- 2001 Paul Blanck Gewurztraminer Furstentum Vieilles Vignes - France, Alsace, Kientzheim & Sigolsheim, Alsace Grand Cru AOC (12/19/2010)
Hazy notes from my last bottle of this. This was so wonderfully integrated now, it was a real pleasure to drink. Just off dry, with a lovely thick texture and a great complexity of stonefruit and tropical fruit flavours (especially pineapple, peaches and lime). Lots of smoky notes of the full bodied palate as well. Probably plateauing now, but will last a few years yet. Outstanding Alsacian gewurtztraminer. (A-) - 2006 Louis Bouillot Crémant de Bourgogne Perle rare - France, Burgundy, Crémant de Bourgogne (12/18/2010)
Had this a few weeks ago, so not many notes. But I remember this as a solid cremant with a nice mousse and more on the chardonnay side in terms of flavours. Good QPR. (B+) - 2003 Lingenfelder Großkarlbacher Osterberg Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Pfalz (12/14/2010)
Light to medium yellow in colour. Lovely nose of minerals, nectarines and limes. Medium bodied, just off dry, with great acidity and secondary flavours just starting to emerge. Nice rich texture too, with limes, pears, and mangos and a hint of smoky botrytis. Great balance, with no flabbiness from the '2003 curse' at all. Drink now or wait up to 10 years. (A-) - 2005 Glaetzer Godolphin - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (12/8/2010)
Hazy notes from a few days ago. My friend guessed Washington shiraz, and I thought that was a good guess. Definitely a big wine, but not over the top at all. The cabernet in the blend really makes an appearance, and gives it structure. A full bodied mix of black and red fruits, not very complex, but tasty. It should last a while. (A-) - 2006 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (12/8/2010)
Hazy notes from last night's tasting. Fairly deeply coloured for a OR pinot, this had a lovely earthy quality on the nose, but didn't really scream pinot to me. The same went for the palate: tasty, certainly, but approaching the 'syrah' style of pinot to me. Earthy cherries and a hint of spice, medium-full bodied, with acid giving it a bit of a lift. A bit too big for me (the vintage probably had something to do with this): the 2006 Archery Summitt Arcus we had with this was much more to my liking, but this was a solid wine overall. (B+) - 2005 Argyle Pinot Noir Reserve - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (11/24/2010)
Medium ruby in colour, with a wonderful and classic OR pinot nose of Indian spices and cherries. Medium bodied, with a lovely, pure texture and flavours of cherries, strawberries, spices and a hint of smoke. (A-) - 2005 Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons Cuvée Guy Moreau - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru (11/21/2010)
Pale yellow in colour. Lots of minerals on the nose, with some apple as well. Lots of power on the full bodied palate, it really coats your throat with butterscotch, lemon and minerality. Nice concentration too, in part from the old vines I suspect. Still young, even after decanting for 3 hours, but drinking well now; it should last many years yet. (A-) - 2001 Domaine Jean Deydier et Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Clefs d'Or - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (11/20/2010)
I thought this was in a nice place. Not an extravagent style of CDP, more a burgundian style. Lots of earthy leather notes on the light - medium bodied palate, with cherry and plum notes too. A very feminine style that is drinking well now, and is probably at its plateau. (A-) - 2005 Valentin Bianchi Cabernet Sauvignon Particular - Argentina, Mendoza, San Rafael (11/15/2010)
I wasn't expecting much from this wine, but wow, this was a great cabernet. I didn't take notes, but it reminded me a bit of a Don Melchor. Quite concentrated, with lovely structure and great depth. A big cab, but not OTT in any way. This is still young, but very enjoyable right now. Lots of blackcurrant fruit on show, and not a lot of complexity yet, but very tasty indeed. (A-) - 2006 Schloss Johannisberg Grunlack Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Rheingau (11/11/2010)
Didn't take notes, but this was an impresive riesling, with quite a bit of botrytis and a lovely purity and intensity. Much more tropical than citrus fruit. A little more acidity would be nice, but this a tasty, rich spatlese that should last for many years (and was probably popped much too early). (A-) - 2004 Château Cabézac Minervois Cuvée Arthur - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois (10/30/2010)
Same impressions as the last bottle. A wonderfully rustic nose full of earthy and gamy scents, and a powerful, medium-full bodied ride on the palate, with similar gamy, leathery notes and a hint of tar. Not a fruit bomb, nicely structured and should last several years at least. A very interesting, sauvage kind of wine, but not OTT at all. The high level of mourvedre in the blend really gives it panache. (A-) - 1999 M. Doudet-Naudin Savigny-lès-Beaune - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune (10/24/2010)
Had with a salmon course at a dinner last night. Didn't take notes, but this was a solid, velvety wine with light-medium body and intensity. Rather basic flavours, but certainly reasonable for a village wine. A nice match with the salmon, and ready now. (B+) - 2007 Gray Monk Estate Winery Odyssey White Brut - Canada, British Columbia, Okanagan Valley, Okanagan Valley VQA (10/17/2010)
Solid but unspectacular sparkler. Light in body, mainly citrus notes on the palate. Won't buy again. (B) - 2004 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (9/29/2010)
