|
8-28-2002
WHITES
|
Wine
Street Is Now Helping Our Panel Procure Wines
by Offering Them To Us At Cost
|
|
2001 Huia, Marlborough,
New Zealand, Pinot Gris
Light yellow straw, aromas are fairly ripe and intense with nutty,
leesy, pear, tropical, golden raisin and a hint of citrus, slightly
oxidized, flavors of ripe pear, passion fruit, golden raisin, almond
paste and grapefruit rind, slightly bitter finish, medium to full
body with slightly crisp acidity and a hint of tannin, though a
bit bitter it is still smooth with a full wide palate, nice feel
in the mouth, very open on the palate, a bit chewy. Hints of earth.
Nicely balanced with some complexity that became more pronounced
with air. Great value at about $16 and another white varietal from
New Zealand to keep your eyes open for. This is as nice as most
of the Sauvignon Blancs from the same region. Thoroughly enjoyable
wine!
 +
Good Value
2001 Alois Lageder,
Alto Adigo, Italy, Pinot Grigio
Light yellow straw, more high toned than the Huia above, the aromas
are brighter with green apple, pear, citron, lemon peel, golden
raisin, dried figs and minerals, flavors of pear, apple, spice,
golden raisin, lees, nuts, lemon oil and a strong mineral finish,
medium to slightly full body, clean slightly crisp to crisp acidity,
puckery mid-palate, bright and sharply defined, tighter than the
Huia, very well balanced, will probably age a bit, more designed
to go with food. Great value at $14.
+
Good Value
2000 J.J. McHale,
Lolonis Vineyard, Mendocino, California, Chardonnay
Light yellow, the nose is a bit closed showing vanilla oak, pear,
apple, spiced gingerale, herbs, olive, toasted grains, smoke, nutty
and caramel, slightly oxidized, palate shows ripe heavy spiced apple,
pear, almonds, oak, lemon oil, herbs and abundant vanilla oak, medium
to full body, moderate to slightly crisp acidity, nicely layered
mid-palate with a dense mouth feel that one person called meaty,
I would say a little chewy, good acid fruit balance, a bit heavy
on the oak but it was fairly well integrated the first night. By
day two the oak had taken on a less integrated character. Not for
the oak squeamish but a well made wine for the style.
Good Value
2000 J.J. McHale,
Dorn Vineyard, Clear Lake, California, Fume Blanc
Light yellow in color, much more open on the nose than the Chardonnay
was, aromas of pear, sulfur, tarragon, smoked meats and toasted
vanilla oak, the sulfur may be a bit much for some, palate flavors
show pear, apple, citrus, yeast and vanilla oak, medium to full
body, moderate acidity, the nose really is a bit odd especially
for a sauvignon blanc grape and that is due to the sulfur and the
oak, yet the palate delivers some nice flavors and an almost Chardonnay
like character that is dense, layered and fairly open, rather than
tart, lean and crisp. Nice wine and in my estimate a great Fume
Blanc but it still came off a bit strange and unpredictable in this
tasting. $16.
-
Good Value
REDS
1997 Flowers, Camp
Meeting Ridge, Sonoma Coast, California, Pinot Noir
Heavily bricked garnet red, the nose is very nice with aged ripe
aromas of spiced cola, dried cherry, strawberry, forest floor, hint
of tomato, cedary oak, leather, paraffin wax, mature, slightly oxidized,
developed flavors of cherry cola, plum, prune, strawberry, cocoa,
forest floor and brown spice, cocoa, leather, oak and some slight
soy, medium full body with slightly crisp acidity and moderately
strong tannins, a hint of astringency, nicely balanced though the
fruit is beginning to fade. It's our guess that these are ready
to drink up, do not expect them to continue to improve with age.
Average price at $45.
-
Average Value
2000 J.J. McHale,
Mendocino, California, Pinot Noir
Dark ruby garnet, slightly bricked, ripe stewy aromas of black cherry,
plum, raspberry, mushrooms, smoked meats, vanilla and a hint of
forest floor, palate flavors of jammy clack cherry, cocoa, cola,
leather, earth, mushroom, forest floor, iodine and spicy oak, slight
gamey character, medium to full body, slightly crisp acidity and
moderate tannins, a hint of oxidized character as well, fleshy,
dense and layered mouth feel, complex profile with good length on
the finish, becoming very oxidized by day two but we figure that
is par for the course with a Pinot Noir. Good value at $27 direct
with a suggested retail of $33.
