TN: Four Older Calif Reds...(short/boring)

WINE TALK
1

Tried these four over the last few days:

  1. RosenblumCllrs Zin GeorgeHendryVnyd/NapaVlly Reserve (13.7%; U) Alameda 1993: Dark color w/ some bricking; rather cedary/pencilly/oldZin strong blackberry/raspberry/Zin/bit earrhy some complex nose; lightly tart quite cedary/pencilly/oldZin strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin/very spicy light earthy flavor w/ light smooth/ripe tannins; very long/lingering rather cedary/pencilly/old Zin strong raspberry/blackberry/Zin/spicy fairly complex finish w/ light bit bitey tannins; lots of old Zin character but still plenty of Zin fruit; in great shape but not going to get better & on the downside.
  1. Kenneth-Crawford PinotNoir ClosPepeVnyd/SRH (14.5%) Buellton 2004: Dark color w/ some bricking; some toasty/smokey/oak some cedary/pencilly/oldRed slight pungent/licorice light PN/black cherry nose; fairly tart/tangy light PN/black cherry/earthy some toasty/smokey/oak rather cedary/pencilly/oldRed bit dried out tired flavor w/ light smooth bit astringent tannins; very long cedary/pencilly/oldRed slight PN/black cherry somewhat dried out/tired bit complex finish w/ light astringent/drying tannins; interesting old Pinot nose but rather tired/dried out on the palate.
  1. Drew PinotNoir McDougallVnyd/SonomaCoast (75 cs; 14.8%; http://www.DrewWines.com) Elk 2005: Very dark color w/ slight bricking; very strong black cherry/PN/cherry/bit boysenberry/cherry compote some toasty/charred/oak very fragrant/perfumed fairly complex lovely mature nose; fairly tart strong black cherry/PN/cherry compote rather toasty/smokey/Fr.oak slight Burgundian fairly complex flavor w/ light smooth tannins; very long/lingering bit tangy/tart strong spicy/black cherry/PN fairly toasty/Fr.oak/smokey complex finish w/ light smooth tannins; a lovely fully mature very interesting Calif PN w/ fully resolved tannins; ready for prime time.
  1. Melville Syrah Donna’s (EstateLotCollection; 15.9%; http://www.MelvilleWinery.com) Lompoc 2003: Med.color w/ some bricking; bit cedary/pencilly/oldRed rather toasty/charred/Fr.oak/smokey fairly strong blackberry/boysenberry/ripe Syrah/spicy slight alcoholic bit Rhonish/roasted meats quite complex nose; bit soft some hot/alcoholic strong blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah/very ripe fairly pungent/charred/Fr.oak/smokey slight Rhonish/roasted complex flavor w/ smooth soft/ripe tannins; soft ripe/lush some hot/alcoholic strong boysenberry/blackberry/ripe/Syrah strong toasty/charred/oak slight roasted/Rhonish complex finish w/ some soft/ripe/bit drying tannins; some very interesting things therein & some Rhonish character but the alcohol starting to dominate; drink up.

A wee BloodyPulpit:

  1. Melville: I was expecting this to be a totally shot alcoholic mess. The alcohol was showing but plenty of Syrah fruit left. This would have been made when GregBrewer had the winemaking chores. Chad Melville has control now.
    Tom