We tried these two w/ dessert Wed night:
11. Bailey J. Lovin JohannisbergRiesling MendoCnty (Botrytised LateHrvst; RS: 7.8%; 9.2%) Geyserville 1981: Dark gold/burnished bronze color; intense botrytis/peachy/apricotty/honeyed some R/floral slight earthy/spicy quite complex old German TBA beautiful nose; somewhat sweet quite tart very strong peachy/apricotty/botrytis/orangey rather fresh/vibrant slight earthy flavor; very long/lingering fairly tart lightly sweet very strong botrytis/peachy/apricotty fresh/vibrant/youthful finish; a beautiful example of a mature Calif BA-level Riesling that'll go on more yrs I expect. $8.50
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12. John B.Merritt JohannisbergRiesling MendoCnty LateHrvst (SaH: 28.4%; RS: 12.6%; 9.0%) Cloverdale 1982: Deep gold some browning/light PX color; very intense botrytis/apricotty/peachy/rotted peaches/orangey very ripe huge botrytis complex nose; very ripe/lush very sweet intense apricotty/botrytis/peachy slight earthy bit soft/cloying complex flavor; very long/lingering intense botrytis/peachy/apricotty bit soft very sweet/ripe finish; huge botrytis and not much else; pretty classic example of Calif TBA.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Here's two names from out of the past. Baily J Lovin was a grower up in MendoCnty, but can't find anything about him or his vnyd. DennisPatton often used his vnyd as a source making wine at HiddenCllrs. HiddenCllrs was bought by Parducci and Dennis now makes wine under t DnA label.
John B. Merritt is another unknown guy. He still has a wnry, at least in name, in Cloverdale. He's listed as winemaker at BandieraWnry. But that's about all I can find.
Of these two, I much preferred the BaileyJLovin as being fresher and more going on in it. The JohnBMerritt was all about botrytis a not much else...a bit on the clumsey side.
Tom