WTN: Wines with James Noland

My wife and I had James Noland and his girlfriend Renee over yesterday while they were down to Lake Hope camping.We did some bluegill fishing when it wasn't raining and Eucher when it was. During euchre I opened a 2001 Strub Nierstiner Paterberg Riesling spat.*** that was very nice and improved over time. Deep straw color,with some petrol that grew stronger with obvious sweetness and fine acidity, this wine still has at least a decade of development before a slow decline.With Delmonico steakes we opened a wine James brought along, the 2007 Brian Loring Clos Pepe Pinot Noir. This was a huge wine with 14.8% abv. Lots of red and some dusty black fruit here but not quite as complex as a Brosseau we shared last Fall. I think this wine could use 5 years in the cellar. I opened a 2001 Beringer Private Res. Cab. to go along with the Pinot Noir and it showed nicely also. With %14.2 abv, It was more open with dark black currant fruit and a little leather/cedar, but none of the mint I noticed in an earlier bottle. This wine is approaching peak but still maybe a couple of years away, with a long plateau of maturity. For a newbie to Euchre, my partner Renee played very well and we showed James and my wife Linda how the game was meant to be played. As they say, a good time was had by all. I just wish the weather had been better. Oh well, next time.

Eucher is good, even in the rain.

Man, I haven't even heard euchre mentioned since I left Indiana - a LONG time ago.

Hi Jim,

Thanks for the tasting note on the 07 Clos Pepe. I have a couple of bottles in my cellar too, and it is useful to know what the drinking window should be. Did you like the Clos Pepe or was not ready to drink, in your opinion?

[David M. Bueker]

Love that 2001 Paterberg Spatlese*** - ridiculously great QPR.

Hey Tom I did love that Clos Pepe but it seemed so primary that it was hard to judge what it would be at maturity but the stuffing was definitely there.