Jim Kronman/SYSOP/CA 76703,431 Ridge 1975 Zinfandel, York Creek Here's a very nice OLD zin that I opened tonight: Ridge 1975 York Creek. Medium brick color. Expansive, rich aromas of leather, smoke, plum, raspberry. Resolved tannins afford a rich texture and there is a silky quality that is evocative of pinot noir. Flavors echo the nose and show a lot of depth. This is certainly an example of a zin that has aged quite well!\
Jon Lawry/GA Hobo 73352,1373 Rosenblum 1992 Zinfandel $14. The more zins I drinks the more I see how hard it is to categorize them. Visiting the parents for the weekend and my mom wanted to make this Thai recipe with lots of basil and lemon grass. But it has ground beef and she wanted a red wine, so I got a recco at the wine store for a very fruity one. This is fruity. The color is bright, light red -- looked like a tail light at night. The aroma was not any stronger than a medium pinot noir. But the fruit was really forward. The first taste stung my tongue and it didn't really settle down much over the hour we drank it. This is a real Beaujalais style zinfandel, not much tannin, and very versatile, and delicious. I think I would have gone with a Sauvignon Blanc or a Viognier, even with the ground beef. Or of course, the Thai favorite -- beer.
Jon Lawry/GA Hobo 73352,1373 Inglenook 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Cask We were in a grilling mood last night, so I went to the store, and there in the bargain closeout bin was a lone bottle of Inglenook Reserve Cask 1983 for $6.99! No amount of fear of poor handling could deter me from trying this, so I went for it. (aside from the steaks and Huggies, I forgot everything else I was supposed to go to the store for (bg)). The cork was dried out pretty badly, I'm sure due to supermarket merchandising, and I got the top half out only, but it still looked well sealed, so I shoved the rest of it down into the bottle and decanted it. Now the moment of truth: the color was a very very very rich ruby with a bit of purple, no brown at all. There was some mustiness in the nose and first taste, but it disappeared from the face of the waters after about 20 minutes. Now here's where my analysis always breaks down -- trying to label the flavors -- and with this one it was even harder for me, owing I'm sure to its complexity and subtlety. There seemed to be a great deal of oak, but I guess something called "Reserve Cask" suggests wood, anyway (g). The woody taste settled down, then I began to get a mixture of thick fruit, but always under and in support of the woody flavor. It really reminded me of any of the better Bordeaux's I've had, which impress my amateaur taster to the same degree. The wine greatly improved with food. I suspect this wine has many years to go as the fruit was still coming up through the boards as I polished it off. I guess what I'm trying to say with all this is: a wine of this complexity is really an art and I am overjoyed to "feel" its beauty with my humble tasting mechanism. I really hope to get better at deciphering and describing that beauty as time goes on.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Rabbit Ridge 1992 Zinfandel Literally, a bitter disappointment. Poured a glass before noticing that the bottle had thrown a whopping big crust in the last 8 months. Stuff in the glass was cloudy. Restrained nose of berries and soap. First sip was very acidic and tannic. Okay, dump this glass and let's decant the rest. The stuff in the decanter was looking pretty good. Poured another glass. Not nearly as acidic and tannic, but soapier and less fruit. Bad bottle? Bad technique? (Shrug.) Gave up and went back to the cellar for another zin. SCORE: Out on a caught foul ball.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Lytton Springs 1992 Sonoma Zinfandel After my trials with the Rabbit Ridge I took no chances and decanted this one, even though it hadn't thrown much sediment. Deep purple, almost black in the glass, it was a little chilly but still offered up a pretty bouquet of blackberries, earth and chocolate. Medium weight in the mouth, it sent out some serious tannins, but the fruit easily overpowered them. As the wine warmed and aired, the blackberries turned to raspberries and the chocolate intensified. Spicy, peppery finish sealed the deal. Great stuff with pasta and Crimini-laced red sauce. SCORE: Double off the right-field wall.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Clos du Val 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon Opened this one with friends over a meal of char-grilled t-bones. Deep garnet, no brick. The wine was in good shape with no evident flaws, but I was expecting better than we got - a muted bouquet of currants and mocha with a hint of bellpepper. The body was medium and flavors on the palate were in keeping with the smells, i.e. a little hollow and short. Tannins seemed resolved and acidity was okay. This soft, mildly flavorful wine was enjoyable, but nothing to get excited about. Perhaps if we had taken our time and let it breathe a little more, it would have developed into something more interesting, but it was the first wine we opened, there were five of us, and we were thirsty.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Waramung Estate 1993? "Skinless" Victoria White Our friend Joe had just returned from Australia and this was the first of two Oz wines he brought tonight. The bottle had no label! He said he bought it at the Waramung Estate winery, where they sold it in just that condition. I never found out exactly why it was called "skinless" -- whether this meant it was made from free-run juice or simply referred to the lack of any labeling. It turned out to be very reasonable-tasting. Light straw tinged with green, yielding a mild aroma of melon and citrus. Satisfyingly thick in the mouth. No apparent oak. Acid wasn't strong enough for a Chenin Blanc and I didn't detect any Chardonnay flavors. I thought it might be a Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend, with maybe 12% alcohol.