2010 Bonny Doon Vineyard Albariño Jespersen/Rancho Solo Vineyards Central Coast
Crown closure. Vibrant and full-bodied, with apple cider, quince and graham cracker spice. Finishes dry but there's a moment on the finish where you're not sure if it's not closer to off-dry. Very good.
2014 La Conreria d'Scala Dei Priorat Black Slate La Morera Garnatxa Blanca, Grenache
Pale yellow; flavors/aromas of flowers, pears and white peaches with splashes of sweetened sushi ginger that linger in the aftertaste, both lightly bitter and sweet the way many cavas show. Quite drinkable but nothing more-ish or special here for a $20 Spanish white. Good.
2011 Tenuta Guado al Tasso (Antinori) Vermentino Bolgheri Camillo
I went gaga after tasting a bottle years ago and ordered a case. This is the 11th bottle from that case and each bottle has been better than the last (with the exception of a dud bottle that I took to one of Bill Spohn's lunches), though it's only in retrospect that I can say that. With that one exception I didn't think any bottle lacked a thing. But now? Ungodly good. This is Vermentino at the Grand Cru white burgundy level of class and evolution, and way beyond anything I'd ever imagined possible for the grape. Outstanding.
2011 François Gaunoux Meursault Le Clos de Tavaux Chardonnay
Double whammy: prem-oxed AND corked. And worse: I opened it on a camping trip and didn't have a backup.
