My latest VSP shipment arrived last week, so tried this Fri:
1. DryCreekVnyd SauvBlanc Taylor'sVnyd/DryCreekVlly (Musque clone; 14.1%; www.DryCreekVineyard.com) 2014: Light yellow color; lightly herbal/mineral/stony ripe/melony/floral/light pineapple/almost muscatty lovely perfumed nose; rather tart/zippy/bracing/tangy/grapefruity some herbal/SB/stony/flinty some ripe/melony/mango fairly rich flavor; very long/lingering tart/grapefruity/savory some herbal/SB/flinty bit ripe/melony finish; one of the best SB's made in Calif; lots of richness to it but a nice balance of mineral acidity to it; very well priced at $20.00 (VSP)
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2. DryCreekVnud Zin SomersRanch/DryCreekVnyd (14.5%) 2013: Dark color; very strong/intense classic DryCreekVlly Zin/raspberry/blackberry/very spicy rather dusty/OV light vanilla/Am.oak slight licorice/pungent very perfumed beautiful nose; rather tart intense blackberry/raspberry/DCV Zin/very spicy/perfumed quite dusty/OV some vanilla/A.oak bit lean/tight flavor w/ modest angular/wiry tannins; very long tart/lean/angular/tangy intense raspberry/blackberry/Zin/very spicy some vanilla/Am.oak rather dusty/OV finish w/ ample wiry/angular tannins; a quintessential DryCreekVlly Zin w/ an intense spiciness to it; don't try for at least 6 months as needs some time to even out; a beautiful Zin at a very fair price.$32.00 (VSP)
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. The indicated prices are to the member VSP club.
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2. DryCreekVnyds is certainly on a roll these days and probably making the best wines they ever have. Because of the ubiquity of the CheninBlanc and FumeBlanc in TraderJoe's, they don't get the respect they deserve. But their top end wines are as good as any in Calif. One of the very few Calif wineries whose Cabs I actually buy.
They are expanding their vnyd plantings. One planting will actually include SauvGris...a variety you never see in Calif. I'm looking forward to it.
Tom