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Blue Pyrenees 1991 Estate Cuvee The second Ozzie of the night was much more distinguished. I don't normally comment on labels, but this one was gorgeous. I had never heard of Blue Pyrenees before and Joe said it goes mostly to England and Europe when it leaves the country. He also said the estate was owned by Remy Martin. Made 100% from estate-grown grapes in Western Victoria, it looked and tasted like a Bordeaux-style red with a good deal of merlot in the blend. Medium ruby, it offered a nice big bouquet of chocolate and currants and proved equally generous on the palate. Tannins were so soft as to barely be noticeable. The body was surprisingly lightweight considering the full flavors. Reasonably long, slightly peppery finish. Good match with the steak.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Greenwood Ridge 1993 Roederer Estate Pinot Noir Enjoyed a half bottle of this over a late Sunday lunch with my sister today. I really liked the 1992 vintage of this same wine but it's getting hard to find. When the new vintage came out I eagerly purchased a couple. This was my first crack at the 93 and it basically confirmed Bob Foster's report of a few weeks ago. Color is medium ruby, a shade lighter than the 92. The bouquet and flavors are similar to the delicious 92, but not as intense and concentrated. You get the same very distinctive sour cherry, smoke and orange - just a little less. It's still a very enjoyable, if unconventional Pinot Noir but it ain't gonna take the place of the 92. Decent value at $12.99. Drink now.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Guigal 1990 Hermitage Had it from the half-bottle, trying to decide if I wanted to cellar it. Phylis is away and I can't get that excited about cooking for one, so I made myself a small pizza. Turned out to be a All good match. Color was deep ruby to purple. Tried to nail down the bouquet and flavors, and even at this stage they're pretty complicated - flickered like NPR at night, when the radio can't decide between Philly and D.C. First I got a fairly herbal nose of smoke, salami and bellpepper. Then some cassis. Then not. Tannins were never harsh and the acid was okay. Finish was pretty good all evening, sometimes peppery, sometimes sliding into mint. Where are the blackberries? Well, eventually I got a hint after about an hour of airing. Smoke intensified steadily. Interesting game but I can't say this bottle set me on fire. Too much spice, too little fruit, just not my style.
Arthur Johnson 74176,3252 Ravenswood 1992 Sonoma "Old Vine" Zinfandel Say what you like about Zins getting expensive these days Draper and Peterson have their game down so well these days, sometimes I wonder why I ever drink anything else. (Just exaggerating, VMS, but you know what I mean.) At under $12, this one isn't the best of the vintage, but it may be the red wine steal of the year. Consumed with chicken parmesan in red sauce, this tasted to me tonight kind of like a more forward version of the 92 Lytton Springs. Deep ruby to purple, gives off a ripe bouquet of berries, chocolate and prunes. Tannin level is higher than I would have thought but they're quite soft (translation: my tongue feels the prickle but I keep my sense of taste). Good healthy finish. Won't last as long as the LS, but mighty fine drinking for the next few years and IMHO hasn't peaked yet. Zinners, don't miss it!
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley foward ,medium body, more ready to drink than expected , again sweey wood but not so pronounced a good but not great cab. Silver Oak 1989 A.V. light slightly unbalanced but after half an hour in the glass fruit is present,not great but drinkable.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1988 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley medium body , on the nose close fruity but short aftertaste. Silver Oak Napa 1988 a hint of cheeries , not big ,good balance.Where is the beef?
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley slightly more body than above but similar foward pattern, american oak on nose no special bouquet.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa More tannic and close difficult to access at this stage it seems harsh.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon, AV Now we are tasting wine, bouquet more advanced almost a Rioja, seems like a giant, it start a new series in the tasting, seems steps above the previous ones.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa one of the favorites again a big step above, again a more cherry like flavor with long aftertaste, more tannic and less foward than its Alexander version.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon, AV my favorite, truly great special long sweeeet aftertaste, good balance, ready to drink, but will hold.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1985 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa very good more tannic than 1986,More close ,this I will wait.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon, AV again sweet smoke american oak, the somewherenes of Matt Kramer, can be seen in this last 3 years,another great cabernet.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1984 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa again cherry fowaed, but the less impressive of the last 6
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1982 Cabernet Sauvignon, AV for me this is the California vintage that resemble Bordeux (alsoo 1982 in Bordeux resemble Cal.) Not so sweet, more restrain but very good balance and a wine with character.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1980 Cabernet Sauvignon, Av lovely bouquet,mediun body foward,ready to enjoy still dark.
