Charlie Fu In The House!

THURSDAY JUNE 4, 2009


Theme: Something You Want To Try/Share

Location: The Command Center

Start Time: 1 PM Sharp

Food: The Hat

Mystery White: The Hage, Anyone

ATTENDEES

The Hage - 1998 Sean Thackrey Orion
Dr/VP - 1999 Mauro Sebaste Prapo
Melisa - ?
ClayFu - Billiot GC Reserve & a Blind Cab
WetRock - Muscadet & maybe a Beaujolais

Blind Cabs - Results!

Thank you to our Scribe WetRock for keeping notes. Please add your own notes/thoughts here or on wineberserkers.

Does anyone remember the final results ... for sure. If not I will get them at the office. I have added my notes in the comment field.

Cris says:

Another lunch time addition of blind wines at a place of work. Bagged Cabs, at least 75%, was the latest edition. All wines tasted blind in flights of two. All reveals came after the entire lineup was tasted and time given for revisits. Nothing stood out as awesome to me but I liked a lot of the wines. Wine #9 did stand a hair above the pack for several of us and ended up winning which surprised me. The Louis Martini was just a throw in since I wanted to check out the hype on the bottle. My 91 Ridge was supposed to blow the competition off the table and not my 'extra' wine. Gotta love blind tastings. 2nd place overall was the Slingshot and 3rd was the Von Strasser. I voted 9/8/1 preferring the balance and older world characters of the Leeuwin for 2nd place.

• 2007 Biggio Hamina Cellars Melon de Bourgogne Deux Vert - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton
  Honey and flowers on the nose. Lean austere palate similar to a tight chard with some straw notes. Not going to replace Muscadet any time soon but an interesting expression with the nose the clearest departure from the French version.

• 1997 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
  Nose like that of a Cab with some age on it. Thick, broad and a bit heavy but lingers on the palate giving a touch of green notes late and tons of tannin still. Guess it might have been a Bordeaux since I didn't notice and oakiness or overt ripeness. Nice wine.
• 1991 Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
  Aged traditional Cab nose with some minerals. Tinge of greenish notes. Balanced with still good acidity and plenty of tannin. The fruit wasn't as expressive as my last go around with this bottle. Decent but not memorable.

• 2004 Grgich Hills Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Ripe raisiny with a touch of VA which grew bigger with time. Bit hot with a weak midpalate, chunky with late acting tannin. I doubt Mike is still making these.
• 2004 Cornerstone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  Nose shows a lot of sweet oakiness in the way of vanilla and coconut. Thick soft palate with lots of char. Boysenberries pick through before some astringency. I guessed a Switchback.

• 2005 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Starmont - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Weird nose of salty fish and sweet cocoa. Chunky but light bodied with some sweetness. Finish seemed nice but somehow the oddness of this wine kinda worked. Wasn't wild about it but was surprised that I enjoyed it overall.
• 2005 Frei Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
  Ripe nose of cocoa sprinkled prunes. Juicy palate of dark chocolate with a weak finish.

• 2002 Jones Family The Sisters - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Nose has some nice earth but is a bit hot. Has some sweetness but actually tastes like Cab which is always note worthy in its rare sitings from Napa. Well balanced but not particularly interesting. Weird I had never heard of this before last week and then had it twice in 7 days from the same vintage.
• 2001 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
  Never would have guessed Aussie. Herbaceous nose of tobacco and green notes. Lean with late acting tannins this showed bell pepper in a very Cab Franc sort of way. Drank most similarly to a Loire Cab Franc from a lighter vintage like 2004. I enjoyed it for that reason. Nicely balanced wine that would be a great meal companion.

• 2006 Louis M. Martini Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County
  Sweet vanilla and boysenberry nose. Broad balanced palate showing big bright boysenberry type fruits with some minerals. Modern styled but in check. Nothing stands out too much but nothing really lacks either. Nicely done and a terrific bargain at $11-12. Won our blind tasting of 10 Cabs as a surprise throw in let's try this out wine.
• 2005 Slingshot Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Ripe with some heat and minerals which is a note worthy combo. Note of oak that is complimentary rather than overt. Juicy and ripe. Overall this seemed like a very modern styled Cab but nicely made as it did show good balance. I liked it less on the revisit but this would be great for a non wine geek crowd.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE


Thanks again everybody!

You Blinded Me .... With Cab! UPDATE

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Wrap bottles in foil and remove any telling capsules.

Theme: Cabernet Sauvignon (at least 75%) served blind ... any vintage any region.

Location: The Command Center

Start Time: Sipping at 12:15 ... eating and drinking at 12:30

Food: The Hat

Mystery White: Whoever

Blind Zin Results

I guess I never stuck these up here. These are Cris's notes. For more CLICK HERE

***

The latest installment of tastings at Jason Hagen's office was blind Zinfandels. We had our usual blind white starter and enjoyed some pizza for lunch. The wines showed a decent amount of variety which was heartening to me as Zinfandel is so often lumped into a narrow category which I find unwarranted. All revels came after the tasting was finished.
I voted
1 - 2006 Sandler
2 - 2003 Fife
3 - 2003 Swan

Group Vote was pretty tight if I remember correctly with only a couple points separating the top 3 or 4.
1 - 2003 Fife
2 - 2005 Leonesse
3 - 2006 Sandler
4 - 2006 Saucelito

• 2003 Arcadian Chardonnay Sleepy Hollow Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
  Light butter and lemon nose. Touch of honey with plenty of lemon and strong acidity. A nice Chard without the hussy dressings.

