Also tried last night:
1. RabbitRidge Zin OlsenVnyd/DryCreekVlly (13.7%) Healdsburg 1994: Dark color w/ some bricking; slight raspberry/Zin very bretty/fecal toasty/oak unpleasant nose; very sour dreadful fecal/bretty/barnyardy/unclean flavor; like a Kansas outhouse (a two-holer) on a hot July day.
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2. Blockheadia Ringnosii Zin Rutherford/NapaVlly (14%; Neibaum-Coppola Estate; GardenBlock: SaH: 23.4 Brix, pH: 3.50 + CowBarnBlock: SaH: 24.3 Brix, pH: 3.69; Natural Fermentation) Michael Ouellette & Family/YountvilleWnry/Yountville 1993: Very dark color w/ little bricking; rather peppery/spicy/Zin/blackberry some toasty/Fr.oak some dusty/OV/earthy very fragrant/perfumed complex lovely nose; slightly tart light leathery/horsecollar/bretty very spicy/peppery/blackberry/Zin some toasty/Fr.oak/smokey slight cedary/pencilly flavor w/ light angular tannins; very long/lingering slight leathery/cedary/oldZin some very spicy/peppery/blackberry/Zin bit dusty/OV some smokey/Fr.oak complex finish w/ light bit angular tannins; drying out slightly on the palate but still plenty of fruit and a very complex lovely mature Zin that's a pleasure to drink.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. WabbitWidge: This was the original wnry of EricRussell. He was run out of town because of constructing bldgs and expanding production levels w/o the approval of the requisite authorities. He went to PasoRobles, where he continues to make wine under the RussellFamilyWnry and scrupulously obeys zoning ordinances.
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2. Blockheadia: Michael Ouellette was the original somm at Mustard'sGrill, where he established a reputation for a very good wine list. This was back in the days when Somms were highly respected by the wine bloggers; back afore "well-curated" wine lists loaded w/ orange and natural and PetNat and biodynamic wines existed. He made some very well-crafted wines in his day under the Blockheadia label. He is now involved in VinTap, an artisinal wine by the keg venture.
Tom