Tried this last night w/ leftover ChacrouteGarni:
1. AlbanVnyds Syrah Reva AlbanEstate/EdnaVlly (15.1%) ArroyoGrande 2002: Very dark near black color w/ no bricking; classic Alban/reduced/charred/burnt oak/pungent/burning metal/ozone/smokey intense blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/chocolaty bit mineral/earthy/peppery very primary nose; quite tart bit alcoholic/hot very strong burnt/charred/oak some reduced/ozone/pungent/burning metal (think setting a match to fine steel wool) very strong Syrah/blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/chocolaty/slight peppery very primary/youthful huge fruit flavor w/ ample hard/ripe/bit astringent tannins; very long/lingering intense blackberry/boysenberry/framboise/bit peppery very strong smokey/burnt/charred/Fr.oak finish w/ ample hard/ripe tannins; a very youthful/primary wine w/ little signs of evolution; seems to be going nowhere and should be pretty much the same 10 yrs down the road. $60.00
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Yet another huge/extracted Alban red that seems to be going nowhere fast. It's the kind of wine you stand in awe of and worship from afar because of its huge fruit and extraction. Did it offer up a lot of pleasure?? Guess I'd have to say "no". Quite a contrast from a Qupe right across the road which gives great pleasure upon release and has the balance to develop into something complex and interesting over 10-15 yrs. Guess I have no regrets on being dumped from John's mailing list.
Tom