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1-30-2002
I need to preface
these notes by pointing out that this ended out being one of the
coldest nights in San Diego recently. The wines suffered a fair
amount due to the cold. We had no idea that this was going to be
a problem until we got to our tasting destination and realized that
some of the wines seemed to be showing very poorly. It was most
notable among the Cabernets. Two of us got back together the next
day and all the cabs showed considerable improvement. None of the
others were strongly affected. The scores for the reds are taken
mostly from day two, unless there was little change involved.
WHITES:
Premium
1998 Flowers, Sonoma
Coast ,
California, Chardonnay
Rich golden yellow, nose shows heavy lees, pineapple, guava, pear,
apple, grassy, smoky, oak and some funky sulfur character, palate
shows tropical fruits with pineapple, banana, guava, apple, stemmy,
weedy, yeasty heavy lees and toasted oak, shows signs of mild oxidation,
some strange qualities for sure but overall they are mild and seem
to add to the complexity, slightly crisp acidity, moderately full
body, decent balance, slight bitter finish.
Price was around
$35.
Average Value
1999 Domaine Laroche,
Chablis, France, Saint Martin, Chardonnay
Light straw yellow, nose shows candied green apple and lemon
zest, one thought a hint of oak, butterscotch and paste, a little
steely, clean, simple, nice, palate shows sweet apple, lemon/lime
skin and minerals, one said there was an aspirin like flavor, light
to medium body, crisp acidity. A simple wine, light and lean, but
very nicely balanced and easy to drink. A reasonable value at $14.
+
Good Value
1999 Longoria, Huber
Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley, California, Chardonnay
Medium light yellow, nose shows a bit more typically CA in style
with pear, a hint of lemon, banana and toasted vanilla oak, palate
shows pear, apple, a little lemon, medium to slightly full body,
fairly tart acidity which all felt was a little out of place with
this wine and perhaps acidified, most thought that it was a bit
astringent on the finish as well, nice wine but it dropped a notch
on most ratings due to the slightly harsh acidity. A bit pricey
at about $32.
Average Value
REDS:
QPR
1999 Kendall-Jackson
Collage, California, Zinfandel-Shiraz
Light ruby red, nose shows sweet juicy cherry fruit with some
chocolate and mild wood oak, seems a little varnished, palate shows
some toasted oak and cherry, a very simple wine that seems a bit
out of balance, light body, slightly tart acidity with medium tannins.
Fairly priced around $10 or less.
Average Value
2000 Kendall-Jackson
Collage, California, Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz
Dark ruby red, nose shows over ripe blackberry, butter, a bit
pungent and grapey, palate shows black cherry, cocoa and toasted
oak with a sense of chemicals, a bit strange and off, perhaps flawed,
hard to say, very simple all the way around, light body, moderate
acidity and tannins. Priced around $10.
-
Poor Value
2000 Kendall-Jackson
Collage, California, Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot
Bricked garnet red, nose shows black cherry and mocha along
with some green leaf and oak, palate shows candied grapey black
cherry, oak, stemminess and cocoa, under ripe with a bit of astringency,
very simple, light body, moderately crisp acidity with medium tannins.
Priced around $10
or less.
Average Value
REDS:
PREMIUM
1999 Galleron, Ramon
Vineyard, Napa Valley, California, Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark garnet red, great nose showing cedary red cherry, cassis
and creamy mocha, palate shows black cherry, rich dark cocoa, tobacco,
leather and tar, moderate balance and complexity, medium full body,
medium low acidity and moderate tannins, this wine continued to
drink better and better for three days. I think this is an excellent
wine that did not come close to showing its true colors the night
of this tasting. Good value for a CA cab at about $35.
Good Value
1998 Jones, Napa Valley,
California, Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark brickish red, aromas of cherry, sweet cedar, tobacco, cassis
and shoe polish, palate shows black cherry, cassis, mocha, licorice,
tea leaf and a green streak that showed some mild green pepper and
dill, seemed shy in fruit, slightly crisp acidity with medium full
tannins, decent balance but suffered a bit due to the green character.
Improved a little the next couple days in terms of its balance but
continued to show some green characteristics. Fairly expensive at
$75.
