Rich Little/Blanche

Impressions/the kindness of others

Whites:
2015 Pierpaolo Peccorari, Ribolla Gialla - fresh and pleasant
2012 Cowan Cellars, Ribolla Gialla (skin - fermented) - spice, grip but best on day two
1996 Trimbach, Riesling Clos St. Hune - deep, young and impressive
2006 Raveneau, Chablis Foret - not as precise as I hoped but still drinking well
2012 SQN, White wine In the Abstract - syrup
2001 Knoll, Gruner Veltliner Loibner Vinothekfullung - lots of volume and depth
2001 Knoll, Gruner Veltliner Kreutles - fresher than the above wine but without the depth
2002 F.X. Pichler, Riesling M - good, not great but still nice wine
2001 Boxler, Riesling Sommerberg - breath-taking, yum, yum
2005 Donnhoff, Riesling Auslese, Niederhauser Hermannshohle - lovely wine
2004 SQN, White wine The Straw Man - heavy syrup
2013 Fevre, Chablis Les Clos - were that all Chardonnay tasted this good; I would love to taste this in 10-15 years but it won’t last that long in my cellar
2013 Liquid Farm, Chardonnay Santa Rite Hills - creamy and good but too much oak for me
2007 Huet, Vouvray Sec Le Mont (375ml) - pretty wine with angles
2002 Zind Humbrecht, Pinot Gris VT Clos Windsbuhl - a mouthful of wine but more RS than I like
2014 Konsgaard, Chardonnay - better than expected but still not my thing
2009 Chave, Hermitage Blanc - bordering on profound
1997 Chave, Hermitage Blanc - convincing but not the extract I expect
2009 J.L. Chave, St. Joseph Blanc Celeste - funky in a good way but, in the end, not for me
2014 Guigal, Condrieu - perfect balance, nothing cloying; I would be pleased to drink this anytime - a rare viognier I like
2014 Dom. Daulin, Sancerre le Clos de Chaudenay - way too much cat pee for me
2011 Jenner, Chardonnay Sonoma Coast - not much there
1998 Chave, Hermitage Blanc - very, very good

Pink:
2016 Flowers, Rose - charming and graceful

Red:
1999 Chevillon, NSG Les Vaucrains - stewy on day one, glorious on day two
2008 Clarendon Hill, Syrah Moritz - not my cuppa
1986 Chateau Pichon Lalande - fine old claret but quite firm, I suspect this vintage will never be generous
2006 Chateay D’Issan - simply beautiful
1995 Araujo, Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vnyd. - this bottle was good but past prime
2003 Foley, Claret - not for me
1993 LaJota, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - good and of its place
1998 Greenock Creek, Cabernet Sauvignon - a glass will do
2003 Burgess, Cabernet Sauvignon (from magnum) - perfect balance, medium weight, utterly complete and showing both youthful and delicious
2009 Paloma, Cabernet Sauvignon - quite good but a touch ripe for me
2012 Gilles Barge, Cote Rotie Cuvée du Plessy - more Syrah than Cote Rotie but good
1996 Niebaum-Coppola, Rubicon - over achieved and I liked it
2010 Karl Lawrence, Cabernet Sauvignon - for those who love well made Napa cab, this is the real deal; sadly, I’m not one
2004 Dehlinger, Caret - dusty, pretty wine
2013 Grapesmith and Crusher, Cabernet Sauvignon - a new label from Washington but a bit sweet for me
2007 Larkmead, Cabernet Sauvignon - excellent and I am not usually a cab guy
1999 Texier, Cote Rotie VV - as always, about as good as the AOC provides; this was the last bottle of a case and it has never disappointed
2011 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Bennett Valley - no secondary development yet but of its place and showing nicely
1989 Chave, Hermitage - jeepers, this is good; almost ethereal textures
1983 Chave, Hermitage - took several hours and came close to the '89
2010 Benetiere, Cote Rotie Cordeloux - never heard of this producer but I won’t forget now; amazing aromatics, remarkable structure and clearly of its place, grand vin
2011 Delas, Hermitage - nice, old world Syrah but not more
2011 Delas, Saint Joseph - pedestrian
2009 SQN, Syrah This is not an Exit - good grief
2012 Domaine de la Cote, Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills - light Pinot fruit with olive tones and a nice savory character

Stickies:
1990 Clos Naudin, Vouvray Goutte D’Or - utterly profound; a life list wine
1947 Chateau Sisqueille, Rivesaltes - bright, youthful and engaging
1985 Bodegas Toro Albala, Sherry PX - tasty motor oil

Best, Jim

Jim,

I’m curious how you treated the 2006 D’Issan? I had one recently and thought it was pretty good but it didn’t impress me the way I had hoped. I’m wondering if it’s my Cali loving palate or if I didn’t give it the proper treatment?

Thanks,
Andy

Decanted shortly before service.
Served with beef Wellington.
And I am guessing a Cali palate would have liked this bottle. Odd how one bottle can be so different from another - but ten years might make a difference.
Best, Jim

Thanks, Jim. I have another one (or two?) in the cellar, so will try again and hope for a better showing.

Best,
Andy