Tasting Notes

Your Wines

2008-02-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Winery/Distributor,

Thanks for your email and the offer to review your wines. Unfortunately I do not accept wines for review through the mail. All the wines that I review are either purchased or tasted during visits to selected wine regions. In the latter case I will either taste as a member of the general public or if I have a special interest in a winery I will try to organize a tasting with individuals involved with the winery (perferably the winemaker). The main reason for my not accepting wines for review is that it removes any conflict of interest on my part, and as much bias from my reviews as possible. And, of course, any tasting that I do at wineries is something that the public can do if they have the motivation to contact the wineries and organize an individual tasting.

However this is not to say that I am not interested in tasting your wines. If you can supply me with the names of retail outlets for your wines in the San Diego area it is possible that I may purchase some to review in the future. My main interest is Syrah/Shiraz but I do taste more wines than I actually record on my blog.

Thanks again for your interest,
Mike

Tasting Categories

2008-02-19T19:30:00.000-08:00

Blogger seems useless at designating categories to posts and allowing them to be organized. So I'm going to begin listing the categories in this post, and add to them as more are made.

Classic Wines - The best of the best.

Australia
Red Blends
Shiraz (Pre-2002)
Shiraz 2002
Shiraz 2003
Shiraz 2004
Shiraz 2005
Shiraz 2006

Whites

New Zealand
Whites

Syrah/Shiraz
Pinot Noir
Red - Other

USA
Chardonnay

Petite Syrah (Sirah)
Pinot Noir
Syrah (California)
Zinfandel

Vintage Wines Ltd
Monthly Thursday Tasting 2008

$5 Tastings 2008
Malbecs and Blends February 16

Vintage Wines Ltd
Monthly Thursday Tasting 2007

$5 Tastings 2007

Vintage Wines Ltd
Monthly Thursday Tasting 2006
June
May
2003 Bordeaux April 20
Chardonnay March16
Big Gun Burgundy from 2002 and 2003 January 19

$5 Tastings 2006

Monthly Thursday Tasting 2005
New Release Big Gun Cabernet October 20
1995 and 2000 Bordeaux September 22
American Pinot Noir August 18
Eight Great Wines July 21

Bordeaux May 12
Wines of Espana April 21
Bee's Knees in Aussies March 17
Super Italians February 17

$5 Tastings 2005
Clarendon Hills November 19

Grateful Palate September 10
Marquis Philips August 27

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc May 28
Aussie Values April 23
Zinfandel Februray 19
Syrah from California January 29

Monthly Thursday Tasting 2004
Que Syrah, Shiraz and Sirah August 19
Brunello-vs-Barolo June 17
Pinot Noir From Around The World May 20
The Many Faces of Chardonnay April 22

$5 Tastings 2004
Bar-B-Que Wines June 19

Malbecs and Blends

2008-02-19T19:12:00.000-08:00

Up until last Saturday I didn’t have any wines from Argentina in my cellar, but after a tasting of Malbecs and Blends at Vintage Wines in San Diego I now have few bottles.

The theme of the Saturday tastings at Vintage changes each week, and at $5/person it is a cheap way to sample wines that you might not otherwise buy. Plus if you pack a few nibbles (cheese, nuts, bread etc) it can turn out to be an enjoyable hour or two.

I try to taste the wines single blind (I know what the theme is but not the wines) to reduce any influence of labels and price. The notes that follow are the order in which the wines were served and I have added the identity of the wines.

2005 Catena Zapata Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (13.5%) $14.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. Attractive spicy aromatics infused with mulberry and toasty oak. Soft and supple entry with fine tannins and nice flavor carry that is enhanced by a meaty note. Nice wine. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.5=17.1/20, 86/100.

2006 Achaval-Ferrer Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (13.5%) $16.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. Most expressive of the wines with pronounced spices (cinnamon, and nutmeg) together with notes of apricot and (almost) orange zest; I could have been fooled into thinking this very ripe Pinot Noir. Fuller bodied and nicely balanced with firm tannins, juicy acidity and excellent flavor carry onto a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.7=17.6/20, 88/100.

2005 Mendel Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (13.9%) $19.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. Very closed - some dusty, toasty oak and mocha. A full bodied wine with firm tannins but muted flavor carry onto the palate. The mouthfeel of the wine is impressive belying good structural components but it will need time to realize its potential. There is also a hint of alcohol. 2, 2, 3.4, 9.3=16.7/20, 84/100.

2006 Vina Cobos El Felino Malbec, Mendoza, Argentina (14.7%) $13.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. A pleasing mix of spices, dark fruit and oak. Full bodied with a soft and supple entry, and impressive depth and concentration across the palate. Excellent carry of flavors onto the palate and a lengthy finish. Very nice wine. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.0=18.0/20, 90/100.

2005 Mendel “Unus”, Red Blend (65% Malbec/35% Cabernet) (14.0%) $37.99USD
Dark cherry red with just a hint of orange/brown at the edge. Another closed wine with just the faintest hints of violets, and beeswax. Full bodied and with excellent mouthfeel supported by very firm tannins and bright acidity. There is trace of flavor carry onto the palate but this is another wine that will need some time to strut its stuff. 2, 2, 3.3, 9.9=17.2/20, 86/100

2003 Lindaflor “Petite Fleur”, (Malbec/Merlot/Syrah) (14.5%) $15.99USD
Still note sure of the makeup of this wine but it is from the Monteviejo stable (and I believe Mendoza).
The most deeply colored wine but the faint orange/brown edge indicates some age. Rich and ripe with plum, mulberry, spices and a meaty note; I was thinking Shiraz at this point. Full bodied and almost sweet on the palate (alcohol?). Firm tannins, well constructed with excellent flavor carry onto a lengthy finish. If it is old, it has years left. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.0=18.1/20, 91/100.

The wines, with the exception of the Mendel’s, were excellent value and attractive drinking now although most could do with 2-5 years in the cellar. The two wines from Mendel deserved more praise because they had excellent structural qualities but they are simply too closed at present to offer any real aromatic pleasures. I was not surprised that I favored the two higher alcohol wines, Lindaflor and the El Felino. They are both very approachable (and cheese and nut friendly). My wife and mother-in-law both preferred the Catena because of its freshness (acidity) and appealing flavors. So I bought them a couple of bottles!

If you want more information on these and other Argentinean wines follow this link to the Wines of Argentina – unfortunately its not all in English.

2003 Bordeaux: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2006-06-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

2003 Bordeaux
April 20th, 2006 6:30pm.

Fourth Third Thursday Tasting for 2006 at Vintage Wines of San Diego.
Described as “You have read all the hype and seen all the scores now come and try them for yourself!”

These tastings are conducted using a single blind format with the wines poured several hours before. My tasting notes are in the order the wines were served.

1) 2000 Chateau Tertre Daugay (St Emilion) $29.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Concentrated, with earth, dusty, smoky notes backup by aromas of dark fruits. Medium weight with mouth griping astringency and evident acidity that fades on the mid-palate. Needs years to come together. 2, 2, 4.3, 9.6 = 17.9/20, 89/100, 13% alcohol. (WS91, RP86).

2) 2003 Chateau Brane Cantenac (Margaux) $45.99USD
Cherry red with red edge; perhaps just the faintest tinge of brown on the edge. More aromatic than the first wine with violets, anise and damp earth notes. Medium weight with the flavors carrying well onto the palate. The firm astringency is balanced well by mouth watering acidity that supports the finish. Well structured and attractive. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.1 = 18.3/20, 92/100, 13% alcohol. (RP90-93).

3) 2003 Sociando Mallet (Haut Medoc) $41.99USD
Dense, dark cherry red with red edge. Almost closed, some ripe banana, cassis and violets. Fuller bodied with big, drying tannins and excellent presence of flavors on the palate. A well structured impressive wine. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.2 = 18.1/20, 91/100. 13% alcohol. (RP92-94).

4) 2003 Chateau Lynch Bages (Pauillac) $56.99USD
Cherry red with red edge; faint orange tinge to the edge. Faint barnyard (almost urine!) over vanilla and smoky notes. Softer, with acidity more evident earlier on the palate, fading on the finish. Not my style, and not of the quality of the 2000. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20, 89/100. 13% alcohol. (RP89, WS92).

5) 2003 Chateau Quinault L’Eclos (St Emilion) $39.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Faintest hint of EA. Fades to faint barnyard, earthy, dusty oak geranium, and bacon fat. Full bodied with great structure and balance; the firm tannins being backed up by vibrant acidity. Palate lacks depth of flavor. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.5 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 13.5% alcohol. (RP89-92).

6) 2003 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte (Pessac Leognan) $89.99USD
Cherry red with the faintest orange tinge to the edge. Rich and ripe with smoky and dusty notes over a suggestion of ripe banana. Full bodied with very firm tannins and excellent carry of flavors onto the palate. Nicely structured. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.2 = 18.1/20, 91/100. 13% alcohol. (RP90-93).

7) 2003 Chateau Monbousquet (St Emilion) $53.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Excellent concentration of flavors. Cassis, leather, anise, all beautifully integrated. Great mouthfeel, with very fine tannins and outstanding presence of flavors on the palate, excellent structure and outstanding length. A beautiful wine. 2, 2, 4.6, 10.6, =19.2/20, 96/100. 13% alcohol. (RP91-94).

8) 2003 Chateau Calon Segur (St Estephe) $79.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. A little confected; smoky over cola. Attractive enough. Medium weight with pronounced astringency and sharp acidity; not in balance. Will need time to integrate. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.4 = 17.4, 87/100. 13% alcohol. (RP 94-96).

9) 2003 Suduiraut (Sauternes) $41.99USD
Honey yellow with clear edge. Botrytris, honeysuckle, and dried fruits. Full bodied, round and soft on the palate with sweetness carrying to the crisp, clean finish. Excellent carry of flavors on the palate and impressive length. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.2 = 18.5/20, 93/100. 14% alcohol. (RP92-95).

Big Gun Burgundy from 2002 and 2003: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2006-01-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

Big Gun Burgundy from 2002 and 2003
January 19th, 2006 6:30pm.

First Third Thursday Tasting for 2006 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. These tastings are conducted using a single blind format with the wines poured several hours before. My tasting notes are in the order the wines were served

1) 2002 Charlopin, Cote de Nuits ($NA USD)
Light cherry red with a faint tinge of orange/brown (lightest colored wine in the group). Nice clean Pinot Noir character, with spices and just a touch of ripe banana. A light bodied, pleasant wine with nice balance across the palate, finishing with considerable acidity. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.6 = 17.8/20, 89/100.

2) 2002 Guy Dufouleur, Nuits St Georges Clos des Perrieres ($44.99USD)
Light cherry with a faint tinge of orange/brown. Initially closed with only faint note of spices, opening to dried earth, leather, and ripe banana. Light body (almost thin) with sharp acidity and mouth drying tannins. Leather and rotten apple flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.6 = 17.4/20, 87.

3) 2003 Louis Jadot, Gevrey Chambertin Les Petite Chapelle ($61.99USD)
Light cherry red with pink edge. Smells of earth, dusty oak, violets and spice. Additional aromas of pepper, smoke and tea developed during the tasting. Medium weight with excellent balance and very firm tannins. Very appealing. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.3 = 18.3/20, 92/100.

4) 2002 Joseph Roty, Gevrey Chambertin Les Fontenys ($77.99USD)
Light cherry red with pink edge. Very open with excellent ripe Pinot characters. Soft entry with great presence of flavors on the palate; although the occasional hint of a vegetal character was a bit worrying.. Very well balanced with attractive juicy acidity and excellent length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.4 = 18.4/20, 92/100.

5) 2003 Louis Jadot, Latricieres-Chambertin ($129.99USD)
Light cherry fed with pink edge. Slightly closed with spices and pepper and then dried tea leaves. Medium weight. Soft and supple with excellent balance and nice length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.3 = 18.4/, 92/100.

6) 2003 Frederic Esmonin, Chambertin Clos de Beze ($89.99USD)
Light cherry red with a faint tinge of orange/brown to the edge. Nice Pinot Noir aromas. Very earthy and spicy. Medium weight with a soft and supple entry and firm tannins. Beautifully balanced with wonderful mouthfeel. Excellent carry of flavors onto the palate. Although the aromas tended to close down with time, this is a very, very nice wine. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.5 = 18.7/20, 94/100.

7) 2002 Xavier Liger-Belair, Clos Vougeot ($89.99USD)
Light cherry red with pink edge. Slightly closed, giving up smells of dusty oak, earth and mushrooms. Medium weight with a super soft (elegant) caress on the palate backed up by attractive juicy acidity. Nicely structured, well balance wine. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.1 = 18.0/20, 90/100.

8) 2002 Xavier Liger-Belair, Richebourg ($174.99USD)
Light cherry red with faint brownish tinge to the edge. Graphite, licorice and ripe banana turning to spices. Medium weight with soft entry followed by mouth drying astringency and bright acidity. Well balanced with nice expression of flavors across the palate. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.2 = 18.2/20, 91/100.

9) 2003 Faiveley, Corton Clos des Corton ($119.99USD)
Dark cherry red with red edge, clearly the most extracted color of all the wines. Uncharacteristic of Pinot Noir with rich, deep aromas of cocoa, plumb and smoke turning to fruit cake and coconut. This is powerful stuff! Full bodied with overwhelming astringency on the palate and nice bright acidity just struggling to the surface on a finish that fades. Almost too aggressive to assess, and will need decades to soften. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.6 = 17.8/20, 89/100.

Before the identities were revealed votes for the top three wines were taken. The top scoring wine was the 2003 Louis Jadot, Latricieres-Chambertin, followed by the 2002 Joseph Roty, Gevrey Chambertin Les Fontenys, and then came the 2002 Xavier Liger-Belair, Clos Vougeot. I scored the 2003 Frederic Esmonin, Chambertin Clos de Beze as the top wine followed by the 2003 Louis Jadot, Latricieres-Chambertin and then the 2002 Joseph Roty, Gevrey Chambertin Les Fontenys.

After a couple of hours of nursing the wines (and stealing pours from glasses at seats that went unoccupied) the Esmonin began to shut down. So I may have been a bit too generous in scoring it, but it has a wonderful mouthfeel that completely seduced me. I thought it the surprise of the night, well at least a pleasant surprise. The real surprise was the Faiveley. I’ve never had one before and I’m certainly only ever likely to taste them in the future under this format as I’m pretty sure they have more longevity than I do. The one staff member at Vintage Wines who has experience with more mature examples is of the opinion that you really shouldn’t look at the wine for between one to two decades.

Given my recent experiences its reasonable to ask how these wines compare with Pinot from the Mornington Peninsula of Victoria, Australia. Once I’ve put up the notes on all those wines you will probably be able to decide for yourself. And it would certainly be instructive to taste them side-by-side because the differences should be obvious. The Aussies tend to be more forward and appealing in their spicy aromas but usually lack the depth and complexity of the Burgundies in the mouth. I’d certainly prefer the Aussies (something like The Moorooduc) with a few years of bottle age, but they are unlikely to last the distance of decades. Although, as we will see Yabby Lake might be something to wait on.

Clarendon Hills: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

2005-11-21T20:13:00.000-08:00

Clarendon Hills

The Saturday $5 tasting at Vintage Wines here in San Diego was supposed to be Argentinean wines, but as I was told by the shop owner last week there was a change and they would be pouring Clarendon Hills wines. This is the McLaren Vale winery that Robert Parker regularly anoints with overwhelming admiration. Parker’s publication, The Wine Advocate, has allocated a specific review to Australian wines in issues No. 143, 148, 155, and 161. The Clarendon Hills single vineyard wines have been reviewed in each of those issues and very few of the recommended wines have scored below 90 pints. The praise both for the wines and the winemaker has been effusive ; Roman Bratasiuk is one of Planet Earth’s greatest winemakers, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #155 (Oct 2004).

My first experience with Clarendon Hills was on March 15, 1997. That tasting was of eight different Australian wines, and included two Clarendon Hills wines; the 1995 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vines Clarendon Vineyard, and the 1995 Shiraz. At that tasting I had rated the Clarendon Hills wines highly putting the Grenache in second place, in front of the Shiraz but both behind the 1992 Seppelt’s Dorian Cabernet. In recent years (i.e. after beginning the Shiraz eBlog ) I have only tasted the Moritz and the Liandra Syrah, both from the 2002 vintage. Each wine had a fried tomato (or tomato paste) character that I found unattractive. But even with my experience of those 2002’s the chance to taste through close to $300USD worth of wine for $5 was too good an opportunity to pass up.

The wines were poured and described by David Turcan (National Account Rep for Commonwealth Wine and Spirits, Inc. of Mansfield Massachusetts). David was quite knowledgeable about the Clarendon Hills wines. He even knew that Shiraz reached Australia in the 1820’s, although he wasn’t sure exactly how; the first importation of Shiraz vines was most likely by John Macarthur.

The wines had been decanted about 90 minutes before the tasting began and were not poured blinded, unfortunately.

2003 Blewitt Springs Grenache $47.99USD
Cherry red with very faint orange tinge. Smoke, licorice and cherry are the dominant aromas. Medium to full bodied with an attractive licorice note to the palate. Soft and smooth in the mouth with very good balance. Firm tannins precede the lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.0 = 18.1/20, 90/100. 14.5% alcohol.

2003 Kangarilla Grenache $47.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Pronounced pepper, faint tomato paste and pleasant aromatic character that became licorice with time. Full bodied with a soft and supple mouthfeel and fine tannins. Very well balanced wine. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.2 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 14.5% alcohol.

2003 Brookman Merlot $51.99USD
Cherry red with faint orange tinge. More restrained with oak, tomaoto paste, faint anise and cedar; I could easily have been convinced that this wine contained some Cabernet. Full bodied with a soft and supple entry, very fine tannins and with an excellent carry of flavors onto the palate and the lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.2 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 14.5% alcohol.

2003 Sandown Cabernet Sauvignon $55.99USD
Dense cherry red with a red edge with just a faint tinge of orange. Clearly evident tomato paste with pepper, dusty oak (almost sandalwood) and underlying complex aromatic aromas. Again a soft and supple entry but with more forward tannins and acidity. The least well balanced wine, being a little disjointed, and closing down to dusty oak during the tasting. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.5% alcohol.