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1980 Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa tannins still present very good,more diluted than 84 to 86
Wilfredo PAGANI 73561,2444 Silver Oak 1980 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonny`s dissapointed olive smell with transmission oil aftertaste avoid. It seems that since 1986 ther had been a chang in winemaker philosophy?????
Peter L Finkelstein 72622,1155 Roc Brun Estate 1991 SAINT CHINIAN On my recent trip I opened two bottles of wine we are hoping to sell and was quite surprised...... A FITOU from the Des Ardente Estate really ntense, and a SAINT CHINIAN from the Roc Brun Estate 1991. Both will sell for around $10. Both are black and full bodied. really surprised me. I have no clue where we will sell them outside of NY..............
Peter L Finkelstein 72622,1155 Des Ardente Estate 1991 FITOU On my recent trip I opened two bottles of wine we are hoping to sell and was quite surprised...... A FITOU from the Des Ardente Estate really ntense, and a SAINT CHINIAN from the Roc Brun Estate 1991. Both will sell for around $10. Both are black and full bodied. really surprised me. I have no clue where we will sell them outside of NY..............
Robin Garr/Sysop/Ky 76702,764 Chappellet 1992 "Old Vine Cuvee" Napa Valley "Special Select" White Table Wine under $10 Clear, bright pale-gold in color, with an appealing and quite complex nose of melons, pears and cedar-pine. Dry and crisp flavor, fresh and juicy fruit, consistent with the nose; lemon-squirt acidity to balance, hanging on in a long finish. Very good wine, good value; went nicely with smoked mussels and garlic tossed in olive oil with bucatini pasta. The big secret here is the varietal. Chappellet, a respectable old winery, provides an oddly vague back-label note: "Made from a dry-farmed, low-yield vineyard on Pritchard Hill, 1,800 feet above the Napa Valley. 'Very mature vines,' most at least 30 years old" ... aged in small oak. "Our selections for this vintage represent a new dimension for Chapellet Vineyards." So what's the varietal? My best guess: Chenin Blanc, a fine grape that California wineries can't GIVE away. I hate to see a respected name like Donn Chappellet reduced to playing word games with his wines, though. Anybody here know for sure what this bottling is all about?
Robin Garr/A-Sys/KY 76702,764 Penfolds 1992 Bin 2 South Eastern Australia Shiraz (89%)-Mourvdre (11%), $7.49. Very dark ruby color, almost opaque. Black pepper and licorice aroma; remarkably complex flavor, "forest floor" and intense blackberry jam, laced up with substantial but palatable tannins and a firm acidic structure. Blackberries and lemons in a very long finish. Very good to outstanding wine, very good value.
Robin Garr/A-Sys/KY 76702,764 Merryvale 1992 Meritage Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc (72%) - Semillon (28%), $11.95. Clear, pale brass color, with good green-olive and tart apple aromas. Crisp apples and citrus fruit flavor with a rich, almost buttery quality. Complex, even interesting, but a little awkward; sort of an effort at a "Chard-style" wine but with so much Sauvignon character that the varietal conquers the wine maker's ill-advised effort to conceal it. Odd, but the bottom line is that it kept me coming back for more. Good wine, fair value. (Barrel-fermented in new French oak and left "sur lies" for five months.)
Robin Garr/A-Sys/KY 76702,764 Guy Mousset Domaine de Clairfont 1993 Red Rhone Wine $6.99. Clear garnet color. Black pepper and red-fruit nose with a whiff of spicy oak; fresh and juicy fruit flavor focused on apple skin. It's lighter and more Beaujolais-style than most red Rhoes, but it's very quaffable indeed, and made an excellent match with an Italian-type roast chicken. Good wine, good value.
John Boutall 100271,2711 Coulee de Serrant 1987 White Loire Wine We bought some Coulee de Serrant 1987 from the vineyard as a treat - intrigued by the idea that a white Loire could keep and develop over 15+ years. We recently opened our second bottle, which was excellent (for a mediocre year), and cannot wait to try bottle number 3 in 1997! It had develop a real intensity and length, yet with plenty of fruit. "Resiny" is a good description - although nowhere near as overwhleming as a Retsina.
Michael Mcnamara 75372,1154 Guigal 1991 Cote Rotie I went to B.L.M. this weekend and had a taste of 1991 Guigal Cote Rotie.The wine was shipped in to the country within the last few weeks so bottle shock may be a factor.I could not get much off the nose at all just a little oak.Color was a little lighter than the 1990 Vintage.The wine did really show much on the palate at all.This wine needs at least 5-6 months to get its act together before i will try it again.I had the 1990 vintage when it just came into the country and i did not care for it at all but 6 months down the road the wine was wonderful.Ido not think this will be the case with the 1991 its just does not seem to be in the same class as the 1990.Time will tell I hope I am wrong.I was expecting a lot more from this wine .
