Tasting Notes contains just that notes on wines I have tasted!

Sunday, February 20, 2005

Zinfandel: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

Zinfandel
Tasting described as The noble grape of the America's Zinfandel has always been a wine lovers favorite. Blueberry, cassis and just a hint of spice think grilled beef or even chocolate! Saturday, Feb. 19th 11-3pm.

I tasted the wines double blind. That is I did not know what wines where in the tasting or their order. However it is usual for such tastings to have the heavier, higher alcohol wines later in the flight. I’ve listed the wines in order they were tasted.

Seghesio, Sonoma 2003 $13.49USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Very open with sweet vanilla oak and a cola-like aroma that turned to a ethyl acetate (VA?) note with time. Medium bodied with aromas clearly evident on retronasal and firm tannins holding the finish. But not a particularly well structured wine. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.5 = 17.2/20,

Tobin James, Reserve Paso Robles 2002 $17.99 USD
Cherry red with pink edge. A more typical zinfandel with a lychee character that I associate with this variety. Over time developed a quince-like aroma. Flavors carried through on retronasal. A well balanced wine with a hint of alcohol on the finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20,

J. Runquist, Amador County 2002 $16.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich aromas of cedar, smoky tobacco, and caramel. Medium weight and well structured with good acidity to the mid-palate and firm tannins on the finish. The aromas carry through on retronasal. Another wine that finishes with the suggestion of high alcohol. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4/20,

Rosenblum, Rockpile Dry Creek 2002 $18.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very jammy with rich oak and ethyl acetate (VA?). The aromas closed down over time. Soft entry, sweet and rich on the palate with firm tannins on the finish. But unbalanced and marred by high alcohol on the finish – a real lip-burner. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.2 = 17.2/20, 15.6% alcohol.

Peter Franus, Napa Valley 2002 $19.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Easily the best drinking wine with nice quince on the nose and soft entry to the palate. Medium weight, well balanced with good acidity and soft tannins and flavors carrying through on retronasal. I don’t believe the wine will live for any great length of time, but it does drink well now. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20,

Ravenswood, Teldeschi Dry Creek 2002 $22.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially all I got from this wine was a suggestion of alcohol and then when I came back to it it was very closed and tight. All I could smell was the equivalent of water in a glass. How do you score that? In the mouth it was medium weight and structurally sound with very firm tannins closing out the finish. But there was very little on retronasal; the heat from my mouth was not opening the wine up any more except for a little suggestion of oak. A very difficult wine to score. To be fair to the other wines I have to score it but the wine itself does warrant retasting at a later time. 2, 2, 2.0, 9.5 = 15.5/20,

After seeing the identities of the wines I was quite surprised, especially by the Ravenswood. I don’t believe I’ve ever tasted a Ravenswood that lacked aroma! The Runquist is clearly very good value. Not a typical Zin, but a wine that will reward a few more years in bottle. The biggest concern was the level of alcohol in some of these wines. The Rosenblum was the worst example. Too big in too many ways and that is when the balancing act can come crashing down.

Monday, February 14, 2005

Super Italians: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

Super Italians
February 17th 6:30 pm
First Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines. This one written up as:
We will explore several regions of Italy using some of the top new releases. This is bound to be a great tasting.

The wines were tasted single blind. And I took great care to make sure that I did not know the order that they had been poured, even though the two attractive young ladies seated at my table continually asked me questions about the wines. Wine tasting is such a difficult job. I bet Parker has people looking over his shoulder all the time!

Albino Rocca Barbaresco Vigneto Brich Ronchi 2001 $59.99USD
Cherry red with a slight orange/brown edge. Somewhat closed with pepper, caramel and alcohol notes. Medium weight with good acidity and mouth drying tannins. Not a lengthy finish. Did open up with time. 2, 2, 3.8. 9.8 = 17.6/20 (92 WS)

Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2000 $56.99USD
Cheery red with a slight orange/brown edge. Very earthy with additional aromas of licorice and banana. Medium weight with better balance than the first wine. Good acidity and pronounced tannins. Not a lot of flavor on retronasal. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.8 = 18.0/20 (93 WS)

E. Pira Barolo Cannubi, Chiara Bochis 2000 $79.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Another earthy wine with aromas of cola and bananas. Developed an herbaceous aroma and a boot polish character with time. Medium weight with good balance and structure. Plenty of acidity and certainly not lacking in tannins. Flavors carry through on retronasal. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20 (96 WS)

Paolo Scavino Barolo Carobric 2000 $79.99USD
Cherry red with orange/brown edge. Notes of cola, pepper and alcohol. Medium weight, well balanced with good acidity and mouth drying tannins. Excellent retronasal. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.3 = 18.2/20 (94 WS)

