Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Yup... I think you're right, Truett.
Tom

Just got this very sad note from JohnRittmaster: https://mailchi.mp/primavini.com/the-prima-vini-vine-july-6th-2020 that the PRIMA restaurant in Walnut Creek will be closing... due to Coronavirus impact. This is so sad. PRIMA was one of my go-to restaurants in the EastBay area. The note implies that...

Well, Jim... thanks for not referring to us as old folks. But "statesmen" may be a bit of a stretch. I'm still continuing to buy, but at a rather reduced level. To me, the search for new wine experiences is important. But I don't buy wines anymore with the intention of cellaring them. But I do buy w...

Well, Brent...not Mike... but my gut feeling (based on absolutely no data points) is this wine will put on weight and become much more interesting in a few yrs of age.
Tom

Also Mr Hill, as "I have followed Sam from the very start" we might have to have a tussle to see who gets first dibs on that Timorasso [wink.gif] [cheers.gif] Tom Easy, Tom....for rights to that first btl of Timorasso, we'll just duke it out in front of the Tasting Room. Swords at 20'. I'm a sure w...

Yup, Mike.... energetic is exactly how to describe this wine. It works well in the A-R style.
Tom

Thanks for giving your take on ColeRanch.
Any thought ever to making an Eiswein up there?
I, too, am excited by what Mike is going to be doing up there. It's a pretty unique site up there. Your Rieslings give ample testimony to that.
Tom

Thanks again, Casey. I really like the Rieslings from McFadden, but the only producer I've had is MikeDashe. Also really like those from ColeRanch across several producers. But, as you say, maybe Anderson Vlly is better Riesling country.
Tom

Thanks for chiming in, Casey. Good to get your take on ColeRanch. Will be interesting to see what Mike makes work on that Site... as he's building a snowman in late Sept. Would be interested in your take on ColeRanch vs. Guiness's McFaddenRanch suitability for Riesling. Doesn't have to be fact based...

Dan-I am brutish at making people look bad, one of my many shortcomings. I rather boorishly corrected Tom Hill about Benito Dusi having passed when I should have just shot him a PM rather than embarrass him publicly. Tom-if you read this please forgive me. Markus-I would say that Thackrey's Rossi v...

Wes Barton wrote: ↑
July 2nd, 2020, 3:33 pm

TomHill wrote: ↑
July 2nd, 2020, 12:04 pm
The link to Alpine wines/areas seems a bit of a stretch, though. There's nothing like walking a vnyd and seeing to Dolomitis towering in the distance.
Tom
Yes, quite a few differences, but you can still see why they're good sites to try those grapes.

Yup, Wes.... totally agree.
Tom

Good to read about what they are doing and why. Always happy to see something about Idlewild. Well, David.... Sam is pretty much a known quantity. I'm particularly excited by what Mike/Rootdown is going to do w/ ColeRanch. I've thought his wines are quite nice but always left we wanting a little mo...

An outstanding article in the SFChron by Esther on some exciting things going on at altitude in MendoCnty: https://www.sfchronicle.com/wine/article/California-winemakers-bet-on-Mendocino-County-for-15379719.php By SamBilbro/EvanLewandowski/MikeLucia. The first btl off the bottling line of Timorasso ...

Well, Adam... this sounds like a classic Grosset Riesling. Put some away for 10-25 yrs and you'll have something absolutely amazing. Trust me on this. Can you say "petrol"??
Tom

Nope, Larry.. don't recall it being the '97.
Tom

We had Bill & Jane Easton over Wed for apps/wine & good company. We cracked these two Syrahs: 1. Qupe Syrah BienNacido Hillside Estate/SantaMariaVlly (EB; 14.5%) 1997 : Dark color w/ slight bricking; strong blackberry/Syrah/spicy some c-c/black pepper some toasty/pencilly/Fr.oak slight Rhonish/brett...

Tasted these over three days: 1. Emilio Castelli RedWine Vinegar NV : Light garnet some browning color; very strong acetic acid bit EA some oak some grapey/winey complex nose; very hot/acetic/sharp/piercing some grapey/winey somewhat burning flavor; very concentrated acetic acid and less winey. ____...

Yup, Casey .... couldn't agree more. The Real Deal.
Tom

Just had Bill & Jane Easton over for apps. There was wine involved. Good wine. Bill shared with me the devastating news that Susan Marks had died a few weeks ago from pancreatic cancer. Totally devastating news. I first met Susan & Jonathan shortly after they opened Cedarville in FairPlay. They both...