2003 Liandra Syrah $68.99USD
Dense cherry red with a faint orange tinge. Dominant tomato paste aroma over faint pepper and shy fruit flavors. Full boded with excellent mouthfeel and presence of flavors on the palate. Excellent balance of clean acidity and fine tannins capped off with a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.1 = 18.4/20, 92/100. 14.5% alcohol.

Once I had made my notes on the wines I let the glasses sit while I went through another seven wines made up of whites and reds from a hodgepodge of varietals and countries. The last wine in that group was the 2003 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin ($59.99USD) from the Walla Walla Valley in Washington. A dense cherry red with a red edge, the wine had tremendous complexity with aromas of stewed dark fruits, violets, faint pepper and stewed quince. All those flavors explode on the palate and provide an exceptional mouth pleasing experience. The length of the finish on this wine makes you believe that it has actually taken up residence. Beautiful wine! What was most interesting was that this wine had a faint tomato paste character but it melded with a subdued ethyl acetate (EA) aroma to produce a sweet aromatic flavor that was very pleasing. (That’s the flavor your looking for Roman!) 2, 2, 4.4, 10.6 = 19/20, 95/100. 14.8% alcohol.

What happened to the Clarendon Hills? Actually something interesting! The wine I left in my glasses became much jammier especially for the two Grenache (strawberry), the Cab had even more oak and the Llianda became port-like. But when David let me smell the Liandra directly from the decanter there was that ugly tomato again.

New Release Big Gun Cabernet: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-11-02T19:13:00.000-08:00

New Release Big Gun Cabernet
October 20th. 6:30PM

Ninth Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. This one written up as: We will taste some of the top new releases from California. Some may be blends or pure varietals, but they will all be top of the class

2002 Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley $71.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very aromatic with banana, sweet anise, cola mixed with earth. Pleasantly full bodied and well structured finishing with chewy tannins. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.0 = 18.2/100, 91/100. 94 W&S 14.5% alcohol.

2003 Lewis, Napa Valley $64.99USD
100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich, spicy aromas with notes of pepper, blackberry jam and anise. Medium bodied with bright acidity, and nice length to the finish. A well structured wine. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.9 = 18/20, 90/100. 14.2% alcohol.

2002 Etude, Napa Valley $74.99USD
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Dense cherry red with red edge. Sweet oak with tobacco and a hint of nail polish remover (ethyl acetate, EA). Full bodied with excellent structure supported by prominent astringency and clean acidity. A rich and ripe style with the EA coming up over time but never unpleasant. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.1 = 18.4/20, 92/100. 93 RP, 94WS 14.6% alcohol.

2002 Seavey, Napa Valley $53.99USD
95% Cabernet sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot
Dense cherry red with red edge. Quite closed with faint chocolate, cassis and oak. Soft entry, nicely balanced with juicy acidity and plenty of astringency from the big, chewy tannins. Will need 5-10 years to reveal itself. 2, 2, 3.7, 10.1 = 17.8/20, 89/100. 94 RP 14.7% alcohol.

2000 Clos de Sarpe (St. Emilion) $89.99USD
The blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc is aged in 100% new French oak.
Dense cherry red with red edge. Ethanol, caramel and barnyard flavors. Soft entry with acidity across the palate, considerable astringency and unpleasant sour acidity to the finish. A disagreeable wine that developed a wet cardboard flavor with time. Corked? 2, 2, 3.5, 9.4 = 16.9/20, 84/100. 95 RP 13.5% alcohol.

2003 Palazzo, Napa Valley $34.98USD
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
Dense cherry red with red edge. Impressively flavored with anise, cedar and dusty oak aromas. A little sweetness on the palate but with excellent structure and bright acidity to the finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.3 = 18.5/20, 92/100. Excellent value. 14.2% alcohol.

2002 Joseph Phelps, Insignia, Napa Valley $99.99USD
78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec
Vibrant dense cherry red with red edge. Complex notes of smoke, coconut and dark fruits. Flavors carry well onto the palate. A very well structured wine with excellent balance supported by chewy tannins and excellent length to the finish. Top of the class! 2, 2, 4.2, 10.5 = 18.7/20, 94/100. 96WS, 96RP, 95ST 14.4% alcohol.

2002 Quintessa, Napa Valley $89.99USD
77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc
Dense cherry red with red edge. A little closed with pleasant notes of banana and sweet oak. Nice mouthfeel and excellent carry of flavors onto the palate. Well structured with very firm astringency. 2, 2, 3.8, 10.1 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 89-91 RP, 92-94 WS 14.3%

2002 Pahlmeyer, Napa Valley $99.99USD
63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc
Dense cherry red with red edge. Flavors of smoky, sweet oak, blackberry and a little EA. The palate is rich and ripe with aromas of violets and EA. Well balanced with very firm tannins and bright acidity. Developed a dried tea leaves character over time. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.0 = 18/20, 90/100. 94 RP 15.5% alcohol.

2002 Rudd Estate, Oakville $99.99USD
79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot, 1% Malbec
Cherry red with red edge. Notes of earth, anise, oak and ethanol. Soft and supple entry with nice acidity backed up by big, drying tannins. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.0 = 18.1/20, 91/100. 95 RP 14.5% alcohol.

Before the identities of the wines were revealed votes were taken for first, second and third favorite wines. My top three wines were actually very close and I had to go back over them several times before deciding, and then adding a tenth of a point here and there to separate the wines; First placed wine No. 7, Second wine No. 6, Third wine No. 3. The voting by the group saw the first placed wine as wine No. 8. Second placed votes were split evenly between wines 3 and 5, and third placed votes went to wine No. 7.

We were told prior to the tasting that there was one wine that would be different. At my table one of the group started out by saying that wine No.2 didn’t belong as it appeared more like an Australian Shiraz, and I was in agreement up until I had tasted through all the wines. It then seemed quite clear to me that wine No. 5 was very different in style, and it didn’t take long for us to conclude that it was probably from Bordeaux. A number of others had reached the same conclusion, particularly the table made up of Bordeaux lovers who thought it the best wine among the group! As the evening progressed I thought the wine may actually be corked. As there was some wine left in the bottle I went up to get another taste but was beaten by one of the Bordeauxphiles who took the bottle back to their table. I hope they enjoyed it!

As is usual at these single blind tastings there were a lot of surprises when the identities of the wines were revealed. What did not surprise me is that I had placed the Etude in my top three, something I have done consistently over the years. The problem is that you could put the Etude Cabernet (any Etude Cabernet) in with another quality Napa Cabernet and I would have a hard time picking out the wine. I can never recognize it but I always rate it well. My WOTN was the Insignia, a really classy example of a Napa blend, but the value of the group was the Palazzo. Although it has some sweetness that is not typical of this style of wine it will be interesting to see how this particular wine ages. The other wines (with the exception of the Clos de Sarpe) will live for decades.

1995 and 2000 Bordeaux: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-10-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

Great Bordeaux
September 22nd. 6:30PM

Eighth Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. This one written up as: If you would like to see what age will do for a great wine, come by and try 8 wines with some age on them. We will taste these wines and compare how each is evolving with the years.

The wines were opened at 4PM and the young wines poured at 4:30PM and the older wines at 5:00PM. All wines were served single blind, and as is my usual practice I did not look at the list. The wines are listed in the order they were tasted. Identities were revealed at the end of the tasting.

1998 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte (Pessac-Leognan) $64.99USD
Dark cherry red with bricking. Quite closed, giving up notes of smoked meats, earth and charcoal. Medium weight with excellent structure supported by bright acidity and firm tannins. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.1 = 18.0/20, 90/100. 94 WS. 12.5% alcohol.

1995 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (St Julien) $59.99USD
Dark cherry red with bricking. Cedar, camphor and earth. Medium weight with flavors carrying well onto the palate. Good balance but lacking a little in depth across the palate. Firm tannins on the finish with some biting acidity. I wouldn’t wait on this any longer. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.8 = 17.8/20, 89/100. 94 WS. 13% alcohol.

1995 Chateau Pichon Lalande (Pauillac) $139.99USD
Dense cherry red with bricking. Barnyard and earth with a little cedar and ink. Medium weight with acidity across the palate and firm tannins rounding out a well balanced wine. Well structured with mouth pleasing depth to the palate and an excellent finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 90/100. 96 RP. 13% alcohol.

1995 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou (St. Julien) $124.99USD
Dark cherry red with bricking. Did someone fart into this glass? Fortunately this blew off like we were sitting in a fan factory to reveal licorice, charcoal, cedar and pepper. Medium weight with gripping tannins, good depth to the palate, and a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 3.8, 10.0 = 17.8/20, 89/100. 97 WS, 94 RP. 13% alcohol.

1995 Chateau Leoville Las Cases (St. Julien) $139.99USD
Dark cherry red with bricking. Very attractive bouquet of caramel, anise and pepper. Very firm tannins and bright acidity provide balance and will support this wine for years more. Flavors carry well onto the palate. Nice wine. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.9 = 18/20, 90/100. 95 RP. 13% alcohol.

2000 Chateau de Chambrun (Lalande de Pomerol) $54.99USD
95% Merlot/5% Cabernet Franc. Dark cherry red with a red edge. Very perfumed and spicy with licorice and cassis predominant. Great complexity. A tannic monster with nice depth to the palate, and length to the finish. Very nice! Needs a little time to settle. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.2 = 18.6/20, 93/100. (90-92) RP. 13.5% alcohol.

2000 Chateau Lynch Bages (Pauillac) $109.99USD
Dark cherry red. Very open with vanilla, burnt oak, and dark fruits. Flavors carry very well onto the palate and are complemented by the juicy acidity. Great length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.0 = 18.1/20, 91/100. Will live for decades. 96 WS, 95 RP. 13% alcohol.

1990 Chateau Suduiraut (Sauternes)
Golden brown. Beautiful and luscious with honey, raisins, orange peel, spices and toffee. Full bodied with outstanding carry of flavors onto the palate and a finish that lingers and lingers. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.6 = 19.1/20, 96/100. 95 WS, 88 RP. 15% alcohol.

To me the 1995 wines rated well with some having nicely developed flavors. Most appeared youthful, although I have doubts on the longevity of the Leoville Poyferre. The 2000 de Chambrun was clearly my favorite. It’s a powerful wine that is still too young and I would not want to drink it again for at least 5-7 years.

The group also liked the de Chambrun voting it the top red. The only vote that was taken was for first placed wine and the scores totaled to decide the lesser places. The Leoville Las Cases filled second place while the Leoville Poyferre and the Pichon Lalande shared third.

My wine of the night was the Suduiraut, simply wonderful. Its interesting that Parker originally questioned the longevity of the Suduiraut in 1994 saying, “The evolved, medium gold color of the 1990 is prematurely advanced, raising questions about future longevity.” Bordeaux Book, 3rd Edition (1998) Robert Parker. I thought it fresh and lively. What a difference 11 years can make?

Grateful Palate: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

2005-09-17T22:27:00.000-07:00

Grateful Palate

Tasting described as One of, if not the best importers of Australian Shiraz in America. We will taste wines (red & white) from all over the land down under. Saturday, September 10, 11-3PM.

The wines in this weekly tasting are usually all under $15pb. I tasted the wines double blind. That is I did not know what wines were in the tasting or their order. I’ve listed the wines in order they were tasted.

2004 Marquis Philips, Holly’s Blend, SE Australia $9.99USD
Light straw. Initially dusty, sulphur stink that blew off to reveal toasted oak and pineapple. Medium weight with clean acidity. Pleasant wine. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.6 = 17.4/20, 87/20.

2003 Paringa, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia $9.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Dominated by an ethanol note over caramel. Disjointed palate of sour acidity and gritty tannins over a note of cherry. Not recommended. 2, 2, 3.0, 9.0 = 16.0/20, 80/100.

2004 Pillar Box Red, Padthaway $10.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open with notes of cedar, nutmeg and mint. Full bodied, well balanced with good presence of flavors on the palate and nice length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.9 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 15% alcohol. 57% Cab, 32% Shiraz, and 11% Merlot.

2003 Hare’s Chase, red Blend, Barossa $11.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. A little barnyard backed up by an unusual aromatic note over aromas of earth and caramel. Full bodied with nice upfront acidity and drying tannins. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.8 = 17.4/20, 87/100. 14.0% alcohol.

2003 Lengs & Cooter, Shiraz South Australia $16.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Mint over blackberry and toasted oak. Nice mouthfeel, well balanced with pleasant acidity and considerable length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.1 = 18.1/20, 90/100.

2003 Gibson, Wilfreda Blend, Barossa $31.99USD (scewcap)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially closed, finally gave up blueberry, pepper and a little nail polish (ethyl acetate, EA). Soft and supple entry with refreshing acidity to the lengthy finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.8% alcohol.

2003 Brothers in Arms, No. 6, Langhorne $14.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Dusty oak over ripe cherry. Drying tannins over bright acidity. Nice length to the finish but feels incomplete on the midpalate. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.8 = 17.8/20, 89/100. 15.0% alcohol.

2001 Scarpantoni, School Block, McLaren Vale $14.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Bit of barnyard and ink. Full bodied with nice structure and good presence of flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.1 = 18.0/20, 90/100. 14.0% alcohol.

2003 Henry’s Drive, Shiraz, Padthaway $32.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich, ripe and sweet. Full bodied and confected with blackberry, pepper, alcohol and a charred character. Lacks density on the mid-palate. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.5 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 16.0% alcohol.

2002 Lillypilly, Noble Blend, Riverina $11.99USD (Screwcap)
Golden yellow. Rich and luscious with raisins and spices. Full bodied with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate and crisp acidity to the lengthy finish. Great value and highly recommended. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.3 = 18.5/20, 93/100. 11.5% alcohol.

A mixed bag in terms of quality. The Lillypilly is the only wine I would recommend, simply because it represents such outstanding value. Among the reds the Lengs & Cooter and Scarpantoni offer good value. The Henry’s Drive is a wine that I have tasted three times now and it impressed less in this company than previously.

Marquis Philips: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

2005-08-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

Marquis Philips

Tasting described as The 2004 Marquis Philips wines are out and they should be as good as ever! Come try all four wines and the 2003-Shiraz No.9 Saturday, August 27, 11-3PM.

The wines in this weekly tasting are usually all under $15pb. I tasted the wines double blind. That is I did not know what wines were in the tasting or their order. I’ve listed the wines in order they were tasted.

2004 Merlot (Screwcap) $11.99USD
Light cherry red with slight brownish tinge to the edge. Ripe with vanilla and cherry. Full bodied with soft and supple entry, super-soft tannins and nice length to the finish. A little hot from the alcohol. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.7 =17.5/20, 87/100. 14.5% alcohol

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon (Screwcap) $11.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Ripe and spicey with mint and cedar. Full bodied with soft tannins and good length to the finish. Flavors do not carry well onto the palate. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.5% alcohol

2004 Sarah’s Blend (Screwcap) $11.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. A little closed, giving up blueberry and smoky oak. Full bodied and well balanced with a core of firm astringency. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 15.0% alcohol

2004 Shiraz (Screwcap) $11.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Ripe and jammy with dusty oak and faint vanilla. Full bodied with soft tannins. Some heat from the alcohol on the less than stellar finish. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 15.5% alcohol

2003 Shiraz 9 $35.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich and ripe with pepper, smoky oak, blueberry and a little nail polish remover (ethyl acetate EA). Full bodied with soft tannins and flavors that carry very well onto the palate and linger on the finish. There is a little heat from the alcohol but it’s not unpleasant. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.9 = 18.1/20, 90/100. 16.0% alcohol

An interesting tasting. The Merlot, Shiraz and Shiraz 9 were easily recognized. The Cabernet was also easily identified as having Cabernet but I thought it might be the Roogle Red, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz , rather than a straight Cabernet.

The Shiraz 9 showed better in this setting than when I tasted it previously on its own. At that time there was a charred character to the palate that was not pleasant. That character was not evident in this tasting. Still its questionable value and so we purchased a few bottles of the Cabernet.

2004 Australian Shiraz

2005-08-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

Massena The Eleventh Hour Shiraz Barossa Valley 2004 $37.99USD
Deeply colored, almost purple, with red edge. Very portish, ripe and sweet with plum, blackberry, blueberry and smoky oak. Developing aromas of prunes and dried dates. Soft and supple entry but the wine is disjointed due to sharp biting acidity, especially on the finish. The palate lacks balance, depth and complexity. The fruit is simply overripe and the acidification overdone. 2, 2, 4.0, 8.0 = 16.0/20, 80/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted August 14, 2006.

Initially tasted Saturday August 13th at the Vintage Wines Wine Bar with similar notes. (Very porty, dried tea leaves, blackberry, blueberry, plum, and every other dark fruit you might think you can smell. [No, this has to be port.] OK, so there is acidity there, very sharp with firm tannins. Who added the acidity?). The discussion among myself and several others at that time was that the wine was indeed very portish and the acidity too aggressive. It was concluded that the only way a wine of this ripeness could be so acidic would be through addition of acid. While this is not unusual, in this case it has been overdone and has not done this wine any favors. The life span of this wine is likely to be short and it cannot be recommended.

Fetish Wines The Watcher Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004 $16.99USD (Screwcap)
The second in a line of proprietary brands from Joshua Tree Imports, the first wine from Fetish was made by Rolf Binder at his Veritas Winery. Its cherry red in color with a faint orange/brown tinge to the edge. An initial suphur stink (that blows off) hides the toasted oak and cherry liqueur of a too ripe Barossan. The palate is full bodied and displays an excellent carry of flavors, impressive balance with soft and silky tannins and bright acidity, and just a kiss of sweetness. Should give 3-5 years of enjoyment for those who like this style. 1.5, 2, 3.7, 9.9 = 17.1/20, 86/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted July 26, 2006.