Didn't take notes last night, but this was an improvement on an earlier botttle. This is still a bit of a bruiser of a wine, full-bodied, and New World in character, but with more structure than previous bottles. Lots of blackfruits, a hint of mint on the nose, some tomato leaf in the palate. A solid Coonawarra cab that is just starting to come into its own; but this will last and improve for many years to come, as it's still quite primary. Drank with a 2003 Don Melchor, 2003 Casa Real (both Chile) and 2006 Switchback Ridge (CA), and it held its own in pretty impressive (and more expensive) company. (A-) - 2003 Château Cabézac Minervois Cuvée Arthur - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Minervois (9/26/2010)
Notes from the second night it was open. Very dark in colour, with a rich nose of earthy plums, gamy notes, herbs and cedar. Medium-full bodied palate, with dark chocolate, iron, leather, plums, tar and pomagranate. Rich, but not OTT. A really rustic character here, which I really like (from the Mourvedre?), and maybe there's some Carignan in here too? Lots of personality, and good QPR at the sale price I paid. Improves with air, and should last a while yet. (A-) - 2001 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (9/24/2010)
Had this last week with two other 2001 Bordeaux (Leoville-Poyferre and Faizeau) and this was my favourite by a nose (although I did bring this wine). All were nice, but this had some extra concentration and complexity at this stage, after about a 3 hour decant. Full bodied yet elegant and balanced, with a great mouthfeel and finish. Still young, of course, but shows great potential, and is worth trying now if you have a few. (A-) - 2006 Kilikanoon Shiraz Parable - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (9/19/2010)
Opened this last night for a friend and we were both very impressed. This was a classic, old time McLaren Vale shiraz, not overdone or OTT at all. Nicely balanced, no oak or acid sticking out, very pure fruit and a nice finish. If they would slash the inflated prices and provide such well balanced, tasty examples, I'd be buying more Oz shiraz again! Certainly not an overly complex wine, and hedonistic, as Parker would say, but with lovely poise and balance for the style. (A-) - 2005 Sheridan Vineyard L'orage - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley (9/19/2010)
Didn't take notes, but I really enjoyed this wine last night. I decanted for about 2 hours, and was met with a lovely nose of cassis and a floral element. Great balance on the medium-full bodied palate: it was concentrated and ripe, but still quite fresh and classy. The CF in the blend really gives it added complexity and delicacy. It should last many years yet, but is approachable now with some decanting. Well done! (A-) - 2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau L'Andeol - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Rasteau (9/17/2010)
Medium brick in colour, with a lovely nose of earth, cherries, smoke, iodine and garrigue. Medium-full bodies, but much less rustic and tannic than expected for a Rasteau. As many 207 Rhones, first there's a hint of sweetness on the frontpalate, but the finish is quite dry with slight, but ripe tannins. More earthy notes, cherries, black licorice, pepper, creosote and a hint of pine. This is a great QPR. Nice concentration and intensity, and it should be able to last at least 5-7 more years, but is fine to drink now. (B+/A-) - 2001 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape A la Gloire de mon Grand-Père - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (9/12/2010)
Consumed last at a dinner party, so very vague notes. This was a lovely, feminine style of CDP, with lovely cherry purity and nice aged characteristics. I really enjoyed this. (A-) - 2007 Patricia Green Cellars Panama White - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (9/12/2010)
Tried this at the winery two years ago, and bought a bottle. But something is horribly wrong here. It's a frankenstein of a wine (e.g., 16.3% alcohol), and there's a nasty aftertaste present. Really quite vile: I had a visceral reaction to this wine that I haven't had with any other wine. I don't know if all bottles are like this, but it doesn't seem like an individual bottle issue. 50 points for being a liquid (F). - 1996 R. López de Heredia Rioja Crianza Viña Gravonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (9/3/2010)
Fascinating as always. Light gold in colour, with a nose of oxidized nuts, nectarines, and musty butterscotch. Out of the fridge, it's all oxidation and acid; warm it up, and it improves immensely. You have to love oxidation and acid at least a bit to really enjoy this wine (I do, luckily), but there's some chenin blanc-like funky 'fruit' (wet wool, quince) as well. Very dry. A singular wine, one that encourages contemplation (or at least amazement). Hedonists should avoid it like the plague! But there's a real power and intensity to the wine. Thanks are due the producer for keeping their wines so anti-modern! (A-) - 2002 Schloss Saarstein Serriger Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (8/30/2010)
Didn't take notes, but this was a great riesling in a nice place right now. The sugars and acids and starting to harmonize, and there's a nice layered texture to the medium-bodied wine. Slight sulphur on the nose, but nice blend of citrus and mianly tropical fruits on the rich, balanced palate. This should last a while yet, but there's no harm in drinking it now. (A-)
