2007 Col Solare Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
From a friend's passive PNW cellar (broom closet next to the kitchen): alcohol and blueberry milkshake. Thick, soft fruit, low acid sappy finish. A monstrosity of goopy New Worldiness. UGH.
2011 Efeste Cabernet Sauvignon Big Papa Columbia Valley
Decanted for about two hours before pouring, and IMO the wine did not fare better for the wait. Enjoyable, but the tannins and initial fruit deflated quickly leaving the green character shared with many 11's rather out in the open. Would be more inclined to drink than hold.
1999 Matthews Red Wine Yakima Valley
Great showing for a 16 year old WA wine: mostly red fruit with spice, graphite and a bit of old leather. Oak has integrated nice; very Bordeauxish (for a WA wine).
2007 Corliss Estates Red Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
A very concentrated wine, brawny yet elegant--think Marshawn Lynch in a tux. Blackberry, black currant and earth with spices, herbs and chocolate. Drinks fine now but time will add more layers.
2010 Obelisco Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Nefer III Obelisco Estate Vineyard
Decanted one hour. Violets, black, blue and red fruit, tobacco and mocha. Full-bodied and elegant with layers and depth. Deliberately and adeptly Californian in style. Outstanding.
1986 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Vino da Tavola
Earth, tobacco and wild berry nose. Effusive and dramatic with perfect balance on the palate and a long, lingering finish. Outstanding; a better bottle than most recently reported on by others.
1983 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Vino da Tavola
Paired with an 86 at Christmas dinner. Decanted about two hours earlier, lively and good to drink but seemed to be on the waning edge of life with slightly more acid than fruit where the 86 was perfectly balanced.
2004 Graham Beck "Premier Cuvee" Brut Blanc de Blancs
Age has been very good to this. Rich yellow-gold color and mouth-filling new world chardonnay flavors with quince, apple pie, toast and crème brulee. Wonderful texture, loaded with tight and persistent bubbles.
2013 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) KernerValle Isarco / Eisacktaler
Bright and floral, and very different from the few Tuscan kerners I've had. Pretty, almost viognier-like in the perfumed aromatics; lithe and refreshing on the palate. A perfect pairing for a crab bisque with Italian herbs.
2012 C. Donatiello Winery Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast
A solid, restrained/ungooped California pinot noir; medium bodied and earthy, with cherry, spice and rose petal notes. Made a Langhe nebbiolo served at the same time seem mono-dimensional.
2013 AR.PE.PE. Rosso di Valtellina Nebbiolo
100% Nebbiolo in a drink-now style. Generous red fruit and firm acidity, quite tasty but not especially complex or deserving of it's $36 price tag. It was easily dogged by a California pinot that cost $10 less.
