2008 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco Nebbiolo
Very good; identical to previous bottle.
2012 Kunde Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley
Modern, medium body, drink-now style that's good enough for every day and $20 but not distinctive.
2013 Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon XIX Columbia Valley
Consistent Dunham quality cabernet, and one of the better premium values in this state. Traditionally styled, black cherry and earth with nice underlying minerality.
2006 DeLille Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Ciel Red Mountain
Magnificent. Masculine structure with rich, mouthcoating fruit. Barely middle aged--should easily cellar another ten years, maybe more. A $130 bottle: opened to share with special friends prior to other guests arriving on NY Eve, recorked and set remaining third aside for Bob and I to enjoy later when everyone left. Later, found an empty bottle. Can you un-invite people?
2005 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Artist Series Washington
I'm usually a fan of the Artist Series but the '05 vintage is apparently never going to integrate the ripeness of the vintage in a way that doesn't come across as heavy and sweet (this was my last of several bottles) like undiluted Hawaiian Punch concentrate. Guests loved it, but I found myself wanting to add water.
2013 Saviah Cellars Syrah The Funk Walla Walla Valley
Eight months since that first bottle, and what a change. No longer "overpowering" but silky and graceful. The nature of Funk syrahs in Washington usually veers closer to rustic, but this was poised, elegant and silky without going into that velour oak arena. A real gem among WA syrahs.
2006 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Rosé Cuvée Palmes d'Or Champagne Blend
Brilliant pale orangey-red color that feels correct for 100% Pinot Noir. Closer to Extra Dry than Brut, has complex flavors of cherry, orange rind and graham cracker.
2008 Marchesi Mazzei Maremma Toscana Tenuta Belguardo Red Bordeaux Blend
Opened it PnP style thinking it would be ready to go, but this concentrated, youthful wine exuded a lot of dilly-piney American oak-like features that were way off the mark for my purposes. Recorked it and tested again a week later. Now more integrated, but I'll hold remaining two bottles to 2022 or so.
2012 Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py Gamay
Pretty much full secondary here: baked strawberries and luxurious spices. Heady nose, good finish, resolved tannins. A dlight. But think 2019 for 'drink latest'.
2008 Inyo Vineyard and Winery Columbia Valley Syrah Blend, Syrah
This was an exceptional wine when first bottled and remains so almost ten years in. Youthfully purple with notes of huckleberry, iron, herbs and rare prime rib.
2014 Sobon Estate Zinfandel Old Vines Amador County
Has softened considerably since purchase a year ago; more ripe strawberry flavor, less bramble. Still pleasant, though. A good BBQ wine.
2015 Verget Viré-Clessé Chardonnay
A bit unbalanced toward ripe sweetness, needs more acidity.
2006 Long Shadows Wineries Saggi Columbia Valley Sangiovese Blend
Ready to drink, but a bit sappy and lacking any interesting secondary development. Speaks more to it's Washington origins and than its Italian aspirations. Don't know that holding these will yield any improvement--there's not much acid here to support continued cellaring.
1998 Domaine Rabasse-Charavin Côtes du Rhône Villages "Les Amandiers" Grenache Blend, Grenache
Eight years since the last TN and almost all bottles in other cellars have long since been dispatched. Well, despite expectations for something just called Cotes du Rhone, this 20 year old bottle was exquisite yesterday. Bright medium red color with red fruit, orange peel, earl gray tea and a bit of Morroccan leather. Great finish.
NV Charles Mignon Champagne Brut Nature Pinot Meunier
100% Pinot Meunier! Taut, bone dry. Missing the red apple skin flavor that has been the signature of so many sparkling PM's but it does have that nutmeg spice background I love. Would buy again.
2004 Alter Ego de Palmer Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend
What TonyTheFish said. Might be getting close to peak but I've not owned these before and I'm not sure what's on the other side of that mountain. Has the stuffing to hang on for a good while. No sediment, but a one-hour plus decant recommended for best flavor.
2010 Parusso Metodo Classico Brut Piemonte DOC Nebbiolo
Didn't take notes at the time, but it was simply outstanding. Took it to a high-end L.A. restaurant and the somm, who'd not had it before, was swooning along with us.
2011 Azienda Agricola Ronchi di Giancarlo Rocca Barbaresco Nebbiolo
Same as last bottle about six months ago. Great nose, bright and refreshing on the palate. Particularly works as a food wine, and it rewards being around tomatoes.
2011 Thurston Wolfe "The Geologist" Premium Red Wine Columbia Valley Red Blend
Just barely medium bodied with solid cab character, but a little fatigued at this point. Decent.
2011 Alexandria Nicole Syrah Jet Black Destiny Ridge Vineyards Horse Heaven Hills
Different! Raspberry, white pepper and a juicy iodine note typical of super ripe California pinot noirs, not Washington syrah in the coolest vintage of the last couple decades. Good, though.
2006 Long Shadows Wineries Pirouette Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Good, but missing the interesting nuances of secondary development one would hope for at 11-12 years out. Think this one won't age, it will just fade.