• 2003 Joseph Swan Vineyards Zinfandel Mancini Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
  Very deeply colored this displayed huge yummy zinberry aromas. Bright palate with a good amount of tannins and big brightly fruited though somewhat straightforward giving some sweet boysenberry and licorice. Would have normally expected a big more complexity from a Swan and not quite a biggish in the fruit department.
• 2005 St. Francis Zinfandel Old Vines Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County
  Soft round nose with some heat and tart berry. Dark heavy fruit, somewhat soft and bland. Seemed to be have some oxidation or an aged quality in the background.

• 2005 Leonesse Cellars Zinfandel - USA, California
  Very ripe juicy type of nose with plenty of heat and VA. Very juicy with a nice palate feel. Full and candy like. The type of Zin that gave it a bad name with wine geeks. VA got worse with air.
• 2006 Sandler Wine Company Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
  Very light color. Soft light berries on the nose. Soft elegant lean palate feel with very late acting tannins. Has potential to get better. My favorite on the tasting.

• 2006 Saucelito Canyon Zinfandel - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley
  Tight nose showing plenty of heat and a touch of reduction. Big juicy full feeling palate, big sweet fruit showing signs of oak.
• 2005 Chateau Montelena Zinfandel Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Odd nose showing some brown sugar and caramel, bit tight. On the leaner side of palate feel with a dark fruited young character with some sweetness and violets. Odd for a Zin.

• 2003 Fife Zinfandel Mendocino Uplands - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
  Straight forward zinberry nose that seems tart. Palate has nice tannic grip still with a juicy quality. Lots of berries and a bit of heat. Still pretty good and won our blind tasting on the day. A terrific bargain.

Bring Your Blind Zins! - Any Vintage

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2008

Let's just do this thing! It has been well over a year since we Zined as seen HERE. Just bring your blind zin and a cane.

Who's in?

Theme: Zinfandel served blind ... any vintage

Location: The Command Center

Start Time: Sipping at 11:15 ... eating and drinking at 11:30

Food: Pizza?

Mystery White: Karnopolis

Zinners: The Hage, Dr/VP, DJ, Mel-K, Karnopolis, C-Rock

Not Sure: G-Dawg, Scottie

Southern Rhone - Notes! - Finally

Sorry, I forgot to add these here. Add any additional thoughts ... if you can remember.

Thanks to Cris for being the scribe.

I believe the Alary was voted tops which was a recent discovery for me at WineX for only $20. I voted #1-99 St Cosme, #2-05 Alary and #3-tie between the Walla Walla Syrah and the Crozes-Hermitage. Seems the outsiders always end up in the top. Jason will drop in with the overall voting hopefully.

• 2007 Novy Family Wines Pinot Noir Blanc de Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Served blind. Light nose of soft butter and a note of caramel with a touch of heat. Lean feeling palate with a very soft light richness in the middle with lemon and stony notes. Guessed Chardonnay that seemed something between the Cotes and Chablis. Cool surprise, a very unique wine and very good for the price. First time I tried this next to Adam and liked it them though not quite as much as I did on this occasion.
• 2006 Italo Cescon Friuli Grave Pinot Grigio - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Grave
  Served blind. Soft nose of lemon chiffon and white flowers. Soft and light palate that is a bit inexpressive but no real flaws. Guessed Grenache Blanc or Pinot Blanc....close!

• 1999 Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Rustic nose of roasted fruits, figs, bits of herb and 'garrigue' roasted slope. Very richly fruited and long, soft yet substantial. Finish seems abrupt yet lingers in the corners of my mouth. The nose really picked up sitting in my glass for over 20-30 minutes becoming more expansive and deep. Lots of fruit here. Drinking well now with a bit of air but seems like it has quite a few years ahead of it. Very nice and the fav on the day for me.
• 2005 Château de Saint-Cosme Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Nice to try this next to the '99 for comparison. Garrigue and roasted hillside dominate the nose. Rich and dark palate, very tannic with a light note of brett. Not showing much more than potential today. Throw this in the back of the cellar.
• 2005 Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Gigondas
  Big sweaty sock/wet wool brett upon pouring that lingers for some time but does blow off with some time in glass. Nose is still primary with a touch of heat. Very tight palate with tons of tannin and young primary fruit without the roasted quality seen in most other wines from the region. This was more of the riper, brighter, sweeter styled fruits but I'm not going to touch the modern versus old world styles. Interesting contrast next to the 05 Cosme though.

• 2005 Montirius Vacqueyras Garrigue - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Vacqueyras
  Big dark and ripe with lots of garrigue. Full feeling yet soft palate with tannins that linger on the finish that is silky and long. Probably needs a few years for the fruit to express itself best but a very good wine now and would be a great dinner companion.
• 2005 Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne La Font d'Estévenas - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages Cairanne
  Slight brett greets with bright fruits, spices and some espresso. Complex dark palate with nice tannins and good acidity. The pieces are all very good right now yet probably need another year or two to really come together. Very good all around and I think this won the voting for the day.
  Took the remnants home and finished it 3 days later. Showed no signs of oxidation unrefrigerated and had actually picked up some palate weight. Will get more and leave them be for a couple more years. Still the bargain I tasted in store at WineX.

• 2006 Sierra Vista Grenache El Dorado Estate Bottled - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado
  Served blind. Odd nose that changes a lot with some herbs and heat. Very sweet palate that is soft and has some length. Thought maybe a ripe Pinot....way off.

• 2005 Waters Syrah Pepper Bridge - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
  Back to the New World, I could have really taken this for a Cali Syrah. Light pepper on a big broad nose with a dose of vanilla. Big dense with decent acidity and some sweetness. Very modern styled though a good example of that kind of wine. Hadn't heard of this producer before but will keep my eye out. A Frank Murray wine I'm sure.
• 2005 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage
  Very dark in color. Lots of pepper on the nose. Nice lean feel and kind tight and wrapped up. The nice Northern Rhone Syrah is in there but is still hiding a bit. I still liked this and would love to try it again in a few years.

