2012 Dynasty Cellars Merlot Walla Walla Valley
A gem of a Washington merlot. Big and rich, concentrated and plush on the palate. Sees a lot of oak but also gets three years in barrel prior to release for integration.
2011 Azienda Agricola Ronchi di Giancarlo Rocca Barbaresco Nebbiolo
Pretty aromatics of tea and roses. Earl Grey, raspberry, and pomegranate on the palate--no tar yet, but just around the corner. Excellent acidity. Drinks well now without prior decant.
Comment (13 views)
2009 La Pousse d'Or Santenay 1er Cru Clos Tavannes Pinot Noir
Initially: GORGEOUS nose. Spicy and floral, unmistakably Burgundy. Youthful color too so we decant and pour the wine about an hour later. No sediment. First glass a little tarter than the initial sample, with less fruit. Second glass: where's my fruit? Nose is still nice if a little less vivid, but the fruit and spice on the palate has been replaced with the flavor of a brown paper bag. Not sure what to make of this development, but will put off next bottle until 2018.
2005 Dunham Cellars Syrah Frenchtown Vineyard Columbia Valley
Complex and spicy with just a touch of barnyard and vivid acidity. Very Northern Rhonish (as per objective) and aging well.
2013 Tinhorn Creek Cabernet Franc Okanagan Valley VQA
Bretty.
2010 Tobias Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Finally an unflawed bottle from Tobias Forman (whose father is that other Napa Forman). Black fruit with some herbal notes and an intriguing moment of caraway seed. Currently tannins and acidity outshine the fruit but the wine is nonetheless quite drinkable and should improve with further cellaring.
2011 Maison Bleue Jaja Yakima Valley Red Rhone Blend
This wine's gained a lot of weight--I would not recognize it from the wine I tasted at Vino Volo that made me buy one for the cellar. Peppery, sage-y scented raspberry fruit has evolved into a deeper, plummier wine with lots of body. However, a tiny bit of prune flavor is concerning.
2012 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Evangelho Vineyard Contra Costa County Red Blend
Delightful. Distinctive, spicy blend that reads new world but defies identification. Could age some but why wait. Just loved this.
Comment (270 views)
2005 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville
Much improved over the last year. The alcohol impression's backed off and the wine is balanced with comfortable maturing flavors. Probably about peak but should hold here for years. Would estimate's it's outer drinking about 2021.
2013 Spindrift Cellars Pinot Noir OSU Woodhall Vineyards Willamette Valley
Good, traditional style. Medium bodied berry fruit with some surprising celery notes (for a vintage like 13).
2013 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Monochromatic flavor closer to Red Vines licorice than real red fruit, with an extra sweet finish. Kind of awful.
2013 J. Christopher Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Initial nose of dill and pine. American oak maybe??? Palate flavors light and essentially uninteresting. Based on other notes and what's in my glass, it's fading.
2012 R. Stuart & Co. Pinot Noir Vignette Willamette Valley
To the distributor at Fresh Foods in Cannon Beach who talked me into this, fie on you! I said I loved traditional wines, and this isn't one. It's modern, simple and polished, closer to Hawaiian Punch than Burgundy with a malted finish. Yuck.
2012 Giorgio Pelissero Barbera d'Alba Piani
Good. Fairly typical of the breed; grainy tannins. Presented bigger, strangely, than it did a year ago. Wouldn't bet on it aging much beyond here, though.