Good Value
2000 Domaine Les Palliere,
Gigondas, France, Red Rhone Blend
Medium dark reddish purple, the nose is fairly intense with aromas
of gamey, meaty barnyard that almost over ride the perfumed blackberry,
strawberry, spice and cocoa, very ripe and rich, the palate flavors
consist of blackberry, plum, garrigue, cocoa, espresso and some
mineral, big, huge massive chewy mouth feel with lots of jammy fruit,
medium to full body, slightly crisp acidity with moderate to strong
tannins, nicely layered, good balance, decent complexity, some length
to the finish, fleshy, drank well for days, this is a terrific Gigondas,
this is the first vintage released since Kermit Lynch and Vieux
Telegraphe bought the estate, might be a bit new world for some
but it's a very good wine at a reasonable price of around $28. We
all enjoyed this wine a lot. On par with the better Gigondas' from
St. Cosme.
+
Good Value
1999 Ojai, Vin du
Soleil, California, Red Rhone Blend
Dark inky purple, the nose on this is reduced with a bit of sulfur
that seemed to blow off with time and air, other aromas consist
of ripe roasted blackberry, coffee, cocoa, toast, black olive, smoked
meats, chalk and tar, flavors of blackberry, espresso, chocolate,
roasted nuts, vanilla and a hint of menthol, highly extracted yet
balanced, a huge mouthful of flavors without feeling like an assault
on your palate, full body, moderate to slightly low acidity with
moderate tannins, this wine is Grenache based with lesser amounts
of Mourvedre and Syrah, very dark and brooding yet also having a
bit of a high toned character as well. Amazingly good drinking wine!
Delicious. At a very reasonable price of about $29.
Good Value
NV Sean Thackery,
Pleiades XI, Old Vines, California, Red Blend
This is a blend of seven red grapes, most of which are Rhone varietals
but it also contains some zinfandel, we don't know the exact blend
and were unable to find it written anywhere, it is also a non vintage
offering. Sean has a different mindset on some of these things than
most, his wines are eccentric and original, this particular wine
is dark brick red, the nose was a bit closed but still revealed
perfumed aromas of blackberry, cherry, strawberry, herbs, smoked
meats, bacon, a hint of smoked mesquite, menthol and mint jelly,
palate flavors of sweet, ripe black cherry, Grenache fruit, espresso,
smoked meats, roasted lamb and mint, medium to full body, medium
acidity and moderate fine grained tannins, smooth, rich and nicely
balanced with an elegant sense about it, became richer with air
time and drank well for days after opening. This is one of my favorite
Pleiades I have ever tasted. Extremely good value at about $18.
+
Good Value
1999 le Clos du Caillou,
Bouquet des Garrigues
Cotes du Rhone, France, Red Rhone Blend
Brick red, somewhat restrained aromas of strawberry and spicy clove,
palate shows flavors of strawberry, cherry, currant, gamey meat,
garrigue, cocoa, vanilla and espresso, medium body with crisp acidity
and moderate tannins, lighter bodied than the other reds in the
flight but still has a very nice balance to it, the gaminess is
just right and the fruit has a nice sweetness to the mouth feel,
this is a very good value inexpensive red that has enjoyable fruit
and the beginning of some complexity while showcasing it's Rhone
roots. A definite rebuy at $13!
+
Good Value
2000 Domaine de la
Janasse
Cotes du Rhone Villages, France, Red Rhone Blend
Dark reddish purple, aromas of dark roasted ripe jammy blackberry
and blueberry fruits with cocoa and toast, palate flavors reveal
roasted blackberry, blueberry, anise and mild toasty charred oak,
very youthful and a bit harsh and disorganized upon opening, this
needs time to integrate which it did nicely by day two, drinking
well for days after opening, this is really one of the better Cotes
du Rhones I have tasted but it needed some air time to show me that,
fairly full body with medium acidity and moderately strong tannins.
Should age nicely for at least mid term cellaring. Great value at
$13! Another rebuy!
