Jason Brandt Lewis Hits The Speed Limit: Lots of blind and interesting wines inc Equinox, Westport Rivers, Tablas Creek, Do Ferreiro, etc
JBL & Lynne's pad - Berkeley Hills
Tasted November 9, 2008 by tonyvelebil with 1,262 views
Introduction
Yesterday we gathered at JBL & Lynne's house to celebrate JBL's speed limit birthday! The theme was Spanish wines and Spanish treats, including cheese, chorizo, salumi, marcona almonds, olives and finally a terrific Paella was accompanied by two salads - a caeser salad, and a simple vinaigrette salad pretty by their daughter Olivia! And then dessert...still full! Great conversation with Hoke, JBL, Lynne, Lou and BettyLu and everyone else. Andrew Gelb - you ears must have been burning yesterday!!!!
These notes are just brief impressions b/c we were all just drinking eating and having a great time!
Flight 1 (11 notes)
White - Sparkling
1997 Equinox Wines Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs
USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains
This was the starter wine. Having never had the famous Equinox, I was excited and intrigued. Very interesting wine that JBL said spend 9 years on the lees. Definitely shows in the sherried note in the wine. But it is pretty tasty with tangerine, limestone like chalkiness, nice mousse. I think was around $50 and definitely a fair price. Very tasty!
White - Off-dry
2006 Bartolo Fiano
USA, California, Central Coast
JBL loves to pour blind wines, usually from whatever location he has just visited. Not knowing where he's been lately, I tasted. Interesting wine. Floral, tropical fruit. Nice weight and a decent amount of acidity. There is something that reminds me of an Italian white wine but the richness suggests CA. I go with Vermentino from CA. Impressive wine.
White
2006 Westport Rivers Riesling
USA, Massachusetts, Southeastern New England
From JBL's trip to New England last year, where he picked up a pretty tasty Chardonnay from the same producer IIRC. This was actually pretty tasty, even though I guessed it to be a 20 year old CA Riesling from Stony Hill. Bright, floral, apricots/peaches with a hint of slate. It's got a little of a petrol/glycerin quality on the finish. Very tasty actually and something I would seek out.
White
2005 Wakefield Riesling
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
This was paired against the Westport Rivers Riesling and I preferred the Westport Rivers because of it's depth and fruit forward quality. This was more about slate, glycerin with nectarine, lime and smoke than rich apricot type fruit. A fun wine but I would probably buy a German Kabinett before I buy this.
White
2006 Viñedos de Ithaca Priorat Odysseus
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
Had know idea there was a dry white from this grape. Very good with a slight sherried note, rich and nutty, with a little grippy tannin on the back end. A very fun wine to drink
White
2006 Do Ferreiro Albariño Rías Baixas Cepas Vellas
Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas
This bottle rocked. Citrus fruit -lemon/lime, seashell, minerals galore, rich but laser crisp at the same time. I saw JBL from across the room, slip me the thumbs up sign for this one. A real treat.
Rosé
2006 Viñedos de Ithaca Priorat Odysseus Rosat
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
This we all agreed was good and more "light red wine" than traditional crisp rose. Probably some blend of Grenache in there. Rich, ripe cherry/raspberry fruit, a little provencial herbs. Good
White
1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Viña Gravonia
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Having just had the 95 or 96 it was fun to try this wine. Not quite as oxidative as the 95/96 but still unmistakably a Lopez de Heredia white. A little leaner than I thought it would be but still drank very well, showing orange blossom, sherry, almonds, and a little bit of citrus. Went extremely well with the paella.
Red
2005 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
This after all the crisp and interesting wines was a complete let down. Tasted like a spicy/peppery beaujolais. I have one more and I won't open it for a while but I still find the Tablas Creek white wines much more interesting than the red wines.
Closing
We finished with a 1954 Madeira (IIRC the year correctly) that was very good but still young. Then I decided I need to try a cappucino from JBL's ultra deluxe kitchen filling gizmo...I don't drink coffee but have to admit it was fun to have one made with that machine!
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