Friends hosted a tasting of west coast Bordeaux-style blends in Los Angeles last weekend. All wines served blind. Considering that Bob and I were the only couple who doesn't live in the L.A. area, was surprised that not only were there other Washington wines present, but also another Canadian.
1995 Beaulieu Vineyard Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Long ago when the friends who provided this bottle went gaga over the Tapestry, I didn't get it. Now they whip out this and shame me! Excellent aged California wine, and the pedigree shows.
2011 Quintessa Rutherford Red Bordeaux Blend
A whiff of funk, new world black cherry fruit, sweet finish. Some herbs and roasted elements here too. For current drinking, more integrated and by far my preference over the riper 2012 in the previous flight.
2005 Corliss Estates Red Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Cocoa, toast, deep red fruit, ripe--almost too ripe. That is, it's balanced but it doesn't show the classic Bordeauxish ambitions nearly as well as an 06 I had just two weeks ago.
2006 Flora Springs Trilogy Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Spicy and lithe on the palate, great balance. Don't think it has a long life left but why wait; it's drinking so well now. My #1 in this flight by a long shot.
2003 Betz Family Clos de Betz Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Extra sweet and chocolatey, hard to drink. Interesting that even MW winemaker Bob Betz couldn't duck the heat in this blazing vintage. I've had a few better WA 03's, but not many.
2002 Justin Vineyards & Winery Isosceles Paso Robles Red Bordeaux Blend
Heavy and I mean really heavy, sweet, pruney on the nose though less so on the palate. Chocolatey, low acid. My comment at the time: "If one of the wines in this flight is from Paso Robles, THIS is it." Ghastly.
2005 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
My contribution. Past bottles have not shown the ripeness of the vintage as overtly as this one, and the higher alcohol's too evident for my tastes. Not in a great place right now--wait until 2017 for next bottle.
2012 Kiona Cabernet-Merlot Washington Red Bordeaux Blend
Bright pretty fruit with leathery, traditional nuances. In fact my notes guess it was the oldest wine in its flight of four. Not correct: the others were 02, 03 and 05! My #1, group #1 of it's flight.
2003 Lail Vineyards Blueprint Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Unfamiliar producer to me. Elegant plummy fruit, balanced and satisfying--no hot vintage fumes like the Betz above, and it was just as hot in California as Washington. At peak, or possibly just past. No rush, but drink sooner than later. My #2 in its flight.
2006 Owen Roe Red Wine Yakima Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Great flavors and balance, lengthy finish, everything in place for a middle-aged wine. Easily the best wine in it's flight. Will push the drinking window out to 2020.
2007 Black Hills Estate Nota Bene Okanagan Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Jammy and sour at the same time, and it reeks of dill--American oak? My contribution--embarrassing.
2012 Quintessa Rutherford Red Bordeaux Blend
Fruity and young, a bit astringent on the finish. Wasn't decanted; showed potential but not ready to drink at present. Would not have guessed this was a $150 bottle.
2003 Osoyoos Larose Le Grand Vin Okanagan Valley VQA Red Bordeaux Blend
Grippy tannins, lots of cedar, a bit hot. Lacks the elegance of it's French cousins or the essential Paulliac-ness of the bottle we opened two years ago. Don't think there are better days to come--drink up.
2010 Gali, Gallipoli, Turkey Red Bordeaux Blend
My contribution--a geographical ringer that comes across as a Pomerol. Earthy with good plummy fruit, one of the driest and most Bordeaux-ish wines of the tasting.