Joel Sheiner 76324,3634 Ferrari Carano 1992 Siena Had some friends from New York visit. They asked me to select something memorable to drink. I had some 92 Ferrari Carano Siena that I really wanted to try. The wife asked for an Opus or Caymus. The wife be damned, I opened the Siena. The label has a speckled appearance with rough edges. I read in the FC newsletter that this is actually a picture of the dirt in the vinyard. It describes this as a unique blend of Cab, Sangiovese, Merlot and Malbec. The color was a clear dark red. The nose was oh so enticing with lots of fruit, cherries and berries, and just enough spice to keep me wanting more. On tasting, the berries burst onto the tongue and left just as quickly. The spice lingered a moment longer but in a flash was a memory as well. The finish was almost nonexistent. A nice simple wine, pleasant to drink but not very memorable.
Joel Sheiner 76324,3634 Caymus 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon, Special Selection Back to the cellar I went. This time I knew I had better bring back something memorable. After pondering the choices, I came back with a Caymus 90 Cab SS. This wine was special for several reasons. First it is the wine that has justified my wine drinking to the wife. Back in March I bought a single bottle to celebrate our 2 month wedding aniversary. After drinking it, the wife proclaimed it was the best wine she had ever tried and reccomended I buy more. Even after informing her it cost $55 a bottle, she remained unphased and wanted more. I went back and purchased another 6 bottles. In December this proved to be a wise move when I read that it was rated number one by the WS. Tonight was my second tasting of this wine. The color was a bright rich red. It smelled of cherries, cassis and plum against an oak backround. It just seemd to evolve with time. Unlike the Siena, the taste fulfilled the promise of the nose. My mouth was filled with subtle and evolving cherries, plums and blackberries with a backround of oak that developed and lingered. The oak seemed to concentrate in the finish. The tannins were there but not overpowering. A very well ballanced enjoyable wine with complexity that promises to evolve with time. Next time I'll try to listen to the wife on the first trip to the cellar...
V MICHAEL STRAUS 74732,1566 CH. LA NERTHE 1982 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE WHITE - The color was medium yellow/ gold. The nose was nice perfume and fruit and seemingly the vanilla of wood. Taste was strong, full-bodied with fruit despite its age, wood and a long fruit, wood and alcohol finish. Very good white wine of 13 years age. Rate 18
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 CLAPE 1988 CORNAS - The color was medium/dark red. The nose was of oak, dark fruits, spice, perfume. Taste was big, full-bodied, assertive, big rich fruit, wood, tar, black pepper and dark cherries. The wine was very smooth with excellent tannin/acid balance, a long sweet fruit finish with crisp acid. Still young; will score higher as it ages and mellows. Great with food; excellent wine. Rate 17.75++
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 VOGE 1979 CORNAS - Color was medium red/brick. Nose was dusty perfume with leather; interesting. Taste was of very ripe rich fruit with a pungent component, light spice, full body, some sort of vegetal hint and light bitterness with a long pungent finish of very ripe fruit, smooth tannins, decent acid and black pepper. Rate 16
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 JABOULET 1972 CORNAS - Color was medium brick. Nose had an older, acetone character with pungent old fruit. Taste was of old smooth fruit, black pepper, slightly flat, good tannin/acid balance, slightly hot, long wood/old fruit finish. This was good enough but going downhill fast and surprisingly good for its age. Rate 15.75
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 GUIGAL 1983 COTE ROTIE, BRUNE ET BLONDE - Medium red color. Nose of huge perfume and fruit. Rich full-bodied taste with smooth tannins and a hint out of balance on the acid side but otherwise well balanced with pungent ripe fruit; long crisp finish of tannin, light pungent fruit and acid. Rate 17.25
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 GUIGAL 1985 COTE ROTIE, BRUNE ET BLONDE - The color belied its 10 years; it was dark red/purple. Nose of beautiful dusty perfume and fruit. Taste was big stuff; silky smooth mouth feel of black cherries, wood, soft spice, tar, excellent tannin/bright acid balance and a long pleasing finish of sweet fruit, tannin, tar and wood. Excellent wine. Rate 18.75
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 RASPAIL-AY 1983 GIGONDAS - Color was medium red. Nose was of fruit, flowers, very light rich earthiness. Taste was silken, sweet fruit, great tannin/ bright acid balance, long finish. Very good. Rate 17
