Shared last night w/ SteveCostigan visit:
1. JosephPhelps Delice du Semillon NapaVlly (13.4%; SaH: 38 Brix; RS: 14.8%; Hand Slctd from Botrytis Grape Clusters) Stt.Helena 1993: Very dark brown color like an Oloroso Sherry w/ lots of grainy sediment; very intense botrytis/peachy/apricotty slight earthy rather butterscotchy/caramel some toasty/Fr.oak/very pencilly slightly volatile quite complex beautiful oldSauternes nose; bit soft quite sweet intense botrytis/peavhy/apricotty/oldSauternes very strong pencilly/Fr.oak very caramel/butterscotchy oldSauternes flavor; very long/lingering slight oxidative very sweet very intense botrytis/peachy/apricotty/Semillon bit soft slight volatile strong pencilly/Fr.oak slight earthy quite complex very rich/lush finish; a very strong resemblance to a French Sauternes but more aged like a Sauternes from '76; a bit soft & not as bright Semillon as Fr.Sauternes & much more dominated by the botrytis; a beautiful mature dessert wine.
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More sikessfrool from TheBloodyPulpit:
1. This wine had a very dark color like Oloroso sherry but that didn't bother me in the least. That seems typical of Calif heavy botrytis that they turn very dark early on. There was no signs of this wine drying out whatsoever.
This afternoon, Stacey cracked the Phelps Select Late Harvest JohannisbergRiesling '76. It was not nearly as interesting. Harvested at 48 Brix & about 36% RS. The botrytis was not nearly as predominate and the wine seemed much more raisened & pruney. May be because of the age and that it was starting to dry out, though it was plenty sweet.
Tom