(A continuation of wines from the past several months, no order, only randomness)
Chateau L'Arroseé, Saint Emilion, 2005
13.5% Very nice, much better than an earlier bottle. Blackberries in kirsch with a nice lift, tannin smoothed out. In a good place.
Eminence Road, Gerwurztraminer, Finger Lakes, 'Elizabeth's Vineyard, 2014
12.4% Medium bright gold colored. Typical burnt spicy almond on the nose and palate, yellow fruited. Rather Alsatian.
Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, 'Bosconia', 2001
A light wash of cherries, leather, and old wood cask. Smooth and silky with virtually no tannin. A wine to contemplate rather than drink. Mature, but like many old Rioja, can age indefinitely.
Didier Fornerol, Cote de Nuits Villages blanc, 2016
Aromatically somewhat mute, which carries into muted flavors of light apple and unripe pear and a light oak kiss and citric acid finish. Lighter in taste than the 15 & 14. Labeled as 13%, but feels stronger.
Forlorn Hope, Tinto Câo, Amador County, Dewitt Vineyard, 2012
A fragrant nose of spring forest and fruits. Thin and peppery in the mouth with a heightened volatility, this was better earlier soon after it came out. Not particularly attractive, with sharp acidity and sour goji-berry flavors and salted preserved plum. 13.47% Needs a little more stuffing to give it balance. No wonder the Portuguese blend this grape.
Domaine Vacheron-Pouizin, Le Clos du Caillou, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 'Reserve', 2004
Very heavy bottle. Meaty, plummy, tomato paste. Young tasting, with not much tertiary development. Okay, but would like something more interesting after 15+ years of cellaring.
Adega 'A Buraca', Pico, 'Cacarita', 2014
Medium golden colored with some brownish highlights. Honeyed yellow fruits on the nose and a strange honeyed salinity-herba santa type mucilage mixed with Mediterranean herbs. Only very slightly oxidized, the way they like 'em in the Azores.
Sandlands, 'Red Table Wine, Contra Costa County, 2017
Purplish-violet red colored. Subtle fruit on the nose, plum. Moldy raspberry, Santa Rosa plum, bit of cinnamon and mace on the end. There is a firm little coating of tannin, and this is drinking well now but can certainly age longer. 12.9%
Dow's, Vintage Porto, 'Quinta do Bomfim, 1995
Roasted figs, coffee grounds on the nose, with the palate giving a balckberry-blueberry compote. Somewhat simple, but good. No harm in drinking now.
Cascina La Zerba di Volfedo, Derthona, Timorasso Colli Tortonesi, 2016
Light yellow fruits, yellow plum, savory with basil and oregano, thyme - a green note with an acidity that cuts through the plodding finish, which is something like cement mixed with wet glue. Not the most flattering description, but I believe a characteristic of the timorasso grape variety. Not as interesting as Massa's versions. 13%
Lopez de Heredia, Rioja, Bosconia, 2007
Quite dilly. Sour cherry and tart cranberry. Okay, but nothing like the fantastic 2001 I had earlier. Not sure if it needs more time or simply is not the best of years.
Dönnhoff, Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle, Riesling, trocken, GG, 2008
Sunflower, coreopsis, and yellow fruits on the nose and palate, with acid that keeps it fresh. Balanced, with a nice feel, but don't believe further aging will help anymore. Drink and be happy. 12.5%
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere, Pessac-Leognan, 2009
[from a 375ml] 14% Assertive citrus, more on the lime than lemon side of the equation, somewhat sharp, but youthful tasting. Slight bit of oak and vanilla, but complements rather than detracts. Quite good.
Vinupetra [Salvo Foti], Etna rosso, 2005
Stewed fruits in cherry liqueur, tactile fruit compote but not heavy - just concentrated and pure. 14% Excellent.