Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
S FL Welcomes Stefania's Paul & Stef (& MiamiAtty Gets Hitched!)
JC & FKG's - Hollywood, FL
Tasted February 10, 2011 by vinole with 1,239 views
Introduction
Paul and Stefania Romero joined the WS S FL tasting group at the the home of their largest customer and brought with them some unreleased wines for us to try and enjoy. As if that weren't enough, a long-time member, MiamiAtty, proposed to his long-time girlfriend that made for a very memorable evening. Congrats to them!!
Flight 1 - White Wines & Champagne (6 notes)
White
2006 Core b. core Alta Mesa Vineyard
89 points
A very dry white wine with crisp citrus fruit (lemon jumps out) with some almond and minerals on the finish.
White - Off-dry
1999 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
90 points
The antithesis of the Kerpen as this older wine was quite pale in color for its age. Once again, confirmed on the palate with a light texture, higher acidity, but still some nice sweetness. Not nearly as concentrated as the Kerpen.
White - Off-dry
2005 Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese
93 points
A rather dark golden color for such a young wine that hinted at the richness of the wine which was confirmed on the palate. Thick texture with medium acidity that tasted like honey sprinkled apples.
White
2009 Stefania Chardonnay Chaine d' Or Vineyard
90 points
Pronounced oak, but with light to medium body and bright acidity that keeps it from any sign of flabbiness. Some nice pear fruit too. A well balanced and crafted CA chard.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut
89 points
A lighter bodied Champagne with lower acidity and more ripness and fruit than most.
White - Sparkling
1998 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame
91 points
Light to medium body with a high level of carbonation and acidity. Yeasty with some light honey notes on the complex finish.
Flight 2 - Red Wines (13 notes)
Red
2006 Ketcham Estate Pinot Noir Ketcham Vineyard
90 points
Medium body with dark cherry fruit that was not too forward or ripe. Little earthiness, but a well made pinot true to the varietal.
Red
2001 Podere Salicutti Brunello di Montalcino Piaggione
I drank this early on and it was not decanted. It came across as needing more time in the cellar as it was austere, tannic, and overly acidic. I likely had too early as later others felt it was drinking nicely later after it got more air.
Red
1997 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino
90 points
Dark cherry fruit, lower acidity and tannins than most Brunello. Good, but perhaps has entered the downside phase of its aging curve.
Red
2006 Stefania Haut Tubee
88 points
Liked this one a bit less than the 07 and 08. Raspberry and blackberry fruit, medium to high acidity, and some drying tannins upfront similar to the 08.
Red
2007 Stefania Haut Tubee
89 points
Forward dark fruit of plum and blackberry, with some nice balancing acidity, and some pepper and spice on the finish. Good stuff.
Red
2001 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape
92 points
Tied for my WOTN. Darker fruit than most CdP, medium acidity, with pepper notes and some complexity on the finish. Probably would have scored higher with a little more air time.
Red
2000 Château Prieuré-Lichine
91 points
A feminine wine with medium body and acidity. The fruit leans towards the red side of the spectrum with a touch of earth on the finish. A very well balanced and classy wine that is drinking very well right now with little decanting needed.
Red
2005 Radio-Coteau Syrah Cherry Camp
91 points
A more reserved style of CA syrah with good balancing acidity that makes it fairly nimble on the palate.
Red
2004 Bodegas y Viñedos San Roman Toro Viña San Román
91 points
A modern style tempranillo, with ripe cherry and raspberry fruit and crisp acidity that makes for a good food wine.
Red
2008 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Cruz Mountains
90 points
Reserved cherry and currant fruit with medium acidity and a fairly long finish, that still has a nice roundness and balance at this early stage.
Red
2008 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Crimson Clover
92 points
A round, well knit wine with currant, candied cherry, and blackberry fruit. Consistent and smooth from entry, through the mid-palate, and the finish that is drinking surprisingly well now for such a young wine. My co-WOTN. The wine has potential to score higher in the future as Paul's style is condusive to aging well. Bravo Paul and Stef!
Red
2003 Kilikanoon Shiraz Oracle
86 points
I had their lower end wine (Testament) last year that I enjoyed and scored over 90, so I was surprised at how little I liked their flagship wine. It had a sour and ripe entry that I found completely unappealing, though the mid-palate and finish were better. Possibly a slightly flawed or off wine, though no distinct characteristics that clearly suggested that.
Red
2008 Owen Roe Syrah Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block
Was decanted 4 hours prior to tasting, which allowed it to drink reasonably well despite its extreme youth. Medium acidity, candied cherry and blackberry fruit, with thick texture and some glycerin. Very concentrated and still coming together, so I am not assigning a score.