La Spinetta Barolo Campe Della Spinetta 2000 $109.99USD
Cherry red with orange/brown edge. Notes of cola, pepper, ripe banana and a hint of ethyl acetate (VA?). Soft entry, well balanced with pronounced tannins on the finish. Excellent retronasal. Very impressive wine. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.3 = 18.6/20 (98 WS)

Fratelli Revello Barolo Vigna Gattera 2000 $54.99USD
Cherry red with pink/orange edge. Aromas of cola and pepper. Soft entry. Big tanninc finish with big acidity as well. Flavors carry through on retronasal. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20 (95 WS)

Dal Forno Romano Veneto Valpolicella Superiore 1999 $88.99USD
Dark cherry with red edge. Very open and spicy with cloves and a rich cola aroma. Develop a dried tea leaves character with time. Excellent structure. Soft entry with pronounced tannins on the finish and an excellent retronasal. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.6 = 19.1/20 (91 WS- Argh, who cares. What does the Wine Spectator know!)

Freudi di San Gregorio Campania Serpico IGT 2001 $64.99USD
Dense cherry red. Initially closed. Opening to vanilla oak, blackberry and chocolate. Developed a tea leaf character with time. Slightly sweet on entry with pronounced tannins across the palate and refreshing acidity to the finish. Flavors carry through on retronasal. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.2 = 18.5/20 (98 WA) Hmm, apparently I have not been Parkerized!

Ca' de Rocche Amorone Della Valpolicella Classico “La Bastia” 2000 Approx $50USD
Cherry red with a slight orange edge. Initially just very dusty/musty oak. Developed a pepper character with time. Very soft entry and soft tannins. Slightly sweet across the palate and the flavors do not reveal much on retronasal. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.8 = 17.4/20

I knew there was one high scoring Parker wine in the group and if asked I would have said that wine number 7 was it. But I don’t think that influenced my score as this really is a very nice wine. I’m just not sure I would pay $89USD for it. I'm not sure I'd pay the money asked for any of the wines, although most are excellent wines and will reward cellaring

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Syrah (California)

Lagier Meredith Mount Veeder Napa Valley Syrah 2003 $50USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich and ripe with sweet blackberry, smoky oak, and pepper. Soft entry with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate and the lengthy finish. Well balanced and excellently structured. A very appealing, refined Syrah. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.2, = 18.5/20, 93/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted January 2, 2006.

Lagier Meredith Mount Veeder Napa Valley Syrah 2002 $50USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Sweet perfumed fruit and mint. Developed into rich chocolate and vanilla. Medium weight with excellent mouthfeel, firm tannins on the finish. The big characteristic of the wine is its bright acidity across the palate. At 24 hours a little dusty oak evident. The wine is a little disjointed at present. Definitely not in the style of an Aussie shiraz. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.8 = 17.8/20, 89/100, 14.7% alcohol. Tasted March 22-23, 2005.

Lagier Meredith Mount Veeder Napa Valley Syrah 2001 $50USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very aromatic with vanilla, blackberry and pepper. Developed a nutmeg note. Full bodied and very well balanced with good acidity and soft tannins that firm up on the finish. Excellent length to the finish. There is more richness across the palate than the 2002. At 24 hours the acidity became a little sharp, but not unpleasant. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.2 = 18.3/20, 92/100. 14.3% alcohol, Tasted March 27-28, 2005.

Carlisle Sonoma County Syrah 2002 $37.99USD
47% Dry Creek Valley Syrah, Ray Teldeschi Ranch, 27% Dry Creek Valley Syrah, Unti Vineyard, 20% Knights Valley Syrah, Pelkan Ranch, 6% Dry Creek Valley Syrah, Del Carlo Ranch.

Dense cherry red, almost purple, with red edge. Prominent sweet toasted oak overlying rich, ripe fruit. Not unattractive, but the fruit is not being allowed to show through here. Full bodied and very well balanced with an excellent retronasal and a lengthy finish supported by powdery tannins. The alcohol is evident, but not intrusive. At 24 hours the fruit flavors of blueberries begin to become apparent, but the toasted oak still predominates. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.2 = 18.2/20, 91/100, 15.9% alcohol. Tasted January 29-30, 2005.

Bridlewood Central Coast Syrah 2000 $12.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Initially notes of barnyard, earth and ink, opening to attractive aromas of pepper, blueberry and sweet oak. Medium weight with an initial attack of acidity, the wine gives off some smoke and tar notes on retronasal. The tannins are soft but support the finish well. At 24 hours there were notes of vanilla and pepper and a persistent barnyard character and the tannins had become more drying. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.5 = 17.4/20, 87/100, 13.9% alcohol. Tasted February 5-6, 2005.