Poor Value
1999
Paloma, Spring Mountain, Napa, California, Merlot
Dark red, aromas of sweet dark tarry cherries, cassis, currants,
dark caramel, espresso, and shoe polish, palate showed ripe dark
cherry, cassis, currant, mocha and a bit of spicy oak, moderately
full body, crisp acidity and full mouth coating drying tannins,
had a bit of a hole in the mid palate the first night but this appears
to be due to the cold. This wine just kept improving more and more
for three and a half days. I took it to a wine bar tasting three
days later and tasted it along with the other pricey wines on the
list. This one was the best of that group and ultimately the WOTN
in this setting as well. I personally think that this wine needs
a couple of years at a minimum to even open any others. I suspect
that it will be a four star plus wine in the future. It's got it
all, it's just a little shut down upon opening.
+
Average Value
1999 Longoria, Santa
Ynez Valley, California, Blues Cuvee, Cabernet Franc
Very dark purple, nose shows rich dark cherry, cassis, mocha, caramel,
oak and shoe polish, it did not start to show much floral character
until about day three, palate shows rich dark cherry, chocolate
mocha and dusty oak, moderate to slightly crisp acidity and moderately
full tannins, nicely balanced, smooth with good length on the finish,
very nice wine at a very good price of about $25.
Good Value
1999 Blackjack Ranch,
Santa Barbara County, California
La Mas Rouge, Red Rhone Blend
Garnet red, nose shows a slight gaminess with blueberry, vanilla,
mocha and oak, palate shows cherry, cranberry, blueberry and oak,
seems a bit ripe yet tart and lean at the same time, medium body,
crisply tart acidity with moderate tannins, decent balance but fairly
simple and clean, decent value at about $14.
Good Value
1998 Domaine Saint
Luc, Coteaux Du Tricastin, France, Red Rhone Blend
Corked
1999 Eaglepoint Ranch,
Mendocino County, California, Syrah
Dark purple, nose shows very forward fruit with black and blue
berries, vanilla oak, chocolate and some meaty character, palate
is very front loaded and jammy with blackberry, black raspberry,
blueberry, vanilla oak and some mustiness, one person thought it
was a bit under ripe, others felt that it had qualities of both
under ripe and over ripe fruit in it, perhaps due to added acidity,
medium full body, fairly tart acidity with moderate tannins, decent
balance. The forward fruit is very direct with a briary wild raspberry
character that some will love. Fair value at about $25.
+
Good Value
1999 Longoria, Santa
Barbara County, California, Reserve, Syrah
Dark reddish purple,
perfumey aromas of blackberry, coffee and a bit of mild charry oak,
palate shows rich blackberry, plum, cranberry, cocoa, coffee, licorice,
chewy mouthfeel, full body, slightly crisp acidity and moderately
full tannins, nicely balanced, showed improvement over the next
couple days. Needs some time to show its best. I have little doubt
that this was the best of the Rhone reds in this bunch, good price
at around $28.
Average Value
1999 Sierra Vista,
El Dorado, California, Fleur De Montagne, Red Rhone Blend
Garnet purple, aromas are a bit soapy and perfumey with ripe dark
cherry, Hawaiian Punch and some mild oak, palate shows juicy cherry,
coffee, cocoa and toasted spicy oak, tart and lean, medium body,
slightly crisp acids and moderate tannins, good balance, fairly
simple but lots of flavor, a good value at around $15.
+
Good Value
1999 Chateau Souverain,
Alexander Valley, California, Syrah
Dark purple, aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, coffee, licorice,
shoe polish, earth and oak, palate shows blackberry, coffee, chalky
minerals and oak, medium full body, moderate acidity and full tannins,
good balance at first but this wine fell apart over time, by the
end of day two the oak was the most obvious characteristic left,
this wine drinks very nice upon opening but I question the cellaring
ability, if you have them drink them up. Great value at about $12,
extremely hard to complain but to my view the Longoria got better
and better after opening it while the Chateau Souverain started
to decline.
+
Good Value
Tasting held at:
Wine Street, a local wine shop
in Carlsbad, California
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