NV H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé
Richer and more open than most roses but not blowsy, just excellent. This had been in bottle for about six years, it's owner said, and seems to be at peak/perfection. A shame not be enjoying crab with this....
NV Varnier-Fanniere Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs
Classic blanc de blanc of good pedigree: yeast, lemon and smoke, good depth on the palate.
NV Delahaie Champagne Brut Rosé Epernay
Light pomegranate fruit with green fig notes and complex spices. A standout in the low $30's.
2007 Ridge Geyserville Sonoma County Zinfandel Blend
Still not sold on the '07s. Heavy, needs a bit more acid lift. Lots of sediment, too--decanting strongly reccomended.
2014 Church & State Wines Chardonnay Coyote Bowl Vineyard Okanagan Valley VQA
Deep golden yellow, tons of oak, a bit hot. Not my thing.
2006 Tantalus Vineyards Riesling Old Vines Okanagan Valley VQA
I tasted this wine years ago upon release. It's not now OTH--neither flat nor oxidized--but in the years since the diesel nose has acquired a bit of plastic/resin character, and the palate has lost detail and complexity. Still refreshing, but overall this makes a case for mid-term cellaring at best.
1994 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407 South Australia
Excellent fruit and balance. Black cherry notes with some graphite buoyed by good acidity and structure for it's age. Best of the night on a night when our host was pulling old Penfolds from the cellar.
2000 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend
Experienced something very different than the last five CT reports on this: the wine was very fresh with good tone and youthful fruit character. We had it after a fading 95 and remarked on how one would think there were more like ten years difference between the two vs. just five.
1995 Penfolds Bin 389 South Australia Cabernet-Shiraz Blend
Quite drinkable but flavors are closer to necrotic than fresh (loamy, ash try) and it's definitely past peak.
1999 Col Solare Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Col Solare is the high end Antinori thing produced in partnership with Chateau Ste. Michelle but with it's own winemaker, etc. This was identical to the perfect Aug '14 bottle. These were built to last; beautifully mature but could hold here for years.
2005 Château de Malle Sauternes
From 375. Very honeyed with notes of candied orange and grapefruit peel, some coconut. Definitely at peak or even slightly past for this size bottle.
2012 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Surber Vineyard Rutherford
Very fresh with black cherry fruit and tobacco notes. On the plusher side with elegant mouthfeel. Only 200 cases made.
2007 Delille Cellars Chaleur Estate Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
A disappointing bottle; no TCA detected but musty aroma and muddled palate. Very different from a fine bottle six months ago.
1999 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé Chardonnay
Brilliant, multi-faceted, very youthful with apple pie and brioche. My WOTN at the Dorks Xmas bash. Thank you, Coop!
2012 Tenor 1:1 Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Matthews Winery has started a new label for their top fruit, and Tenor is that. Complex aromatics with layers on the palate. Beautifully done and most importantly not overdone in the way many WA reds are. My WOTN on an evening with many great bottles.
2006 Domaine Daniel Dampt et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet
Soft and gentle with pleasant lemon and flinty notes. Not oxidized but low acid so pretty much at the end of it's arc. Drink up.
2010 Tobias Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
Not much fruit here, it's starchy and withdrawn. Similar to the 2014 bottle which I gave just 82 pts to, I kept waiting for flavor to show up and it never really did. 82 again. Tobias, btw, is the winemaker's first name. Last name is either Forman or Dunn, can't recall which though Forman sounds more correct, but either way yeah THAT Forman or Dunn.