Marquis Philips Shiraz 9 McLaren Vale 2004 $35.99USD
The last vintage from the joint venture between Sparky Marquis and Dan Philips of The Grateful Palate. Densely colored, almost purple, with blood red edge. Rich, ripe, opulent notes of blueberry, blackberry, and plum over smoky vanilla oak, developed faint menthol and pepper notes with time. Full bodied with a supple entry and firm tannins on the finish. This is not a shy wine and neither is the alcohol. It’s a distinctive style that requires a palate able to tolerate a slight bruising by burnt, charred, and tarred characters that are not unattractive, just unrestrained. But if you like lip-tinglers, this is your wine. With the fire-sale that is taking place due to the breakup of the partners, I purchased a 6-pack at less than $20/bottle. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 16.5% alcohol. Tasted July 21, 2006.

Hewitson Ned and Henry’s Shiraz Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004 $15.99USD (Screwcap)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Fruit struggles to get past a little bottle stink initially. But once it does there is plenty of rich blackberry and plum backed up by sweet toasted oak. Medium weight with sharp, biting acidity on the palate, finishing quite thin. Short on structure and balance. 2, 2, 4.0, 8.7 = 16.7/20, 83/100.

Henry’s Drive Dead Letter Office Shiraz 2004 (55% Padthway, 45% McLaren Vale) $28.99USD
Dense cherry red, almost purple, with red edge. There is nothing demure about this wine. Its very attractive, rich, perfumed and coated in cherry liqueur. Very much Henry’s Drive. The palate is full bodied, as you’d expect, well structured, with the flavors giving excellent persistence. The alcohol does poke its head up, not unexpectedly, but the wine is well balanced with soft tannins and bright acidity. At 24 hours the richness was muted by notes of pepper, plum and oak. Should drink well for the next 2-4 years and if the alcohol does not become a problem it could last double that. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.0 =18.2/20, 91/100. 16% alcohol. Tasted June 8, 2006.

Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz Barossa Valley 2004 $34.99USD
Dense cherry red, almost purple, with red edge. Fruitcake rich, roasted and toasted and Kirsch-like. No, there is nothing shy about this wine, but its all tease. On the palate its full bodied with a soft and supple entry, juicy acidity and the flavors carry well providing good length but the structure and complexity is just not there. It may come together in time, but there are better values elsewhere. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.7 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted April 30, 2006.

Olive Hill Winery Jimmy Section Shiraz McLaren Vale 2004 $34.99 (French Oak) (Screwcap)
Glass staining dense cherry red with red edge. Opulent aromas of blackberry jam, plum and vanilla with smoky nuances. Powerful stuff, with just a little mint peeking through to add to the complexity. Full bodied with juicy acidity upfront and nice firm astringency holding the lengthy finish. Developed anise and citrus notes with time. At 24 hours overripe and over-aggressive. May be a little too stewed and overripe to be the neighborhood favorite, the next 5 years will tell. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.5 = 17.7/20, 89/100. 14.8% alcohol. Tasted April 27, 2004.

Deakin Estate Shiraz (Victoria) 2004 $4.50USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Restrained plum and blackberry over vanilla and smoky oak. Medium weight with good presence of flavors on the palate. Juicy acidity and firm tannins underlie a nicely balanced wine without great complexity. Good value for those who want an inexpensive, more restrained version of Australian Shiraz. Good for 2-3 years more. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.3 = 17.1/20, 86/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted March 30, 2006.

Tuesner The Riebke Ebenezer Road, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004 $17.99USD
Deep cherry red with red edge. Sweet, ripe cherry over smoky oak and blackberry. Excellent mouthfeel with punchy acidity and firm but not overt astringency leading to a lengthy finish. Well structured with great depth and fine balance. Drinking well now and should do for the next 5-10 years. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted February 10, 2006.

Strathewen Hills Patterson Lakes Shiraz Port Phillip (Vicoria) 2004 $23.99USD (Screwcap)
Cherry red with pink edge. Big attractive pepper and herbal aromas over plum, cherry and oak. Medium weight with firm tannins and bright acidity. Lacks depth and complexity across the palate. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.2 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 14.8% alcohol. Tasted February 7, 2004.

Mitolo Jester McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004 $17.99USD (Screwcap)
Dark cherry red with red edge. Loads of smoky vanilla oak over blackberry that covers a little sulfur stink that came up with time. Full bodied with sweet fruit and soft tannins. A mouthful of flavor balanced by racy acidity but little complexity. At 24 hours it was full and soft with toasted and roasted flavors. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.8 = 17.5/20, 88/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted January 23, 2006.

Jip Jip Rocks Limestone Coast Shiraz 2004 $7.99USD (Screwcap)
Cherry red with red edge. Attractive sweet, ripe fruit aromas together with pepper and a little ethyl acetate (EA). Full bodied with sweet oak, fine tannins, overt, juicy acidity and a short finish. Reasonable value for the price. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.7 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 15% alcohol. Tasted November 6, 2005.

3-Rings Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004 $15.99 (Screwcap)
Intensely colored dense black cherry with cherry red edge. Flavors of blueberry, vanilla, chocolate and dusty earth jump out of the glass. Full bodied with fruity sweetness, fine soft tannins, and clean acid underlie a well balanced wine of excellent value. At 24hours abundant sweet aromas highlighted by blueberry and vanilla framed by clean acidity with a core of fine, subtle tannins. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.0 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 14.9% alcohol. Tasted August 18, 2005.

Marquis Philips Shiraz 2004 $11.99USD (Screwcap)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very aromatic with notes of blackberry, plums, vanilla, dusty oak and a hint of menthol. Full bodied with soft and supple tannins. Well balanced with some alcohol on the abbreviated finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.7 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted August 15, 2005.

Chardonnay (USA)

2005-08-21T12:40:00.000-07:00

Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2002 $28.99USD
Straw yellow. Toasted oak and muted tropical notes of pineapple and guava. Full bodied with excellent flavor on the palate. Impressive balance, not overly fat or buttery, with crisp acidity. 2, 2, 3.8, 10.2 = 18/20, 90/100. Tasted August 21, 2005.

American Pinot Noir: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-08-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

American Pinot Noir
August 18 6:30PM

Seventh Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. This one written up as: We will taste wines from California and Oregon in an attempt to finally put an end to the battle as to who makes the best Pinot. Eight wines all from the best producers will be sampled.

The wines were served single blind, and as is my usual practice I did not look at the list. The wines are listed in the order they were tasted. Identities were revealed at the end of the tasting.

Willakenzie Estate Willamette Valley Terres Bases 2002 $43.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Ripe fruit with notes of banana, smoke and dusty oak. Full bodied with flavors carying well onto the palate. Well balanced with clean acidity. 2, 2, 3.0, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 89/100, 14.6% alcohol.

Byron Santa Maria Valley Nielson Vineyard 2001 $33.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Ripe fruit with caramel and toasted notes and faint barnyard. Full bodied, well balanced with soft and supple caress on the palate. A pleasant wine. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.9 = 17.7/20, 88/100. 14.4% alcohol.

Failla Sonoma Coast Hirsch Vineyard 2003 $44.99USD
Light cherry red with pink edge. Looks unfiltered. Very aromatic with notes of spices, dusty oak and celery! Developed strawberry and dried tea leaves aromas. Less than full bodied with soft tannins and prominent acidity. Excellent presence of flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.0 = 18.1/20, 91/100. 14.1% alcohol.

Foley Santa Rita Hills Rancho Santa Rosa 2002 $25.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Very impressive flavors of cherries, spices and strawberry. Medium weight with mouth watering acidity. Excellent structure with wonderful depth to the flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4/20, 92/100. 13.9% alcohol.

Flowers Sonoma Coast Andreen-Gale Cuvee 2002 $44.99USD
Cherry red with faint orange tinge to the edge. Slightly closed, earthy, dusty, cherries. Developed spices. Medium weight with greater depth of flavor on the palate. Well balanced with excellent structure, and clean acidity to the finish. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.2 = 18.3/20, 92/100. 14.2% alcohol.

Sea Smoke Santa Rita Hills Southing 2003 $42.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Spices, cherry and strawberry together with vanilla. Medium weight, very well balanced with clean acidity and soft tannins. Wonderful depth and complexity of flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.4 = 18.5/20, 93/100. 14.5% alcohol.

Archery Summit Willamette Valley Renegade Ridge Estate 2003 $47.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Blackberry, cherry and smoky oak and some alcohol heat. Medium weight but feels thin across the palate due to the pronounced astringency. Clean acidity to the finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.4 = 17.4/20, 87/100. 14.5% alcohol.

Argyle Willamette Valley Reserve 2003 $24.99USD (Screwcap)
Light cherry red with pink edge. Closed with hints of rose petal, cherry and dusty oak. Medium weight with mouth watering acidity and good presence of flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 15.0% alcohol.

Sanford Santa Rita Hills Sanford & Benedict Vineyard 2002 $39.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Smoky oak, blackberry and faint ethyl acetate (EA). Bright acidity and mouth drying astringency. Lacks depth to the mid-palate. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 14.5% alcohol.

This was an interesting tasting. The wines from the Santa Rita hills (Sea Smoke and Foley) being very impressive. The Sea Smoke was easily the wine of the night (WOTN) while the Foley providing the best value.

The Archery Summit and the Sanford were atypical for Pinot Noir, at least the picture I have of Pinot Noir in my mind. Both wines seemed more extracted than the others, and unbalanced due to the over abundant astringency.

The Oregonian wines did not fair well in this tasting with the California wines showing more varietal character.

Eight Great Wines: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-07-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

Eight Great Wines
July 21st 6:30PM

Sixth Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. This one written up as: This will be a tasting of eight wines all highly rated and even better they are all outstanding Wines.

The wines were served single blind, and as is my usual practice I did not look at the list. The wines are listed in the order they were tasted. Identities were revealed at the end of the tasting. The Chateauneuf du Pape had been poured 90 minutes before, all the other wines were poured two hours before with the 1989 Chateau Pichon Baron being decanted.

2002 Ramey, Hyde Chardonnay, Carneros $44.99USD
Light straw in color with aromas of creamy oak, tropical fruits, melon and citrus. Very well balanced with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate and pleasant crisp acidity to the lengthy finish. Excellent Chardonnay. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.2 = 8.5/20, 93/100.

2000 Emanuel Rouget, AC, Vosne Romanee $59.99USD
Light cherry in color with light pink edge. Appealing notes of spice, stewed quince and dusty oak. Medium weight with elegantly soft and supple entry, beautiful soft tannins and bright acidity. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 13.5% alcohol.

2002 Dommaine des La Mordoree, La Reine des Bois, Chateauneuf du Pape $84.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open and opulent with pronounced blackberry liqueur aroma. Full bodied with mouth drying astringency on entry and powdery tannins to the finish that drown the presence of other flavors on the palate. Needs time to soften. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.7 = 17.9/100, 89/100. 14.5% alcohol.

1989 Chateau Pichon Baron, Pauillac $149.99USD
Very dense cherry red with bricking to the edge. Very aromatic with notes of caramel, faint ripe banana, and dusty oak. Well balanced with fine tannins, clean acidity, and nice presence of flavors on the palate, backed up by a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.9 = 17.9/20, 89/100.

2001 Paolo Scavino, Carobric, Barolo $69.99USD
Brick red with a faint orange tinge to the edge. Very ripe and aromatic with pronounced ripe banana, nail polish remover [ethyl acetate (EA)], and ripe cherry. Palate is dominated by mouth drying tannins but they do not overpower the ripeness of the flavors, although the wine did close down later. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.5% alcohol.

2001 Ramirez de Ganuza, Old Vines Reserva, Rioja $57.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Wonderfully rich and complex with chocolate, cassis, dusty oak and faint kerosene! On the palate this wine is full bodied with notes of tar and ink folded into the aromas. Firm tannins back up a well structured wine. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.1 = 18.5/20, 93/100. 14% alcohol.

2001 Ristow, Napa, Valley, Quinta las Piedras Cabernet $59.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Complex, rich and ripe with cassis, pepper, and blackberry. Developed a dried tea leaves character with time. A softer, less tannic, well balanced wine with clean acidity and pleasing astringency to the finish. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.1 = 18.4/20, 92/100. 14.1% alcohol.

2002 Gibson Old Vine Collection Barossa Shiraz $119.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Beautifully rich and complex with coconut, and blackberry liqueur dominant. A slight medicinal note does not detract from the open and forward aromatics. Full bodied with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate, backed up by impressive structure. Very nice. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.4 = 18.8/20, 94/100. 15% alcohol.

Unlike the usual practice at these tastings no votes were taken for favorite wine mainly because the variety of wines makes comparison difficult, but also because there was so much discussion at individual tables.

My own impressions were fairly straight forward, and while they may be influenced by underlying biases, I think they are fair. I don’t see the value in the 1989 Chateau Pichon Baron. This wine has received big scores (95 WA, 98 WS) and while the wine tasted was still youthful that does not justify its bottle price. In contrast the 2000 Emanuel Rouget was a pleasant surprise that I feel is better than the tasting note and score given to it by Tanzer (87 ST). We are not talking great Burgundy but it showed pleasant varietal characteristics of Pinot Noir (at least how I view Pinot). The La Reine des Bois (Chateauneuf du Pape) should have been more impressive. Parker loves this big style, but at present that is all it is, BIG!

The only white wine was the Ramey and I agree completely with Tanzer’s impression of this chardonnay (95 ST, 92 WA). I’m always impressed with Ramey, they are simply delicious Chardonnays.

The Ramirez de Ganuza (94 WA) and the Ristow (91 ST) both showed well, but I was less impressed by the Scavino, Carobric (91 ST). I’ve rated other Scarvino wines more highly. The WOTN for me was the Gibson but it was not a standout win. My top 3 reds were all very close but if it came to spending money then the de Ganuza would get the nod.

[WA=Wine Advocate, WS=Wine Spectator, ST=Stephen Tanzer]

Zinfandel

2005-06-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

Carlisle Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2003 $29.99USD
95% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, Teldeschi Ranch, 3% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Unti Vineyard, 1% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Teldeschi Ranch, 1% Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah, Riebli Ranch.

Cherry red with pink edge. Rich and ripe with spices and cherry notes. Mouth filling and yet soft and supple caress to the palate. Very well balanced with fine tannins and tingling acidity followed by a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.2 = 18.3/20, 91/100. 15.9% alcohol. Tasted June 29, 2005

Carlisle Sonoma County Zinfandel 2003 $23.99USD
50% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Barbieri Ranch, 27% Russian River Valley Zinfandel, Fava Ranch, 10% Russian River Valley Alicante Bouschet, Tom Feeney Ranch, 13% Sonoma County Petite Sirah, Riebli Ranch.

Cherry red with pink edge. Layered complexity of cherry, blueberry and plum. Full bodied and well balanced with excellent display of flavors on the palate. Plenty of acidity, firm tannins and a lingering finish illustrate the quality of this wine. At 24 hours still big and powerful with vibrant acidity and excellent carry of flavors onto the palate. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4/20, 92/100. 15.8% alcohol. Tasted June 21, 2005.

De Loach Zinfandel Russian River Valley, Barbieri Ranch 1998 $17.99USD
A pronounced developed bouquet of stew quince against a background cola note, opening to fruitcake, licorice and molasses. Full bodied and very well balanced with a good core of tannins and clean acidity. The flavors carry wonderfully onto the palate for a lengthy finish. Opened on Friday night, the remaining half bottle has been sitting under vacuum until tonight (Sunday). It is still rich and layered in complexity, almost rancio in character. A delight! With cheese it seems softer and suppler than on opening but still with pleasant acidity and a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.4 = 18.8, 94/100, 15.5% alcohol. Tasted June 10-12, 2005.

Petite Syrah (Sirah)

2005-06-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

Lorca Petite Syrah 2000 $19.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Aromas of cherries, violets and plums. Medium weight with pleasant mouthfeel. Nicely balanced with firm tannins at the finish. Flavors carry well onto the palate but finish short. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.7 = 17.8/20, 89/100.

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

2005-06-01T18:55:00.000-07:00

New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs
Tasting described as This is the season for Sauvignon Blanc and there are few places that do it better than NZ. Crisp, clean citrus with great acidity! Come taste 6 of the best. Saturday, May 28, 11-3pm.

The wines in this weekly tasting are usually all under $15pb. I tasted the wines double blind. That is I did not know what wines were in the tasting or their order. I’ve listed the wines in order they were tasted.

Lynskey’s Vineyard, Select, Marlborough 2003 $12.99USD
Very light straw, almost uncolored. Quite closed with mild notes of honey and walnuts. Good apple acidity but lacking in depth across the palate. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.3 = 16.9/20, 84/100

Lawson’s Dry Hills, Marlborough 2003 $11.99USD
Very light straw. Some herbaceousness (and a kerosene note that blew off quite quickly) with citrus notes. Medium weight with good structure and bright acidity. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.6 = 17.3/20, 86/100

Selaks, Marlborough 2003 $12.47USD
Light straw (deepest color of the group). Clear asparagus note over green apple aroma. Fuller bodied than the previous wines with good structure and nice length to the finish. Pleasantly clean green apple acidity. 2, 2, 3.5, 9.8 = 17.3/20, 86/100

Oyster Bay, Marlborough 2004 $8.99USD
Light straw in color. Very open with attractive notes of peach, pear and some asparagus. Medium weight with the flavors carrying well across the palate and finishing with crisp refreshing acidity. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.0 = 18.0/20, 90/100

Matau Valley, Marlborough 2004 $12.99USD
Very light straw. Closed with just a faint note of asparagus which carries very well onto the palate. A fuller bodied wine with a little sourness to its acidity but with good length to the finish. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.8 = 17.4/20, 87/100

Forrest Estate, Marlborough 2004 $12.99USD
Very light straw. Unusual aroma of kerosene, backed up by asparagus, green apple, and guava. Well balanced with clean and crisp acidity and the flavors carry well onto the palate. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.9 = 17.7/20, 89/100

I don’t know how many of these are screw capped, but probably quite a few. If anyone wants that information I can get it. A couple of the wines had a kerosene note that I find unusual in Sauvignon Blanc. It did not appear to be a reductive character but it did disappear quite quickly in the Lawson’s Dry Hills. The Lawson’s is a consistently good value Sauvignon Blanc, nothing startling but a very pleasant summer wine. But the value wine was the Oyster Bay. Very aromatic. The supplied tasting note did say passion fruit but I could not see that, tropical perhaps. But still excellent value for less than $10USD.

