2013 Château Miraval Côteaux Varois Blanc Rolle (Vermentino)
Charming white flowers and stone fruit with stemmy undertones.
2010 Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills
The annual bottle at J&A's. Fantastic. Great aromatics and depth on the palate. Best bottle yet--truly drinks like a grand cru Chablis.
2012 Hanzell Chardonnay Sonoma Valley
Love it when an expensive bottle tastes expensive--this does. Distinctive character, steelier and more Chablis-like than I expect from Hanzell or the '12 vintage in California, but all the same not a disappointment. Probably a little closed right now. Next bottle: 2017.
2014 Kirkland Signature Chablis 1er Cru Chardonnay
So we're drinking all these Chablis-like chardonnays and we run into this at Costco--couldn't resist buying. Fruity mid-palate with a sweeter finish than would be correct for most Chablis, but the minerals are definitely there. Premier Cru level quality? That's a stretch, but for $15--not bad!
2013 Liquid Farm Chardonnay La Hermana Santa Maria Valley
Bright med yellow, flavors of apple and lemon oil. Slick, modern style. Quite tasty, though not quite in my wheelhouse for chardonnay. Has the stuffing to improve in the bottle thru 2018, at least.
2013 Bratcher Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara
Bratcher is a new label by a Joe Davis protogee. At the Arcadian tasting room: Galia melon, hazelnut and tarragon. Great depth; exceptional.
2010 Bratcher Chardonnay Mary Ellis Santa Maria Valley
At the Arcadian tasting room: pineapple, citrus, custard. Very good.
2012 Bratcher Bent Rock Pinot Noir
Some earthy notes of sandalwood and mushroom under vibrant cherry fruit, sturdy tannins. Very toned and cut for a warm vintage that produced such blowsy wines elsewhere.
2006 Massena Petite Sirah Howling Dog Barossa Valley
Decanted for six hours. Stiff and unyielding even then, tannins run the show. Set aside for four days, then found: oxidized, pruney flavors--yuck. If one had more bottles, a 24-hour decant will probably get it right.
2000 Domaine Anne Gros Chambolle-Musigny La Combe d'Orveau Pinot Noir
JOHNH1001's 2013 note on CT was so spot-on for what we tasted last weekend, it's worth showing that the wine has held right there this past 24 months, so I quote: "Love surprises like this. A villages level wine in an off vintage that is really great right now. Very pretty purple and blue fruit on the nose. With some smoke and earth. Very creamy and silky in the mouth. Light and delicate red and blue fruit. Medium plus finish. Really pretty."
2008 Domaine Brusset Gigondas Tradition Le Grand Montmirail Red Rhone
Hugely better than last month's bottle. More youthful on every front: in fact, needs time or at least some decanting.
2007 Corliss Estates Red Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
In a blind tasting. My #1 wine by a long shot. Brawny yet elegant, even Bordeauxish. It's maturing wonderfully. On a previous occasion I called it Marshawn Lynch in a tux--that's still apt. Don't think it will have any issues aging another ten years, but 2021 is easy.
2012 Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Noir Wllamette Valley
Ever open a bottle where about every fifth sip you are forced to repeat, "Damn this is good!" Well, damn was this good! Very traditional in style (thank you) and effusively aromatic, with red fruits, pie spices (wish I tasted more of that in OR pinots), and an interesting touch of white pepper on the finish. Not youthful, not mature, but somewhere wonderfully in between for current drinking and without the kind of acidity needed IMO for 2027 as some have forecasted.