For a BD celebration last night, we tried:
1. Stony Hill Semillon de Soleil/NapaVlly (13%; Dried in sun for 10 days) 2007: Light gold color; some new-mown hay/earthy/herbal rather raisened slight figgy some toasty/oak bit simple nose; rather sweet soft herbal/straw/hay rather raisened earthy light toasty/pencilly/oak flavor; med.long soft quite sweet raisened/herbal/hay some toasty/oak finish; a bit on the raisened/simple side. $25.00 (GGWC)
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2. Bedrock Semillon MonteRossoVnyd/Lachryma Montis Botrytized/OldVine/SonomaVlly (Planted in 1896; SaH:
40.2 Brix; 12.0%; 13.0%; RS: 20.6 Brix; RS: 200 gms) 2009: Med.dark gold color; beautiful botrytis/peachy/apricotty bright/figgy/Semillon/orangey rather pencilly/toasty/oak very complex nose; quite sweet tart intense apricotty/peachy/fruit cocktail/botrytis some pencilly/toasty/oak bright/figgy/orangey/Semillon very complex flavor; very long/lingering intense botrytis/peachy/apricotty/botrytis some pencilly/toasty/oak zippe/figgy/Semillon/waxy/orangey complex finish; stunning example of a young Calif Sauternes. $25.00/hlf
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And a wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The StonyHill was a bit on the strange side from previous ones I've had...which had a lot of lush/grapey/figgy character to them. My experience is that this wine can age extremely well, often for 10-20 yrs. I have no idea where this '07 version will eventually wind up.
The Bedrock Semillon is, I believe, Morgan Twain-Peterson's first stab at a dessert wine. I was pretty much blown away by this wine. Wines w/ this level of botrytis (40.2 Brix) are usually dominated by the botrytis, can be a bit heavy-handed, and have any varietal character destroyed by the botrytis. Though the botrytis is definitely there, this is one of those rare birds where the grape variety punches thru the botrytis. It has great acidity w/o that sweet/sour character some such wines show. One of the best young Calif Sauternes I've had. I have little doubt that the wine won't go out 20 yrs or so. Amazing stuff.
Tom