2003 Australian Shiraz

2005-05-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

Following the acclaimed 2002 vintage the wines of 2003 have not been as well received. But there are claims that good wines can be found and so the search begins.

Shingleback McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 $14.89USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very much generic Aussie Shiraz with sweet oak, blueberry, blackberry over smoke and vanilla. Full bodied with firm tannins, juicy acidity and tarry notes. Lacks depth or complexity. Considering the press it has received I was expecting more from this wine but the value is just not there. 2, 2, 3.8, 8.5 = 17.3/20, 86/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted January 10, 2006.

Yalumba Y Series Shiraz 2003 $8.99USD
Cherry red with a faint orange/pink tinge to the edge. Subdued notes of pepper, cloves, cherry and milk chocolate. Full bodied with firm tannins and bright acidity. A competent attempt that lacks depth on the midpalate and finishes short. 2, 2, 3.7, 8.5 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 13.5% alcohol. Tasted January 2, 2006.

Forefathers McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 (American and French Oak) $21.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Restrained aromas of chocolate, dusty oak, and faint vanilla. Enhanced flavors on the palate of ripe cherry, blackberry, and oak. Full bodied with very soft tannins and juicy acidity. A well structured, classy Shiraz. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.1 = 18.0/20, 90/100. Tasted November 13, 2005. 14.4% alcohol.

O’Leary Walker Clare Valley/McLaren vale Shiraz 2003 $22.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Restrained notes of rich, ripe fruit, blackberry, pepper and fruitcake. Developed savoury note of Bonox. Medium to full bodied with bright acidity, a layer of fine tannins. Lacks depth and the finish is quite short. At 24 hours the acidity was sharper with toasted/roasted flavors of blackberry, oak and vanilla. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.7 = 17.9/20, 89/100. Tasted November, 10, 2005. 14.5% alcohol.

Sanguine Estate Heathcote Shiraz 2003 $39.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Opulent notes of ripe blackberry/cherry jam, cloves and sweet oak. A rich, full bodied wine with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate. Soft and supple with silky smooth tannins and bright, juicy acidity. Very well balanced with excellent depth of flavor intensity across the palate and a lengthy finish. Drinking well now and should do so for another decade. At 24 hours flavors of smoked oak and vanilla meld with the impressive suppleness. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.2 = 18.5/20, 92/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted November 4-5, 2005.

Nugan Estate Shiraz 2003 $8.99USD (Screwcap)
Light cherry red with a pink edge. A reductive character initially that gave way to spicy, peppery aromas more typical of Pinot Noir than Australian Shiraz. Full bodied with pleasant mouthfeel. The subtle fruit characters and very soft tannins are balanced by clean acidity. A nicely structured wine providing very impressive value. Highly recommended for every day drinking. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.9 = 17,8/20, 89/100. 13.5% alcohol. Tasted October 26, 2005.

Casella Wines yellow tail Reserve Shiraz 2003 $9.99USD (French Oak)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Big, sweet blackberry jam turning to tomato paste and then toasted oak and pepper. Flavors developed nicely over 60-90 minutes. Medium weight with soft tannins and bright acidity. Tasted at 24 and again at 48 hours the wine retained its distinctive blackberry flavor. A well balanced pleasant wine that should hold up for the next 3-5 years, and perhaps longer. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.5 = 17.3/20, 86/100. Tasted October 24-26, 2005.

Taltarni Heathcote (Victoria) Shiraz 2003 $27.99USD
Sourced from a single vineyard this Shiraz is dense cherry red with a red edge. Ripe, sweet cherry, sweet oak and faint pepper. Full bodied but plain and simple with soft tannins and juicy acidity unable to hold up the lack of depth and complexity across the palate and the short finish. Drink over the next 5years. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.5 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted October 21, 2005.

RockBare McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 $12.99USD (French Oak)
Cherry red with red edge. Initially a little sulphur stink, then subdued hint of sweet toffee, oak and licorice. Quickly opened to cherries, chocolate and pepper. Full bodied with juicy acidity and impressive length to the finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.5 = 17.4/20, 87/100. 14.7% alcohol. Tasted October 17, 2005.

Turkey Flat Vineyards Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003 $39.99USD (French Oak)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich, ripe cherry with toasted oak, pepper and blueberry. Full bodied with sound structure but the gripping tannins and hard bitter finish have yet to balance with the mouth watering acidity. No change at 24 hours. Not as impressive as the 2002. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.3 = 17.3/20, 87/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted October 11-12, 2005.

Craneford Shiraz (John Zilm) 2003 $27.99USD
Pours an intense purple into the glass. On its edge it’s a dense cherry red with a red edge. Restrained notes blueberry, chocolate, sweet oak and pepper, with a little barnyard note underneath. The initial entry onto the palate is of ink together with sharp acidity and metallic hardness. Still it is mouthfilling with a nice soft and supple feel due to the very fine tannins and bright acidity. An earthy note rounds out a lengthy finish. At 24 hours the ink note was still prominent, as was the hardness. Not of the same caliber as the 2002. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.3 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted September 19-20, 2005.

Burge Family Barossa Valley Draycott 2003 $47.99USD
Already has sediment. Cherry red with a slight orange tinge to the edge. Smells very much like barnyard. Medium weight with a soft, supple entry, attractive acidity and soft tannins. Nicely balanced. Flavors in the mouth are barnyard and cherries. After about an hour of frequent swirling in a vinum shaped glass flavors of cherries, licorice and dusty oak come up, with the barnyard character fading on the nose and palate. At 24 hours there is still plenty of bright acidity and the barnyard is reduced. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.1 = 18.1/20, 90/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted September 15-16, 2005.

The barnyard character in this wine has been discussed on the Auswine forum and Ric Einstein’s TORB site. The winery has tested the wine and the barnyard character is not Brett. But it certainly does smell like Brett, and that smell is consistent with a previous tasting. But it does fade which is unusual for Brett. There was another thing about this wine that was distinctive. The cork smelt of insect repellent! That’s another first for me. Usually a cork with have little smell, especially an hour or so after it has been pulled.

Although I scored this wine quite well, I wouldn’t recommend it. There are plenty of other Shiraz wines out there that will give more immediate pleasure, and because we don’t know what will happen with the barnyard odor with time I would not be comfortable putting it in the cellar.

Two Way Range Barossa Valley Shraz 2003 $49.99USD
A vibrant purple from the bottle. In the glass a dense cherry red with pink edge. Opulent with aromas of chocolate, blueberry, and dusty oak. Developed pepper and background notes of tar and toasted oak. Mouthfilling with drying tannins and sweetness of ripe fruit. Well structured with a lengthy finish. At 24 hours the aromas are a little subdued but there is still a mouthful of pleasure. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted September 8-9, 2005.

Torbreck The Struie Barossa Valley 2003 $39.99USD (French (80 percent) and new French (20 percent) oak barriques)
Pours purple from the bottle. In the glass it is a dense cherry red with a red edge. Rich and ripe aromas of blueberry, vanilla and dusty oak followed by notes of toasted oak and licorice. Mouthfilling with chewy tannins and excellent depth and concentration of flavors across the palate. Excellent balance and structure complemented by a impressive length to the finish. A bold expression of Shiraz. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.4 = 18.7/20, 94/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted September 3, 2005.

I tasted this wine at the Torbreck Winery in December 2004 and rated it highly then (18.9/20). While the aromas are changing the quality of this wine has held true. Add this to your cellar and leave it for 5-10 years and you will be well rewarded.

The Colonial Estate l’explorateur 2003 $23.99USD (French and American Oak)
Hazy dense cherry red with red edge. Rich Blueberry/Blackberry jam and violets over sweet vanilla oak. Full bodied, well structured. Grainy tannins but not overly astringent. Bright acidity and nice length to the finish. At 24 hours still excellent depth and complexity of flavors of blackberry, chocolate, coffee and vanilla. The palate has some sour acidity but still soft and supple. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.1 = 18.3/20, 92/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted August 29-30, 2005.

Tim Smith Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003 $39.99USD
A wine made with bunch fermentation, lees aging, and some barrel fermentation. Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich and ripe with notes of blackberry, vanilla and coconut (and a little ethyl acetate, EA). Full bodied with excellent depth across the palate, clean acidity and fine tannins. A toasted note tops the finish. Excellent flavor carry onto the palate with toasted coconut, blackberry and vanilla with integrated sweetness. At 24 hours the acidity a little more biting but still a very impressive wine with more flavors on the palate than nose. A glass tasted after five days was port-like with burnt, tarry almost camphor characters. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.4 = 18.5/20, 93/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted August 24-29, 2005.

Henry’s Drive Padthaway Shiraz 2003 $32.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Opulent with its rich ripe fruit, sweet vanilla oak, and chocolate notes backed up by plenty of cherry and plum flavors over faint mint. Mouthfilling with excellent depth and intensity of flavors across the palate. The alcohol is very well hidden and even the tannins lurk in the background. The lengthy finish has a slight bitterness to it. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.0 = 18.1/20, 91/100. 16% alcohol. Tasted August 10, 2005.

Elderton Wines Barossa Shiraz 2003 $23.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Restrained blackberry, and cherry-liquor underlying chocolate and smoky oak. Full bodied with excellent structure. The flavors carry well across the palate and are backed by powdery tannins. The wine is upset by some hardness to the finish, and does not appreciate too much exposure to air. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.6 = 17.5/20, 87/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted July 25, 2005.

Winter Creek Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003 $27.99USD (French Oak)
Dense cherry red with red edge. A very seductive wine. Oozes blueberry and chocolate over blackberry, licorice and smoke. Full bodied with excellent structure. A veneer of tannin coats the palate without overt astringency and dovetails well with the bright acidity. Reminiscent of the 2002 Heathvale Shiraz. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.3= 18.5/20, 93/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted July 20, 2005.

Marquis Philips Shiraz 9 2003 (McLaren Vale 60%, Padthaway 40%) $35.99USD
Very dark in color, almost purple. Seductive and complex with notes of earth, chocolate, blueberry and smoke. Full bodied with soft silky tannins. Certainly big but not overly bold. A charred bitterness surrounds the palate and lingers on the finish. Developed a pepper note, and what can only be described as a pleasant aroma of soap. A wine of questionable longevity. 2, 2, 4.3, 9.4 = 17.7/20, 88/100. 16% alcohol. Tasted June 4, 2005.

Lennard’s Crossing Shiraz 2003 (Pokolbin, NSW) Cost?
Light cherry red with pink edge. Sulfur stink over dusty oak, spices and licorice. Medium weight with soft tannins, a sour acidic finish and residual sweetness of strawberries. Little to recommend it. 2, 2, 3.5, 8.7=16.2/20, 81/100. 13.5% alcohol. Tasted May 26, 2005.

Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 $16.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Exudes blueberry and cherry flavors backed up by smoky vanilla oak. Full bodied and well structured with firm tannins and lively acidity to provide balance. Flavors carry well onto the palate. Less restrained and more impressive than the 2002. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.1=18.0/20, 90/100. 14% alcohol tasted. May 24, 2005.

Morambro Creek Padthaway Shiraz 2003 $14.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open with a seductive floral note surrounded by cherries, spices, pepper and toasted oak. Full bodied and well balanced with flavors carrying extremely well onto the palate. The soft tannins make for a drink now style that should live for at least 5 more years. Excellent value. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.1 =18.3/20, 92/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted May 19-21, 2005.

Hazyblur Baroota Shiraz South Australia 2003 $31.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Intense blueberry/blackberry, cloves and vanilla aromas. Soft and supple entry with medium to full bodied mouthfeel. Flavors carry well across the palate and are balanced by soft tannins and good acidity. The alcohol is evident although not to the extent seen in the 2002, but again it tarnishes what could be a memorable wine. This character was even more evident after 24 hours and the tannins firmer. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.8=17.8/20, 89/100. 14.5% alcohol. May 2-3, 2005.

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Clare Valley Shiraz 2003 $11.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very intense, chocolate, blueberry, sweet oak. Full bodied, well balanced with good acidity, but does not carry across the palate cleanly. Alcohol is evident. After 24 hours smooth, rich and ripe. Not a patch on the 2002. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20, 88/100. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted April 21, 2005.

Bordeaux: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-05-12T18:42:00.000-07:00

Bordeaux
May 12th 6:30 pm
Fourth Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines in San Diego.

The wines had been poured for about two hours before we got to them. Served in a single blind format. I’ve listed the wines in the order they were tasted with the identity as revealed at the end of the tasting.

2000 Chateau Brane-Cantenac, Margaux $56.99USD
Dense cherry red with faint orange tint to the edge. Initially barnyard, tar and caramel aromas followed by chocolate and vanilla. Well structured with big dollops of tannin and acid but marred on the finish by some bitterness suggestive of a little greenness. (2, 2, 3.9. 10.0 = 17.9/20, 90/100 (RP 92)

2000 Chateau Monbousquet, St Emilion ($60-100USD)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Great complexity with notes of cedar and a savory character that became almost fruitcake. Medium to full bodied, with excellent balance, firm tannins and clean acidity. Excellent length to the finish. (2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4/20, 92/100, (RP 95)

2000 Chateau Quinault, L'Enclos, St Emilion $52.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Slightly closed with hints of smoke and oak. Well balanced and full bodied with good acidity and drying tannins. (2, 2, 3.8, 10.0 = 17.8/20, 89/100 (RP92)

1995 Chateau Troplong-Mondot, St Emilion $69.99USD
Dense cherry red with a slight orange tinge to the edge. Obviously the oldest wine in the group. An unusual bouquet of tar, caramel and alcohol overlaying anise and possibly vanilla. Softer entry than the other wines but still supported by good acidity and firm tannins still holding the finish. (2, 2, 3.9, 9.9 = 17.8/20, 89/100 (RP 92)

2000 Chateau Lanessan, Haut Medoc $20.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Intriguing floral complexity with violets predominant. Full bodied, wonderful balance with bright acidity and an excellent finish. (2, 2, 4.2, 9.9 = 18.1/20, 91/100 (RP 89)

2001 Chateau Pape-Clement, Pessac-Leognan ($83-110USD)
Very dense cherry red with red edge. Very open with blackberry and toasted oak developing an attractive barnyard character. Full bodied and well balanced with flavors carrying well on retronasal. (2, 2, 4.3, 10.1 = 18.4/20, 92/100 (RP 95)

2000 Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac $79.99USD
Cherry red with a pinkish/red edge. A little closed with notes of cedar and barnyard. Flavors carry well on the palate with good acidity to the finish. (2, 2, 3.9. 9.9 = 17.8/20, 89/100 (RP 91)

2002 Chateau Pontet-Canet, Pauillac $29.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Cedar, toasted oak and New World jamminess. Well balanced with drying tannins and good acidity. (2, 2, 4.0, 10.1 = 18.1/20, 91/100 (WS92)

The first point of interest about this tasting was that it was sold out and people had to be turned away. There were about 30 seats filled, usually its down to about 12-15 at these monthly tastings. Second is that this is sort of my annual venture into Bordeaux. Its not that I don’t like the wines its just that the good stuff is so bloody expensive. Also, and this applies more to white than red, I find that I usually rate New World ahead of most things French particularly when the wines are young. So call me biased! But this tasting did have Brane-Cantenac in it and I wanted to see how this 2nd Growth was doing. Brane-Cantenac is the first Bordeaux wine that I tasted that had some age on it way back in the distant past and it had made a favorable impression; and that was when Brane-Cantenac was making so-so wines. I wasn’t overly impressed this time.

The little Lanessan was impressive especially for the price. Others must have thought so as well because by the time I got out into the wine shop all the bottles had been bought; I have to learn not to sit next to people who have the same occupation as me and who are headed off to Bordeaux.

My top wines were the Monbousquet and the Pape-Clement and I vacillated over which to put as my WOTN up until it was decision time. In the end I opted for the Pape-Clement with the Lanessan in third. The group also went for the Pape-Clement as the top wine with the Quinault in second (my 6th) and the Les Forts de Latour in third (my 7th). Which is interesting only because I thought both the Quinault and the Les Forts de Latour the most closed wines of the group. Does that mean that my suspicion that Francophiles prefer wines that lack flavorful aromas is correct? Hmmm, I wonder!!!

Aussie Values: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

2005-04-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

Aussie Values
Tasting described as The Australian Shiraz is one of the hottest selling wines in the market today. We will try six of them all under 15 bucks that will knock your socks off. Saturday, April 23rd, 11-3PM.

I was the first to arrive for this tasting and none of the wines had been opened. So these are notes from freshly opened bottles. Just the way I like it. First pass through the wines showed that wine No. 3 was corked and a fresh bottle was opened. My notes are for that bottle. The wines were tasted essentially double-bind, but I must admit that I have tasted several wines in the sub-$15 range from Vintage Wines in the last few weeks and so I was expecting those wines to be in the tasting. I’ve listed the wines in the order they were tasted.

Elderton Tantalus (70/30 Shiraz/Cabernet) 2003 $9.99USD (Screwcap)
Cherry red with a faint orange tint. Very spicy with notes of orange zest, quince and caramel. Medium weight, well balanced with clean acidity and soft tannins. Excellent retronasal. Attractive drinking style. Almost Zinfandel-like. (2, 2, 3.6, 10.1 = 17.7/20, 88, 14% alcohol)

Rosemount Estate Shiraz 2002 $6.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Closed with hits of bacon and tomato. Medium weight with good acidity and soft tannins but falling off on the finish. (2, 2, 3.4, 9.5 = 16.9/20, 84, 14% alcohol).

Hill of Content Shiraz 2003 $10.99USD
Dense cherry red. Distinct shiraz flavors of blackberry and pepper. Medium weight and well balanced with bright acidity. (2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20, 88, 13.5% alcohol).

Jim Barry The Lodge Hill Shiraz 2003 $11.99USD
Dense cherry red. Very ripe, rich flavors of blueberry and blackberry. Full bodied and well balanced with flavors carrying well on retronasal. Has to be the Jim Barry. (2, 2, 4.0, 10.0 = 18.0/20, 90, 15.5% alcohol).

Greg Norman Shiraz 2002 $10.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Unpleasant sulfur note that developed an underlying diesel character; carried through on retronasal. Well balanced across the early and mid-palate but with bitterness to the finish. Screwcap or faulty or both? (2, 2, 3.0, 8.5 = 15.5/20, 77, 14% alcohol).