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 RASPAIL-AY 1981 GIGONDAS - Color was medium red. Nose had mellow fruit, spice, coconut. Great taste of sweet fruit, spice, black cherries, rich and pungent, full-bodied, excellent tannin/acid balance, long sweet fruit finish. This place knows how to make wine. Rate 18.5
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 RASPAIL-AY 1978 GIGONDAS - Color was medium red/brick. Nose was nice old mellow fruit, alcohol, wood. Taste was excellent, full-bodied, mellow sweet fruit, surprisingly good tannin and balancing bright acid. A big wine; another Raspail-Ay stunning success; excellent. Rate 19 (some rated this 20)
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 GUIGAL 1981 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE - Color was medium red. Nose of perfume, fruit, warm and pleasing. Taste was of nice sweet fruit, spice, alcohol, tar, good tannin/acid balance, a bit hot and a bit dusty. Decent finish. Certainly a decent effort by a maker whose CdPs I think are "OK" but nothing special. Rate 16.25
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 VIEUX TELEGRAPHE 1980 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE - Medium red/brick color. Nose had a slight bottle stink at first, faded fruit, alcohol. Taste was of moderate fruit, alcohol (a hint hot), good tannin and decent acid, long finish; good but not great by any means. Rate 16.75
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 LES CAILLOUX 1978 CHATEAUNEUF DU PAPE - Color was dark red/brick. Nose was warm old fruit, some pungency, spice. Taste had old sweet fruit, alcohol, nice tannin/acid balance, pleasing wine, mellow, but died quickly. Rate 17
V MICHAEL STRAUSS 74732,1566 ? 1989 MUSCAT DE BEAUMES DE VENICE, RESERVE PERSONNELLE - Light yellow. Strong muscat nose, with perfume, fruit. Taste was sweet, light, fruity, aromatic. Very pleasing but not complex. Rate 16
William Sokolin 75553,1634 Ch. Pichon-Longueville and Ch. Latour 1979 Red Bordeaux Have you tried 79 pichon or Latour. We opened them Saturday at my store. These are re-released wines with tons of guts. Just beginning to peak. Perfect for now and a few years.
Bruce Douglas 75140,1354 Macarini 1988 Barolo Tonight with dinner the 1988 Macarini Barolo. (VQPRD Laferra). Things have gotten a lot more complicated since we visited a round little man who worked for his sister in La Morra outside Milan. The shipper is still Neil Empson and the wine is still great, but the label has gotten complicated. The wine is not deep colored, in fact it looks more like burgandy than barolo. The nose is abundant with fruit and fairly predictable raiseny overtones. Almost but not quite candied. In the mouth the wine is full and satisfying, with the fruit belying it's color. The finish is long and true, with a lot of complexity making one believe that there might be something else if you waited, but the total wine says drink now. With sirloin patties, baked potatos and a salad. Camping out in the desert house on our 18th anniversary. $24.95 at LAWC. Glad to have the bottle since we visited there in '88.
Bruce Douglas 75140,1354 Ch La Nerthe 1990 Chateauneuf du Pape More Help! Now even I know that this is one of the better CNDP producers. 1990 is not a great year. Here's what I've found. Fairly dark reddish purple and opaque but already thinning around the edges. Not a lot of pepper in the nose, but something that isn't fruit, but not barnyard. Not objectionable, just different. The strongest elements blow off in a minute or so. After that a pungent but not unpleasant nose that might be faintly medicinal but only in a herbal way. Maybe tea? Not fruity. The wine matched very well with Robin's chicken, some garlic cloves to spread on the bread, eggplant and asperagus. After dinner in the mouth the wine resumed the tastes that followed an almost indescribeable nose. Finish was adequate and consistent. The texture of the wine is wonderful and in balance. Not too acidic, but there's something going on here that doesn't fit my descriptors. $15.95 at LAWC. Is this to keep?
Bruce Douglas 75140,1354 Ch de Fonsalette 1991 Cotes du Rhone This is a Cotes Du Rhone which at $15.95 from L.A. Wine Co. seems like a lot of money for a Cotes du Rhone, but this wine has been worth it in the past. It is again. Now here is the earthy taste that is sometimes abused, but I have to say that it is wonderfully in balance because of the fruit. A couple of you have told me in the past that this particular producer puts the equivalent of CDNP or Gigondas into this wine. It shows. We like this wine better than the '90 La Nerthe CDNP. Now do we ship this north or do we continue the experiment?