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

Southern Rhone! ... but no Chateaux Neuf du Pape!

Friday July 25 (date change)

Theme: The wines of Southern Rhone - excluding CdP

Start Time: 11:15 AM

Food: The Hat

Location: The Command Center

Mystery White: Dr. Dietz -VP

The Wines:

1999 Chateau de Saint Cosme "Gigondas" - Dr Dietz - VP

2005 Domain Santa Duc "Gigondas" - The Hage

2005 Chateau de Saint Cosme "Gigondas" - Mel-K

2005 Montirius "Vacqueyras" Garrigues - DJ

2005 Domaine Daniel et Denis Alary "Cairanne" La Font d'Estevenas - C-Rock

Robert Parker On California Pinot Noir

I honestly get the impression he is just stirring the pot on some points. The good news is that as someone who drank Cali Pinot in the early 90s ... I would agree that the region has made great progress. I can't really compare to other regions. It is sad that he makes silly comments like, "but most of them will eclipse almost any red Burgundy made today." The aromatic and flavor profiles are very different. Also, remember that Parker does not rate Burgundy nor like it. He likes California Pinot Noir because it is a different animal ... and his palate is completely blown ;-)

Jason

P.S. For more CLICK HERE Some interesting discussion ... but mostly just silly bickering :-)

Post Your Belle Pente Notes Here!!!

2006 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Dundee Hills

For more CLICK HERE

J

Virtual Offline Tasting May 5-9

I know this seems like a long way off but I am gone most of April and this gives me time to get the wine to the Houstonions ... and time for the wine to rest. You of course can drink the wine earlier ....JUST SAVE YOUR NOTES. We'll post notes on Saturday May 10.


2006 Belle Pente Dundee Hills
Pinot Noir

If you are wondering how to pronounce the name, it is Bell - Pont.

Another Oregon Trail

I must apologize. I totally spaced and did not got to my locker for the 2003 Brick House. I suspect, that despite the vintage, this would have been a very fine wine.

Beyond that, the 2002s were great. And I think we confirmed that all the hype about 2006 is ... well marketing bull. Well at least until the top wines are released.

• 2006 Cristom Viognier Estate - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills
  My first Oregon Viognier. A nice wine but far from inspiring. A bit of cream on the nose and some heat. The palate was more Roussanne like. Not much complexity on the palate. I enjoyed this and for the price was not disappointed but I was not wowed. Drink soon.

• 2002 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve - USA, Oregon, Yamhill County
  Wow. This was great from the first taste to the last taste. All the way through the lunch I loved this. So smooth and seamless. I loved how it was getting comments about dark red fruit and bright red fruit. nice complexity. All about balance. Nice tannins on the finish. Should continue to improve. I really liked this.
  4 First place votes, 1 Second place vote and 1 Third place vote = 24 points - 1st PLACE WOTD


• 2002 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Seven Springs - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  This wine is exceptional. I would guess that in 5 years it would clean up in this tasting. At first pass I got a lot of oak and and empty mid-palate. Much darker than the Belle Pente and much stronger tannins. But despite being a bit vacant on the mid-palate the wine still showed complexity and nice structure. At the end of the lunch the wine really started to blossom. The oak seemed to creep into the background and the complexity of the palate filled out. I loved the 02 Belle Pente but part of me found this wine the most interesting. Hold! for at least 3 years. 2 First place vote, 3 Second place votes and 1 Third place vote = 23 Points - #2 Wine Of The Day (92 pts.)

• 2005 Coelho Pinot Noir Paciencia - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  I must say I didn't write a single note on this wine. Nice but... wanting. Nothing to grab you but not a bad wine. It is even steven. I brought the wine home and had a small glass with dinner and it was quite pleasant. Nice acid and a fair amount of tannin. Although this wine showed very little complexity it did have a few qualities that may make it last. With that in mind I could foresee new elements developing. 0 votes.


• 2005 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Murto - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
  Okay, so this wine had some funk. Some hated it. It did not bother me in the least. This is why I love Pinot. A very nice wine and despite the funk, I thought the fruit was very clean. The finish was short and somewhat boring. But this wine, like the St Innocent, certainly improved and grew on people as the day went on. Tough to say much. This wine was very young. 2 First place votes, 1 Second place vote and 2 Third place votes = 15 Points - #3 Wine Of The Day.

On to the 2006 wines. The Scott Paul was the clear class of the field IMO.

• 2006 Scott Paul Cellars Pinot Noir Cuvée Martha Pirrie - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  A very tasty wine. Even though this is supposed to be the early drinker, I think this wine needs 6-12 months. Toasty oak. Simple and tasty. That seems like what the vintage has to offer. 1 Second place vote, 2 Third place votes = 5 Points #4 Wine Of The Day. (88 pts.)


• 2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Beran Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains
  Another wine I took no notes on. Out of place. So abrasive. Lots of stink and a very heavy mouth feel. More of a cocktail but while drinking multiple glasses of wine I could not handle this. Later the wine did mellow a bit. I would wait 12 months on this and plan on having the wine with some nice BBQ. 1 Second place vote = 3 Points


• 2006 Erath Vineyards Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  The nose was "pretty". I am no fan of Erath but this smelled nice. The flavors were all over the place. Tart cherries, flowers, earth etc ... but it was completely disjointed. This was a case of tasting a wine and saying ... hmmm complex yet bothersome. Time my meld these flavors an take this wine from a solid B to a solid A. 1 Third place vote = 1 Point.