Alliance Shiraz 2001 $10.99USD
Cherry red with a faint orange tinge. Burnt note of caramel with a faint aroma of petrol. Light to medium weight with the flavors carrying well on retronasal. Pronounced acidity that carries across the palate. (2, 2, 3.8, 9.0 = 16.8/20, 84, 13.5%5 alcohol).

I’d tasted the Jim Barry just a few days before and noted that there was “chocolate, blueberry, sweet oak. Full bodied, well balanced with good retro, good acidity, but does not carry across the palate cleanly. Alcohol is evident. Not a patch on the ’02.” 2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20, 88. It was a very easy wine to pick and stood out as the biggest Shiraz of the group.

The Rosemount I’d tasted about a week earlier. “Blueberry, sweet oak, vanilla. Full bodied, well balanced, soft tannins, clean but pronounced acidity. Well made but not distinctive, although still good value.” 2, 2, 3.8, 9.5 = 17.3/20, 87. Did not pick it in the tasting line-up.

The only other wine I’d tasted was the Elderton Tantalus. I’d had this in December ’04 at their tasting room in Nuriootpa. My brief notes say“light cherry red, bright fruit, anise, medium weight, soft tannins, good retro of anise and plum.” 2, 2, 3.7, 9.7 = 17.4/20, 87. I would never have picked it in the tasting line-up. Can’t even say I’d identify it as a blend, although it was more Zin-like than Shiraz compared to the other wines.

The only problem wine was the Greg Norman. Its not a screwcap and so until I get to taste it again I’m putting it down as a faulty bottle.

What were the values? Well the Jim Barry stood out although if you have any of the 2002 put aside you might as well drink that until the ’04 comes out. The Hill of Content is also a reasonable value, and even though it didn’t show as well as I expected the Rosemount is still good value at $7USD.

Pinot Noir

2005-04-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Paul Hobbs Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2003 $32.99USD
A slightly murky cherry red with a red edge; yes its unfiltered. A quick swirl reveals ripe fruit and wonderful spicy aromas that reminded me of ripe quince. In the mouth its medium bodied, very soft and supple with great balance. Others might say “velvety palate feel” but I’ve never tasted velvet. What is velvet is what the wine does in your mouth. If described in detail, it would probably be obscene in several countries. Those spicy, quince-like aromas expand and explode in wave after wave of intensity as you breathe out through your nose; its called retronasal breathing and this wine will give you the real deal! Bloody fantastic.

I bought a bottle for Miranda and me to drink at our leisure over the rest of the weekend. Opened on Saturday night, it was still going strong when I reluctantly finished the last few drops on Sunday night. An excellent Pinot Noir, and the best I can remember having. (2, 2, 4.2, 10.5 = 18.7, (93), 14.6% alcohol. Tasted April 23-24, 2005.)

Wines of Espana: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-04-21T17:22:00.000-07:00

The Wines of Espana
April 21st 6:30pm
Third Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines of San Diego. This one written up as: One of the hottest wine regions right now not only for great values, but also for some outstanding and highly rated wines. Come try 8 from the 2001 and 2002 Vintages.

The wines were served single blind, and as is my usual practice I did not look at the list. The wines are listed in the order they were tasted. Identities were revealed at the end of the tasting.

Capcanes Cabrida Monstant 2001 $49.99USD
100% Grenache
Cherry red with a slight brown tint. Somewhat closed with a note of barnyard. Developed a resinous character underlying aromas of spices and cola. Medium weight with good acidity and a pronounced core of astringency. Flavors carry well onto the palate. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 90/100 (RP93) 14.5% alcohol.

Guzman Aldazabal Exaltacion Rioja 2001 ~$90USD
95% Tempranillo, 5% Graciano (Aged in new French and Russian oak)
Dense cherry red. Very open with rich chocolate and dark fruits. Medium weight with pronounced acidity and drying tannins on the finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.5 = 17.7/20, 88/100 (RP93) 14.25% alcohol

Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja 2001 $99.99USD
Tempranillo
Dense cherry red with distinct barnyard aroma and some pepper. Medium weight with sharp acidity and considerable astringency dominating the palate. Flavors carry well. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.4 = 17.1/20, 86/100 (RP97) 13.5% alcohol

Astrales Ribera del Duero 2001 $41.99USD
Tempranillo
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially very closed with just a hint of dusty oak. Opened to smoky oak and layered richness, and an unusual note of walnuts. A wine with a considerable depth to its structure. Full bodied and well balanced with a solid core of tannins and clean acidity. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.3 = 18.4/20, 92/100 (RP93) 14.0% alcohol

JC Conde NEO Ribera del Duero 2001 $49.99USD
Cherry red with a slight orange tint. The farmyard of the night. Also a note of ink. Medium weight with firm tannins and good acidity. Flavors carry well across the palate for a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 88/100 (RP95) 13.5% alcohol

Cesca Vincent Abat Domenech Priorat 2000 $49.99USD
50% Grenche 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cherry red with a slight orange tint. Rich, ripe and sweet with notes of quince and blueberries. Developed aroma of tea leaves. Light to medium bodied with some sweetness to the palate that is supported by firm tannins. Flavors carry extremely well, providing a lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.8 = 18.0/20, 90/100 (RP 93) 14.5% alcohol

Clos Mogador Priorat 2002 $69.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Christmas cake spices, mint and sweet oak. Medium bodied with a solid core of astringency. Flavors carry extremely well onto the palate which finishes with sharp but not unpleasant acidity. A powerful wine that shows all of its attributes including its alcohol. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.0 = 18.3/20, 91/100 14.5% alcohol

Numanthia Toro 2002 $44.99USD
Dense cherry red. Smoky oak with vanilla and chocolate. Medium weight with flavors carrying well onto a palate that lacks a little depth at its middle. Another wine with pronounced acidity and tannin and evident alcohol. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9, 89/100 14.5% alcohol

This is my first experience of Spanish wines, certainly of this quality. Its fair to say that there is nothing shy about any of this line-up. They are clearly New World in style. The unmistakable pronounced acidity and mouth drying tannins reminds me of Super Italians. But these are very young wines and most need a decade or more to settle.

Bee's Knees In Aussie's: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-03-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

The Bee's Knees in Aussie's
March 17th 6:30 pm
Second Third Thursday Tasting for 2005 at Vintage Wines. This one written up as: We will taste some hot new wines from Down under all of which will blow you down! This will just be a few cobbers sittin around getting blotto!

The wines were served single blind, and as is my usual practice I did not look at the list, although I’d seen the proposed listing on the web site. The wines are listed in the order they were tasted. Identities were revealed at the end of the tasting.

Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Syrah 2001 $59.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Aromas of barnyard and oak overlay a slightly burnt character and pleasant, ripe fruit. Medium weight with good acidity, the flavors carrying well on retronasal. (2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20 (89), 94 WA).

AusVetia, Coonawarra 2000 (11% cabernet Sauvignon). $54.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Very open with aromas of blackberry and pepper; developed a dry tea leaf character with time. Medium weight with excellent mouthfeel and better balance than the first wine. (2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20 (91), 14% alcohol)

Torbreck Descendent, Barossa 2003 Approx. $100USD
Almost purple with deep red edge. A big, extracted aroma of tar and blackberry. Is this a Port tasting? Full bodied, finishing with very firm tannins and a lot of alcohol. (2, 2, 4.0, 9.8 = 17.8/20 (89).

Henry’s Drive, Barossa 2003 Approx. $30USD
Purple with deep red edge. Very perfumed with a slight hint of ethyl acetate (VA?) and toasted oak. Almost sweet on the palate, but well balanced, and pleasant to drink. (2, 2, 3.7, 10.1 = 17.8/20 (89)

Burge Family Draycott, Barossa 2003 $47.99USD
Cherry red with a faint orange/brown tinge to the edge; lightest colored wine of the flight. Pronounced barnyard aroma with caramel and ink notes. Medium weight, well balanced with good acidity and flavors that carry well on retronasal. (1, 2, 3.6, 9.9 = 17.5/20 (87) 14.5% alcohol).

Two Hands Bella’s Garden, Barossa 2003 Approx. $50USD
Cherry red with faint orange tinge to the edge. Unusually flavored with aromas of raisins and caramel. Developed an attractive savory note with time. Thin and acidic on the palate. (2, 2, 3.7, 9.3 = 17.0/20 (85) 94WS, 15% alcohol)

Marquis Philips Integrity, McLaren Vale 2003 $109.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open and richly flavored with floral and pepper notes. Full bodied, well balanced with fine tannins at the finish. Flavors carry well on retronasal. (2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4/20 (92) 94 WA)

Passing Clouds The Killa Kowalski Vineyard, Bendigo 2003 $44.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich and open with blackberry, vanilla, white pepper and mint. Soft entry, a backbone of firm tannins and covers the palate with richness until it finishes with one big alcohol hit! (2, 2, 4.2, 9.8 = 18.0/20 (90) 92-95+ WA, 17% alcohol)

The original listing for the tasting was 2003 Two Hands, Bella's Garden Shiraz, 2003 Torbreck The Struie, 1999 AusVetia, 2003 Henry's Drive Shiraz, 2001 Clarendon Hills Brookman Syrah, 2003 Burge Family Draycot Shiraz, 2002 Deisen Shiraz and 2002 Connor Park The Honor. I’d only tasted two of the wines on this original list, 2003 The Struie and the 1999 AusVetia. Of the wines actually served I’d only tasted two, the 2003 Descendent and the 2000 AusVetia. I’d rated both of the Torbreck wines very highly previously (under non-blinded conditions at the vineyard) and I’d rated the 2000 AusVetia highly in another single blind tasting about a year ago. However in this tasting both the Descendent and the 2000 AusVetia showed no evidence of their distinguishing characteristics, Viognier and Cabernet respectively. I guess I can be happy that I still rated the AusVetia highly, but the Descendent was a completely different wine to that tasted a few months previously. One thing that was a problem with several of the wines, including the Descendent, was the evident alcohol, and it is possible that some of the wines may have shown better if they had been served a few degrees cooler. But this tasting did reinforce a couple of lessons. First, if you are going to taste single blind then at least make sure you know what wines are in the tasting. And second, the same wine tasted under different conditions does not have to taste the same.

Zinfandel: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

2005-02-20T11:09:00.000-08:00

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.

Super Italians: Vintage Wines Ltd, Monthly Thursday Tasting

2005-02-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

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

Syrah (California)

2005-02-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

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.

Syrah from California

2005-01-31T18:14:00.000-08:00

Syrah from California
Saturday 29th, 2005. $5 tasting at Vintage Wines, San Diego. Written up as This is one of the hottest varietals in the market today. With this growth has come some outstanding wines in all price ranges. Come taste 6 different styles of this great wine.

I tasted the wines without knowing their identity. The wines and the order they had been poured was revealed only after I had tasted and scored them. I’ve written my tasting notes together with the identity of the wines in the order they were tasted.

Montpellier 2001, California ($4.49USD)
Lightest in color of the group. Spicy aromas of cloves and pepper, developing into dried tea leaves. Thin in the mouth, well balanced with good acidity and the flavors carrying through on retronasal. Interesting but far from exciting. (2, 2, 3.8, 9.5 = 17.3).

McDowell 2001, California ($9.49USD)
Cherry red with red edge showing just a faint tinge of brown. Aromas of burnt tomato, Oxo cubes and smoke. Thin mouthfeel with a distinct hole midpalate, but otherwise with good tannins holding up a lengthy finish. (2, 2, 3.5, 9.3 = 16.9).

Sterling 2002, Central Coast ($8.49USD)
Cherry red with a red edge. Another wine with burnt characters and aromas of Oxo meat cubes. This wine was better balanced with soft tannins backed up by mouth watering acidity at the finish. Flavors carry through on retronasal. (2, 2, 3.5, 10.0 = 17.5). Note: The tasting notes supplied described this as being “made in an Australian style”!

EXP 2000, Dunnigan Hills ($8.99USD)
Cherry red with pink edge. Pleasant spicy notes developing to pepper, and just a hint of ethyl acetate. Medium bodied and well structured with good drying tannins and clean acidity and the flavors carrying through on retronasal. (2, 2, 3.8, 10.1 = 17.9)

Hogue 1999, Columbia Valley, Washington ($13.99USD)
Cherry red with a tinge of brown at the edge. Strong barnyard and earthy notes that evolved into muted spice notes over time. Light to medium bodied with grainy tannins. This wine died on the palate and the flavors did not carry thought on retronasal. (2, 2, 3.9, 9.0 = 16.9).

Nicolaysen 2001, Alisos Vin. Santa Barbara ($39.99USD)
Cherry red with a pink edge. Blackberry, oak, some ethyl acetate and alcohol on the nose. Medium bodied with the flavors carrying through on retronasal. Well structured but just a little hot. What is the alcohol is this? Most Aussie like for my tastes. (2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7).

Hmmm, did I rush back into the shop to snap up some if these bargains? No, in fact I think I was probably more than a little generous in scoring some of these wines. My excuse is that I was, of course, judging the wines within their peer group!!

However seeing that others have encouraged me to taste more US Syrah I hunted around and grabbed a bottle of Carlisle 2002 Sonoma County Syrah $37.99USD. This is a wine that Parker has given (92-95) which means that he’s tasted it from barrel and his notes are as follows. A sensational effort, the 2002 Syrah is an exotic, rich, full-bodied wine offering copious quantities of blackberry liqueur, creosote, meat, and smoky notes. Pure, rich, and full-bodied, with great ripeness, but not over-ripeness, this terrific Syrah should drink well young, yet age for a decade.

My TN: 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, 15.9% alcohol). Tasted January 29-30, 2005.

Clearly the Carlisle is way better than anything in the $5 tasting and it was cheaper than the Nicolaysen. None of the wines could be confused with Aussie shiraz.

Australian Red Blends

2004-12-02T13:14:00.000-08:00

John Duval Wines Plexus 2003 (Shiraz 46%, Grenache 32%, Mourvédre 22%) $32.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich, opulent jammy notes of raspberry and strawberry dominate smoky, charred oak aromas. Mouth filling with racy acidity and silky soft tannins. French oak is over done leaving a dominant charred character on the palate ending in harshness on the persistent finish. May come together with time but not pleasing at present. 2, 2, 4.3, 9.4 = 17.7/20, 88/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted January 30, 2006.

Tait Ball Buster Barossa Valley 2004 (Shiraz 74%, Cabernet Sauvignon 14%, Merlot 12%) $15.99USD (Screwcap)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Subdued, almost closed. Hint of concentrated burnt blackberry, menthol and pepper. Full bodied, very good mouthfeel with astringency on the end palate. Has more complexity on the palate which adds length to the finish. Mared by the tannins that impart bitterness to the finish.At 24 hours more toasted/burnt notes over ripe fruits. Soft and supple entry but bitter astringency to the finish. 2, 2, 3.2, 9.5 = 16.7/20, 84/100. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted November 11, 2005.

Marquis Philips Roogle Red 2003 (60% Shiraz, 405 Cabernet Sauvignon) $14.99USD (Screwcap)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Nice mint, cedar and dusty earth notes. Full bodied with bright acidity tending to sourness against a core of drying tannins. Flavors carry well onto the palate. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.8% alcohol. Tasted August 28, 2005.

Kalleske Clarry’s Barossa Red 2004 (80% Grenache, 20% Shiraz) $29.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Very open with spices, cherries, walnut and a hint of jasmime. Soft and supple entry onto the palate. Mouthfilling with clean refreshing acidity and soft tannins. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.9 = 18.0/20, 90/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted May 12, 2005.

Rolf Binder Halliwell (Barossa) 2002 (70% Shiraz, 30% Grenache) $14.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Confected notes of Grenache over plums and blackberry. Developed menthol and licorice with time. Full bodied with soft tannins. Seemingly elegant until marred by a little metallic hardness to the finish. At 24 hours rich, ripe and port-like with smoky oak and bitterness to the finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.5 = 17.4/20, 87/100. 14.5 5 alcohol. Tasted August , 18, 2005.

Penfold’s Bin 389 2002 $18.99USD
Thought I would retaste the 2002 Bin 389. Dense cherry red with red edge. There is no doubt that the aromatics on this wine are seductive. Ripe fruit mixed with sweet oak notes and the Cabernet coming off in a nice mint character. Medium to full bodied. Initially the palate has pronounced astringency backed up by clean acidity at the finish. Excellent retronasal. But there is not a lot of depth to the wine. At 24 hours aromatics still excellent but there is an annoying lack of integration midpalate. Its not a doughnut, its more structurally intact than that, its just not a seamless caress from start to finish.

Conclusion: Its certainly a great wine to smell, but there really is not a lot of depth across the palate. For $19USD its reasonable value. For $35AUD I'd have my doubts. Still its one of the best blends I've tried from 2002. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.7 = 17.9/20 (89), 14,5% alcohol. Tasted April 7-8, 2005.

Penfold’s Bin 389 2002 $18.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. The aromatics on this wine are excellent. Initially its very open with sweet ripe fruit and vanilla oak (perhaps a hint of ethyl acetate, VA?). It then closes down. In the mouth its full bodied, but lacks intensity across the midpalate. The finish is firmly tannic. Over the next few hours the wintergreen mint and cedar of the Cabernet comes up as does the acidity. At 24 hours its fuller and more complete across the palate. 2, 2, 4.4, 9.8 = 18.2/20, 14.5% alcohol. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Shiraz. Tasted February 21-22, 2005.

Penfold's Bin 389 2001 $18.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially a promising earthy, gamey nose underscored by a less than medium weight mouthfeel. Mouth drying tannins with refreshing acidity at the finish. Good retronasal. Needed time but opened nicely with plum, pepper and dark berry fruits overlaying a pleasant toasted character. Vigorous agitation revealed sweet vanilla oak. This is a wine that definitely needs some air to soften it. This adds some weight to the mouthfeel and creates a better balance between the structural components. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 14.3% alcohol. 60% Cabernet sauvignon, 40% Shiraz. Tasted December 1-2, 2004.

