WTN: Two New DryCreekVnyd Wines...(short/boring)

Couldn't wait to try my just-arrived VSP wines:
1. DryCreekVnyds SauvBlanc Taylor'sVnyd Musque DryCreekVlly (13.9%) 2009: Light gold color; light herbal/SB rather perfumed/floral/almost Malvasia-like slight green olive/spicy/earthy lovely nose; slightly tart light herbal/green olive very slight floral/Malvasia-like bit spicy/lush flavor; med.short lightly floral/Malvasia-like some green olive/herbal light spicy/herbal/SB finish; needs some time to settle down in the btl; lovely nose but not quite the punch on the palate the nose suggests; not as rich/opulent as the '08. $25.00
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2. DryCreekVnyds Zin SomersRanch DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (14.5%; 462 cs) 2008: Very dark color; some/noticible Am.oak/vanilla very spicy/bright/raspberry/Zin/Zinberry slight RCCola/licorice/earthy very attractive nose; rather tart/lean/tight bit tangy/metallic very spicy/Zinberry/raspberry/Zin light licorice/RCCola/pungent some vanilla/Am.oak some tanic/hard flavor; med.long somewhat tannic/hard tart/lean/tangy/metallic some vanilla/Am.oak spicy/Zinberry/RCCola finish; not the richness & lushness of the '07 and needs some age. $34.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Both of these wines seemed a bit tightly wound, tight, and lean on the palate. Not the richness & lushness & roundness of the last vintage of these wines. Not the palate that the wonderful noses suggest. It may be because they were just off the boat. I'd wait 3-4 months to try these wines again. I expect they'll be a lot better when they settle down.
The latest DryCreekVnyd Newsletter has a nice article. In particular, it gives (justifiable) credit to Doug Meador for discovering SauvignonMusque. Back in the '70's (by crackey), Doug was growing/making SauvBlanc at his VentanaVnyd down in Monterey. It was very herbaceous/vegetal/aspargras in character...not very likeable. He noticed on the list of plant material available from UC/Davis a SauvignonMusque. Sorta on a lark, he ordered some, planted it, and made the wine. He thought it unusually fragrant/aromatic than most SauvBlanc. I had his first vintage and totally agreed. Its aromatics indicated that it was something special for a SauvBlanc. DryCreekVnyds picked up the ball and ran with it and makes, IMHO, the best SauvMusque in Calif (ergo...the world).
Tom

I do agree that DCVyrds does a really good SB, and the Taylor's Sauvignon Musque is good.
I was a bit put off, thinking, "Hoo boy, here's another advertising thingamajig that means squat!" I was pleasantly surprised, and I do like the depth of the Musque clone - you hit it right on the head with your Malvasia reference.
I haven't opened a DCVyrds '09 yet. What you say of the Somers Zin makes me think of David Coffaro's '09 estate Zin - a bit harder than is usual in "odd" years in Dry Creek Valley. I haven't actually tasted any other '09 reds as yet, come to think of it.

John

I believe Merry Edwards is another winemaker who uses the Musque grape?clone?

I believe Merry Edwards is another winemaker who uses the Musque grape?clone?

I've not had hers, buut I understand she does use Musque.
Tom

Hi Tom -

Thank you for the great notes again. I'm not very familiar with the Sauvignon Musque clone, but found your comparison to Malvasia very interesting, and appreciate the background info as well.