Sunday, March 16, 2008
2003 Black Sears Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, Napa
Deep and dark, this is super fleshy with currant, blackberries and class. Very verrrry impressive.
2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignons: Baby Poux & Cold Creek
2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Baby Poux Vineyard Columbia Valley. Floral notes on the nose, this is bright red fruited with gobbs of youth and promise. Red Currant with tar, cedar and cocoa, this is pretty and feminine, but no light weight. 93.5/100
2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard Columbia Valley. Bright red and eucalyptus, this is pure and smooth. Great length and mouthfeel. 92/100
2006 Sineann Cabernet Sauvignon Cold Creek Vineyard Columbia Valley. Bright red and eucalyptus, this is pure and smooth. Great length and mouthfeel. 92/100
2005 Wolf Family Cabernet Franc
(3% CS). Pretty and exact, this Cab Franc delivers elegance and full flavor. I am usually not a fan of Cab Franc alone, but this made me a believer. 93/100
2005 K Vintners Morrison & Milbrandt Syrah & Ovide
2005 K Vintners Syrah Morrison Lane, Walla Walla. A beautiful example of whats going on in Walla Walla. Great nose of candy and spice with some smokey dark blue berries and a wonderful acid level. Tannins in check, this is surely a pleaser. 93/100
2006 K Vintners Syrah Millbrandt, Walla Walla. Candy cane and gummi bears; this is a real 'fun' Syrah to behold. Full and fleshy, it is somewhat similar to the Morrison, but more in your face, where the Morrison is a bit more restrained....just a bit. 93/100
2005 K Vintners Ovide, Walla Walla. 67% Cabernet and 33% Syrah. This is a very interesting and serious wine for sure. Its structured like a cab, but explodes like a syrah. Dark fruited of cassis with stones, tar, and coffee, this is full throttle but precise. 94/100
2006 K Vintners Syrah Millbrandt, Walla Walla. Candy cane and gummi bears; this is a real 'fun' Syrah to behold. Full and fleshy, it is somewhat similar to the Morrison, but more in your face, where the Morrison is a bit more restrained....just a bit. 93/100
2005 K Vintners Ovide, Walla Walla. 67% Cabernet and 33% Syrah. This is a very interesting and serious wine for sure. Its structured like a cab, but explodes like a syrah. Dark fruited of cassis with stones, tar, and coffee, this is full throttle but precise. 94/100
2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrahs & 2005 Cabernet Bugay
2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Adler Springs. This had wonderful structure, blueberries & crushed pebbles. Fragrant and not over the top. I like what was done with this. 92/100
2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson. 6 months more barrel time than last years Hudson, this is a brute of a wine that needs time in the bottle to show its full self. Its super concentrated and tightly knit. This reminds me of a classic Cote Rotie 92/100
2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Griffins Lair. Deep purple and very fragrant, this showed wonderful blueberry and black plums. Pure and class, this is a deftly balanced sublime wine indeed. 91/100
2005 Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Bugay, Sonoma County. I like this one this year better than the Clajeux (formerly wild iris). It had pure red black and blue fruits with a wonderful balance of acid and tannins. The tannins were finely meshed and well integrated. 90/100
2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson. 6 months more barrel time than last years Hudson, this is a brute of a wine that needs time in the bottle to show its full self. Its super concentrated and tightly knit. This reminds me of a classic Cote Rotie 92/100
2006 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Griffins Lair. Deep purple and very fragrant, this showed wonderful blueberry and black plums. Pure and class, this is a deftly balanced sublime wine indeed. 91/100
2005 Arnot-Roberts Cabernet Sauvignon Bugay, Sonoma County. I like this one this year better than the Clajeux (formerly wild iris). It had pure red black and blue fruits with a wonderful balance of acid and tannins. The tannins were finely meshed and well integrated. 90/100
2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon and 2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon 'True Vineyard', Howell Mountain
2005 Outpost 'True Vineyard' Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, This was one of my surprises of the day; intense, dark, and layered with red fruits this was fragrant and lovely. 92/100
2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, if there are still qprs in Napa, one must be willing to pay$50-$60 for them. Here is one: Elegant and smooth full of blackberries and cassis. Bright and stellar. 90/100
2005 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, if there are still qprs in Napa, one must be willing to pay$50-$60 for them. Here is one: Elegant and smooth full of blackberries and cassis. Bright and stellar. 90/100
2005 Merus
Polaner: 4/15/2008 In case you don't already know, this is the schnizzle. It is dark and brooding with explosive black and red fruits of currant black berry, black cherry, and black plums. It has super length and incredible mouth feel. Wow. 97/100
Saturday, March 15, 2008
2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH
3/08/2008-Decanted 4PM.5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
2004 A Donkey and Goat 2004 Syrah Carson Ridge El Dorado
Much more fragrant. Great bright red fruits abound. Medium dark color. A more forward type of Syrah than the Kunin. The palate revealed dark cocoa, cinnamon, red raspberries, slight blueberry and tar. A medium to high weight Syrah and a more ‘in your face’ wine, this had great body, maybe a little short on the finish though. Initially I enjoyed this quality, but in the long run, the Kunin won out for me. 90/100
2004 Kunin Syrah – Santa Barbara
Double decanted ½ the bottle 2 hours earlier. Wonderful dark brooding color. The nose is a bit restrained, but opened up nicely with some air. A nose of great raspberry, blueberry, anise, and a slight hint of cassis. Wonderful medium balance. Great mouthfeel, again the raspberry out front, followed by the blueberry and cassis once again. Also evident were some violets and coffee. This is a very pretty feminine style Syrah that will please for a few more years. Not a very tannic style Syrah, more cool climate in profile. A nice long finish completed this nicely. Thanks to Seth Kunin for sending it to us for trying. We will do the 2001 (also sent) next time…. 92/100
2003 PAX Syrah Cuvee Keltie
This was the bigger styled Syrah on the table…No surprise. Great Blue and red fruit medley of Cherries, Blueberries, violets, bacon fat, white pepper, and soy. This screamed decant. This evolved nicely after an hour and a half. Super structured with a slightly elevated acid level, the tannins were in ‘da house. Some sensed heat, I did not. This showed nicely. A decent finish. This will be a real treat in about 2 years. I always say PAX does best after 5 or 6 years in the bottle. 91/100
Friday, March 7, 2008
Virtual Californa Syrah Tasting
Right now (Friday, Mach 7th, 2008, 7:48PM) there is a virtual Cali Syrah tasting going on. It is actually going the whole weekend. The brainchild of the parker board member Frank Murray III. Bravo Frank!
