West Coast Wine Network
Vineyards & Wineries
Promise Cabernet Sauvignon
Muscadine Wines
Three coins wine
Hooker wine
Another view from Chappellet
The view from Chappellet
Hooker Wines - Wine for Rugby lovers
Garnet Vineyards
Lawer Family Wines - Vineyard Estate Rentals in Calistoga
Chappellet Winery
March
Su M Tu W Th F Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#390212 - 06-28-2019 12:01:25 Impressions 6-28-19
Florida Jim Offline
Crazed Wino

Registered: 12-24-2000 08:00:00
Posts: 7733
Loc: Banner Elk, NC and St. Pete., ...
Wine Impressions - 6-28-19

Bubbles:
N/V R. H. Coutier, Champagne Brut - my style of bubbles with great fruit flavors, lots of cut and stony accents. Grand vin!

White:
2017 Eugren, Viura - bright, fruit sweet, utterly delicious - even as it warms up. And great QPR.
2014 Idlewild, Cortese - partially skin fermented; full nose, wonderful textures in the mouth and good sustain. A complete wine that is beautiful on its own and great with a pasta and vegetable dish but does not reference Gavi in the least. Cortese with gravitas.
2016 Louis Michel, Chablis Vaillons - slowly shedding its baby fat to reveal considerable cut; hold another year or two or . . .
2018 Scribe, Sylvaner - under 12% abv, bright, clean, flavorful and balanced. I’d be happy to drink this anytime.

Rose:
2009 Lopez de Heredia, Rosado Tondonia - slightly orange in appearance and relatively quiet on the nose but complex, savory, tangy and intense in the mouth. Seems to be nowhere near peak. Ten year old “young” rose - way outside the box.
2017 Harrington, Corvina - perhaps not a true rose, this is more clairet in style; dry, savory flavors with structure and sustain. Excellent with vegetable rice bowls dashed with sambal.
2015 Cowan Cellars, Jack’s Rose - also in the clairet style, 100% merlot, primary fermentation over 100 days; reminds me of Trousseau from Tissot; lots of tart cherry and mineral. ‘One I’ve always loved.
2016 Cowan Cellars, Jack’s Rose - lighter but more cut than the 2015; also about 100 days in primary fermentation but much less like Trousseau and more like Rose. ‘Will probably last longer that the ‘15.

Red:
1978 Bruzzone, Barolo - too musty/corky for me, others were enamored.
2014 Katsaros, Xinomavro Valos - lots of tannin but not drying, a mouthful of wine and good with smoked pork.
2016 Cowan Cellars, Syrah - quite peppery, textural and dense, open enough to enjoy but surely has a future in the cellar.
2017 Cowan Cellars, Syrah - way too young. Hold.
2017 Dirty and Rowdy, Mourvèdre Evangelho Vnyd. - while tasting with a friend some years ago, he came upon a wine that prompted him to say, “that’s the way red wine should taste.” I didn’t really understand that then but I do now. This is as good a nose as I could imagine for a red wine and it’s utterly glorious on the palate. Balanced, complex, joyous and world class. Oh my!
2008 Bouchard Pere et Fils, Chambolle-Musigny - the oak treatment has muddied the aromas and flavors and it really has no Chambolle character. Okay, I suppose, but I’d rather spend my wine calories elsewhere.
2017 Elio Grasso, Nebbiolo Langhe - never exceptional but always good; an earthy wine with fruit but a sense of place and easy deliciousness. And good QPR.
2014 Balletto, Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - 13.3% abv, a touch of whole cluster veggy when first opened, with air this is a feminine expression of crystal clear Pinot that captivates and satisfies. Utterly lovely.
2011 Alain Verset, Cornas - no doubt it’s Cornas with olive, ash and road tar aromas, tremendous complexity in the mouth with good fruit and a touch of rusticity, and, great length. ‘Could use time in the bottle but shows well with airing now.
(Aside: I have tried other vintages from this producer and been unimpressed. With this guy, vintage matters.)

Best, Jim
_________________________
Jim Cowan

Top
#390213 - 06-29-2019 09:44:35 Re: Impressions 6-28-19 [Re: Florida Jim]
Bob Davis Offline
Obsessed

Registered: 12-13-2000 08:00:00
Posts: 4748
Loc: Steeler Nation
Jim,
I always enjoy your notes. We're looking forward to buying again once we get moved to Virginia.

I was surprised the Dirty and Rowdy showed so well at that age. I was waiting on mine.
Bob

Top


Misc. Stuff
Muscadine winegrapes
Muscadine wine collection
2010 Garnet Pinot Noir - Rodgers Creek Vineyard
Promise Wine
Dom Perignon
Chappellet Wine
Lawer Family Three Coins Wine
13 Blackbirds
Old Wine
2009 HdR Last Seminar
Newest Members
Jplotty, mws941, Emily, samishra, PippoMura
1693 Registered Users
Top Posters
Brad Harrington 13966
JFO 13065
TomHill 12127
Marshall Manning 10482
Florida Jim 7733
David Andreozzi 7157
blil 6251
Marc Hanes 5639
BEB 5444
Dave Dyroff 4867