From a dinner party on Sunday:
Two whites with a warm mushroom salad:
2021 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc Paso Robles White Rhone Blend
Very pale, almost colorless. It's effusively fragrant with a bouquet of white flowers; then on the palate very expressive with stone fruit, pears, sweet green peas, and lemon zest. Outstanding.
2019 DeLille Cellars Chaleur Estate Blanc Columbia Valley Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Rich, mouth coating, elegant. At this point better with food--something light with a cream sauce, say; it's not a thirst quencher.
And a few reds were opened:
2010 Alleromb Winery Syrah Scarline Vineyard Columbia Valley
Opened last Friday but deemed it not quite ready for Bill's New World Syrah lunch that I would have taken it to, so it was recorked and refrigerated for serving at Sunday night's dinner party. But at that point it was just 'eh'. We dumped it. Had high expectations for this third of three bottles purchased; very disappointed.
2015 Ojai Syrah/Grenache Santa Barbara County Red Rhone Blend
Heavily smoked, like a fire burned near the vineyard. Maybe something you could drink around a firepit while you chewed on beef jerky or smoked a cigar, but unsuited to fine dining. It joined the Alleromb above in the dump bucket.
2015 Waypoint Cabernet Sauvignon Tierra Buena Vineyard Napa Valley
Extra sweet with plenty of oak and rustic textures. A tablespoon of water added to the carafe helped improve the balance a bit, but I wouldn't buy again.
2012 Portteus Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine Rattlesnake Hills Paul Portteus is a gem among Washington winemakers--so many wines, such fair prices!--and once again this wine proves it. Beautiful structure (acidity and tannins, all there) for a fat vintage, with blackberry fruit, coffee and tobacco notes. Barely showing its age; lots of runway ahead. So refreshing after the Waypoint.
2014 Carol Shelton Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Rockpile Reserve Rockpile Vineyard
Brought by a dinner guest. Dilly American oak adulterates what would otherwise be very good cabernet flavors ready for current drinking.
2013 Lange Pinot Noir North Block Dundee Hills
Dark and savory, plummy fruit, dense and surprisingly primary. A cabernet-lover's pinot, you might call it, with substantial tannins for a nine year old. Needs decanting and more time in the cellar. This will probably be a 20 year wine.
2014 Carol Shelton Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Rockpile Reserve Rockpile Vineyard
Brought by a dinner guest. Dilly American oak adulterates what would otherwise be good cabernet flavors ready for current drinking.