Australian Shiraz (Pre-2002)

2004-11-24T17:05:00.000-08:00

AusVetia South Australian Shiraz 1999 $49.99USD
95% Shiraz, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Cherry red with faint orange-brown tinge. Complex aromas with cedar, ink and vanilla prominent. Medium weight and very well balanced with pleasing acidity. Soft and supple with excellent presence of flavors on the palate, and a lengthy finish. At 24 hours a mint character was present and the acidity a little more toward the finish. An extremely well made wine that needs another 5-10 years to reach its peak. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.2 = 18.3/20, 92/100. 14% alcohol. Bottle No. 2533. Tasted March 17-18, 2005.

Penfold’s Kalimna Bin 28 2001 $16.99USD
Dense cherry red with a pinkish red edge. Open with tarry, burnt notes and dusty oak. Not particularly attractive. Sharp acidity followed by firm tannins but has a richness across the palate. Quite unusual, seems to be very mixed up. Flavors do carry through on retronasal. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.6 =17.7/20 Tasted February 19, 2005.

Jim Barry The McRae Wood Shiraz 2001 $26.98USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Slight ethyl acetate (VA?). Rich, jammy, with a big blackberry aroma. Full bodied with an excellent retronasal. A little lacking on the mid palate with acidity that pulls the mat out from under the wine at the finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.9 = 18.1/20 Tasted February 19, 2005.

Penfold's St Henri Shiraz 1992 $21.99USD
Light cherry red with faint orange edge. Initially faint caromel and kerosene! Developed into minty, resinous, licorice notes. Medium weight but not carrying completely across the palate. Otherwise structurally sound with a solid backbone of tannins and good acidity. Persistent finish. 2, 2, 3.4, 9.5 = 16.9/20, 13.5% alcohol. Tasted November 10, 2004.

New Zealand Whites

2004-11-24T13:50:00.000-08:00

Sauvignon Blanc
Lawson's Dry Hills Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2001 (Screwcap) $9.99USD
Fresh and vibrant for a three year old with prominent herbaceous, citrus and pineapple notes. Mouth filling, almost fat, with a softness across the palate backed up by bright acidity. Excellent retronasal and a long finish. The wine developed an attractive diesel flavor. Excellent value. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.2 = 18.2, 13% alcohol. Tasted November 21, 2004.

Australian Whites

2004-10-27T17:10:00.000-07:00

CHARDONNAY
Trevor Jones Virgin Chardonnay 2002 $11.99USD 375ml
Deep straw yellow - wonderful depth of color. Very open with citrus, melon and pineapple followed by notes of honey and caromel over a few hours. Full bodied and rich with a clean crisp acid finish that gave just a hint of fatness. Excellent retronasal. This is an brilliant example of an unwooded chardonnay. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4 13.5% alcohol. Tasted October 22.

RIESLING
Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Riesling 2003 (Screwcap) $15.99USD
Light straw. Initially very herbaceous, opening to notes of citrus and apple. A little below medium weight with a flinty character and a clean acid finish. Very good retronasal. From the nose I would initially have confused this with a sauvignon blanc. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.8, = 17.5 13% alcohol. Tasted October 24.

Petaluma Hanlin Hill Vineyard Clare Riesling 2003 $15.99USD
Light straw. Note of kerosene. Lighter in the mouth than the Pewsey Vale with hollowness to the midpalate, but a crisp apple acid finish. Excellent retronasal. Developed what I can only describe as a Mentholyptus-like note with time. 2, 2, 3.5, 9.5 = 17.0 13% alcohol. Tasted October 24.

STICKIES
Miranda Golden Botrytis 1999 Price Unknown 375 ml
Honey gold with loads of raisins, toffee, and ripe apricots. Luscious, rich, and full bodied. All it lacked was right degree of crisp acidity needed to clean the palate. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.0 = 18.3 10% alcohol. Tasted October 24.

Classic Wines

2004-10-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

There are wines that stand head and shoulders above the rest. For some they are wines that score 95 points or more out of 100. For others they score an A or better. For me they get 19 or better out of 20. My approach to scoring wines will be discussed elsewhere. As I find these wines they will be placed in this section of Tasting Notes. The Classic Wines section will begin with wines tasted in 2004, but as time permits I hope to go back and revisit my archived hard copy notes to build this section of the eBlog. P.S. If you want a score out of 100 then multiply by 5. That wasn't too hard, now was it?

Seppelt GR 113 Rare Rutherglen Muscat
Not quite as deep in color as the Tokay but a much richer wine with toffee and caramel and ripe raisins, and a beautifully long finish. An amazing concentration of flavor and complexity from the moment the glass reaches your nose. This is Australian Muscat at its best. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.7 = 19.2/20. Tasted December 12, 2004 at Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley.

Seppelt DP 59 Rare Rutherglen Tokay
The color of treacle, and gave flavors of treacle, molasses and coffee, and a finish that lingered and lingered. Lusciously rich and with wonderful depth and complexity of flavor. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.6 = 19.1/20. Tasted December 12, 2004 at Seppeltsfield, Barossa Valley.

Torbreck Descendant (Shiraz/ Viognier) South Australia, 2003 (Approx$90USD)
Dense cherry red with rich, ripe fruit that envelopes you in aromas of blackberries and the aromatics of the Viognier grape. Soft and elegant on the palate this wine has it all, balance, a solid backbone of drying tannins and an extra-long finish. 2, 2, 4.6, 10.5 = 19.1/20. Tasted December 12, 2004 at the vineyard.

Dutschke Oscar Semmler Shiraz, South Australia 2002 (Approx $50-60USD)
This wine is bottled from the best barrels of the shiraz vintage. Very dense cherry red, it also gave off a strong initial chocolate aroma that became a rich blackberry. Similar to the St Jakobi, the Oscar Semmler covered the palate with just a bit more of that wonderful, seamless concentration of flavor and richness. My hand written notes include “long elegant finish” with the long heavily underlined! 2, 2, 4.4, 10.6 = 19.0/20. Tasted December 13, 2004 at the winery.

Heathvale Eden Valley Shiraz, South Australia, 2002 (Approx $25USD)
Dense cherry red. Compared to the 2001 this wine has less intense initial aroma but greater complexity. It opened with blueberries and ripe fruit and those flavors intensified over time. On the palate it had the same soft and supple entry, and covered the palate seamlessly. Beautifully balanced, it had a rich, lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.5 = 19.0/20. Tasted December 16, 2004 at the vineyard.

Torbreck Run Rig (Shiraz/ Viognier) South Australia, 2002 (Approx$180USD)
Dense cherry red in color and to my nose subdued with just hints of blackberry and perhaps red fruits. Its true nature was revealed on the palate where it is elegant, seductive and complex. There is a lot going on when this wine carresses your tongue, and to get the most from it you will need to spend hours with a bottle all to yourself. It is extremely well balanced and structured with clean acidity and a firm tannic finish. There is a little alcohol there as well, but it scrapes into the Classic Wines. 2, 2, 4.6, 10.4 = 19.0/20, 14.5% alcohol. Tasted December 12, 2004 at the vineyard.

Kalleske Old Vine Grenache (Basket Pressed) 2002 $54.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. An intense floral note that quickly faded to eucalyptus, pepper and blackberries, plus a host of other complex aromas. In the mouth it’s a medium weight wine with acidity that dances across the palate to merge with equally evident firm tannins backing up the finish. This is a wine that is a delight to hold in the mouth while gently sucking in air over the wine and breathing out through the nose. An outstanding example of grenache. After 24 hours there was licorice and black fruits and that finish just lingers and lingers. At 48 hours the wine was showing just the faintest hint of getting a little tired. 2, 2, 4.7, 10.3 = 19.0/20. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted September 18-20, 2004.

Que Syrah, Shiraz and Sirah

2004-08-25T20:13:00.000-07:00

This is the fifth in a series of wine tastings being held on a monthly basis at Vintage Wines, San Diego, California. The event was billed as:

Que Syrah, Shiraz and Sirah
August 19th, 6:30-8:00PM
"This is the fastest growing varietal in wine sales today! We will explore the differences between regions in California, Australia, France and even Spain. You will explore the same grape varietal grown around the world and how these separate regions express this grape. Some of the wines to be tasted will be 2001 Castello di Ama, Spain; 2000 Elderton Command Shiraz; 2002 Garretson, Bulladoir, Central Coast."

The wines were poured between 2-3 hours before we tasted them. Unfortunately they had been grouped according to their region of origin rather than lighter through to the heavier styles. So although I tasted the wines blinded to the order it was not too dificult to sort out where the wines might have come from, but more on that after the tasting notes. My notes are in the order the wines were presented.

Tardieu Laurent Vieilles Vignes, St Joseph 2000 (Rhone, France) $29.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Notes of charcoal, smoked meat and lychees. Medium weight, with well integrated tannins. Considerable acid carried the finish. Flavors carried through on retronasal. A pleasant, structurally sound wine.

Jean Luc Columbo Les Collines De Laure Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaneinnes 1999 $29.99USD
Cherry red with a slight shade of orange brown to the edge. Medicinal and smoky at first. This wine developed the smell of pure ethanol. Medium weight with astringent tannins. Flavors did not linger on retronasal.

Bernard Burgaud Cote Rotie (Rhone, France) 2000 $39.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Initially closed with just some sulfur stink and dusty oak, this wine developed a distinct chicken coop smell. In the mouth the predominant character was mouth watering acidity. While the wine finished clean and the flavors carried through and lingered on retronasal, the acidity put the wine out of balance for me. And while it may soften in 10 or 20 years I consider so much acidity a fault.

Garretson Hoage Vineyard “The Bulladoir” 2002 (Paso Robles, California) $39.99USD
Deep, dense black cherry red with red edge. Very open with predominant blackberry and almost every other jam. On the palate this wine, well the WMD have been discovered! Too big, too powerful. Astringent beyond belief. And there is sweetness there as well. To give it some credit the flavors do linger on retronasal for an awfully long time. Maybe it will settle down, but it probably should not be released so soon. Oh, one other detail, it has 17% alcohol. You can’t taste it!

Copain Cailloux & Coccinelle 2002 (Walla Walla, Washington) $35.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Very open with nice floral notes that became asparagus and then vegetal. Developed licorice with time. Good mouthfeel, soft tannins and nice clean acid finish. A well structured wine. Flavors carried through on retronasal and lingered. Initially this wine was very appealing but the vegetal character became unattractive.

Darioush Signature 2001 (Napa Valley, California) $59.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Predominant character was toasted oak and the smell of fountain pen ink. Others could smell rubber tires and faint skunk. Soft entry with light weight on the palate. Some sweetness to the taste. Soft tannins and nice clean acid finish. Although lacking in body, this is still a well structured, nice wine.

Elderton Command 2000(Barossa)$54.99USD
Dense cherry red with pink edge. Smoke, butterscotch and caromel. Later menthol and dried tea leaves. Good mouthfeel, soft tannins, well integrated acid finish. Well stuctured wine. Great retronasal.

Ausvetia (McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Barossa) 2000 $49.99USD
Cherry red with pink, slightly orange tinged edge. Distinct aromatic notes of cigars and bananas.This could be a cabernet. Medium body with soft tannins and clean acid finish. Well structured wine with flavors carrying through on prolonged retronasal.

On my first pass through the wines, which is always an examinantion of color and smell, I though the Garretson might be a big, bold Aussie. But we had been told that there were two Aussies and as the wines had been grouped by region for the tasting I pretty soon realized that the wines either side of it were simply not Australian. The only choice for the Australians had to be the last two, even though both could really have passed for cabernets. The Ausvetia was my favorite wine of the tasting and the overwhelming favorite of the group. Neither wine is in the style of the currently popular fruit bombs and the Ausvetia never scores well with Parker. However there are those who will say that the Elderton did not show its true colors. But that Garretson is something else!

Given all the mud slinging that has been going on about Aussie shiraz on overseas BB (Ozstralian Wine Bashing) I find it interesting that the biggest wine in this admittedly limited tasting turned out to be Californian, and a style that Parker likes. The person who liked it at our tasting was a novice, a nice guy, but a novice. The most favored wine, the Ausvetia, is a wine Parker has trouble giving more than 90 points. The only problem I have is trying to decide whether I should stick with my decision to go with the RWT as my high end shiraz or buy the Ausvetia instead!

Bar-B-Que Wines

2004-06-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

Bar-B-Que Wines
“It is that time of year when we invite the family and friends over for a party! Come this Saturday to pick out your favorite party wine.”
Saturday, June 19, 11-3PM,
$5 BUCKS

One of the weekly $5 tastings held by Vintage wines in San Diego and the first I’ve been to for quite some time. Even though you are provided with a listing of the wines and tasting notes, I always taste the wines blind.

Mas de Bressades, Vin de Pays, 2003 ($8.99US) – Grenache and Syrah.
Dark cherry. Flavors of bubble gum, stewed fruit and citrus. Mouthfeel a little thin, but nice tannins. A good clean wine with flavors present on retronasal.

Mas Fondreche, Cotes du Ventoux, 2003 ($10.99US) – Syrah, Grenache, and Carignan.
Dark cherry. Floral notes combined with cherries. Ethyl acetate (nail polish). A big wine finishing with hard tannins and clean acid, but thin on the midpalate. Flavors carry through on retronasal.

Twenty Bench, Cabernet, 2002 ($14.99US) – 100% Cabernet
Deep dark cherry with a reddish edge. Caramel and tobacco. Nice fruit, but almost sweet. Developed wintergreen mint flavor. Nice wine with a clean acid finish and unobtrusive tannins.

Joel Gott, Dillian Ranch Zinfabdel, 2002 ($19.99US)
Cherry with a brownish tinge to the edge. Lightest color of the group. Initially slightly medicinal but developed cedar and smoked ham flavors. Mouth drying tannins. Flavors carried through on retronasal.

Qupe, Arroyo Grande Vineyard Syrah 2002 ($25.99US)
Dark cherry. Initially a little closed, only showing dusty oak. Developed flavors of red fruits and butterscotch. Thin mouthfeel, finishing hot and slightly bitter. Flavors carried through on retronasal.

Thalgara, Show Reserve Shiraz, 1997 ($17.99US)
Brick red with a distinct brown edge; obviously not a young wine. Predominant flavor of burnt caramel (oxidized). On the palate the wine was thin with mouth watering acidity to the finish. Flavors carried through on retronasal.

I preferred the cabernet among this group, but I would not recommend any of the wines. However I will say that they all tasted much better with the Beef Goulash that I was served after having gone through an initial assessment of the wines. I was frankly shocked by the tasting notes provided for the Thalgara (“Tons of ripe black fruit flavors in this chewy mouthstaining Aussie shiraz.”) which had been reduced from $38.99US. To me the wine was oxidized and well past its peak.

To recover from the insult that the Thalgara made to Aussie shiraz I ordered a tasting of Penfold's RWT Shiraz, Barossa, 2001 ($69.99US) from the wine bar. For a 2 oz taste it was $7.75US, but this is shiraz. A dark cherry with a reddish edge, the wine was very open and opulent with cherries and floral notes. It was simply enjoyable just to smell the wine. On the palate it had good mouthfeel, very well balanced with a clean finish. On retronasal the flavors lingered as a good wine should do.

Brunello-vs-Barolo

2004-06-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

This is the third in a series of wine tastings being held on a monthly basis at Vintage Wines, San Diego, California. The event was billed as:

Brunello-vs-Barolo
June 17th, 6:30-8:00PM
"I am sure you have read about the 1999 Brunellos and the 2000 Barolos, so here is your chance to taste 4 of each! We will explore the varietals, regions, history and the future of these famed regions. Which do you like better Sangiovese Grosso or Nebbiolo? Come in and find out for yourself, or if you plan to purchase or have purchased them, this is your chance to taste ours and keep yours for later."

The Barolos were supposed to be 2000 which has been reported by Wine Spectator as a 100 point vintage. In the end we only got to taste 2 wines from that vintage. A bigger concern was the woman who sat next to me reeking of perfume. Fortunately as chairs filled up and then her group arrived she moved to another table. Only to be replaced by a guy who must have bathed in aftershave! The surprise was that he actually knew something about Italian wine, but apparently not a lot about wine tasting etiquette.

The wines were poured about two hours before we arrived and were tasted blind, individual favorites voted for, and then the identities were revealed. The wines are listed in the order of tasting.

Casanuova della Cerbaie Brunello di Montalcino 1999 ($51.99US)
Cherry red with a pink edge. Dusty oak, cedar and sweet caramel flavors. Well balanced with good mouthfeel. Clean acid and nice unobtrusive tannins. Flavors carry through on retronasal.

Caprili Brunello di Montalcino 1999 ($44.99)
Cherry red with pink edge. Oak and a slight barnyard which developed into motor oil and dried tea leaves. This wine was very astringent but with good mouthfeel and a clean acid finish. A little bit out of balance. Flavors carried through on retronasal. (My pick of the Brunellos, ahead of the Banfi.)

Ciacci Piccolomini Brunello di Montalcino 1999 ($54.99US)
Cherry red with a pink edge and just a suggestion of browning. Wet newspaper (corked) and licorice. The wine was thin and acidic with a sharp finish. Among the group sitting near me there was a consensus that the wine was corked. I presented my glass to the person running the tasting but he wasnt sure. So we all sampled a glass from an unoccupied seat at our table and the wine smelled fine, actually very nice! It was all supposed to have been from the same bottle. One person voted for this wine as their favorite, hopefully they got good wine!

Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 1999 ($56.99US)
Dark cherry with a red edge. Darkest color of the Brunellos. Blackberry and licorice. Developed jammy, port-like flavors. Big mouth drying tannins with nice clean acid finish that turned a little bitter at the end.

Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Vigna Casa Mate 1999 ($49.99US)
Cherry red with a pinkish to light brown edge. Dusty oak and dried meats. Developed ethyl acetate. Soft entry with big tannins and clean acid finish. Flavors carried through on retronasal.

Elio Altare Barolo La Morra 2000 ($64.99US)
Cherry red with a pink/brown edge. Prominent licorice but also quite vinous. Developed ethyl acetate. Lighter, softer entry than the other wines, then big drying tannins followed by a clean acid finish.

Seghesio Barolo 2000 ($39.99US)
Cherry red with a light brown edge. Some oak but otherwise quite closed. Slight hint of pure ethanol. This wine had well balanced acid and tannin and the flavors carried through on retronasal. This wine was the group favorite and others could smell quite a lot of fruit.

Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric Del Fiasc 1999 ($89.99US)
Cherry red with a light brown edge. Licorice and dried tea leaves. This wine had very good mouth feel and was very well balanced with good retronasal. Nice wine, and my favorite among all the wines.

2002 Australian Shiraz

2004-05-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

Seeing as the 2002 vintage is reportedly a classic, I'll be tasting as many as I get my hands on. All tasting notes for the 2002's will be added to this post as the wines are tasted.

Fox Creek McLaren Vale Short Row Shiraz 2002 $19.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Opens with attractive aromas of blackberry, vanilla, nutmeg and chocolate. Full bodied with drying, gritty tannins and juicy acidity. Flavors fade on the end of the palate revealing bitterness on the finish. At 24 hours lacking in flavor except for toasted/burnt oak. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.3 = 17.3/20, 86/100. 15% alcohol. Tasted November 2-3, 2005.

Kay Brothers Amery Vineyard McLaren Vale Hillside Shiraz 2002 (Screwcap) $28.99USD
Cherry red with a faint tinge of orange on the edge. Overly rich and ripe with blackberry, chocolate, vanilla, and ethyl acetete (EA). Medium to full bodied with pleasant mouthfeel but sharp acidity. The fine tannins produce no astringency but hold up a lengthy finish. At 24 hours the wine had aromas of dusty, burnt oak and licorice and the palate retained sharp, juicy acidity. A wine that needs several years to integrate. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.0 = 18/3/20, 91/100, 15% alcohol. Tasted October 31-November 1, 2005.

Wild Duck Creek Estate (Heathcote) Springflat Shiraz 2002 $39.99USD
A wine that actually does need to be decanted as it was bottled unfiltered and is throwing a sediment. Dense cherry red with blood red edge. Pronounced jammy aromas of cherry and blackberry over smoke. Full bodied with excellent mouthfeel that is soft and silky but with notable depth across the palate. Very soft tannins and bright acidity. Impressive length to the finish. Drinking well now but should live for up to 10 years. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.3 = 18.6/20, 93/100. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted October 23, 2005.

Connor Park (Bendigo) Shiraz 2002 (Basket Press) $16.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially suphur over subdued cherry, blackberry, faint pepper and dusty oak. Full bodied with fine tannins and very juicy acidity. Finishes nicely. A competent, pleasant Shiraz without any real distinction. Drink over the next 2-5 years. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.6 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted October 13, 2005.

Larrikin Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $16.99USD
(Bottled by Mount Langi Ghiran, Victoria)
Cherry red with pink edge. Ripe cherry, sweet vanilla oak and licorice. Full bodied with lavish notes of cherry and blackberry on the palate. Well balanced with soft tannins, juicy acidity and a lengthy finish. Although lacking complexity on the midpalate and tending towards simplicity this is still a good example of Barossa Shiraz. The acidity was vanquished by a spicy beef stew. At 24 hours notes of rich chocolate and blackberry but with a hard finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.5 = 17.5/20, 88/100. 14.55 alcohol. Tasted September 26-27, 2005.

Penfold’s Magill Estate Shiraz 2002 $39.99USD
Throwing a fine sediment. Dense cherry red with bricking on the edge. Complex aromatics that include prominent toasted coconut and blueberry followed by cherries and pepper with an underlay of dark caramel and earth. Full bodied with a soft and supple entry. Great structure with excellent depth and complexity across the palate. Super soft tannins backed up by juicy acidity and a persistent finish. At 24 hours the wine was unchanged. This is a truly excellent Shiraz that needs at least a decade or more to reach its potential, but it is wonderful drinking right now. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.4 = 18.8/20, 94/100. 14.45 alcohol. Tasted September 21-22, 2005.

Deisen Barossa Shiraz 2002 $39.99USD (French and American Oak)
A wine made with no fining or filtering.
Very dense cherry, almost purple, with red edge. Layered complexity of blueberry/blackberry and liqueur cherry over chocolate. Full bodied and initially disjointed with mouth coating tannins and sharp acidity. With time became soft and supple with racy acidity carrying the flavors across the palate for a lengthy finish. Needs several years to settle. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.0 = 18.2/20, 91/100. 15% alcohol. Tasted September 17, 2005.

Connor Park The Honor Shiraz (Bendigo) 2002 (French Oak) $34.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Sweet, over-ripe fruit aromas, pepper and anise and pronounced nail polish remover (ethyl acetate, EA). Full bodied with soft and supple entry, soft elegant tannins, and prominent EA and cherries on the palate. Some hardness to the end palate but nice length to the finish. Hides its alcohol very well, but is too rich to drink in any quantity. At 24 hours rich, ripe and very aromatic with EA and toasted oak. Holding up amazingly well. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.5 = 17.1/20, 85/100. 17% alcohol. Tasted September 12-14, 2005.

Rosemount Estate Shiraz 2002 (Diamond label) $6.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Notes of blueberry, sweet vanilla oak and nail polish (EA). Full bodied with soft tannins and pronounced acidity. Well made, and while not distinctive still excellent value. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.5 = 17.2/20, 86/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted May 19, 2005.

Penfold’s Thomas Hyland Shiraz 2002 $10.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Sweet oak, plum and pepper notes. Full bodied but quite non-descript across the palate. A wine of little complexity or depth. Flavors do not carry well onto the palate and the finish is very short. At 24 hours there was little change. 2, 2, 3.5, 9.0 = 16.5/20, 82/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted May 14-15, 2005.

Kirralaa Bushvine Shiraz 2002 $10.99USD
Pronounced KEERA-lah which is Australian aboriginal for star. This wine is a joint effort between Robert Oatley, founder of Rosemount Estate and Robert Mondavi, founder of Robert Mondavi .
Dense cherry red with red edge. Sweet, ripe fruit, vanilla oak, cherries and pepper. Almost overly aromatic. Medium to full bodied with good retention of flavors onto the palate but very disjointed with sharp acidity and an abbreviated finish. Developed a toasted note with time. At 24 hours there was more presence of flavors on the palate but the oak is too pronounced. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.0 = 16.6/20, 83/100. 14.5% alcohol. May 10-11, 2005.

Henry’s Drive Padthaway Shiraz 2002 $31.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Smoky, resinous with sweet vanilla oak. Full bodied and very well balanced . Hides its alcohol very well. At 24 hours slight blackberry aroma underlying ripe, sweet fruit, port-like, with a burnt (almost tarry) character to the finish. 2, 2, 3.8, 10.0=17.8/20, 89/100. 16% alcohol. Tasted May 7-8, 2005.

Schild Estate Wines Barossa Shiraz 2002 $18.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially dusty oak, plumb and sulfur stink that blew off to reveal sweet, smoky oak and blackberry. Full bodied and well balanced with clean acidity and firm tannins but little length to the finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.5=17.4/20, 87/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted April 25, 2005.

Paringa Individual Vineyard Shiraz 2002 $7.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Blackberry and vanilla oak. Ripeness without excitement. Full bodied, pleasantly soft tannins and good acidity. Fades on the midpalate to an unpleasant bitterness. 2, 2, 3.6, 8.5 = 16.4/20, 82/100. 14% alcohol. Tasted March 29, 2005.

Craneford Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $29.99USD
I first tasted this wine on January 29 from the Wine Bar at Vintage Wines in San Diego. At that time I wrote:
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially a fried tomato–like character opening to blackberry jam. Full bodied with sweet oak but a slight bitterness to the palate. Compared to the California Syrah I was tasting at the same time it was a better wine and I scored it higher, but I wanted to taste this wine again because the bitterness worried me. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.1 = 18.2/20.

Wine from a fresh bottle was a dense cherry red with a red edge. Very open and complex with blackberry, plum, and fried tomato aromas opening to chocolate and pepper. Full bodied and well balanced with soft tannins on a persistent finish. Flavors carry well on retronasal. At 24 hours there was blackberry jam, pepper and toasted oak, soft tannins and refreshing acidity. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4/20, 14% alcohol. Tasted February 22-23, 2005.

The most interesting thing about the Craneford was that I was drinking it while I was working on the computer for several hours and I would taste it every 15-20 minutes and it would continually be giving prominence to its different aromas, chocolate would predominate and then fruit notes, and so on. Its a very attractive wine.

Killibinbin Langhorne Creek Shiraz 2002 $31.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Complex aromas of chocolate, fried tomato, coffee, oak and blackberry. Soft entry but full bodied and with mouthwatering acidity on the finish. Filled out over time with tannins becoming sweeter and more forward on the palate. Excellent retronasal. At 24 hours the entry was soft and supple and the wine flowed seamlessly across the palate with loads of chocolate and jammy blackberry, ending with sweet, firm tannins. 2, 2, 4.1, 10.2 = 18.3/20, 14.5% alcohol. Tasted February 21-22, 2005.

Goundrey Offspring Shiraz 2002 (West Australia) $10.97USD (Screw cap)
Cherry red with pink edge. Slight sulfur stink. Initially closed. Opened quite slowly with aroma of bacon fat and dusty oak, then plum and barnyard. Soft and supple entry, well balanced with fine tannins. The flavors carry well on retronasal. At 24 hours there was more plum and earth notes and the wine was holding together well with a touch of acidity on the finish. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.8 = 17.6/20, 13.5% alcohol. Tasted February 20-22, 2005.

d’Arenberg McLaren Vale The Footbolt Shiraz 2002 $13.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Ripe, rich cherries, sweet vanilla oak, and pepper aromas. Full bodied with toasted/smoky oak on retronasal. Unpleasant elevated acidity on the palate puts the wine out of balance. An abbreviated clip to the tannic finish. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.6 = 17.7/20, 14.5% alcohol. Tasted February 16, 2005.

St Hallett Faith Barossa Shiraz 2002 $18.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. Very open with blueberry and vanilla notes overlaying and attractive smokiness. A full bodied wine with excellent structure and pronounced flavor profile on retronasal. Firm tannins hold the lengthy finish. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2 = 18.4, 14% alcohol. Tasted February 8, 2005.

Kurtz Family Vineyards Boundary Row Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $24.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Initial flavors were of plums and blueberries with a toasted sweet oak flavor developing with time. Medium to full bodied and well balanced with soft tannin and a clean acid finish. At 24 hours notes of pepper and oak were most evident and the alcohol and acidity were showing through. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.0 = 18.0, 14% alcohol. Tasted February 1-2, 2005.

Jeanneret Clare Valley Shiraz 2002 $17.99USD
Deep cherry red with red edge. Very open and attractive with plums, pepper and dusty oak aromas. On the palate, a full bodied wine with rich, ripe almost sweet fruit and soft tannins. The finish is marred by a surprising bitterness. At 24 hours the wine had developed a faint mint character and a sweet vanilla oak flavor. 2, 2, 4.2, 9.7 = 17.9/20, 14.5% alcohol. Tasted January 26-27, 2005.

Wynn's Coonawarra Estate Shiraz 2002 $11.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Quite open with raspberry, vanilla, dusty oak and chocolate. Medium weight, very fine tannins. Well balanced but lacking depth especially across the midpalate and with some sour acidity to the finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.0 = 17.0. 13.5% alcohol. Tasted November 23, 2004.

Twelve Staves McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002 $29.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Initially quite closed. Inky, caromel, earthy notes opening to stewed blackberries. Full bodied, very chewy with persistent tannins. Well balanced with an extra long finish. 2, 2, 3.6, 10.2 = 17.8. 15% alcohol. Tasted November 10, 2004.

Turkey Flat Barossa Shiraz 2002 $34.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open and seductive with blackberry, vanilla and bubblegum. On the palate a little less than medium weight with acidity and astringent tannins not yet fully integrated. Needs time. Excellent retronasal and a lengthy finish. Wine tasted after five days was remarkably sound and smelled intensely of blackberries. Wonderful! 2, 2, 4.6, 10.0 = 18.6. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted November 16, 2004.

For various reasons the unfinished bottle was left in the fridge. I dragged it out when the in-laws came over on the weekend and checked it out before serving it to the mother-in-law! The smell was amazing! The most concentrated aroma I've ever had from a glass of wine, and it hadn't even warmed up! It did fade fairly quickly but I just walked around with the glass plastered to my face; the in-laws already think I'm crazy anyway.

See below for tasting notes on the wine in 375 ml bottle.

Green Point Shiraz, Victoria 2002 $16.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Very open with a distinctive floral note overlaying raspberries and other red fruits. Medium weight with very soft tannins. Soft and supple in the mouth . This is a very well balanced wine with lively acidity and a long finish. At 24 hours the acidity became a little sharp. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.8 = 17.9. 14% alcohol. Tasted November 2-3, 2004.

Journeys End The Beginning Shiraz, McLaren Vale - Fleurieu 2002 $17.99USD
Dense cherry red with pink edge. Subdued with dusty oak and vanilla opening to plums on retronasal. A full bodied, well structured wine that smothers the palate with soft tannins followed by a clean acid finish. At 24 hours the wine had opened considerably displaying attractive notes of chocolate and vanilla. This wine proved a bit of a tease because it seemed to want to offer more but never got up the courage to do it. 2, 2, 3.8, 10.1 = 17.9. 15% alcohol. Tasted October 20-21, 2004.

Kangarilla Road McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002 $15.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Quite closed with just hints of pepper and blackberry. Mouth filling and well structured. This is a wine that finesses the palate with more elegance than most of the ’02 shiraz I’ve tasted so far. Well balanced with crisp acidity marrying very fine tannins that provide some astringency to the finish. The lack of fruit aromas means that the retronasal is dominated by sweet oak. The alcohol becomes evident as the wine warms. 2, 2, 3.5, 9.8 = 17.3. 14% alcohol. Tasted October 18-19, 2004.

Tait Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 (Basket Pressed) $29.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Chocolate and spice notes opening to blackberry and vanilla. Medium weight with vibrant acidity that is well balanced by firm tannins as the wine washes across the palate. Flavors carry through on a lengthy finish. At 24 hours the wine had developed some licorice and still exhibited well balanced firm tannins and crisp acidity. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.0 = 18.0. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted October 15-16, 2004.

Clarendon Hills Syrah Moritz Vineyard 2002 $51.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Initial flavor is one of tomato sauce, almost Del Monte Ketchup, but not quite as richly flavored. This character is very similar to that previously described in the 2002 Clarendon Hills Syrah from the Liandra Vineyard. It progress to a Brett-like character, although in the Moritz it is more easily removed by vigorous swirling of the wine. In the mouth the wine has a supple entry and good structure with fine tannins and mouth watering acidity cleaning the palate at the finish. Over time a slight sweetness developed on entry and the midpalate became a little herbaceous. At 24 hours the Brett was reduced and the wine showed greater complexity with hints of licorice, vanilla, and dark fruits. However the finish was somewhat hard and bitter. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.3 = 17.1. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted October 11-12, 2004.

Clarendon Hills Syrah Liandra Vineyard 2002 $51.99USD
Cherry red with pink edge. Pepper and an aroma of cold fried tomatoes that turned to distinct Brett as the wine warmed. Soft and supple entry. Medium weight with lively acid across the palate. Fine tannins holding the finish. Aftertaste slightly sour and metallic (Oh, Brett what have you done!). At 24 hours the Brett was reduced revealing some blackberry and dusty oak. On the palate the wine was quite acetic and unpleasant. Brett does more harm than good. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.0 = 16.6. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted September 28-29, 2004.

Two Way Range Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $49.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Pronounced blackberry, plumb and pepper. Full bodied, very well structured with a solid backbone of firm tannins and an elegant acid finish. Flavors carry though on retronasal for a lengthy finish. A food wine that was marred by the development of a slightly unpleasant herbaceousness. Considering the level of alcohol this wine holds itself together well. At 24 hours it showed a toasted flavor and some vanilla and was softer on the palate with that lively acid still evident on the finish. 2, 2, 4.3, 9.7 = 18.0. 15.6% alcohol. Tasted September 22-23, 2004.

Kalleske Greenock Shiraz (Basket Pressed) 2002 $54.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Jumps out of the glass with an initial aroma of intense chocolate, changing to smoked meat, vanilla and a slight mint flavor. Developed a pepper note over several hours. Full bodied with big astringent tannins and a clean acid finish – still too young. Although a little rough on the edges and somewhat closed on retronasal, it’s a well structured wine. But its not a food wine, the high alcohol content gave the wine an unpleasant hotness with the beef stroganoff we tried it with. After about 8 hours in the glass the wine was still full bodied, jammy and astringent, and now the retronasal was heavy with chocolate and dusty oak. A glass or two tried the next day gave blackberry, vanilla, mint and was still full bodied. This is a wine with a long life but, in my opinion, is really too young to be drunk now. 2, 2, 4.5, 9.6=18.1. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted September 15-16, 2004.

Retasted June 16, 2005
Deep, satured cherry red with red edge. Very open with chocolate, bluberry and rich, ripe fruit, and just a little wiff of alcohol. Full bodied with great depth across the palate, finishing with chewy tannins. Needs years more time. 2, 2, 4.4, 10.4 = 18.8/20, 94/100.

Jim Barry Lodge Hill Clare Valley Shiraz 2002 $13.99USD
What a great little wine, especially for the price! Cherry red with a pink edge. Very open with attractive berry and mixed spice notes. Slightly below medium weight. But nice soft tannins make for a very supple wine that finishes clean and crisp. Flavors carry through on retronasal for a prolonged finish. Not a wine for the ages but one that is drinking well now and will do for several more years at least. After 24 hours the wine had become more port-like and was showing signs of early oxidation, but then its not meant to be Grange just bloody good value! 2, 2, 4.2, 10.2=18.4. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted August 23-24, 2004.

Retasted: Cherry red with red edge. Very open with sweet vanilla oak, blackberry and plumb and slight mint. Medium weight with good acidity. Soft and supple across the palate. Flavors carry well onto the palate. Well balanced. Developed toasted oak character. 2, 2, 4.3, 10.1 = 18.4/20, 92/100. Tasted June 23, 2005.

