Tried these two last night at DinDin:
1. Forlorn-Hope Story CheninBlanc StoryVnyd/AmadorCnty (13.17%; 25 cs) MatthewRorick/Fairfield 2012: Med.gold color; rather chalky/mineral/stony some Loire-like light floral/CB/pear lightly spicy quite attractive nose; lightly tart/tangy totally dry quite chalky/stony/mineral/bit metallic light floral/CB/pear/apple blossom lightweight/lithe quite pretty flavor; long rather chalky/mineral/stony/limestone light floral/CB/pear light/lithe/racy finish; quite a pretty CB very Loire-like in style; not at all lean or eviscerated; one of the most Loire-like Calif CB I can recall w/ lots of mineral/chalky character.
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2. Turley PetiteSirah HayneVnyd/NapaVlly (14.6%) St.Helena 2010: Very dark/near black color w/ slight bricking; very strong PS/blackberry/boysenberry/ripe/earthy/some peppery strong toasty/oak bit herbal/black pepper bit spicy light cedary fairly complex nose; bit soft intense blackberry/PS/peppery/licorice/earthy some smokey/toasty/oak slight aged/cedary fairly complex flavor w/ modest tangy/drying tannins; very long very strong PS/very blackberry/ripe/earthy/peppery/licorice some toasty/charred/oak bit drying finish w/ some drying tannins; still loads of blackberry/licorice/PS fruit but showing a bit of drying out/astringent character on the palate; still a pretty big PS but avoids the oafish/coarse side of that PS grape.
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More giffenspittle from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. I was expecting to Turley PS to be pretty far along. It was not, still had plenty of PS fruit. But I doubt it's going to improve further & will probably not outlive the tannins.
Tom