• 2006 Auteur Pinot Noir Hyland Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, McMinnville
  Wow ... this was by FAR the biggest disappointment of the day. I have been waiting to taste an Auteur wine after all the praise ... well this wine missed it. Again no notes on this one but I did bring it home to try it again. Blah... that would be my tasting note. Blah oak and blah mouth feel. Granted this is too young to be judging an Oregon Pinot ... so I am hoping ... despite my disparaging comments, Jim will let me try this again in 3 or 4 years. My guess is the wine is too soft. 1 Third place vote = 1 Point

Another great tasting. I do love Oregon Pinot, it is a way back from Burgundy but for price and reliability .... hmmm I love it. I love Cali pinot too but it was nice to have a tasting with some very fruity wines but no cloying candied fruit. I am very glad I can drink Pinot most nights of the week and have nice variety.

1st Place - 2002 Belle Pente Estate Reserve - 24 Points
2nd Place - 2002 St Innocent 7 Springs - 23 Points
3rd Place - 2005 Belle Pente Murto - 15 Points

Thanks everyone for another great tasting!

J

FOR MORE CLICK HERE

.

Interview w/ Scott Paul Wright

Very timely since we'll be tasting one of his wines on Friday. I think very highly of his wine and he is a great guy ... which always adds to the enjoyment. And I believe that is Martha Pirrie in the picture.

HERE WAS MY LAST VISIT W/ SCOTT

J

Oregon Pinot! Next Tasting Friday April 4

Theme: Oregon Pinot

Wines:

2002 St Innocent Pinot Noir 7 Springs - The Hage
2002 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Estate Reserve - G-Dawg

2003 Brick House Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais - The Hage

2005 Coelho Pinot Noir Paciencia - C-Rock

2006 Scott Paul Pinot Noir Cuvee Martha Pirrie - DJ
2006 Auteur Pinot Noir Hyland Vineyard - Dr. Dietz
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Beran Vineyard - Karnopolis

Start Time: 12:00 Sharp

Food: Cheese and Sushi

Mystery White: Jason and The Dr.

Location: The Command Center

Post Your Ercavio Notes Here!!!

2005 Mas Que Vinos "Ercavio"

Young Spanish Wine - Results

Cris's Notes

• 2006 St. Innocent Chardonnay Anden - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Tight with slight butter, soft florals and lemon custard on the nose. Soft lemon and nice minerals on the palate. Notes of oak and some tartness, some heat. Served blind and I was way off. Nicely styled Chard.

• 2004 Descendientes de José Palacios Bierzo Petalos - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo
  Deep dark primary, notes of earth and smoke, pepper and violets. Light palate feel with some grip, medium concentration and nice minerality. Nice wine for the money and has some years ahead of it.
• 2002 Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa Bierzo El Castro de Valtuille - Spain, Castilla y León, Bierzo
  Old world styled nose with secondary characteristics ahead of the fruit including caramel, florals and dark sweetness. Concentrated palate with a bit of a bite and solid tannins. Nose more expressive than the palate. Has plenty of time ahead of it but drinking well now.

• 2004 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  Tight yet concentrated nose. Showing some ripeness, depth, funk and notes of of American oak. Tight on the palate but very balanced feeling, lovely body, very even and pretty. This tightened up with air so recommend a decant if served now but leave alone for a few more years. A terrific wine that will reward some patience.
• 2003 Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  Earthy nose with some Old World style funky old oak notes and some tobacco. Light and lean on the palate and not as expressive as I expected. Maybe a bit closed.
• 2004 Pago de los Capellanes Ribera del Duero Crianza - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  Big young and chunky, deep and concentrated, pretty with chocolate notes and slight bret. Deep with long concentration on the palate. Sweet with bright violets. Similar to my last experience with this one. Very nice wine in there but very young. Another that will reward patience or at least plenty of air.

• 2005 Melis Priorat Elix - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
  Funky barnyard on a tight nose to start with a dark character and depth, smoke, herbs and slight greenness. Concentrated yet a bit tight still, nice mouthfeel. Good grip with plenty of violets. Another one that needs some time but plenty of potential here.
• 2004 Heron Terra Alta Sexto - Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
  Bright, tart, juicy and light nose with pruney candied fruits. Bright juicy palate that is light bodied, acidic and sweet of raisins. Some heat. Nice daily drinker for the weeknights that will work with dinner.

Jason's Notes

Thanks for the notes Cris. I was really happy with this tasting. For me there wasn't even a questionable wine. I would gladly serve any of them. The Bierzos were both very nice and very different. I don't think I have yet found a Bierzo that blew me away ... but I haven't been disappointed either.

• 2006 St. Innocent Chardonnay Anden - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Very nice. This needs a little time for the oak to integrate. Displays nice richness but miles away from buttery. Not fatiguing to the palate like many American chards.

• 2003 Bodegas Alejandro Fernandez Ribera del Duero Tinto Pesquera - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  Very structured. I really liked this. A pretty serious Crianza. I took the remaining bit home but it had really closed up. Wait!
• 2004 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  This started off smooth and with nice qualities from fruit to flowers. Coming back to it at the end of the lunch the tannins had really stepped up. This wine needs time. Less funky than some of the other Condados I have had. I think I just finished my last 96 that was just getting started.
• 2004 Pago de los Capellanes Ribera del Duero Crianza - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
  This plain rocked. Lots of sweet red fruit. Balanced acid. Earth and mineral elements. For me this was showing the most complexity. This had been splashed decanted and then left open for a few hours. But I was still surprised how well this was drinking. May be a slightly younger drinker than I originally thought. I took a bit home and it was still drinking beautifully.

• 2004 Heron Terra Alta Sexto - Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Terra Alta
  A nice surprise here. Not something I had ever seen. As Cris said it was slightly candied but the wine really worked well with the food. Not cloying and not overly oaked.
• 2005 Melis Priorat Elix - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
  This seemed to be the darkest wine of the day. Slightly brooding. Lots of oak showing and a bit of a green streak. Where the other wines all worked well with the food this one was a bit out of place. A very nice wine that may improve with some time.

