flight of America(ns)

sometime back we found at work a mixed half case that, seemingly forgotten had been subject to very poor storage (heat cycles, excessive refrigeration, etc.)… interestingly, it had a mix of wines from across the States and circa 2014, so we thought it would make an interesting tasting lineup for July 4th.

given what the wines likely went thru, i thought it unfair to assign ratings. but i did try to figure out in what rating tier category the wines may have been in their prime (or absent their storage misadventures).

• 2014 Château Morrisette Our Dog Blue

  USA, Virginia

  medium gold (with hints of oxidation) and light body. lots of petrol on the nose (suggesting Riesling) that does clear out to notes of ripe peach with hints of mango, wilting yellow blossoms and lemon. light-bodied in mouth, it is off-dry with sweet flavours of yellow stonefruit dominating the palate. there is a faint citric vein that provides some contrast to the honeyed overtones. moderate length.
  
  as it warms the sweetness takes over… and well, as acidity is a bit wanting in general, it devolves into 1980s "wine cooler" territory. blue bottle that recalls a Liebfraumlich/ Blue Nun… and contents to match.
  
  this may have squeaked into the "good" rating tier in its prime, but is certainly below average now.
  
  no AbV listed, but on the light to moderate side (say around 9-10%); no residual sugar listed but likely around 20-30g/L; labeled as “white blend” but no varietals listed, and none clearly discernible beyond Riesling.
  
  [went down the drain]

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• NV LaBelle Winery Americus

  USA, New Hampshire

  bright ruby with clear rim and light body. macerated cherry with accents of pine sap and hints of pepper on the nose. that pepper hint carries into and throughout the mouth forming a base for the moderate fruit flavours. medium acidic lift and somewhat drying finish with an aftertaste of raspberry.
  
  agreeable enough though with little complexity. no vintage given but (based on provenance and company) likely produced around 2014. likely to have been in the "good" rating tier in its prime but currently falling off.
  
  12% AbV; 50% Cabernet Franc/ 50% Noiret (a hybrid “moderately cold-hardy grape created from a complex cross in 1973 at Cornell University… produces wines with a deep red color, good tannins, and unusually robust pepper overtones”); aged in French oak barrels for one to two years.
  
  [went down the drain]

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• 2014 Solaro Estate Miscela

  USA, Texas, Texas Hill Country

  ruby colour with garnet rim and medium body. herbal, leather and cinnamon notes give depth to a nose of red fruits. somewhat diluted in mouth, cinnamon spice wraps the somewhat pruney cherry and plum flavours from entry to finish. dry, fresh and with little complexity. moderate length with more cinnamon.
  
  likely to have snuck into the "very good" rating tier in its prime, this bottle showed itself in the "good" band to be taken home by someone.
  
  13.5% AbV; blend of 50% Barbera/ 50% Montepulciano.

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• 2014 Caduceus Cellars Merkin Vineyards Chupacabra

  USA, New Mexico

  deep garnet with tawny rim. mature and sweet nose not unlike a port’s: stewed plum and cherry with some clove and cinnamon spice. somewhat maderised fruitiness in mouth but with bright acidity and a gentle tannic bite that somewhat balanced it. moderate complexity and length.
  
  likely to have been in the "very good" rating tier in its prime, this bottle is destined for the kitchen and sauce-making.
  
  14.1% AbV; 45% Grenache/ 40% Syrah/ 15% Mourvèdre.

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• 2014 Pebblestone Cellars Syrah Block 6 Ellis Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Southern Oregon, Rogue Valley

  dark opaque purple with slight bricking and full body. whiffs of game meat and dried herbs waft thru a nose of crushed blueberries and red plums. it took a while to uncoil, and as it did, notes of savoury and sweet spice accented the dominating stewed red and black fruit. balanced acidity, moderate complexity, still grippy tannins and very good length round out the experience.
  
  this bottle appears to have been less subjected to poor storage… and while not of a flavour profile of style of my liking, was still (just) into the "very good" ratings tier – and found a home.
  
  14.4% AbV; all Syrah.

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• 2014 Pomar Junction Vineyard Train Wreck

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  deep purplish ruby with tawny rim. nose of plum compote, wood chips and vanilla with whiffs of lavender and earth. bold and fruity but dry and moderately balanced. some peppery spice bend to the still formidable structure. big fruit, big tannins, and noticeable heat. good length.
  
  (thankfully) does not quite live up to its name in spite of the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink blend, the high alcohol, and ripe and extracted style… was likely solidly in the "very good" ratings tier in its prime, and this bottle was "good" enough to find a home to go to.
  
  15.3% AbV; 23% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Zinfandel, 18% Petite Sirah, 14% Syrah, 9% Mourvèdre.

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that was a bit of a fun exercise… and learned a few things along the way too!

thankfully, i had a nice bottle waiting on the other side of this adventure!