There has been much talk of late about Cali Syrah not getting its due. In my mind it is the single most interesting varietal right now. There are so many styles to be attracted to. Nothing like Shiraz, the grape has found its place in the US nicely. I prefer the cooler climate style, not bruisers.
Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, this grape does well under many conditions, cool, warm, high, and low. There is something for everyone.
Tonights choice:
2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH Syrah- Decanted 4PM.
5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...
6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100
This coming Tuesday a few friends and myself are getting together to cap off the Virtual Tasting Weekend, by tasting a few more California Syrahs, albeit 2 days late, but who keeps track of such minutia? Bloggers, that's who.
There has been much talk of late about Cali Syrah not getting its due. In my mind it is the single most interesting varietal right now. There are so many styles to be attracted to. Nothing like Shiraz, the grape has found its place in the US nicely. I prefer the cooler climate style, not bruisers.
Unlike Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir, this grape does well under many conditions, cool, warm, high, and low. There is something for everyone.
Tonights choice:
2005 Lucia Susan's Hill SLH Syrah- Decanted 4PM.
5PM:Initially somewhat primary. Super dark color. Purple edges. amazing pure saturated blackberry and blueberry. Beautiful floral notes.This will get better and better...
6:40P:This nose is just exploding with black fruit. An incredible lush tannin and acid level showcases the blackberries, tar, white pepper, bacon fat. A super long finish . Wow. No Glad I've got 10 more and will seek more yet. This is an elegant classy pure pretty Syrah. Well worth the $40 price tag. I will never drop from ths list and will continue to ask for 2x the allotment. 94/100
This coming Tuesday a few friends and myself are getting together to cap off the Virtual Tasting Weekend, by tasting a few more California Syrahs, albeit 2 days late, but who keeps track of such minutia? Bloggers, that's who.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
2004 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank (USA, California, Napa Valley)
Since I have been banned from stepping foot in Ghost Horse’s caves, I have to drink the next best thing available. I reached into my cellar and grabbed this: (by the way, since this ridiculous fiasco of a thread happened on ebeb, I've had 3 gracious invites (from others) to taste wines when I do visit Napa):
Medium in color. Not as intense as I might expect, but very vibrant. The nose is pure vanilla and dark blackberry & red raspberries. The palate had shown some wonderful pure dark black and red fruits of raspberries and blackberries with some Bing cherry, soy, & tobacco. A very restrained style of Cali blend that has more in association with the actual 'right bank' of Bordeaux than anywhere else. The Cab Franc is first and foremost, but does the tight line walk nicely. An ultra lush mouth feel. Somewhat dry and austere, but giving with some coaxing. The Merlot balances this nicely. This wine needs deep examination and an eye toward the future. It's pure, exact, and with the promise of profound, I would hold any others for 5 years. A decent finish 'almost' rounds this out. This needs to flesh itself out, but than will be incredible. (91 pts.)
Medium in color. Not as intense as I might expect, but very vibrant. The nose is pure vanilla and dark blackberry & red raspberries. The palate had shown some wonderful pure dark black and red fruits of raspberries and blackberries with some Bing cherry, soy, & tobacco. A very restrained style of Cali blend that has more in association with the actual 'right bank' of Bordeaux than anywhere else. The Cab Franc is first and foremost, but does the tight line walk nicely. An ultra lush mouth feel. Somewhat dry and austere, but giving with some coaxing. The Merlot balances this nicely. This wine needs deep examination and an eye toward the future. It's pure, exact, and with the promise of profound, I would hold any others for 5 years. A decent finish 'almost' rounds this out. This needs to flesh itself out, but than will be incredible. (91 pts.)
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