WTN: 98 Mascarello Monprivato, 2 Oregon Pinots, 05 Sancerre, and a Butterfly

2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Riesling Butterfly

Interesting story behind this wine, supposedly from Auslese level grapes but vinified to 'medium dry' with 11.5% abv. Smells sweet, pixie stick and candied pear nose. With air lots of slate and rainwater on rocks too. Spritzy CO2 makes it a bit rough in the mouth. Apple and pears and citrus flavors. It doesn't have the tension and airy weightlessness that I love in better MSR Rieslings. Still, minerals and some pretty fruit for $12 is not too bad. Very drinkable.

Edit : On day 2 it is still pretty wound up, less spritz, and overall impression not as sweet as I thought on day. I think this wine has at least some short term aging potential.


2005 Domaine Andre Neveu Sancerre Le Grand Fricambault Silex

Earthy, chipped rocks in the nose, some citrus too. Lots of concentration and glycerol, big but balanced with good acidity. Long persistent finish. I liked this a lot, seemed sort of large and big boned for Sancerre, but not flabby. 12.5% abv, Imported by Wines of France, Inc. About $16.


1999 Medici Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Reserve Willamette Valley OR

Opened and served at cellar temp, not decanted. Dark red ruby color, hint of bricking at the rim. The nose was mostly black fruit, blackberry mainly and a large spice component, clove, anise; some of which was no doubt from the oak. With air some forest floor earthiness, and a green stemmy herbal note. In the mouth a mix of red and black fruit, dry, slight bitter/anise finish. Enough acidity so that it seemed alive. Tannins are very much in the background as a support and are not very noticeable. 12.5% abv, no heat noticeable.

This was a really good bottle and better than previous. The oak has integrated, and there is now some secondary developement present. Several layers of flavor are apparent and the interplay of the subdued but ripe fruit, herb, spice and earth made this most enjoyable. This bottle seemed to be at peak for me. Prior bottles had a dominance of barrel flavors, but this one had a nice balance.


1998 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato

It took about 2-3 hours to open up but was lovely when it did. Bitter cherry, rose petal and nettle nose. A little volatile, which gives the bitter cherry a medicinal aspect at first. Good acidic structure and with time developed a kind of sweet red berry flavor, and marzipan. Lots of tannin, but drinks well with food and fantastic match with some Gorgonzola Dulce cheese. Enjoyed this immensely, even if it was on the young and primary side.


2002 Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec Willamette Valley OR

From a 375. Nice vibrandt dark cherry flavors, a little forest floor, supple mouthfeel, hints at sweetness/ sucrosity, whatever oak is there is really integrated nicely into the flavor profile well. Very enjoyable. Popped and poured at cellar temp. Good match with herb roasted chicken. The fruit here is pretty ripe, but the wine has enough structure and other flavors that it doesn't come off as simple wine or a fruit bomb.


Cheers,
Marc

1998 Giuseppe E Figlio Mascarello Barolo Monprivato

And given it's price compared to say '99 or '96, it's quite a bargin.

2005 Zilliken (Forstmeister Geltz) Riesling Butterfly...Interesting story behind this wine, supposedly from Auslese level grapes but vinified to 'medium dry' with 11.5% abv.

Why?

Too many other big sweet wines in 05?

Why?

Too many other big sweet wines in 05?

The story, according to the retailer where this was purchased, is as follows. The Butterfly is typically a lower priced wine from Zilliken that Rudy Weist asked for, in order to have a bottle for restaurants and larger distribution to get the word out about Zilliken. It was sourced from fruit that didn't make the cut for the other more prestigious bottlings. In 2005, according to the retailer's pitch, there was no fruit for the Butterfly, it was all too good. There wasn't going to be a Butterfly in 2005, but Mr Weist persisted and rather than make more Auslese, the 2005 Butterfly was made and vinified to 10-16 grams of residual sugar and 11.5% abv.

Maybe this is too much to swallow, that a winemaker wouldn't make a more expensive and profitable Auslese and instead made this $12 full retail bottle? I don't know, but whatever, the wine is good and quite a bargain.

The story, according to the retailer where this was purchased, is as follows. The Butterfly is typically a lower priced wine from Zilliken that Rudy Weist asked for, in order to have a bottle for restaurants and larger distribution to get the word out about Zilliken. It was sourced from fruit that didn't make the cut for the other more prestigious bottlings. In 2005, according to the retailer's pitch, there was no fruit for the Butterfly, it was all too good. There wasn't going to be a Butterfly in 2005, but Mr Weist persisted and rather than make more Auslese, the 2005 Butterfly was made and vinified to 10-16 grams of residual sugar and 11.5% abv.

Maybe this is too much to swallow, that a winemaker wouldn't make a more expensive and profitable Auslese and instead made this $12 full retail bottle? I don't know, but whatever, the wine is good and quite a bargain.

That is quite a story, but hey..