+
Good Value
1999 Swanson, Alexis,
Estate, Napa Valley
California, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon
Dark inky purple, complex aromas of roasted blackberry, cassis,
black olive, mint, herbs, espresso, asphalt, chocolate, toast and
mild chalky minerals, palate flavors of blackberry, espresso, minty
eucalyptus, herbs, tobacco, dark chocolate and some integrated oak,
full body, slightly crisp to crisp acidity and moderately strong
smooth fine grained tannins, fleshy, chewy mouth feel, nicely balanced
with complex layering of flavors and an elegant yet substantial
structure. Very nice wine that showcases both it's Cab and Syrah
characteristics. A bit pricey but worth the money. Very nice! $44.
Good Value
2000 l'Aventure, Optimus,
Paso Robles, California
50% Cab, 40% Syrah, 5% Petite Verdot and 5% Zinfandel
Drinks more like a syrah than anything else. Very dark purple, the
nose started off a bit closed showing aromas of roasted ripe blackberry,
espresso, herbs and some toasted oak, intense palate flavors reveal
rich roasted blackberry, cocoa, dark chocolate, abundant licorice,
espresso, tar, toasty charred oak and chalky minerals, pretty solid
dose of oak but it is nicely integrated and there is more than enough
fruit to stand up to it, very full body, medium to slightly crisp
acidity, strong fine grained tannins, big chewy smooth mouth feel,
needs some age, drank exceptionally well after a few days of being
open, becoming very integrated and even smoother. Excellent wine.
Not sure of the price, I think it is around $40.
Good Value
2000 Saxum, Bone Rock,
James Berry Vineyard
Paso Robles, California, Syrah
Dark inky purple, fairly aromatic nose yet still leaving the impression
of more to come with air and age, complex aromas of blackberry,
espresso, caramel, tar, cocoa, orange zest, earth, smoke, rubber
and some mild toasted oak, ripe palate flavors of espresso, chocolate,
sweet blackberry, stone fruits, orange zest, herbs, anise and chalky
minerals, full bodied with moderate acidity and strong smooth fine
grained tannins, compellingly exotic and complex, great balance,
drank well for five days after opening. One of the very best CA
syrahs I have tasted. Pricey but worth a bundle. $48 suggested retail.
+Good
Value
1999 le Clos du Caillou,
Les Roches Rondes
Cotes du Rhone Villages, France, Syrah
Dark purplish red, ripe aromas of sweet cassis, raspberry and blackberry
with espresso, herbs and vanilla oak, palate shows blackberry, cassis,
sweet cedary oak, brown spice, coffee, cocoa, garrigue, some slightly
gamey meat, oak and chalky minerals, full body with slightly crisp
acidity and moderately strong coarse tannins. A little astringent
on the finish, very youthful. With time it became much smoother
and more seamless. A much bigger version of the Bouquet des Garrigues.
Nicely balanced. Did not show particularly well during the panel
tasting. I think this one needs lots of cellar age to show it's
stuff. Seems fairly priced at around $35.
+
Good Value
2000 Bonaccorsi, Edna
Valley, California, Syrah
Dark inky purple, interesting wine, high toned yet dark and deeply
layered. Aromas show a slightly reduced sulfurous aspect along with
blackberry, gamey meat, cocoa, garrigue, juniper, hint of mint and
a very slight bit of green leaf and/or green tea, palate shows ripe
flavors of blackberry, herbs, cocoa, coffee, minerals and loamy
earth, full bodied, somewhat crisp acidity and medium to strong
fine grained tannins, this wine is both intense and complex, very
nice. This is the single best Edna Valley Syrah I have tasted aside
from the Alban's. Really nice! Drank well for days.
-
Good Value
2000 L'Ecole No. 41,
Seven Hills Vineyard
Walla Walla Valley, Washington, Syrah
Dark inky purple, the nose is very nice here with aromas of blackberry,
cherry, toast, rubber and chocolate mocha, palate offers tart cherries,
citrus, blackberry, plum, espresso and chocolate, very tart on the
finish, comes off as a bit acidified though that would actually
surprise me coming from Washington. Fill body, tart acidity and
moderately strong fine grained tannins. Very nice fruit but the
finish is a bit unusual, the tartness seemed just a bit off putting.
Still nice, but this is just an average value at $36.
-
Average Value
Tasting
held at:
|
Located in Carlsbad, near La Costa, in Southern California |
|
