- 2007 Lemelson Vineyards Pinot Noir Meyer Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (2016-09-10)
Like many OR 2007s pinots, this was performing much better than originally expected. The wine has fleshed out nicely, although of course it will never be 'big' or heavy wine. But there's a wonderful freshness and good intensity and outstanding 'pinosity' here. Very nice now with some air, but its still young. AWFE style pinot that shines with cherry and raspberry flavours, mushroom and a long finish. Had with an Anderson Valley pinot (Failla) that also showed similarly and equally well. (A-) - 2009 Tyrrell's Shiraz Single Vineyard Stevens - Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley (2016-09-10)
Agree with grameg's and David Cooper's notes, this was shut down a bit. Still quite tasty last night, with wonderful balance and flavours but not the intensity of the past. Unfortunately, I don't have another bottle left, so I'll never know if it blossoms again (and I expect it will). (B+) - 2009 Tapteil Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Red Mountain (2016-09-06)
Lately I have been disappointed with several WA cabs and cab blends: too ripe, rich, oaky and sweet for my liking. This is a small producer who sells most of their grapes - from right at the top of Red Mountain - to other wineries, and is always a nice winery to visit. This wine was far more encouraging to me, as it was an excellent, classic example of a cabernet sauvignon without being too rich, ripe, etc. Indeed, the tannins on this wine were still very powerful, but in a good way. But this is still a baby, and if you have some, I'd recommend cellaring it for a few more years. But I thoroughly enjoyed the bottle now, and wish I had more. (A-) - 2012 Balthasar Ress Hattenheimer Schützenhaus Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Rheingau (2016-09-06)
Hazy notes from last night. This was drinking well, with the medium bodied wine starting off sweet but finishing nicely dry. The fruit was mainly in the stone fruit spectrum and provided a light, refreshing kabinett. I thought a 2012 would be a little more plush, but perhaps it had closed down a bit; but I liked the crisp style. Great value. (B+) - 2006 Toni Jost Bacharacher Hahn Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mittelrhein (2016-09-06)
Didn't take notes, but this wine was showing well after a pop and pour. The fruit (mainly on the stonefruit spectrum) is starting to integrate and this off dry wine is pretty well balanced. Drinking well now, but could last too. (B+/A-) - 2009 Cantina di Santadi Shardana Valli di Porto Pino IGT - Italy, Sardinia, Valli di Porto Pino IGT (2016-09-06)
The Vinous note wasn't encouraging, but I bought this as one of the few Sardinian wines available in my market to wet my palate before a visit. I didn;t get to it until after, but this was certainly much more interesting than I thought it would be. I didn't take notes, but the old vine carignan is definitely at the fore, and offered a concentrated, balanced mix of black and blue fruits. There was a nice velvety texture as well, and good structure. A different, interesting wine that was tasting well right now but could easily last a few more years. (A-) - 2005 Weingut Hirsch Riesling Gaisberg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal (2016-08-10)
I was expecting an off dry style (as with a previous bottle several years ago), but this was very dry and very minerally as well, which was another surprise for an Austrian riesling from Hirsch. This has integrated well, but I think is at or just after its peak, so I would drink soon. A nice mix of medium bodied tropical fruit (especially pineapple), grapefruit and citrus flavours merge with the mineral notes. (B+/A-) - 2005 Concha y Toro Carménère Terrunyo Peumo Vineyard Block 27 - Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley, Peumo (2016-07-12)
Very interesting wine. Dark ruby/purple in colour, with a nice nose full of rich deep black fruits, tobacco and a hint of green (though this disappeared with time). Lots of tobacco and red and mainly earthy black fruits again on the medium-full bodied palate, with a nice amount of ripe tannins and a hint of smoke and oak too. Great texture to this wine, with a nice glycerin note and long finish. Not too complex right now, but it's well balanced, tasty, concentrated and powerful, and will improve with time I think (no rush to drink this at all). No green flavours on the palate with this bottle. At the sale price I paid, I wish I had more! (A-) - 2015 Argiolas Vermentino di Sardegna Costamolino - Italy, Sardinia, Vermentino di Sardegna (2016-07-11)
Great QPR table wine, very crisp and refreshing, but also with some lovely deep yellow fruit and mineral notes. (B+)
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