From the last two weeks:
2004 Alter Ego Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend
I quote the last reviewer Pape du Nape who a week ago experienced the same quandary we did: "Too young? Too old? Too green? Too ripe? All of the above....I think this must have been better 3-5 years ago. Funny thing, 3-5 years ago people thought it needed more time."
Yup, all that. Decanted an hour before dinner. I'm going to err on the side of needs more time for my remaining bottle. That sensation of ripeness (though factually implausible for the vintage) often occurs in wines that are in some awkward stage of gestation and they come out of it years later. I'll hope....
2004 Margerum Syrah Alondra de los Prados Vineyard Santa Ynez Valley
PnP'd Friday night. Monolithically black, hot and heavy, like asphalt. Left open and sampled 24 hours later when the wine had pulled way back and was good enough to drink, with dark red fruits and hints of barnyard. Still has fruit, tannins and acidity, and only mild secondary development. Don't know if this will end up in a good place but it has the stuffing to at least try.
2012 Nichol Vineyard Syrah Okanagan Valley
A lovely expression of syrah from one of BC's best syrah makers. Elegantly softened by age, it has mouthfilling flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, bacon and bramble. Did fine as a PnP though more aeration recommended. No sediment.
2020 J. Rochioli Sauvignon Blanc Russian River Valley
LOVED this. Apple kiwi fruit, white grapefruit, gooseberry and minerals but no cat pee. Fantastic tension. Drinks beautifully now but will reward aging, it will likely take 5-7 years to hit its sweet spot (she said, thinking about a 2014 a friend opened a few months ago).
2006 Trust Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard Horse Heaven Hills
PnP'd. Holding up well for a 15+ year old WA cabernet from what was then a fledgling producer. Big blackberry fruit with a bit of pine resin, the combination of mild pyrazines amped out by extraction. Needed steak, but all things considered a nice showing.
2021 Sokol Blosser Estate Rosé of Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
Strangely salmon colored, a color I expect from syrah most of the time and malbec all of the time but haven't seen before in a PN. Savory nose, more meat and vegetable (cauliflower) than fruit (papaya) and finishes kind of hot out of a burgundy glass. Too heavy for a pinot noir rose.
2020 Furthermore Chardonnay Graton Ridge Vineyard Russian River Valley
Pale straw gold. Simple lemon-lime flavors, seemingly unoaked. Lacks body and complexity, drinks more like the $6 Grocery Outlet tank farm chards my nongeek friends buy than it does a $35 bottle. Poor value.
2012 Division Winemaking Company Pinot Noir Deux Vieilles Vignes Willamette Valley
Burnished opaque maroon color. Bretty like the last bottle opened in late 2020, but much more evolved and balanced. Heavy wine, low acid with some asphalt notes in the dark cherry closer to syrah in a Northern Rhone style than what I expect from Oregon pinot. Would have gone well with a lamb stew but was a bit OTT for a sipper.
2019 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Bourgogne-Aligoté
Gorgeous body, balance and precision of the type that proves why aligote should be taken more seriously. Should have bought a case of this when I had the chance.
2019 Tenor Sauvignon Blanc Columbia Valley
LOVED this. Green bell pepper puts a feral spin on kiwi fruit, honeydew and kaffir lime. Very sophisticated with great concentration and body. Brought by a guest; didn't know the price but guessed in the neighborhood of $40 (which was correct). I could taste every penny.
2020 Bieler Family Pinot Grigio Daisy Columbia Valley
75% PG, 14% Riesling and the rest Sauv Blanc and Moscato (yikes). Fresh and friendly, floral nose with white nectarine on the palate. A reasonably priced porch pounder for hot days.
1997 Warre Porto Vintage Port Blend
It's fire pit season! Showing some age, more so than the Dows I acquired at the same time from the same shop. But nonetheless good, with the usual port flavors. Perfect late-night shareable.