Has anyone been popping any BerserkerDay wines? With the holiday approaching, I’ve been trying to make an effort to open some wines produced by past, and hopefully future, BerserkerDay participants. The posting of any other recent notes would be very much appreciated.
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2014 Briceland Vineyards Pinot Noir Alderpoint Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (1/9/2017)
Cherry red colored with aromas of cherry, strawberry, red currants and baking spice.
The palate displays tart red fruit flavors that with abundant spice and some forest floor with a dash of baking soda and lemon rind present on the finish. There’s a great balance between the fruit and savory elements and good acidic lift to keep things fresh. Good concentration and sneaky tannins that suggest aging potential.
At 12.7%abv, I could drink this all day long. 98 cases produced. (92 pts.)
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2012 Longplay Pinot Noir Experience Lia’s Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains (1/4/2017)
Ripe raspberry fruit wrapped around a core of black licorice with some baking powder. There’s a faint tart note on the slightly clipped finish. Good acidity, should easily last through the end of the decade.
14.1%abv. 312 (hey that’s my area code!) cases produced.
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2015 Briceland Vineyards Viognier Ishi Pishi Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (1/2/2017)
Pours a very pale yellow with the scent of white flowers leaping from the glass. The palate reveals white flowers overlayed on yellow fruits with an undercurrent of minerals. There’s a good dose of acidity going on which keeps the wine feeling very fresh and light. This is flowers and acid, acid and flowers – a really nice change of pace.
Made from organic grapes, 13.8% abv, 22 cases made(!) – I believe that some of the grapes go into the Ishi Pishi Ranch Syrah. (90 pts.)
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2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (1/1/2017)
The nose and palate are dominated by an abundance of spice and red fruits with some forest floor notes hidden in the background. Very good acidity; the tannins are perceptible, but mild. Drinks younger than it’s age. Nonetheless this is squarely in its drinking window; should drink well through 2030. -
2014 Briceland Vineyards Syrah Ishi Pishi Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (12/30/2016)
Vibrant color of magenta with a nose of iodine, smoked meat enveloping purple berries.
Red and purple fruits fruits with iodine, smoked meat, black pepper, violets and a hint of dill. Medium+ bodied with good concentration and acidity. Slightly gritty tannins with a long finish. Good complexity and distinctive, drinks young. I followed over 3 days. On day two the wine smoothed out and had a more appealing texture and the faint dill note was gone. On day three the smoked meat note disappeared; thankfully the beguiling iodine note remained.
I drank this side by side with the Dark Horse Ranch and preferred this wine by a hair. Whil drinkable now, I believe this wine should drink well for a decade or more. This is Briceland’s first Syrah from Humboldt County and is cofermented with 4% Viognier. Made from organic grapes. (91 pts.)
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2014 Briceland Vineyards Syrah Dark Horse Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (12/30/2016)
Garnet/purple color with a nose of sweet red and purple fruit, like confectioner’s sugar had been poured over ripe berries, with some leather and forest floor in the background.
Smooth with less tannic structure than the Ishi Pishi Syrah of the same year and perhaps a touch more acid. Juicy red and purple fruits, forest floor and a squeeze of lemon on the finish, which provides a nice bit of brightness. The sweetness of the nose does not translate to the palate, there’s a nice savoriness here. Finishes medium. More immediately approachable than the 2014 Ishi Pish Ranch.
13.1% abv, 123 cases made. (90 pts.)
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2010 Ladd Cellars Pinot Noir Nash Mill Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (12/20/2016)
The nose is dominated by spice while the plate is equal parts bing cherry and spice with a forest floor component that comes to the fore on the finish. The fruit is just a bit sour and the acid is plentiful. The flavors are unmistakably Anderson Valley.
There’s a good deal of sediment considering the age of the wine; pour carefully. 14.1% abv. (90 pts.)
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2012 Ladd Cellars Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (12/17/2016)
Red fruits, spice and white flowers on the nose. On the palate, red fruits and spice abounds. There’s also streak of minerality and a faint licorice component. High acid with mild tannins; there’s enough structure and stuffing that it should drink well 10-12 years from vintage. Tasty now but should improve with short term aging. (89 pts.) -
2012 Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (12/16/2016)
Red fruits and flowers on the nose. Flavors of spicy red fruit enveloping a black fruit core with a mineral spine. There’s a good dose of acidity that keeps thing feeling fresh. At once concentrated and elegant; delicious now, but built to age. Low alcohol to boot (12.8% abv). Love this.
Like all Matello/Goodfellow wines, extended aeration is recommended. (91 pts.)
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2015 Briceland Vineyards Gewürztraminer Ishi Pishi Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (12/12/2016)
Immediately on pouring the wine, the room was filled with the scent of white and purple flowers. Some swirling yields a nice spice component and yellow fruits.
The palate is similarly dominated by floral notes, which are overlaid on a canvas of tropical fruits; guava, lychee, peach and mineral notes are distinctly noted on the long finish. Very nice acidity makes this a great food wine, but it was also delicious on its own. An elegant take on the grape. 13.3%abv and completely dry and completely delicious.
Note: a small amount remained in the bottle and was corked and refrigerated for 8 days; the wine still in very good shape. (90 pts.)
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2010 Biggio Hamina Cellars Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills (12/12/2016)
Red fruits, cinnamon and cardamom spice and flowers on the nose.
Flavors of tart/sappy red fruits (strawberry, cherry) with cinnamon/cardamom and a pronounced green note; think forrest floor. Plenty of juicy acidity and the tannins, while noticeable, are in the background. In a good spot; should drink well for another 5 years or more.
Posted from CellarTracker
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A bit OT: I tend to prefer lower alcohol wines. Lack of a score doesn’t mean anything other than that I didn’t feel like scoring.