N.V. Pierre Peters Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Cuvée de Réserve - France, Champagne, Le Mesnil Sur Oger, Champagne (12/15/2007)
From magnum, disgorged 12/05. Lovely champagne with baked buscuits on the nose. The flavor profiles are citrus peel with bright acidity. The wine continues to open up in the glass showing more intensity. The finish is clean and lingerng. An excellent NV and I get the excitment behind this particular producer and this bottling lot.
2002 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/15/2007)
Tight upon opening, taking about an hour to open. Nice aromatics showing chopped nuts and butterscotch. The palate is starting to show secondary flavors, but lacking an elegance a wine of this breed should have. Slightly heavy mouthfeel. Still has acidity left to age a bit more. The finish is not as long as I would have liked, turning slightly bitter on the end. All in all, this wine was not great.
2004 Varner Chardonnay Neely Spring Ridge Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (12/15/2007)
My first Varner Chardonnay. Plush and sappy fruit. Some tart acidity restling with the richly textured citrus. Minerales entwined in an oak/lees cream helix. Good length on slightly bitter green olive note. Day 2 and the minerals and acidity have turned up the volume not mimiking a pleasurable Chablis cut. Rounded fruit with broad and expansive flavors. I liked this on day 2 a lot.
2003 Joseph Swan Vineyards Pinot Noir Trenton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/15/2007)
Popped and poured. It took little effort to notice the lush nose of cherries bursting from the glass. The high toned fruit is a bit clumsy and juvenile. Full bodied with a firm structure that finishes with a confectioned note. The bottle I had in Sept. was much better in terms of balance and fruit quality. On day 2, some improvement with the wine settling down a bit, though the confected cherry note persists.
2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (12/15/2007)
I'm posting on this wine because this is clearly the best of the several bottles I've tried since release. It improved exponentially over the night peaking on day 2 when we drained a few remaining pours. Simply put, the layers and complexity of the fruit, at this age, are pretty remarkable. Early on the cola dominates, but gives way to richly toned cherry. The underlying acidity pokes through occasionally but otherwise supporting. Extended finish that brings a smile. A definite crowd pleasure.
1989 Château Grand Mayne - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (12/15/2007)
Decanted for sediment. Showing signs of age with some orange hued bricking at the rim. Initial funk blew off, displaying mature fruit. Tannins are almost resolved. Pretty good wine, but lacking depth and verve. Improved considerably with the 25 day dry aged NY strip. Drink up.
2004 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/16/2007)
Bottle opened for 3 hours. Certainly an easy to like wine. I didn't get as much heat as other TNs indicate, though at times there was a slight bitter note on finish. Somewhat complex midpalate profile of plum and mocha. Lacking some finesse and grace. Good length and effort. I also enjoyed this more with food.
2001 Castelnau de Suduiraut - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (12/15/2007)
My second time this year with this wine and I liked this bottle more. The fruit showed more class and breed. Enough complexity to keep things interesting. The acidity was more pronounced. The prior bottle was lacking acidity making it a bit clumsy. Not a block buster but a great value at $30/750ml.