Forefathers McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002 $22.99USD
Cherry red with pinkish red edge. Slight dirty dishwater stink overlays attractive aromas of stewed plums and pepper. Soft entry, medium weight, astringent tannins and a clean crisp acid finish. Flavors carry through on retronasal for a long finish. A well structured, attractive wine. After 24 hours the wine had developed a truffle-like aroma, was soft and supple with a clean acid finish and the flavors lingered. 2, 2, 3.5, 9.8=17.3. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted August 18-19, 2004.

O’Leary Walker Shiraz 2002 $19.99USD
60% Clare Valley/40% McLaren Vale fruit.
Cherry red with pink edge. Initially quite closed, giving up just some dusty oak. Soft and supple entry. Good weight in the mouth, supported by solid tannins and a crisp acid finish. Hints of great structure. Retronasal gave up some black fruits. Over time flavors of vanilla, lychees and nutmeg developed. At 24 hours the wine was still softer, more supple and more refined than most of the ‘02s tasted thus far. Much more integrated. Tannins are softer, acid holds the finish well. If it opens up more it will be an excellent wine. 2, 2, 3.7, 9.3=17.0. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted August 17-18, 2004.

Mitolo Jester McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002 $21.99USD (Screw cap)
Cherry red with pink edge. Initial sulfur-like stink. Distinct herbaceous odor with chocolate undertones. Medium weight mouthfeel but lacking on the midpalate. There is a lot of acid in this wine and while the finish is clean it is also quite sharp and short. After 24 hours the wine had developed flavors of cloves and vanilla and the acidity had softened considerably, but the wine still lacks structure. 2, 2, 3.0 ,8.0=15 14% alcohol (although it says 14.5% on the Australian label). Tasted August 13-14, 2004.

Branson Coach House "Grenock Block" Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $38.99USD
Deep cherry red with red edge. Very open with oak, wet earth and chocolate notes. Mouthfilling but soft and supple (especially with food). Clearly some heavy oak treatment, but the wine is not overly astringent. A distinct herbaceous character developed over several hours. Good retronasal with the flavors lingering. After 24 hours the wine was somewhat subdued and had developed a slight sourness to the finish. This latter point is interesting as the first bottle I tasted of the wine had weeped leaving a wine stained cork. That wine had smelt of blackberry, chocolate and caramel, and later pepper. Had good mouthfeel and excellent retronasal but a sour finish. To me the smell of caramel and the sour taste spell oxidation. Given my experience with both bottles I would predict that this wine does not have along life ahead of it. 2, 2, 3.5, 9.5=17.0. 14% alcohol. Tasted August 8-9, 2004.

Turkey Flat Vineyards Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $16.99USD 375ml
Cherry red, pink edge. Quite closed. Hints of chocolate and dusty oak. Mouthfilling with big astringent tannins and a clean acid finish. Well balanced. More open on retronasal with blackberry and plum jam. Nice length to the finish. Became more open over several hours, but disappointing compared to several other wines that have been tasted from this vintage (see below). 2,2,3.0,9.0 = 16.0 Stored for 48 hours under vacuum seal after which it became much more open with chocolate, blackberry and licorice, and a hint of toasted oak. A prolonged finish. Well balanced. A nice wine. 2,2,4.0,9.7 =17.7. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted July 31-August 2, 2004.

(Scholz Family) Back Block Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $44.99USD
(12 months in American oak 100% shiraz from Light's Pass vineyard)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open with oak, blackberry and chocolate. Mouthfilling with big, but unobtrusive, tannins. Covers the palate with chocolate. Finishes crisp and clean with a faint bitterness. Prolonged retronasal. A powerful wine. Developed mint (shiraz masquerading as cabernet), and some sweetness to the finish. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.3 = 18.8. 15.4% alcohol.

At 24 hours the alcohol began to show itself, but it is amazing that this wine holds together so well. Already throwing some sediment. Tasted July 27-28, 2004.

I've labeled the wine from the Scholz family, and it is, but that is not prominent on the label. The Sholz family also make the Willows Vineyard wines recently reviewed by TORB. Back Block does not seem to be among the wines described and from the description here in the United States its quite a limited release (60 cases) which makes me suspect that it might be a trial run at a Parkerized wine. Its certainly in that style.

Thorn-Clarke William Randell Barossa Valley Shiraz 2002 $31.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open, big chocolate and vanilla. Dusty oak and faint pepper. Good mouthfeel, fine tannins and clean acid finish. Flavors carry through on a pronounced retronasal. A very well balanced wine with years ahead of it. (Former notes from a Vinum glass. Using an ISO the most pronounced character was pepper!) After 24 hours the wine had a slightly hot character but nice blackberry and port-like flavors, soft tannins, clean acid finish, and a prolonged retronasal. 2, 2, 4.5, 10.0 = 18.5. 13.9% alcohol. Tasted July 20-21, 2004.

Hazyblur Baroota Shiraz South Australia 2002 $32.99USD
Deep cherry with pink edge. First impression is heat (from the alcohol). Very open with pronounced blackberry, cherry jam and slight pepper. Initially, the wine has good mouth feel, but this is followed by mouth drying tannins and a hard and sharp finish. Flavors fade on retronasal. This wine is not well balanced at all, and was thus unpleaseant to drink. After 24 hours under vacuum seal the remaining wine showed no change. 2, 2, 4.o, 8.5=16.5. 15% alcohol. Tasted July 13-15, 2004.)

This is the second Hazyblur wine I have tasted (see below) and I can't say I'm all that impressed. Both wines lack structure and finish quite short. The Baroota seems very hot, and although I believe the high alcohol explains much of this there may be some contribution from the handling of the grapes.

Sanguine Estate Heathcote Shiraz 2002 $34.99USD
Deep, dark cherry with a reddish edge. Prominent lychee nut, dusty oak and pepper. This could be Californian Zinfandel. Soft entry, good mouth feel, clean acid finish and soft tannins. Great retronasal. Over several hours developed chocolate and cedar flavors and a slight bitterness to the finish. At 24 hours there was a mushroom flavor and the finish was hard, hot and acidic. By 48 hours there was a jammy port-like flavor and some caromel, but the wine had softened and was still quite sound, and that retronasal just goes on and on. Alcohol 14.5%. Tasted June 14-16, 2004.

(I used a vacuum sealer on this bottle which may have helped protect against oxidation.)

Reasted January 9, 2006.
Slightly murky dense cherry red with red edge (unfiltered?). Rich blueberry/blackberry that became more spicy and peppery with time (1-2 hours). Also developed a dried tea leaf character. Spice note is cinnamon-like (and yes I did visit our spice rack just to make sure). Medium weight with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate. Soft and supple entry with very fine tannins. Mouthwatering acidity with some hardness to the finish. Does lack depth to the mid-palate. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.6 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 14.5% alcohol. Tasted January 9, 2006.

RockBare Shiraz McLaren Vale 2002 $13.99USD
Dark cherry red with pink edge. Very closed. Gave no true flavors over two hours. Well structured. Mouthfilling with good balance between acid and tannin. Tasted June 6, 2004.

Second bottle tasted June 9 and 10 was again dark cherry in color but a little less closed. Prominent initial flavors were of sulfur and dusty oak. Over about two hours there were fleeting hints of licorice, chocolate, pepper and cherries. Again a very well structured wine with balanced acid and tannins. After 24 hours the oak gave a toasted character and the wine had softened a bit. If this wine ever really opens up it could be excellent. Alcohol 14.5%.

Retasted May 9, 2005.
Dark cherry red with red edge. Aromas of blueberry, chocolate and toasted oak. Medium weight with clean acidity. Thin across the mid-palate but with firm tannins that give a smoky finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 9.8 = 17.7/20, 89/100.

Gemtree Uncut Shiraz McLaren Vale 2002 $21.99USD
Cherry red with a pink edge. Prominent wintergreen mint with pepper and dusty oak flavors. The entry is soft and supple but is followed by pronounced astringency and a clean acid finish. Flavors carried through on retronasal. After 24 hours there were flavors of mint, leather and oak, and the wine had softened considerably. 14.5% alcohol. If I didn’t know this was shiraz I would have called it a young cabernet! (Note to self: Must buy a few more bottles.) Tasted June 4-6, 2004.

Ross Estate North Ridge Shiraz Barossa Valley 2002 $16.99USD ( Screw cap)
Dark cherry red, almost black. Looks like it came directly from the barrel. Initially a little closed with hints of chocolate and earth. In the mouth this wine is a little thin, and lacking in the mid-palate, with mouth watering acidity and an astringent finish. The flavors carry through on retronasal. Over a few hours it developed pepper and licorice flavors. The next day it showed some wintergreen mint charatcer but was even more astringent with a sharp acid finish. It might be interesting to revisit this in a year or two just to see if the screw cap lets the wine soften. 14% alcohol.

Elderton Barossa Shiraz 2002 $21.99USD
Very deep cherry red. Unusual mix of flavors. Herbaceous, with a hint of barnyard and old dishwater (sulphur?). Ripe fruit (almost sweet), and port-like. Good mouthfeel with soft but persistent tannins. Clean acid finish. Prolonged flavors on retronasal. Hard to believe this wine has 15% alcohol. A day after opening the wine had developed ripe red fruit, floral and mushroom flavors. The midpalate had softened, but the finish was a little hard. The tannins and alcohol are not overpowering but seem to be holding each other in check. Tasted May 25-26, 2004.

Hazyblur Shiraz Adelaide Plains 2002 $25.99USD
Dense cherry red with pink edge. Peppery (high alcohol), dusty oak, plum jam and chocolate flavors. Good mouth feel, with the high alcohol providing good weight, but lacking in the mid-palate. Clean crisp acid finish and fine tannins. Retronasal quite short. Did not improve much over 2 hours, in fact the finish became quite hot due to the alcohol (14%). I’m not sure this wine will stand the test of time, although the alcohol and acid should hold it together for a few years. Tasted May 23, 2004.

Pinot Noir From Around The World

2004-05-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

This is the second in a series of wine tastings being held on a monthly basis at Vintage Wines, San Diego, California. The event was billed as:

Pinot Noir
May 20, 6:30-8:00PM
"Why is it that all enophiles end up drinking Burgundy? Several reasons come to mind: They are the hardest to find, the most elegant, the most versatile to pair with food and sometimes the most expensive! Come taste 8 wines comparing regions from California, Oregon, and Burgundy. We will talk about the different philosophies in production, grape growing and everything else involved in the production of a great wine. We hope to take some of the mystery out of getting a great bottle of Pinot Noir."

I must preface these tasting notes with the statement that Pinot Noir is not one of my favorite wines. But I must also note that I have had none of the great wines of Burgundy, nor have I had any truly aged pinots. Nonetheless I continue to search for that Pinot Noir that will awaken my interest. Unfortunately that wine was not found in this organized tasting.

The wines were poured before we arrived and tasted blind. Their identities were revealed after we had tasted the wines and voted for our favorite wine. There were about 20 people in the tasting group.

Shea Wine Cellars Block 23, Willamette Valley 2002 ($39.99US)
Brilliant cherry red color. Strawberries and lychees and a vinous character to the flavors. Good acidity to the finish and and the flavors carried through on retronasal. Not one of my favorites, but well liked by the rest of the group.

Joseph Roty Cuvee de Champs Chenys, Gevrey Chambertin 2001 ($43.99US)
Lighter in color than the first wine. A very closed wine that opened later with beef jerky and then honey flavors. A nice soft entry but a prominent acid finish with some bitterness. Little if any flavor on retronasal. My least favorite wine.

Failla Keefer Ranch, Russian River 2002 ($34.99US)
Another brilliant cherry red wine, with red berry and lychees flavors. Tannins gave a fuller mouth feel and the flavors carried through on retronasal. Developed more complexity during the tasting, becoming almost sweet. (Some detected chocolate, I couldn’t.)

Perrot Minot Gevrey Chambertin 2002 ($44.99US)
Light cherry in color. Earthy/dusty character that developed into a creaming soda (cola-like) flavor. Hint of barnyard. Very well balanced wine with a clean finish, and good flavor length on retronasal.

Broadley Claudia’s Choice, Willamette Valley 2002 ($39.99US)
Another cherry red wine. Strong nail polish remover (ethyl acetate) and berry flavors. Earthy/dusty. Although the wine developed more character in the glass, the mouth feel was too tannic and the wine seemed a little out of balance.

Perrot Minot Vieilles Vignes, Chambolle Musigny 2002 ($49.99US)
Cherry red color. A very closed wine. Vinous, oak flavors. A soft entry but too tart on the finish. What flavors there were carried through on retronasal. One of the least impressive wines of the tasting for me.

Lucia Gary’s Vineyard, Santa Lucia 2002 ($30.99US)
Light cherry red. Lightest colored wine of the group. Strawberries and lychees initially that developed into a creaming soda flavor. Soft entry and well balanced with a touch of sweetness and a crisp finish. Most persistent retronasal of the group. This wine was the group’s favorite.

Robert Arnoux Grand Cru, Clos Vougeot 1999 ($79.99US)
Cherry red with a faint orange tint suggested a wine with some age to it. Definite barnyard, and earthy characters. Very good mouth feel and a crisp finish with the flavors carrying well on retronasal. Developed well during the tasting, although the barnyard smell did become a slightly more manure stink.

I voted for the Clos Vougeot as my favorite wine but when I went back and added my scores the Lucia ended up on top with the Clos Vougeot coming in second.

The Many Faces of Chardonnay

2004-05-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

Vintage Wines of San Diego has several different wine tasting formats. The one described below is the first in a series of Thursday evening tastings. The event was billed as:
The Many Faces of Chardonnay
April 22nd, 6:30-8:00PM, (Vintage Wines, San Diego, USA)
”We will explore the ideas and taste differences of: Malolactic fermentation, the use of oak vs. stainless steel, how the coastal regions of Sonoma vary from the Napa Valley, and finally the different winemaking philosophies of the French in Burgundy and the New World wines of California and Australia. Eight wines will be tasted, and the cost is $30.00 per person.”

The wines were poured and tasted blind. However “Steve”, who ran the tasting, liked to talk quite a bit as we did our own evaluation of the wines. For me this type of continual interruption breaks my concentration so I didn’t try to score the wines, but because the wines were so varied and interesting I thought I should at least share my tasting notes – sparse as they may be. (FYI: In any case you’ll never get 15 word descriptors of flavor from any tasting notes I provide, three is pretty much a maximum. Which is pretty good seeing as how only 5% of expert tasters can correctly identify up to 5 in a mix!!)

The wines were still being poured as we sat down and this did affect at least two of the wines over the 90 minutes of the tasting. It would have been better for these wines to have been poured at least 30-60 minutes before we got to them. At the end of my tasting notes, in brackets, are comments on the production of the wine, e.g. MAF = malolactic fermentation.

2003 Keller Estate, Napa Valley, Oro De Plata ($19.99US)
This was a light straw and quite aromatic (put me in mind of a Semillion). These aromas carried through onto the palate and finished with clean if a little sharp acidity. (Stainless steel, no MAF).

2002 William Fevre, Chablis, Champs Royaux ($19.99US)
Again light straw in color and I thought it showed a little oak. On the palate the wine was very dry, very crisp with a clean finish. Obviously well balanced, but no standout characteristics. (Stainless steel)

2002 Oliver Jomain Puligny-Montrachet, Les Perrieres ($41.99US)
Light straw in color. Nice toasted oak and anise and very good mouthfeel but finished bitter. We were also give two other Oliver Jomain wines (a Puligny-Montrachet AOC $32.99US, and a Bourgogne $12.99US) to taste. These were not on the list but I believe they were either 2002 or 2003. I was more impressed with the Bourgogne as it had light oak, good mouth feel and nice clean acid. The other was too high in alcohol for me. All three wines showed anise on the nose.

2001 Chateau Montelena, Napa Valley, Estate ($25.99US)
Straw yellow. Oak on the nose and a waxy aroma I often get with chardonnay. (I some times wonder if this is not a chemical interaction between residual sulfur and buttery oak flavors?) This was a very well balanced chardonnay. Some could taste a flinty, almost metallic character, but I could not. (Oak, MAF)

2002 Guillemot-Michel, Macon, Quintaine ($23.99US)
This wine was straw yellow with a very floral nose, almost a dessert wine. I got a hint of ethyl alcohol. The mouthfeel was somewhat light and thin, but the wine was well balanced and the finish was clean and crisp. Retronasal was floral and spicy with again just a hint of ethylOH. A very unusual Chardonnay. (The grapes are apparently picked very late and the wine sees little oak.)

2000 Mount Eden, Santa Cruz Mtns, Estate ($33.99US)
Again straw yellow color but very much toasted oak on the nose. This (to me) was a typical California chard with good mouthfeel, not over oaked with clean acid on the finish (well balanced). The toasty oak carried through strongly on retronasal and might be off putting to some. I rated this wine as typical of the style of chardonnay I prefer as did a number of others in the group. (Oak, 50% MAF)

2000 Albert Grivalt, Mersault, Les Perrieres ($45.999US)
This wine smelt of sulfur (I also wrote dirty drain water) and (for me) it never lost that character throughout the tasting. (To me this is a fault.) Some people said it did fade, and so this was one wine that might have done better with more time in the glass. The wine was a little thin but soft in the mouth with nice oak and a nice acid finish. Again a well balanced wine, but poooh!!

2002 Lewis Cellars, Napa Valley, Reserve ($44.99US)
This wine was the only wine to show a green tinge to its straw yellow. There was toasty oak on the nose together with an unusual (and strong) almost herbaceous (I still can’t accurately describe it.) aroma. This carried through onto the palate, and I noted this wine to be my least favorite. When “Steve” took our votes for favorite wine there were several comments about this being a “typical California Chard”. I pretty much fell off my chair! But as we then tasted back through the wines with “Steve” talking about oak, MAF etc. this was the one wine that really opened up and by the end of the tasting it was a delight to drink. The unusual aroma vanished and clean toasted oak predominated. On entry the wine was now soft and round with great mouthfeel and just washed over the palate to finish with wonderful crispness. Its rare that I’ve had a wine that you can experience changing in such a seamless progression while in the mouth. It definitely turned out to be the wine of the night for me. (New oak, MAF)

The downside of the evening? Where were the Aussie chards we were promised?? And what's with the $.99 in the price of every wine?

Mike