Mitch Kleinman 73302,3515 Kistler Estate 1986 Cabernet Sauvignon decent nose, very floral, sweet, some spiciness. HArd Tannic bitter wine. Little aftertaste--thin flavor disappears after 1-2 seconds. Better let this one sit out overnight Next day--Still bitter, hard and tannic. I threw it into a pepper Chicken dish (to be posted shortly) that called for red wine. Not one I would recommend at all 82/100
Mitch Kleinman 73302,3515 Beringer 1990 Cabernet Sauvignon, PR -Big beautiful sweet red berries, tons of oak, slight leather. Nose is much more powerful then taste. Small amounts of anise, chocolate and/or mint is present. One bottle lasted 1 hour for me and a buddy....WOW!!! 93/100
Mark Horvatich 76703,4163 Silverado, Mazzocco, Frog's Leap & Hess Collection 1991/1992 Cabernet Sauvignon Last night I had the chance to taste the '92 Silverado as well as the '91 Mazzocco cabs. I agree with [JPB's] assessments of both wines. The '92 Silverado was ripe -- but too acidic, one-dimensional, and tannic for my tastes. It reminds me of a more tannic version of the '84. The '91 Mazzocco cab is without a doubt the best wine they've ever made. However, I'm not a big fan of the Jordan style of CalCab and I doubtfully will buy any of the '91 Mazzocco for that reason. FYI, I also tasted the '91 Hess Collection and '92 Frog's Leap cabs. The '91 Hess is IMO the finest cab they've ever made and is a tremendous bargain at $14/bottle. The '92 Frog's Leap is a clone of the '92 Silverado -- ripe, tannic, and one-dimensional. It's becoming more and more apparent that 1992 is a CalCab vintage that is "pass, pass, pass" for my tastes.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 LeRoy 1990 Meursault Les Narvaux Pale golden yellow. Very good aftertaste of honey and milk. It improved after we decanted it.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch. Lafite Rothschild 1950 Red Bordeaux Red brick. Old port or Madeira like flavor. Still alive, but a little bit passed a prime. After 20-30 minutes, good fruitiness appeared.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Mouton Rothschild 1950 Red Bordeaux Deep garnet red. Minty flavor. Very good aftertaste esp after 30 minutes. Still very young.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Margaux 1950 Red Bordeaux Medium scarlet red with a hint of brick. Very good flavors of dried berries. Multiple layers of honey lasting 20-30 seconds.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Ch Latour 1951 Red Bordeaux Very deep red without any sign of aging (amazing!). Very good flavors of dried berries, cedar. still tannic. Layers and layers of sweet aftertaste. 1951 is Eric's vintage, and 25th January is his Birthday.
Manabu SAKUTA 100212,1601 Pol Roger 1982 Champagne Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Pale straw yellow. Very good flavor and good aftertaste.
Robert W. Gibson 76242,1176 Ridge 1991 Zinfandel, Lytton Springs Had the 1991 Ridge Lytton Springs tonight. Extremely good. Almost jammy with rich plum, berry, and currant tastes, but spice and not unpleasant tannins make it fresh. I can hardly believe it will improve. Seems to show so much now. Anyway, who could wait, and why? How long would you hold it. Also have the Pagani Ranch 1991. Haven't tried that yet.
Craig Thompson/SF,CA 75017,2606 Domaine du Cayron 1991 Gigondas Imported by Kermit Lynch, $14.95. Again, Mr. Faraud has proved what a wonderful winemaker he is. In a vintage, where in the southern Rhone the results were not very good, the '91 Cayron is a wonderful wine. The color is a very dark red, almost opaque. The nose really jumps out of the glass with lots of wonderful ripe fruit. On the palate, the wine was loaded with rich, ripe blackberry and cassis fruit with a good solid tannic background. The wine tasted like it had been picked under a hot provencal sun, certainly not in a rain storm as was typical of Gigondas and CdPape in '91. I had this with a lovely coq au vin last night, but it might even go better with braised lamb shanks or a mixed grill. Once again, Cayron is a winner. Bob Foster would absolutely freak out <vbg> if he saw the winery, and I use the term loosely, which is located under old man Faraud's house. The wine is vinified in ancient concrete vats and then put into huge foudres that look like they may have been around during Emperor Claudius' day. The one modern convenience that Faraud has allowed himself is an automatic labeling machine that he was VERY proud of when he showed it to me a few years ago. This is truly a hand made wine and the results are stunning.
Ralph Fielding 71600,501 Freemark Abbey 1986 Edelwein Gold Treated myself tonight by retrieving a 1/2 bottle of Freemark Abbey 1986 Edelwein Gold from the cellar. This sweet Riesling had been the first American dessert wine I had tasted: I thought it extraordinary six years ago, and feel the same way now. This is not a particularly complex wine, in the same way that Haagen-Dazs Vanilla offers only one sensory experience. This is a rich, creamy wallop of a wine - a pure, thick distillate of fresh apricots, perfumed with Botritis musk. Long after I had finished the glass, I caught myself licking the last few drops off my TEETH (!). As a comparison, very similar in taste to a Fetzer I had had some time ago, but the Freemark Abbey was much more opulent, with no bitterness. For you techies out there: 9.3% alcohol, 20.2% residual sugar.
