2007 Alienor, Grand Vin:
About half and half merlot and cab. franc with a splash of petit verdot from Lake County; no spoof, no wood, reasonable alcohol; smells like a fine St. Emilion from the old school; excellent balance and density without weight or cloy, more savory than sweet, some complexity even now and the promise of greater things to come. A very fine wine, albeit pricey at $65.
2007 Phelps, Cabernet Sauvignon:
Overwhelmingly oaky - not for me.
1974 Heitz, Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vnyd.:
Quite closed at first and opened slowly over the evening; youthful color and delivery, eucalyptus dominates the nose but there is fruit; good fruit in the mouth, some mint, still a bit hard, some secondary development, intense and grippy. A wine of intellectual interest more than deliciousness.
1966 Chat. Latour, Paulliac:
Also took awhile to open but when it did, it was a fine example of the house and the terroir. Secondary development nicely integrated with warm fruit and structure, a truly amazing texture - like raw silk; world class complexity and length. A treat in every way.
1962 Doisy-Verdines, Barsac:
Walnut colored; smelling and tasting like an almond/walnut reduction with some fruit, just a little sweetness and a hint of shower curtain. Again, more of an itellectual curiosity but still, pleasure giving.
And a couple of comments from the Family Winemaker’s Tasting:
I was not looking for the “best” wines but rather for those that distinguished themselves as being either unique or distinctive while still delivering a pleasurable experience.
Unique:
2004 Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon: you may not like it but it is the most individually identifiable cab. I’ve had in years. I liked it alot but its polarizing.
2009 Macauley, Sauvignon Vert: bright, fresh, 11%alcohol, no cat pee or perm solution smells or flavors (that I get so often with sauvignon blanc); very clean and with enough viscosity to make it appealing texturally. About $22; 128 cases made.
Distinctive:
2007 Santa Cruz Mountain, Pinot Noir Branciforte Creek: 13.2% alcohol but no lack of depth and character; feminine, nervous wine that seemed very transparent to the Santa Cruz Mtn. turf. Joyful.
2008 Tablas Creek, Esprit de Beaucastel: If you’ve had the wine and liked it, you’ll love this. A perfectly executed and beautifully balanced rendition.
2008 Tablas Creek, Syrah: As pure a syrah as there is in CA but it will absolutely require aging.
2008 Frostwatch, Kismet: A sauvignon/semillon blend that keeps the wood in check and delivers a serious drinking experience. Bordeaux blanc from the best producers has nothing on this.
2007 Ladd Cellars, Pinot Noir Cuvee Abagail: Quintessential Russian River character with depth and sustain and almost no oak in evidence. Very well made.
2007 Jemrose, Syrah Cardiac Hill: Another pure, almost racy syrah with individual flavors that seperate it from the pack. I’ll buy this one.
2007 Westerhold Family Vnyds., Syrah Bennett Valley: There’s a reason this won the Hospice du Rhone “shootout,” big, syrah fruit that has almost absorbed all the new oak and a salty minerality - ‘nothing else quite like it.
And two pinots that I thought were both good wines and indicative of the Sangiacomo Vineyard:
2006 Du Nah, PN Sangiacomo: deft, feminine and of its place; a pleasure to drink.
2008 La Follette, PN Sangiacomo: bright, charming and showing nice depth.
Best, Jim
