1999 Domaine Alain Burguet Gevrey-Chambertin Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes
This is going to sound too esoteric, but in the desert there's a smell to rain that's coming but not 'here' yet, and for the first hour that was primary aroma of this wine. Beyond that concentrated dark fruit, loamy forest floor and spice with a hint of iodine were prevalent. Mature but not old, excellent for a 16 year old village wine.
2012 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Gioia Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Balanced, elegant, great depth and spice. Classy all the way and worth every penny.
2001 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend
Thank god for other people's reviews on Cellar Tracker or I'd be ready to cry. Our bottle last night (first of six bought long ago that I should have started on before now, taken to someone else's house) was initially identical to Paul D's, though after two hours and close to the last drop there was some sign of change, something that could have led to the wine Zweder describes. I'll cross my fingers and open another soon under better circumstances.
2006 Cadaretta Merlot Columbia Valley
Dark, almost opaque wine with a little rust from maturity. Full of espresso and chocolate flavors, more savory than sweet. Interesting and surprising, but it won't hold much longer.
2005 Yann Chave Crozes-HermitageSyrah
Inky color with dark fruit, herbs, meat and black pepper on the palate. The typical C-H green olive is in the background, but very mild as is the acidity. Tannins are there but pretty relaxed--drinks very well now without decanting. No sediment.
2012 Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc Okanagan Valley VQA
Bizarro. Good nose of herb, raspberry and chocolate, but dead flat on the palate. I mean: no flavor. At all. Two bottles were identical.
2005 Joseph Swan Vineyards Pinot Noir Saralee's Vineyard Russian River Valley
Took to Bill's lunch. Effusive nose made great 1st impression. Unexpectedly light taupe color for vintage/vineyard, but great flavor on the palate of cherry, tomato and a bit of sea salt. Tasted more like Sonoma Coast than Russian River. Still, excellent.