Jenise Stone/SL2/Alaska 74364,741 various Calif and Oregon 1991/1992 Pinot Noirs Some friends and I opened ten 91 and 92 Pinots the other night. All were California or Oregon with one obvious exception. In order or preference: 92 Ponzi Reserve Classic black cherry and violets nose, concentrated flavor, perfectly balanced, long finish. Gorgeous wine. $22. 92 La Crema Reserve Beautiful nose, good balance, fairly concentrated, long, sweet finish. $19. 92 Jekel Good in every way, just not as concentrated and impressive as the first two. Price unknown. 92 La Crema, 92Stonestreet (Willamette, Oregon), 92 Jos. Drouhin Cote d'Beaune, 92 Villa Mt. Eden GR Perfectly good pinots, nothing seriously wrong nor terribly right about any of them. Prices unknown. 91 BV Carneros Reserve Odd nose, some liked it, some didn't. Reminded me of California--ant killer, to be exact, with a little mint. The ant killer kind of blew off. Had a jammy edge to the fruit. Not a good example of pinot, to be sure, but a wine we may have liked better had it not been served right after the Ponzi. 91 Henry Estates Shows lots of oak, not much fruit. Had this wine about six months ago and thought it much better then. $15. 92 Kendall-Jackson GR (unfiltered) Call the Brett police on this one. Lots of barnyard, bitter finish.
Michael Laflin 75024,551 Taylor 1970 Port Our local wine group tasted ports this past weekend. All were great, but a question arose on the 1970 Taylr. To start we had a bottle of Taylor and a bottle of Taylor Fladgate. The explanation was that the T. Fladgate was bottled for US export and didn't want to demean itself with comparisons to those other wines from NY with similar moniker. The bottles were also colored differently. Plus, in the decanting phase, the European version showed about 50% more sediment. We set out to determine if there was an international difference beyond those alredy mentioned. Indeed, there was. The Taylor Fladgate had a pleasant but not exuberrant nose with some raisiny spiciness. In the mouth it was smooth and well bodied, but a bit on the thin side. The Taylor on the other hand was much hotter (from the brandy), buth with much stronger menthol, minty character. In the mouth this was a much fuller wine than it's brother abroad. Our questions to this esteemed board are: Did Taylor filter the 1970 shipped to the US? When did all bottling of this port revert to Portugal? Any other explanation for the difference? The bottles were purchased separately with the European Taylor recently acquired.
Doug Powers 75717,2654 Domaine de la Vielle Julienne 1983/1985 Chateauneuf du Pape Tonight we tasted (unblind) two vintages of Domaine de la Vielle Julienne, a relatively unknown Chateauneuf-du-Pape. My brief notes follow: 1983 -- light-medium ruby, definite brickish orange rim, leather, smoky, wild herbs, on palate medium-full, mature flavors of leather and smoke, ready to drink, yet long and satisfying and a good match with stir fry, this wine has both complexity and has consistently outclassed the '85 each time we've had them together (4 times), is certainly in "drink up" stage IMHO. 1985 -- medium ruby, just the slightest hint of age in the color, nail polish, also some ripe redfruits on the nose, on the palate lush, ripe, yet somewhat odd flavors, I've always thought this wine had an extreme "nail polish" (volatile acid = [over]bright fruit component) problem, the finish is somewhat unpleasant, all in all not a bad wine but lacks the complexity of the '83.
Stephen Haynes 71666,424 Chateau Chevre 1980 Merlot Tonight at the Minnesota Club in St. Paul. Dinner, my wife and I with friends Bill and his wife Laurie. Pre-opera -- Turandot -- which was spectacular (who says there is no opera outside the Met?). Chateau Chevre is a Napa Valley winery. Don't even know if it still exists. Anyway, I bought their 1980 Merlot in the early 80's, and it was reputed then to be a monster. The reputation proved true. Freshly poured, there was a forward nose of black currants and earth. The wine was very youthful in appearance, deep purple with no aging at the edges. Still considerable tannin, moderate fruit, good balance. I retain some doubt whether the fruit will outlast the tannins. By comparison to the finesse of finer Pomerols, this wine is a monster, almost in the class with Mayacamas or Ridge Monte Bello. Of course, I had to really appreciate it alone, since the women insisted on a shrimp with lobster mousse entree, and Bill only drinks beer. Quelle dommage (forgive if I don't remember the correct French spelling).
Peter Creasey 75021,3606 Ch Des Gondats S.C.A. 1992 Ch Marquis de Terme Bright medium garnet. Lively bright fruit BQ with oak undertones, hint of earthiness, red berries. Flatter on palate, medium density, more muted fruits, mild tannins, not much wood, nice smoothness (almost like a Merlot). Short to moderate finish. I wish I could remember who gave me this wine...I have no idea the value. If it is low-priced as I expect, it may be worthwhile. Imported by Balfour Imports out of Napa. Served with ground beef patties, potato pancakes, and fresh carrots.
