Opened this mini-vertical last night:
1. JCCllrs Misc Stuff RW Calif (Carignan/Grenache/Syrah/Tempranillo; 15.3%) Oakland 2008: Very dark color w/ light bricking; some blackberry/black cherry/Carignan some toasty/oak bit cedary/pencilly/oldRed/tired some alcoholic/fumey bit complex nose; soft bit tangy/metallic/tired slight blackberry/black cherry some alcoholic/fumey rather cedary/oldRed flavor w/ light bit bitter/astringent tannins; long some blackberry/black cherry some alcoholic/fumey rather cedary/oldRed tired finish; still has a bit of ripe fruit left but on the tired/dried out side on the palate.
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2. JCCllrs Misc Stuff RW Calif (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre; 14.5%) 2009: Very dark some bricking color; fairly strong ripe/blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah slight strawberry/Grenache rather alcoholic/fumey some toasty/oak bit complex nose; very soft quite ripe/strawberry/Grenache/boysenberry some hot/alcoholic/fumey slight metallic/dried out bit tired flavor w/ light gentle/drying tannins; very long some alcoholic/fumey some Grenache/strawberry/blackberry bit dried out/metallic finish w/ light drying tannins; still has some fruit but headed downhill at a break neck pace.
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3. JCCllrs Misc Stuff RW Calif (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre/PetiteSirah; 15.5%) 2010: Dark color w/ some browning; fairly strong Grenache/strawberry/ripe/bit blackberry/Syrah somewhat alcoholic/fumey strong toasty/Fr.oak slightly dried-out/cedary/pencilly/oldRed nose; very soft rich/lush fairly hot/fumey/alcoholic fairly strong Grenache/strawberry/blackberry/Syrah strong toasty/Fr.oak bit tired cedary/pencilly/oldRed flavor w/ light gentle tannins; long rather strawberry/Grenache/bit blackberry fairly hot/fumey finish w/ gentle tannins; still has good fruit but pretty hot/alcoholic & a bit tired/dried out on the palate.
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A wee Bloody:
1. I opened these three with low expectations. They fully delivered on that. His emphasis is on very ripe/high-alcohol/big fruit/high extract...not good signatures for wines to make good old-bones. The '10 was slightly the best of a sorry lot. The alcohol is really coming to the forefront on all of these.
Tom