We tried the other night three dessert wines:
1. Jekel Riesling LateHrvst HomeVnyd (EB; ArroyoSecco; 10%) 1982: Dark brown/very murky color; very intense botrytis/peach syrup/apricotty some ambrosial/old R/apple compote/peachy slight pencilly/earthy rather complex nose; soft very intense apricotty/peach syrup/botrytis quite sweet/syrupy slight tangy/metallic complex flavor; very long complex very sweet/syrupy intense botrytis/apricotty/peach syrup slight earthy/pencilly complex finish; very intense botrytis and showing no signs of going over the hill.
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2. Ch.Raymond-Lafon AC: Sauternes (MeBaC; 13.5%; #2967) FamilleMeslier 2003: Med.gold color; slight volatile/alcoholic intense caramel/creme brulee light toasty/oak light peachy/botrytis beautiful nose; fairly sweet intense creme brulee/caramel/butterscotch slight peachy/apricotty/botrytis light oak flavor; very long/lingering intense creme brulee/caramel light peachy/botrytis/apricotty fairly sweet soft light oak finish; a bit on the soft side and not a lot of botrytis but a beautiful creme brulee character; should go at least another 10-15 yrs.
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3. Jaffurs Roussanne StolpmanFamilyVnyd/SBC (15.2%) 1998: Med.dark gold color w/ slight browning; very ripe/overripe grapey no botrytis light vanilla/oak nose w/ no evolution or complexity; soft quite sweet very ripe/overripe/grapey slight butterscotch/caramel slight vanilla/oak flavor; long quite sweet soft very grapey/overripe slight caramel/butterscotch finish; showing no complexity or evolution; just a lot of very ripe/grapey character; no telling where this is going to go but seems rather stalled out right now.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The Jekel TBA was pretty characteristic of old Calif BA/TBA wines; not pretty to look at but loads of botrytis. Still pretty primary. BillJekel made his first wine in '78 and I think this was one of his first TBA's. He & DougMeador were pioneers in SalinasVlly wines and don't get the recognition they deserve. Now I think Jekel makes just commercial/quotidian wines. Not tried one in yrs. Their WebSite is equally quotidian.
Tom