Jacob Shaya/ISRAEL 100274,2722 L. Jadot 1988 Gevrey-Chambertin - Lavaux St. Jacques Imported From Beaune 6/94 for $40 net. Again a Gevrey 1er Cru from Jadot's own Domaine. Two 'firsts': The vineyard and the vintage. I never tasted this particular 1er Cru (not to be confused with its illustrious neighbor Clos St.-Jacques), and never tried any 1988 red, as I was led to believe it is an excellent but tannic vintage that needs more time. Decided to try a '88 1er Cru, as my '85 trove is dwindling. Furthermore, as we were having a roasted leg of baby lamb for dinner, I thought a tannic young wine will not be unpleasant. The bottle was opened 30 min before dinner. COLOR: Normal ruby-red Burgundy, neither dark nor light. NOSE: Typical (B) aroma engulfed by fresh fruit. At first a bit coarse "barnyard" bouquet, transforming in time into deeper, smooth and totally pleasing nose. TASTE: Hard tannins only felt for the first 5-10 minutes. Then fruity velvety taste with good acidity to counter tannin. Very enjoyable flavors, though a bit monotonous. Not a great (B), and less impressive then 'Les Cazetiers'. Still, very tasty. Went deliciously with the three mushrooms ragu, the lamb and the baked potatoes with sour-cream & dill. LENGTH: Reasonably long and pleasant after-taste though not particularly developing in the mouth. TEXTURE & BALANCE: Excellent balance between alcohol, acidity and tannins. Not really 'meaty' or 'fat' wine, though not lacking in the body department. The tannin is there, but very soft and round. Very drinkable but still feels young rather than mature. OVERALL: A very good and ready(!) 1er Cru. So drinkable, that we had to restraint ourselves to get to the cheese and dessert with something left. Will hold at least a few more years. MARK: 16/20.
Bob Spector/OKC 72773,1014 (X) Domaine l'Aigueliere 1991 Cotes du Languedoc Montpeyroux $7.99 I received a mixed case of Languedocs a week and a half ago. They are mostly wines that I have read about, wanted to try, but hadn't found for sale---at least until the latest Pary Source catelog. This is a gorgeous wine. At least 50% Syrah, it says, (after I got the back label translated from the French) the rest I'm not sure but I think the rest is split between Cabernet and Greanache. [err---what did we decide on caps for grape varieties???] Deep garnet with a boquet of spices, leather and, yes, there is some gamey/barnyard here. Not overwhelming, just enough to lend it character. Nowheres near the level of Tempier or Beaucastel. Very rich, good mouthfeel--somewhat like velvet, somewhat creamy---suggesting oak(??). Good long finish. Reminds me in some ways of Trevallon. If this is the basic bottling then the special cuvees must be outstanding. I obtained the Cote Rousse and will try it later this week. This has really been a time to buy Languedoc. The wines from Alquieres, Peyre-Rose, Boyer-Domergue and l'Aigueliere are the best values I've found in a long long time. (excellent wine; extraordinary value)
ALAN BOEHMER 70524,411 Edna Valley Vineyard 1993 Chardonnay, Edna Valley, Estate Bottled $15. To be released Spring 1995. O.K. I don't like to use superlatives. But I will have to admit that this is the very finest Central Coast Chardonnay I have ever tasted; at least within its style parameters. At last, a California Chardonnay that is not overly sweet, overly oaked, overly diacetyl, and overly influenced by ML. This is one both for wine evaluators and for the dinner table. The aroma (still a little green from recent bottling) proclaims discipline, while offering great promise. The flavor fulfills the promise exponentially. The finish never ends. I have no doubt that this is the finest Chardonnay ever to be released by Edna Valley Vineyard (a reserve will follow), and to my taste, the best example of Central Coast Chardonnay to date. At $15, it should be snapped up.
Alan Boehmer 70524,411 Zaca Mesa 1993 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County, Chapel Vineyard Very pleasant food wine. Bright, crisp, good body, lots of toasty oak, decent varietal characteristics, not excessively sweet. Drinks rather like a Macon, but like so many Central Coast wines, is almost twice the price of the French or Italian wines they most clearly resemble. $16 Good wine, but questionable value.
Alan Boehmer 70524,411 Bonny Doon Vineyard 1993 Charbono/Barbera Now here is something different. Concentrated flavors drink like peppery Boysenberry juice with a kick and a lot less sugar. Dark purple/magenta. Nice nose, full flavor. Not complex, but delicious nevertheless. Recommend holding for about a year, but not much longer. Zin lovers will enjoy this wine. At $7-9 it would be a great sipper; it might pair with foods more easily than Zin, as it is a little leaner and drinks a little drier. But at $15 (winery), this wine is just too expensive. And not even a fancy label to justify the outrageous price.