Tried this dessert wine a week ago: 1. Rosso della Cattedrale Mosciano SantAngelo Vino Liquorose (17.5%; VitisImports/SantaMonica) Az.Agr. Costa del Monte/Giuliavona/Abruzzo NV : Dark rather brown color; strong very ripe/boysenberry/chocolaty/grapey/late hrvsty bit Zin/essence somewhat alcoholic bit...

Pat Burton wrote: ↑
June 21st, 2020, 5:41 pm
Agreed. What is the actual offer?

Stacey is open to offers. If they're a low-ball offer, she'll probably keep the two half's.
Tom

There are 2 hlf btls available.
Tom

From the BlairSwartz Cellar in LosAlamos. Stored in good conditions since its purchase. TN below. Best offer. Tom TN: Ch.Petrus '70...(short/boring) #1 Post by TomHill » Sun Jun 21, 2020 11:51 am Had this a month ago in another tasting from the BlairSwartz Cellar at Pig+Fig: 1. Ch.Petrus AC: Pomerol...

Had this a month ago in another tasting from the BlairSwartz Cellar at Pig+Fig: 1. Ch.Petrus AC: Pomerol 1970 : Dark slight murky/brownish color; quite complex very cedary/pencilly/old oak rather plummy/Merlot beautiful perfumed nose; lightly tart strong Merlot/plummy/slight floral fairly cedary/cig...

1. Massican Friulano Dd'O: Friuli Colli Orientali (13.5%) Ronco del Gnemiz/SanGiovanni al Natisone 2018 : Med.gold color; strong floral/Friulano/gardenias some spicy/rosemary slight chalky lovely aromatic nose; lightly tart slight spritz maybe a bit off-dry quite perfumed/floral/Friulano/gardenias s...

Wow.... after being open a day, this really went South. Developed a dreadful wet dog fur aftertaste and totally undrinkable.
Tom

Tried these two last night: 1. Ferraris Sensazioni Viognier Dd'OC: Piemonte (13.5%; www.FerrarisAgricola.com; GiulianaImprts/Boulder; L 06320) Luca Ferraris/Castagnole Monferrato 2019 : Pale gold color w/ tiny bubbles that persist in the wine; lightweight pear/Viog/slight floral light perfumed talc/...

Tried this new wine last night: 1. Domaine Ansen Sylvaner Lerchensand Ad'O: Vin de Alsace (12%; Organic wine; www.Ansen.Fr; 12 days skin-contact) Westhoffen/Alsace 2017 : Deep golden/slight orangey very cloudy color w/ lots of floculanr suspended material; rather natty/oxidative/ some unclean/quite ...

These two just showed up here in NM, so had to try them: 1. Wieninger Wiener DAC: Gemischter Satz (12.5%; www.Wieninger.At; Trocken; WinebowImprts) Weingut Wieninger/Wien 2018 : Med.gold color; strong floral/some GV/gardenias/white pepper light petrol/valve oil some mineral/stony fairly complex bit ...

Nice interview by John&Dorthy of Joel:
https://grapecollective.com/articles/jo ... ry-bottles#

Sad what's going on with Ravenswood.
Tom

Heard from Bill. It was Connoisseur Wine Imports that Frank first worked. Think that was Art Balfour.
Tom

Is now National Marketing Director for Steele Wines. Sent him a ping.
Tom

Whatever happened to Carneros Creek? Never had the wines when they were young but have to imagine they were good. Any chance you can educate me on the backstory? Rich, As Marshall noted, the wnry was sold by FrankMahoney and acquired eventually by Mondavi. Frank kept the Pinot vnyds and scaled back...

The Trimbachs would beg to differ with Mr. Hill’s assessment, as would the folks at Dirler. Awwww, David. A golden opportunity for you to accuse me of [stirthepothal.gif] and you muffed it big time!! The Trimbachs are certainly the most traditional in Alsace. But when I fell in love with the Alsati...

Very interesting Alsatian thoughts, Tom :). Do you have much experience with Boxler? I've aged a few into 15+ years and have been truly fascinated by how they develop, and certainly not the Z-H style. Quite the old line-up. Yup, Nick. Have had the Boxlers and like them quite a bit. A more tradition...

Tried these last night at Roman's w/ a wonderful Cassoulet: 1. Boheme Zin OldManciniRanch/RRV/SonomaCnty (14.9%; Plntd: 1922; + Carignane/PetiteSirah/AlicanteBouschet) Forestville 2013 : Dark color; rather dusty/OV strong blackberry/RRV Zin/quite spicy light pencilly/toasty/Fr.oak fairly complex nos...

Mel Knox wrote: ↑
June 14th, 2020, 10:45 pm
Aren't the Fredianis partners with Dick Vermeil in Vermeil wines??
What has happened to that company??