One of my favorite tastings as here we were eating Pastrami sandwiches, fries and chili ... and all the wines worked.

Here is how they finished. It should be noted that the SI Chardonnay got at least 2 First Place votes, but we decided to exclude it from the voting.

1st Place - 2004 Pago de los Capellanes - 17 Points
2nd Place (tie) - 2003 Tinto Pesquera & 2005 Melis Priorat Elix - 12 Points
3rd Place - 2002 Bodegas y Viñedos Castro Ventosa - 10 Points

FOR MORE INFO ... CLICK HERE

Cheers,

Jason

VIVA ESPAÑA! Next Tasting Monday March 3

Theme: 2003 - 2005 Spanish Reds - Any Region

Wines:

2002 Bodegas Castro Ventoso El Castro de Valtuille (Bierzo) - Ger

2003 Tinto Pesquera Crianza (RdD) - Dr. Dietz

2004 Pago de los Capellanes Crianza (RdD) - The Hage
2004 Condado de Haza Crianza (RdD) - DJ
2004 Descendientes de Jose Palacios Petalos (Bierzo) - C-Rock
2004 Heron Terra Alta Sexto (Catalunya, Terra Alta) - Mel-K

2005 Melis Estate Elix (Priorat) - Karnopolis

Start Time: 12:00 Sharp

Food: The Hat

Mystery White: Jason and/or anyone else

Location: The Command Center

Virtual Offline Tasting March 12-14

2005 Mas Que Vinos
"Ercavio Roble"

POST NOTES ON SATURDAY MARCH 15

Virtual Offline Tasting December 14-16

2004 Colonial Estate Envoy "GSM"

NOTES POSTED!

2004-2006 Aussie Shiraz Shootout - BLIND

Before I go on … 2006 d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie kicks some serious booty!






Wow! For the first time we saw a unanimous decision with 7 first place votes. So here is how it went.

Wine # 1: Big oak on the nose. Enjoyable aromatics. Lots of boysenberry and sweet oak on the palate. Big fruit and big oak but nice balance. The finish originally showed hot but when we revisited about an hour later the wine had a big improvement. (0,5,1 = 16 points) Group # 2, my # 2 2005 Two Hands Shiraz “Sophie's Garden”

Wine # 2: Much subtler nose. Leather and a touch of menthol. Flavors showed more cherry. More red fruit. The finish was dried and hot. (0,0,2 = 2 points) Group # 5 2005 Razor's Edge Shiraz

Wine # 3: Okay, here is some complexity … novel idea. Aromatics showed minerals and flower elements along with the fruit. It was Bordeaux like to me. Showed much better acidity than the previous two. There was also a nice amount of tannins. Great balance. Needs a few years. (7,0,0 = 35 points) Group # 1, my # 1 2006 d'Arenberg “The Laughing Magpie” Shiraz-Viognier

Wine # 4: Again big oak on the nose. Showed dark fruit. Nice bright acid. A good amount of tannins. The finish did show heat and some bitterness but overall very nice. (0,1,2 = 5 points) Group # 3 – tie, My # 3 2005 Two Hands “Brave Faces”
** I took this one home and it showed very nicely with dinner.

Wine # 5: Plums on the nose. Not so oak dominated. A touch of black licorice. Somebody (Dietz?) nailed this with coriander. Coriander seed to be exact. Earth and mushroom too. Again, there were solid tannins. (0,1,2 = 5 points) Group # 3 –tie 2005 Yalumba “Y Series” Shiraz/Viognier

Wine # 6: Oak shake aromatics. Texture is like a blanket. Tastes like old crusty boysenberry syrup from IHOP! Sweet syrup… old syrup. Wow…people were not even willing to spit this. It just got poured straight into the bucket. Port like … just not as good as port. Dietz said it was like Ultimate Fighting Challenge. Thankfully, there was a nice hot alcoholic finish to go with it. (NO VOTES) 2006 Mollydooker Shiraz “Blue Eyed Boy”
** I did take this home. My wife needed a glass of wine. I pulled out the wine and she thought the label was so cool. She wanted a glass. After a few sips she gave it back … she was done. It must be noted that I have never seen her refuse to drink a red wine that was not flawed!

Wine # 7: Interesting aromatics. Most like number 3. I was sure this was not 100% Shiraz (of course it was). Scott nailed this as watermelon Jolly Rancher. It was Jolly Rancher but it wasn’t candied. A nice wine but didn’t get any votes. (NO VOTES) 2004 The Colonial Estate Shiraz “Explorateur”

Huge kudos to D'Arenberg!!! Great job and Great price!

I must say, I love the Marquis and was sorry to see them take a beating … but it happens. Although they don’t necessarily make “my style” of wine, I will continue to keep some in the cellar… because sometimes I need some Ultimate Fighting Challenge!

Cheers,

Jason

To See More - CLICK HERE

Next Tasting: Tuesday December 4

Theme: 2004 - 2006 Big Aussie Shiraz! The wine needs to be at least 65% Shiraz.

Tasted: Blind (bring wrapped in foil) ScrewCaps okay...there are enough out there now.

Start Time: 12:00 Sharp

Food: The Hat

Mystery White: Jason and/or anyone else

Location: The Command Center

Virtual Offline Tasting November 14-16

2006 Castle Rock Pinot Noir Sonoma County

It maybe wise to try this over two nights since it is so young. We'll post the notes on Saturday November 17.

The 2005 Blind New World Pinot Tasting

That was fun. Great job on the wines too. No stinkers. And way to go Darren ... the Belle Pente was awesome. Here is my brief write up. Let me know if you guys remember things differently.

