We had some friends over for dinner Fri night and these two were the highlights (sorta):
1. WindGap PinotGris WindsorOakVnyd/ChalkHill/SonomaCnty (6 brls/144 cs; 12%; #0927; Skin contact thru fermentation
+ 3 months) Sebastapol 2013: Pale garnet red color; some cranberry rather earthy/dusty some phenolic/resiny slight peppery somewhat interesting nose; quite tart light cranberry rather earthy/dusty some phenolic/resiny/skin-contact/cidery some savory/saline flavor w/ modest/bitey tannins; med.short phenolic/resiny light cranberry/earthy/dusty some savory/saline finish w/ light bitey tannins; seems less phenolic & tannic & austere than before but still bitey tannins and not much to thrill about this wine; disappointing. $36.00
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2. Idlewild GrenacheGris GibsonRanch/MendoCnty (12.9%) 2013: Light red color; lovely Grenache/strawberry/cranberry/watermelon some dusty/OV/earthy quite perfumed/aromatic nose; rather tart very dry bright/strawberry/cranberry/Grenache/spicy some dusty/OV perfumed lovely flavor w/ light tannic bite; rather long bright/Grenache/strawberry/cranberry dry rather tart finish w/ light tannic bite; quite a lovely/perfumed/savory Grenache rose/red. $24.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The WindGap was pretty unthrilling, the Idlewild was lovely. The Prunotto Barolo '93 was dreadful, rather bretty, loads of new oak, hard/lean/angular/tannic/oaky; with little prospects of developing into anything interesting or great.
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2. We had the WindGap back in March & I kinda liked it. Some pretty cranberry fruit w/ lots of austere phenolic character w/ ample tannins & I thought had a lot of potential. This time the wine was not nearly as phenolic & austere; but little fruit, little interesting things; just an "Oakland wine"...there's no there there. I've 4 more btls left.
So I would like to pose this question: How can you tell if a wine has entered a "dumb" phase, or it's simply not evolved as well as you expected it to and there's little prospects that it'll turn into anything good??
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3. Idlewild: I understand that Sam is dropping this GrenacheGris from his tableau. Too bad. GibsonRanch is an iconic vnyd and he's done a terrific job w/ these grapes.
Tom
but not as a steady diet.