1996 Domaine Bertagna Vougeot 1er Cru Clos de la Perrière Pinot Noir
Deep color, taupe-hued, bigger fruit than expected based on the lighter '96 Vogue Bonnes Mares we had last week. No tannins remain to speak of, but the dominating cola and lactic quality on the nose and palate (offputting at first) nonetheless needed food for comprehension. The veal scallopini glazed with dry marsala over mushroom rice I served were perfect for that. Not great, but interesting.
1995 Joseph Swan Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
Good dark red/garnet color, exceptional for it's age. Drinks allright now but shows more like a wine that might have been better a few years ago. Which could mean that it will continue to evolve and show like a brilliant wine again in a few years--Swans do that.
2013 Chad Pinot Noir Reserve Carneros
Earthier with more cola, mushroom, Asian spice and acidity showing than last bottle (Nov '14). Bright and pleasing.
2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah North Coast
As effortlessly enjoyable and delightful as it was a year ago.
2012 Drew Family Cellars Pinot Noir Fog Eater Anderson Valley
Though two other tasters on Cellar Tracker a year ago found this heavy and even 'porty' in one cae, my bottle this week was nothing of the sort. This wine is taut with lovely cool-climate fruit, but needs another two years. Couldn't be further from 'porty'.
2012 Dynasty Cellars Riesling Walla Walla Valley
Peter seems to be going for a Spatlese-like richness here, and in fact he credibly achieved that, but the wine needs a bit more acidity to balance the sweetness. Still, good try.
2005 Long Shadows Wineries Syrah Sequel Columbia Valley
At age 10, the black currant is softening toward plum and the black licorice is gaining some fennel-like complexity. Violets remain but it's lost that malty lactic quality on the nose. Shows well. Still, obviously Aussie in style (it's made by John Duval of Grange fame) vs. Rhone; and I question whether it's going to get good secondary development or just fade away as so many WA wines do after about ten years. The latter would surprise the least.
2011 Elyse Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
88 pt nose and initial showing with fading 84 point finish. That is, it seems young and joyous on first pour and prematurely old and dour on the last. Don't think I've known a wine to go through a whole life cycle like that in one bottle. This won't last; drink up.
2011 Le Vieux Pin Syrah Cuvée Violette Okanagan Valley
The Croze Hermitage-like green olive and violet nose with bits of tar and white pepper that initially beguiled me off the bat at the winery persist two years in, but the palate still doesn't deliver what the nose suggests it should, and the tannins are hanging in tight and will probably win a race with the fruit. Nice enough but hollow compared to the terrific '13 recently tasted.