Mystery White #1Very pleasant wine. I thought it was slightly oxidized but everyone else disagreed. A clean pure wine with no off flavors. Guesses varied. Dietz landed on a Rhone…which is what I would have guessed … had I not brought it. A great example of what chardonnay can be. Can still hold for a few more years. 2000 Domaine Guy Amiot et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet

Pinot #1As the first wine tasted I liked this. Toasty oak on the nose but not over powering. Clean and smooth. Somewhat simple. NO VOTES 2005 St Innocent Anden Vineyard

Pinot #2
The bar goes up a little bit. This wine is showing much better. Good acid and a fair amount of structure. I think shows good potential for a number of years. (2, 2, 1 = 17) points 2005 Belle Pente Willamette Valley (my 1^st)

Pinot #3
Nose is showing much more candied than the previous two wines. Caramel and bubble gum. Good purity through the middle but the finish seems to dry out. (0, 0, 2 = 2 points) 2005 Kenwood RRV

Pinot #4
Lots of hey on the nose. Not in a bad way…but a good way .. hey. Big red fruit and big juicy acidity. Things do not seem to be integrated to me. (2, 0, 2 = 12 points) 2005 Alma Rosa La Encantada SRH (my 3^rd)

Wine #5
The aromatics imply some whole cluster. Nice although there was an element of stewed tomatoes that I wasn’t crazy about. On the front palate you get big fruit but it is completely overshadowed by the massive oak. The finish is vanilla ice cream. A very tasty wine but I do not think I could drink more than one glass at this time. If the oak integrates and becomes less sweet, this wine could be a blockbuster. At this stage monolithic. (2, 2, 0 = 16 points) 2005 Miner Rosella’s SLH. (my 2^nd) I could not believe this was SLH … let alone Rosella’s

Mystery White #2
Flowery aromatics. Great. The wine showed very sweet fruit. Not really like RS but very sweet. A nice wine. I was sure it was Alsatian. Once I found out it was Cali Chard I was sure it was the Novy Rosella’s...as the foil was being removed I stood up and walked away in all my pompousness. I was right! … ha ha … I was wrong … It was the 2006 Novy Chardonnay Keefer. This wine was very well liked. This was the 06 right?...or was it the 05?

1^st Place = Belle Pente

2^nd Place = Miner

3^rd Place = Alma Rosa

Post Script
Since I brought the Anden, I thought I should do some further tasting. I took it home along with the Alma Rosa. It did show better but very different from anything else we tasted. It showed a little more complexity but ultimately with St Innocent’s track record, I think it will need more time. The Alma Rosa on the other hand was no longer pleasant to me. It was bubble gum city. I could not take the sweetness after a day of trying 7 wines. My wife on the other hand liked the flavor explosion brought on by the acidity a loads of fruit. I stuck to the SI.

Post Post Script
The Cali Pinots showed a lot more sweetness than the 2 Oregonians.

Cheers,
Jason

For More Click Here

Next Tasting: Tuesday November 6

Theme: 2005 Pinot Noir - New World

Tasted: Blind (bring wrapped in foil) ScrewCaps okay...there are enough out there now.

Start Time: 1:00 Sharp

Food: Sushi or Burgers

Mystery White: Jason and/or anyone else

Location: The Command Center

TNs From "Rhone In America"

Mystery White: Grassy nose. Lots going on. Melon, tropical fruit (pineapple) and of course cat pee. Dietz surely knew this was sauvignon blanc. He was pretty much right. 2005 Vision White Wine (80% SB from Napa, 20% Pinot Gris from SLH). A decent wine. Nice acidity and a fair amount of complexity. (2 third place votes = 2 points)

2006 Alban Vineyards Viognier Central Coast: I was looking forward to this … sadly it did not deliver. You got to love Viognier aromatics but the palate was a fat flabby mess. Way too heavy and seemingly showing a lot of wood. I think the room was united that this was not good. I took it home…maybe a new environment … maybe a little more time … yep … it got worse. (NO VOTES)

2001 Ridge Syrah/Grenache (50/50): Opinions went back and forth on this one. At first the nose seemed oxidized. The palate seemed nice but simple. Complexity never seemed to increase but with the food this started to shine. I took this wine home. By the evening this wine became more flabby and oaky. Not sure what happened. I don’t think I would wait any longer on this one. (1 first place vote, 3 second place votes, 1 third place vote = 15 points … SECOND PLACE)

2003 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel: Not one of the favorites. Hard to figure out. Interesting aromatics but the palate was very sweet. Sweet and sour to be more accurate. No one was looking to take this home. I think it was out shined by its companions. (NO VOTES)

2004 Alcina Syrah Gabrielli (Mendocino County): Aromatics showing very ripe. Much heavier texture than the previous two wines. For me it was very tasty but just a little over ripe. The plums were close to prunes. Showed a more dark and unique character compared to the up coming RRV syrahs. Like so many of my 04 Cali wines … not sure I should hold or drink up. (1 first place vote, 1 second place vote = 8 points…THIRD PLACE)

2004 Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine (RRV): I thought this wine would clean up in this tasting. After loving the 03 I was waiting on this one. At first the nose was showing something (so2 or co2 any of the 02s) … sorry don’t know the correct descriptor … but it was there. That blew off quickly and the wine should nicely … but it was just unsure whether it should be a big bruiser or a kindly gentleman. With air time I thought the wine started to shut down. Nice structure but just not sure if it has the stuffing and acid to go the long haul. But a nice wine. I brought this one home and the wood seemed to become more prominent. (1 second place vote, 1 third place vote = 4 points)

2004 Kosta Browne Syrah Amber Ridge (RRV): I haven’t noticed this wine getting much attention. I loved it when I tried it last year when M. Browne came to FMIII’s house and made sure to get some. This is my first taste of it post release. It showed bigger and fuller than I remember it but it did not disappoint. Consistent from the aromatics to the palate. Broad and heavy but not overly dark. I wrote down “smooth sweet candy”. This is a sweet syrah with what seems to be a lot of oak but there is also big fruit. With the finish I would have liked some more acid to keep it going. As it was the mocha elements dominated. I really wanted to see Dietz use a “Red Vine” as a straw and take a few sips…but he was scared. Nice one to have in the mix. (3 first place votes, 1 third place vote = 18 points…FIRST PLACE)

Next Tasting: Wednesday August 29

Theme: Rhone in America (Any Vintage any Rhone Varietal)

Tasted: Blind ?

