2012 Idlewild, Dolcetto Fox Hill Vnyd.:
13.4% abv; initial cherry aromas with some spice tones, goes into its shell pretty quick and is mostly about its tannins when tasted without food. Comes alive with salad and cheese toast with deep dark cherry flavors and spice accents; balanced and intense. The website notes that they are trying to strike a balance between gulp-able and serious; it does seem that this wine has hit that target. Needs a bit of time.
2012 Idlewild, Grenache Gris Gibson Ranch:
12.4% alcohol; from 100+ year old, dry farmed, vines; opens with lovely red fruit notes but closes down quickly (seems to be a theme here), noticeable tannin, and a dusty/earthy character. More about structure now than fruit and, what fruit is showing, is not sweet.
Just guessing here, but I find this fascinating and I think it has a future. Day two: Much more open and generous but no less savory; developing complexity. A wine of pleasure and interest.
2011 Rochioli, Pinot Noir Little Hill:
Supple, flavorful and not too sweet; not a great deal of development yet and certainly, follows the house style. Delicious with mushrooms and polenta.
2004 Giacosa, Nebbiolo d’Alba Valmaggiore:
Took about 15 minutes to open but then it was beautiful, nicely resolved and quite complex; almost ethereal nose, weightless in the mouth and utterly charming; baby Barbaresco. Beyond words with cold beet salad and steak.
1991 Groth, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve:
At first, the unmistakable “Groth green” is apparent but over the evening, it became but a part of the whole; needed an hour of air, then it was at full song; medium weight but so intense, amazing length and no intrusive tannins (in a year that often made for them). A treat and fabulous with steak.
2010 Larkmead, Cabernet Sauvignon LMV Salon:
Holy cats! This had a salty minerality with extremely deep and concentrated fruit but no sense of being outsized; intense, complex, balanced, and precise yet still full and long on the palate. As good a young California cabernet as I have ever had; truly phenomenal. Oh my!
Best, Jim
