WTN: Letting flowers bloom

The usual hodge-podge.

Jean-Paul Thévenet, Morgon, 'vieilles vignes', 2009
Strawberries and other red fruits with a slight volatility prickle, possibly some slight brett, but otherwise pretty clean. A little austere considering the vintage. Lasts well for 3 days. Around a 90.

Forlorn Hope, Pinot Gris, 'Dragone Ramato', Calaveras County - Rorick Vineyard, 2013
Fairly dark rosé color. Crushed first-of-season strawberry nose. Not much flavor, except for twigs, cucumber skin, perhaps a bit of blood orange peel. What one notices first is the tannic skin finish. 11.07% 25 cases B

Halcon, 'Esquisito', Yorkville Highlands, 2017
Perfumy nose of red fruits, hibiscus. Body more austere than the nose would suggest, with decent acid and mineral framing the reddish fruits. Feels built to age, but not in an overbearing way. Definitely feels cool climate. Try another in 4-5 years. B+/A-

Domaine Monier Perreol, Saint Joseph, (blanc), 2016
Muted nose of pear. Dull Yali pear, with a slight soapy cilantro/peppery watercress finish. Decent enough acidity for a Rhone white, but overall, nothing too interesting to write home about.

Catherine & Pierre Breton, Bourgueil, 'Les Perrières', 2010
Light cigarette ash with red fruits, especially cranberries, red apple, and red currants. Slightly sweet green-like finish (think fresh cut grass). Still quite structured despite tannins that melt away. Delicious acidity and balance, if lacking in a lot of dimension and complexity. Quite drinkable. Very youthful in color, feel, vibrancy. 12.5% A-

Weiser-Kunstler, Enkircher Ellergrub, 'Große Eule', Riesling-Trocken, 2012
Medium gold color. Nose trending toward petrol, more savory than fruity or floral. Rounded, but not creamy, there's golden fruits, gooseberry, lemon. Okay, but nothing special. B+ 12.5%

Chateau Pichon Lalande, Pauillac, 2002
Light tobacco leaf, tomato skin, and leafy blackcurrant...overall, savory. There is a slight astringency, most likely vintage related, but not offensively so. This bottle feels deeper than one I had a year or two ago. A-/B+

[David M. Bueker]

I still have several bottles of 2009 Beaujolais. Your note gives me some additional hope for them.

Have several contacts who are big Halcon fans. Any other thoughts/experiences to share?

Have several contacts who are big Halcon fans. Any other thoughts/experiences to share?

Nicely made wines all-around. I haven't tried the white yet (roussanne), but the syrah has one of the most perfumed noses of any Cali I've come across. As for ageability, who knows? Some say they are very structured, but for me, I find them good out of the gate, but am pretty sure they can last at least 10 years.

[Jenise]

Love your unusual array of descriptors. I have that Halcon, but only one bottle. On your advice, I'll wait a bit.

Halcon for sale...

https://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/vi ... ?p=3282478

Villa San Juliette Paso Robles, SLR Reserve

OK, I realize US wineries can slap Reserve on any bottle they so please. In visiting the winery it did seem that they used very select sites for this grape, however. And Paso area is not kind to Alsatian grapes IMHO.

Straw to light yellow; excellent clarity. Aromas are fruity and floral: lemon, apple, pear, melon, carnation; hints of pineapple, apple blossom and stoniness. On the palate, acid and freshness apparent, dust joins in with the stoniness. Juicy texture. Plenty of acid added to a good finish. Impression: a pleasant wine, may have been grown in a warmer climate than typical Pinot Grigios. So the Pinot Gris presents well. Refreshing. At prime; drink now.

This is one of a few wineries we saw a few years ago that had invested big-time in over the top tasting facilities. Really did look like a villa. Rented out the site for weddings, events, etc. Wonder how many of those facilities had quite rough time during pandemic.