Start Time: 12:30 Sharp

Food: The Hat ... or tacos from Durango

Mystery White: Jason and/or anyone else

Location: The Command Center

Virtual Offline Tasting July 16-18

2003 J.J. Prum Bernkasteler Badstube "Spatlese"
*Let me know ASAP if those dates don't work. We can post our notes on the 19th.
*Also, I am very glad to announce that the Houston Crew will be joining us on this tasting.
*We can start to post some thoughts on meals that will work well with the wine. My initial instruction from an expert is to go full flavor but not hot.

German & Alsatian Whites (Any Vintage)

This month we ventured out and went to my mother-in-law’s new Mexican restaurant with a theme of German & Alsatian wines. Jason Hagen is the mastermind behind the tastings, and he led us thru the wines as we ate nachos and cheese, tostadas with lomo, crispy fish tacos, chicken enchiladas in red sauce, and chile rellenos.

My take on the wines….

My favorite of the whites, and the group favorite as well, was the 02 Trimbach Pinot Gris “Reserve Ribeauville”. Good acidity with subtle fruit and minerality. Subtle alongside some of the other Pinot Gris today, but well balanced and able to stand on its own with the food (which was not spicy spicy). 92

The 04 Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris “Rotenberg” was my and one of the group’s second place whites. It was entirely different from the Trimbach. From the color, it looked like a much older wine, almost amber. On the palate, RS, tropical fruit flavors, including coconut. My only complaint about this wine was a somewhat short finish. Good balance here, despite the RS that could have been off-putting. 89

The 05 Domain Ostertag Sylvaner “Vieilles Vignes” didn’t get many votes, but it was tied for me for my second place white. Very dry, with an inviting nose. Smooth on the palate, though I think it lacked a bit of acidity that would have propped up the fruit and made this show much better. Brought by Ki Punwar, who joined us for the first, but hopefully not the last, time. 89

The 02 Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris “Rotenberg” was tied for second place for the group among the whites. It was lighter in color than its 04 sister, and showed more RS and lots of tropical fruit. That extra RS put this down a notch for me, but it was still quite nice. 88

Also tied for second place among the whites by the group was the 05 Dr. Loosen Riesling Spatlese "Erdener Treppchen". Very sauternes like, a better as a dessert wine, in my opinion, than a savory food wine. The waitresses, who don’t drink wine, loved it when I gave them the remainder of the bottle. 88

There were some other wines (2004 Protocolo, 05 Dr. Loosen Riesling Spatlese "Graacher Himmelreich”), but the WOTD was not a white, but a mystery red, brought by Jason. We always have at least one bagged wine that someone brings and then everyone goes thru an interative `game’ to see if we can identify the wine.

The mystery red, and the overwhelming first place choice among all the wines, was……drumroll…. 2003 Eagle Point Ranch Coro, which is a Zin-dominant blend. Great balance, nice aromatics, spicy fruit and nice acidity to carry thru to the finish. A very very tasty bottle. Casey Hartlip has reason to be very proud of this wine.

These intimate and focused tastings (we were 7 persons yesterday) are a great way to compare wines. There is enough time to go back and retaste, few enough wines to be able to do that, and also enough time for the wines to develop, if they are going to do so. And some great folks to share a meal with. Without their fellowship, these lunches would not be the same.

For More CLICK HERE

Cheers, Jim

TASTING FOR JUNE 21, 2007

Theme: German & Alsatian Whites (Any Vintage)
Tasted: Non-Blind
Mystery "Red": Jason
Place: Las Brisas
Time: 1:15
Misc: Bring stems!

The Line Up
Hage - Mystery Red #1

Ki - 2005 Domain Ostertag Sylvaner "VV"

Dietz - 2002 Trimbach Pinot Gris "Reserve Ribeauville"

Hage - 2002 Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris "Rotenberg"

Matt - 2004 Zind Humbrecht Pinot Gris "Rotenberg"

Hage - Mystery Red #2

DJ - 2005 Dr. Loosen Riesling Spatlese "Erdener Treppchen"

Mel - 2005 Dr. Loosen Riesling Spatlese "Graacher Himmelreich"

Robo Cop? -

Good Read About Mark V. of St Innocent

Mark is one of my favorite wine-makers. Not just for the wine but his philosophy. It is a quick read that I would recommend. Before too long I think we should have a VLG featuring some St Innocent wines. Maybe you'll be intrigued as well.

Jason

Mark V Interview

Just in case you want more info...Click HERE and HERE for a couple of my visits with SI.

J

Pets event... (not the four legged kind)

Gentlemen,I know the majority of you are Pinot freaks... (not that I do not share an appreciation - it is actually growing). However, can we consider a Petite Sirah event? I would like to explore this wine in the presence of people who know something more than myself.I think it would be neat.

I've had a few that I like and a few that I haven't.

Thoughts? Admonishments?

Orion CLICK HERE

Virtual Offline Tasting May 8 - 15

The first wine of our inaugural "Virtual Offline" will be 2004 Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone. This wines is from old vines (30-40 years) and is primarily Grenache but there is a small amount of Syrah in there as well. Please drink before May 16. Make notes on any pertinent details (decanting, drank over 2 days, what food you had with it, etc.). Keep notes on your (and your significant other's) impressions of the wine.

Cheers!

