Ed Kurtzman Dinner - His Favs and His

Casa Murray
Tasted Saturday, February 28, 2009 by WetRock with 646 views

Flight 1 - Chardonnay's Ed Made (4 Notes)

Interesting mix here. Though very different the 97 Chalone and the 05 AW were my favs.

  • 1997 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay

    USA, California, Central Coast, Chalone

    Hay nose I find often on Chards with little oak and some mineral character. Soft mouth feel with plenty of weight still, especially on the mid palate where the fruit has a touch of sweetness. Nose was fairly inexpressive but the palate still seemed young. Probably should have revisited this later in the night.

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  • 2004 Freeman Chardonnay Ryo-fu

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Oak shows on the nose along with an odd sulfur like aroma. Fat, long and sweet. Not my cup of tea but I imagine its pretty popular.

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  • 2004 Fort Ross Chardonnay Reserve Fort Ross Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Tight nose with touches of vanilla and caramel. Very big fruited yet well balanced. A nice mouth feel with lots of ripe stone fruit flavors. Very atypical for Chardonnay but a very nice wine. Again, not my style but would recommend this to many Cali white drinkers.

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  • 2005 August West Chardonnay Rosella's Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Sweet vanilla and ripe apples followed by some slatey minerals. Big sweet fruit that isn't fat and a big finish with some crunchy minerality. This was a terrific interplay of sweet fruits and minerals that I really enjoyed and was yet again another white on the evening of an atypical style to me. Very nice.

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Flight 2 - Pinots Ed Likes (5 Notes)

Good selection of makers. The Pisoni didn't seem as expressive as I would have hoped. One of the better recent showings for a KB for me. I liked the balance on the Clos Pepe making it my fa of the flight though its young.

  • 2005 Melville Pinot Noir Estate Clone 777

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Lean hot nose showing plenty of typical stem inclusion along with lots of cranberry and the slightly piney character I get from SRH. Palate is a bit tight and short though it grows in the glass becoming chunky. Lots of spice. Interesting mix. Would let this sleep a couple more years.

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  • 2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Parsons' Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Dark fruited nose with brown sugar. Fleshy, rich and tannic. Nice balance but needs some time. Squarely to the big Pinot side of things.

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  • 2003 Pisoni Pinot Noir Estate

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Tight nose showing a touch of spice. Broad, rich and tannic yet balanced with some sweet cranberry. This wasn't as expressive as usual and seemed a bit tight to me.

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  • 2005 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Initially some funk, then dark cranberry and Christmas spice. Really nice balance and mouth feel with a soft mid palate. The fruit wasn't real expressive today and on the tight narrow side but this wine clearly has some potential. Might have been my favorite Pinot on the night.

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  • 2005 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Cranberry nose with some dark pine forest. Big and sweet with a short finish this did show some of the typical Sonoma Coast character so the hugeness didn't completely overwhelm the the locale in the wine. Hedonistic.

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Flight 3 - New Pinot Releases Ed Makes (4 Notes)

Not quite as good as I remembered from Falltacular but the AW Rosella's and the Roar Gary's are best here though they probably need a few months rest.

Flight 4 - More Pinots Ed Has Made (4 Notes)

This flight was a bit rough going. Not wild about any of them but the Fort Ross was probably the best of the 4 on the evening.

Flight 5 - Syrahs And Other (4 Notes)

The whole cluster dominated the 05 Syrahs but I think both could be good wines in a few more years. Pinotage was fun but doesn't come together for me.

  • 2005 Sandler Wine Company Syrah Connell Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

    Heavy nose showing its 100% stem inclusion on its sleeve with asparagus and pepper. Dark berries among a tight palate with a green grip. This needs some time to unwind and integrate.

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  • 2005 August West Syrah Rosella's Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Tight nose showing some rubber tire reduction and a touch of heat. Very even palate well balanced with dark expression and plenty of green stemmy pepper. Another one with 100% whole cluster that really shows it. This has some potential.

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  • 2004 Fort Ross Pinotage Fort Ross Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Interesting nose of BBQ, tart tomato and bright berry candies. Big and broad palate of berry candies and a complex aromatic grippy finish. Interesting wine and one of the better Pinotages I have had but that is damning with faint praise. Good wine but wouldn't be seeking it out as I'm not sure the pieces add up to something enjoyable.

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  • 2003 Roar Syrah Rosella's Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands

    Dark fat nose of roasted meats, chocolate and pepper. Palate is heavy and on the flabby side. Just makes you want to move on.

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