Community Tasting Note
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Sagan99 Likes this wine: 88 points
June 13, 2023 - Heard much about this wine. Bought it in sunny Mexico.
Finished a bottle of Mayacamas, popped the cork on this.... It had a tough time comparing, though both were pure of fruit. Little wood. Classic Chardonnay character.
Mayacamas was 3 years older.
On its own this morning, this wine was better.
Pale lemon colour
Pronounced Citrus, grapefruit green apple
Banana, lychee, hint of pineapple
Honey
Little of any vanilla or oak etc.
Dry
High acid
High alcohol
Medium body
Long finish 60+
Likely a very good wine if tasted totally on it's own. However, last night, it was against Mayacamas, and these two bottles were very similar in character, and thus the comparables were against this Flowers sample.
It was just slightly underwhelming. A little hohum.
That said, maybe it needs a little time in the bottle... As I've experienced many wines with this identity, which after 3-5, even 10 years, becomes the amazing liquids we all aspire to drink.
If I can find this in Calgary, I'll buy this again... If only to put it to that longevity test.
But, if I had one bottle to buy this afternoon... Mayacamas, in a romp! And a bigger hole in my pocket!
Addendum
After a night in the fridge, with the cork in, and with a little air, this improved in that it opened a bit, to become more fragrant and forward. Much better 2nd day.
Chardonnay 100%
13.5 % abv
PS - Drink the Rainbow.1 person found this helpful 876 views
3 Comments
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Big Juicy Red commented:
7/26/23, 6:08 PM - Question: Perhaps this is splitting hairs, but asking seriously for my own information. You list the ABV as 13.5% but call it high alcohol. Where is the dividing line between and high? I would have thought 13.5 was moderate to moderate plus (at least for California Chards). I thought high was about 14 or over?
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Sagan99 commented:
7/27/23, 10:58 AM - Hey there Big J!!
Thanks for correcting me!! I forget my readings apparently... You know, you study for a test and then, forget everything! Lol😂
Yes, 13.5 is medium now that I've re-read my WSET notes.
Under 11, low.
Between 11 and 14, medium
Above 14 high.
I seem to recall another institution adjusting these things for the new normal, especially in California, but can't find it.
This will give you solace that you're not nuts, I'm sure! 😆
Have a look at this WSET link. Let me know if it doesn't work...
https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:3228cc14-47f1-370c-a7cd-8006d27f7c6b
*In another prior comment, you'd asked about 2021 Roserock Zephrine.
I had it last night. It's delicious and as I mentioned in my note, the consistency in Zephrine, and I've had everything since 2017, it's really remarkable.
I think 18 was slightly more structured and likely to last a little longer in the cellar.
But, to me, this isn't a wine to live more then a couple of decades. But who knows.
I've had DRC La Tache for almost 4 decades. Zephrine is more delicate I believe. Without the earth and minerality of the Grand Crus of Burgundy. At least not yet.
Maybe in time? It took Drouhin time to make long lived Burgundy, too!
In the meantime, we buy it, drink it, enjoy it, talk at nauseum about it... And they made tons of cash to do it all over again in future!
Woohooo!
Be safe! -
Big Juicy Red commented:
7/31/23, 5:28 PM - Hmm... I would have thought that low would be up to about 12%, moderate 12 - 13, and high around 14 and up.
Re: Roserock Zephirine, thank you for the insight. I have a couple of 2017s (which surprisingly people don't seem to like as much as 2019) and 2019s. And I don't age anything for decades -- I don't have the space or patience. :-)