Napa Cabs 2002-2005 (Blind)

Starters:
2002 Pax Hillsides (Sonoma County): Didn’t take much of a note. Just remember the wine be very restrained at this stage. Great aromas but not showing much complexity on the palate.

1995 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon (Diamond Mountain): At first it was off-putting to me. Strong tart acids along with olives. Later in the day showed better, especially with the food. A unique wine.

1997 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard (Napa Valley): Again not much for notes but this was showing very nicely. Still young but very plush and rich. An elegant wine.

Mystery White: A nice “racy” wine. Grassy elements along with rich fruits. Oily mid-palate. A very nice wine … and I forgot to right down what it was … Dietz?

Now onto the Blind Cabs (2002-2005...Jim messed up the theme)

Wine #1: Lots of fruit on the nose. Lots of chocolate on the palate. Finishes with heat but overall pretty nice. 2003 Sterling (Votes: 1^st = 1, 3^rd = 2 – 5 Points = 3^rd place)

Wine #2: Not much on the nose. Lots of red fruit on the palate. Finishes with solid tannin and acid. Needs time. 2003 Karl Lawrence (Votes: 2^nd = 1, 3rd = 2 – 4 Points = tied for 4^th) I think this wine will improve with time and rise above some of the others.

Wine #3: Didn’t know what to make of this at first. Not much on the nose. Palate is a bit green. Some earth but then finishes with heat. 2002 Waterstone Rumor has it that this is made from declassified Harlan Fruit. If it is true…we know why it was declassified. (Votes: Zero)

Wine #4: Nose is showing nicely. Seems to foretell a restrained cab. Nice on the palate. I thought it was showing oak. Good structure and the wine worked well. Long finish. 2003 R-Collection (Raymond) (Votes: 2^nd = 3 – 6 Points = 2^nd place)

Wine #5: Aromatics are light but what it is showing is big. Fair amount of concentration on this thing. A simple and straight forward cab. Finish hot and short. 2004 Ramsay ($9.99) (Votes: Zero) I stuck this in there to see how it would do. Nice value.

Wine # 6: Big and ripe. Lots of fruit and oak but then a slight touch of green pepper. Not bad but seemed a little out of balance. 2005 NHL All Star (Made by Miner for the NHL All Star game) (Votes: 1^st = 1, 3^rd = 1 – 4 points = tied for 4^th)

Wine # 7: Wow. The nose immediately sets this apart. Melisa smelled sea salt which hurt the wine for her. I love it. Very approachable but still tons of structure. Lots earth and leather on the palate but it is all covered with nice fruit and acid. Way more interesting and showing more complexity than anything on the table. On the finish there is lots of tannin and wood. 2002 Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate (Votes: 1^st = 3, 2^nd = 1 – 11 points = 1^st place) I had been waiting to taste this in a blind setting after Laube’s asinine rating of 72 points. As it should have in this lineup, it really stood out. Although I was actually surprised a young Montelena was showing so well. Clearly a little more hedonistic than usual.

1^st Place – 2002 Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate – 11 Points

2^nd Place – 2003 R Collection – 6 Points

3^rd Place – 2003 Sterling – 5 Points

Great fun again.

Jason

TASTING FOR APRIL 19, 2007

Theme: Napa Cabernet Sauvignon (2001-2004)

Tasted: Blind

Misc Wines: A few other pre 2000 Napa Cabs

Mystery White: Dr. D

Zins @ The Vineyard

Mystery White: A very nice wine that no one picked … until Gerry said “you talkin about the Chenin” :-) 2005 Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc Stellenbosch South Africa.

2006 Hug Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Cedar Lane: Ummm….not so much. Cat pee and grass city … is that a Guns and Roses song? Maybe a year in the bottle will be its friend.

On to the Old Zins…

1993 Ridge Lytton Springs: Still showing signs of life. Not exactly Zin like at this stage but drinking well with food at this stage.

1998 Rosenblum Richard Sauret Vineyard: Its best days are behind it.

1999 Franus Brandlin Vineyard: Again, this wine was really enjoyable about 5 years ago. More proof that the new full throttle Zins need to be drank young.

1999 Joseph Swan Mancini Ranch Mt Olivet RRV: Drinking nicely. More delicate and juicy. Nice acidity.

On to the 2004 Blind Zins…(notes by Darren)

Frogs Leap -- fleeting, white pepper, acid/grip, nice finish with the Humbolt Fog cheese, smoother on the revisit; balanced; tannins

Ridge Panzo (RRV) – “cabby”; “oaky”; silky/velvet; slightly darker in color than #1; tannins, very tart

Thackrey Pleiades XV – Unique nose (a hint of “tar”; almost “pinot” like); lighter color; hot; ripe fruits; metallic; “slutty yet nice” (Gerry) …My bad. I tried to slip in something that with throw everyone for a loop…but I thought there was at least some Zin in there. Well it had everything but Zin :-) Nice wine though. Kind of like a really clean CdP (J)

Ridge Paso Robles Dusi Ranch – pruny; riper fruits; tannins; balanced (front/middle/finish); rich and tart; complement to BBQ ribs; American oak; lingering finish … I really thought this wine was cooked (J)

Carlisle Dry Creek Valley – Massive; “Paso Robles or Carlisle” (Jason); right amount of oak; big/ripe fruits; Syrah-like; peppery; Turley Old Vines?; Napa/Central coast…

Thanks Darren!

The clear winner was the Carlisle. Every person voted it number one.

I took a couple of pictures but the turned out blurry…maybe my camera forgot to spit J

After this tasting I am firmly of the opinion that Zin is at it’s very best when young. I really love older Zins that are made in a leaner style but the full throttle Zins just get hot and pruny. Zins like the Swan and Ridge become more Bordeaux like but are absent of the hard tannins. Interesting.

Cheers!

Jason