestone soils, "Les Brulées" (1 ha 21 ares 27) has a SE orientation & is located S. of Nuits-Saint-Georges. Typically, "After 6 days of cold maceration, fermentation starts naturally without external yeast addition, or temperature control. Maturation lasts 18 mos in fine texture, medium toasted, oak barrels (1/3 new)."
  
  N: CLOSED, but vanilla seemingly atop ripe berries? Intensity lurking?
  
  P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt fairly quickly met by astringent pucker which fairly seamlessly evolves into a LONG, balanced, ult pleasant finish with a delightful tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. NEEDS through '21**, POSS longer, then EASILY making its 10th. My EXC, poss EXC/EXC+. [I did not find another source with which to compare this vendor's $59.95.] **UNLESS (apparently) one is willing to give it L-O-T-S of air right now.
  
  1st Note: LIKELY from the same bottle (though tasted several hrs thereafter) as VINNUT below.
  
  2nd Note: budosyu felt this was THE best/12 wines in the flight, my feelings being it was at the LEAST *close* to that. All of which raised the issue as to WHY it showed so much better than my previous TNs, budosyu stating that IF it had shown this well previously, he would have REMEMBERED it. POSS explanation: On 7/21 & 8/4/2018 it would have had SIGNIFICANTLY < air time in the small tasting glass before I got to it, that also being the case for budosyu, at least on 8/4/2018. Nonetheless, it's still at least SOMEWHAT puzzling...

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For varying reasons, these were ALL *very* interesting! :)

• 2005 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Dr. Tom, I'm PARTICULARLY grateful for you having shared this since you'd previously contributed this producer's '16 from the same Vyd! :)
  
  Open ≈90 mins
  
  N: VERY fragrant choc, RIPE frt, flowers; Rest tough to parse
  
  P: Med body; Very NICE, almost SWTISH frt met by a bit of astringent pucker which QUITE loses any bite as it seamlessly transitions into a very LONG, BALANCED finish with a tangy/swtness to the FEW dusty tannins, the nature of which encourages another sip/bite of food. For now & the next 4 yrs... safely. 14.4% ABV; My Exceptional-; 98 (Jay Miller) & 94 pts (Schildknecht) WA, and 94 WS (Steiman).

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• 2013 Giovanni Sordo Barolo Parussi

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  THANK you for providing the opportunity to retaste this, Arturo! :)
  
  From 15-40 yr old vines planted in a natural amphitheater between 200-250m alt in soils of lime mixed with clay; Typically, "Crushing/destemming, vinification with fermentation in s/sl vats at controlled temp with long submerged-cap maceration for 4-7 wks, depending on the vintage. Natural malolactic fermentation @ 20°C. Aged 24 mos in large Slavonian oak barrels, ff'd by 4-6 mos in s/s & a min 6 mos in bottle;"
  
  N: Vanilla atop berries, poss flowers, with earth underneath
  
  P: Med body; NICE, almost swtish frt QUICKLY met by astringent pucker which slowly evolves into a LONG finish of the same ilk, but with definite hints of the swtness to come. NEEDS a TON of time (through '22, poss '23?), then drinking through the end of the '20s without problem. 14% ABV; My EXC/EXC+... but WILL require patience, & MIGHT make some level of Exceptional down the line? 95 pts Suckling, 91 WE @ $49, 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson, & Bronze @ the '18 Int'l Wine Challenge. [While competitive, this vendor's $39.95 IS beatable by $6 in wine-searcher's small, but HIGHLY skewed listing.]
  
  Note: UNDOUBTEDLY from the same bottle as VINNUT, though I'm guessing my sample probably had ≈3 hrs > in its small tasting glass.

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• 1997 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Dr. Tom, once again, THANK you for sharing this SUPERB wine! :)
  
  "Produced in the traditional way... [with] long wood aging and bottle refinement;" 5,380 cases made.
  
  N: Sour cherries with earth, vanilla, also smoke, coming forward with air; GORGEOUS, particularly in that it keeps coming up with either new or ramifications of aromas already noted!
  
  P: LM body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which does QUITE resolve by the LONG, balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the firming, dusty tannins. CERTAINLY approachable now with food, + I can see it going another 4 or 5 yrs, though some of the tasters had recently had another bottle of the same from this questionably stored collection which was in decline. 13.5% ABV; My Exceptional-, POSS full Exceptional? 93 pts WS (Suckling) & #59/Top 100 for '02, 90 Vinous (Beltrami), but 84 WE @ $60. [As of late Mar '19, wine-searcher still shows vendors @ $75, $119, & $120.]

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• 2015 Bruno Rocca Barbaresco

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  Steve & Kim, I *did* appreciate the opportunity to retaste this! :)
  
  "Made with grapes coming from our vyds in Neive, Crù San Cristoforo, Currà, & Fausoni. The soil is clayish tuff with some sandy veins." Typically, "vinified in s/s for 20-25 days, then aged for 18 mos in FR oak barriques."
  
  N: LOVELY, *very* FRAGRANT melding I can't really parse. VERY dark in color for this DOC, & markedly MORE so than the '13 Barolo 2 wines earlier in this tasting!
  
  P: MF body; Very NICE, ALMOST swtish frt met by astringent pucker which at least somewhat resolves by the LONG finish with a bitter/swtness (60:40) to the dusty tannins. NEEDS through '20, poss '21, then making its 10th. 14.5% ABV; My EXC for this SOLID effort! 17+ & 17.5/20 Jancis Robinson (2 different reviewers). [This vendor's $45.95 is ≈$5 < wine-searcher's next lowest.]

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