Tried two oldies last night for dinner:
1. EberleWnry Viognier FralichVnyd/PasoRobles (13.8%) 1995: Deep golden slight
browning color; some floral/honeyed some pencilly/toasty/oak slight mineral/
petrol rather nutty/toasted hazelnuts/old Riesling slight oxidized rather
complex nose; soft/lush quite nutty/toasted hazelnuts bit oxidized/oatmealy/
old WhiteBurg light pencilly/oak slight mineral/petrol/old Riesling flavor;
med.long toasted hazelnuts/oxidized mineraly/petrol finish; quite an
interesting old Viognier and a pleasure to drink.
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2. JosephSwanVnyds Mourvedre RussianRvrVlly (12.5%; Grapes planted in 1910)
1994: Very dark color w/ slight browning; beautiful/complex licorice/pungent/
tarry gamey boysenberry/plummy/licorice slight menthol/toasty/oak very complex/
perfumed nose; soft/rich very smooth pungent/licorice/plummy/boysenberry
light menthol/toasty/pencilly/oak beautiful/complex flavor; very long/smooth/
velvety pungent/licorice/tar/plummy/boysenberry light pencilly finish w/
very smooth tannins; amazingly good Mourvedre probablt at its peak.
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A wee BloodyPulpit:
1. Both of these were throw-away wines, wines I had very low expectations for
but just wanted something to drink w/ my SutterHome TripleCream-braised
short ribs, so was going to put them out of their misery. Whatta surprise.
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2. Viognier: This wine, in it's youth was a prime example of DollyParton Viognier;
soft/fat/lush in-your-face peachy fruit; a floozy of a wine. These, because of
their low acidity, typically age very poorly. This had held up amazingly
well and had some of that mineral/petrol character you get in old Mosel.
Of course, those who worship at the altar of varietal typicity, and insist
that their Viognier taste fresh/fruity, just like it came out of the tank,
would have no appreciation for this wine and soundly trash it. To each his own.
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3. Mourvedre: I was blown away by this wine. One of those rare Calif reds that
that you just happen to catch at its peak and makes you shake your head in
wonderment. It was not showing any signs of drying out and going round the
bend at all. It was one of the best Calif Mourvedres have had, maybe as good
as SteveEdmunds legendary BrandlinRanch Mourvedre of many a year ago. My
recollection of this wine was that it was a lush/plummy Mourvedre, but nothing
that hit you on your head by it profundity. Doubt, though, that those grapes
still exist. A stunning/mature Mourvedre. Great job, Rod.
TomHill