Sorry, Mel... clueless.
Tom

Tried these four from Blair's cellar last Sunday at Pig+Fig: 1. Friedrich-Wilhelm Gymnasium Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Auslese (Q; A.P.Nr. 3 561 024 47 72; EA) Trier 1971 : Deep gold/burnished bronze color; very strong old Auslese honeyed/orangey/botrytis/apricotty bit earthy slight pungent/petro...

Had these last Sun at Pig+Fig from Blair's cellar: 1. JosephPhelpsVnyd JohannisbergRiesling LateHrvst NapaVlly (9.9%; SaH: 26.5%; RS: 8.8%) St.Helena 1979 : Dark gold/rather brown color; intense botrytis/apricotty some gout de petrol/smokey/pungent/cedary bit toasty/coconutty/ZagNut-Bar very complex...

Interesting that the 1978 MB was $27. I got the 84 for $20 from a retail store in DC (cannot remember whether this was a futures price or not). It was the first time I bought MB (and the ones I bought and the ones I bought are long gone). Phelps made such great wines in the 1970s and 1980s. Great t...

Tried these two last Sun at Pig+Fig from Blair's Cellar: 1. JosephPhelpsVnyds CabSauv BackusVnyd/NapaVlly (13.6%) St.Helena 1978 : Very dark color w/ slight bricking; intense cedary/pencilly/smokey/cigar box/Fr.oak strong blackcurranty/Cab/slight herbal quite complex old Bdx beautiful nose; lightly ...

Tried this wine this morning after it was left open overnight. It was vastly improved. All the Ridge oak had faded into the background and pretty intense blackberry/RRV Zin fruit had come to the forefront. As good as any MazzoniHomeRanch that I can recall. Now a very/very good Ridge Zin closer to th...

Tried these two last Sun at Pig+Fig from Blair's cellar: 1. Montevina Barbera ShenandoahVlly/AmadorCnty (SpecialSlctn; 14.5%; EB) Plymouth 1980 : Dark bit browning color; quite smokey/cedary/pencilly/oak fairly spicy/Barbera/dried febbel seed/Italian sausage quite spicy fairly complex nose; lightly ...

Tried this tonight w/ our (delicious) leftovers: 1. Ridge Zin Oltranti MazzoniHomeRanch/SonomaCnty (88% Zin/10% Carignane/2% PS; 15.1%; 26 brls; Plntd: 1998; 2'nd vintage; Drk: 3/19-3/26: EB; 4% water addition, tartaric acid) 2017 : Med.dark color; very strong vanilla/Am.oak strong raspberry/Zin/lig...

Tried these two new ATP Ridges last Sunday at Pig+Fig: 1. Ridge Zin Jimsomare MonteBelloVnyd/SantaCruzMtns (100% Zin; 15.3%; 13 brls; bttld: May'19; Drk: 3/19-3/34: EB) 2017 : Very dark color; slight milk of magnesia/vanilla/Am.oak rather intense blackberry/Zin/very spicy/chocolaty complex beautiful...

Tried this last night w/ our tuna steak: 1. MonteRustico Dd'OC: Piemonte Rosso (14%; Nebbiolo/Dolcetto/Barbera; Imprtd: PacificHwy W&S/Sonoma); B by G.D.Vajra/Barolo 2015 : Dark color; rather grapey/Dolcetto some floral/Nebb bit spicy/Barbera fairly earthy/dusty rather rustic bit aromatic nose; rath...

We tried these two over the last few days: 1. Vigne Marina Coppi Marine Favorita DOC: ColliTortonesi WW (13.5%; TheSortingTable/Napa; EB; VigneMarinacoppi.com) Vigne Marina Coppi di Francesco Bellochio/Castellania 2012 : Med.gold color; very fragrant/perfumed Vermen/floral/gardenias light spicy/card...

Darrell elaborates on the origins of this wine: This is a remake of what Jefferson tasted as nebbiolo. Barolo did not exist at that time. Barolo does not become a name until the middle of the 19th century, with the Marchesa di Barolo. It has even less to do with Barbaresco since this didn't become a...

@Tom, this sounds lovely. As a Barolo fanatic I have no disdain for such expressions of Nebbiolo. Rather, I hunt for them! I hope some of these get to California. But I have to say your Julia Child/hillside tumble image is one of the most hilariously evocative one I’ve seen here. But I’m really won...

This just arrived at Kokomanns, so had to try it last night: 1. G.D.Vajra Nebbiolo Dd'OC: Langhe Clare J.C. (13.5%; L03-20) Barolo 2019 : Med.light garnet color; very fragrant floral/violets/rose petal/lilacs/Nebb/strawberry slight earthy/pungent lovely nose; slight spritz/prickly near dry bright/ze...

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