WTN: Reynvaan, Mordoree, Jonata, Leoville Barton

[Jenise]

From the last couple days:

2017 Reynvaan Family Vineyards The Unnamed Series Cabernet Sauvignon / Franc Walla Walla Valley
The Franc really showed last night--dark red fruits with menthol and tarragon underscored with a bit of Rocks funk. Good body and balance. Drinks well above its price ($25).

2008 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois Red Rhone Blend
PnP'd at dinner alongside a fleshier California syrah blend, hence the crunchy red and black fruit, tannins and acidity still evident made it stand out. Youthful boysenberry, black plum and licorice stand out with barely-there tar, tea and orange peel peeking around the edges. Medium plus body, plenty of structure, and not much secondary development. Should reward further cellaring.

2013 Jonata Todos Syrah Blend California
Mostly red fruit softened by bottle age, pleasing but almost too-red in that the syrah component is obscured. Still good but chastened by the more-exciting Mordoree.

2001 Château Léoville Barton St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
Another awkward bottle--heavy texture and fruitless on first opening. So decanted for two hours which initially showed a tad more fruit, but wafts of pruniness flirted with the boundaries. What a disaster this case has been--only one genuinely enjoyable bottle (mid-2019) out of ten so far over a period of close to ten years. Boo hoo.

[David M. Bueker]

Pruniness in a 2001 Bordeaux sounds like damage. It’s not a pruny vintage in any respect.

[Jenise]

Understood. But the whole case has been whacky, all but one bottle 'off' in some way.

[David M. Bueker]

Understood. But the whole case has been whacky, all but one bottle 'off' in some way.

Which only strengthens my belief that it was somehow compromised.

I'm not familiar with the "Unnamed Series" but if Reynvaan makes any wine for $25 it's a steal... Love their wines...

[David M. Bueker]

I'm not familiar with the "Unnamed Series" but if Reynvaan makes any wine for $25 it's a steal... Love their wines...

I placed one order with them, then dropped them like a hot rock because they were such a PITA to deal with. Still don't have the one order, but they have my money.

[Jenise]

David, not been my experience with them at all. Smooth transactions, classy people.

[Jenise]

Kasey, lemme take you to Reynvaan school. The original syrahs were called The Unnamed (no co-ferment), The Contender (Marsanne co-ferment) and In The Rocks (viognier co-ferment, first experienced with the '08 in Gabe's living room when I was a self-professed American syrah hater. It changed me). Other syrahs have been added since, including a super-premium cuvee called Stonessence, and since 2012 there's been a premium cabernet in the line-up which has morphed into a Bordeaux blend. The Unnamed got dropped around 2013 (good move, it wasn't in the same class as the others). Then they started Result of a Crush and a Christmas Cuvee, both syrah and $20ish. Now they've dropped the Crush (good move, everybody hated the label) and moved the Christmas Cuvee into a new line for normal retail called The Unnamed Series (unfortunate and confusing for those familiar with the original wines) of three wines identically priced around $25, which also includes the cab sauv/franc listed above and a straight syrah.

This was my first experience with the CS/CF.

[Jenise]

Understood. But the whole case has been whacky, all but one bottle 'off' in some way.

Which only strengthens my belief that it was somehow compromised.

I get it. But there hasn't been any of the usual flaws, and I had one good bottle. It doesn't make any sense, I just know from comparing notes with others like you that they've had good wines when I have not.

Thanks for the note on the Mordoree - I have some in my cellar but figured it was much too young to open yet.
Pity about the spoiled Leoville.