Got together with some of the usual suspects last night for an eclectic mix of bottles. No theme, we all just showed up with bottles. Still 95 degrees here everyday, perhaps that influenced the number of whites that showed up. Several blind wines, always fun.
A good night, some excellent bottles. Thanks, guys.
Once again, I scribbled some notes on my phone from comments I heard around the table.
Brad brought the wine revelation of the year in a wine from two hours up the road in Clayton, GA in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Best GA wine I’ve ever tasted.
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2006 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Louis Brut Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne
This was really terrific with apple pie, lemon, creamy mouthfeel. A richness to the fruit (reminded of '06 Comtes). Becomes bready (yeasty) and heady with some air. Very good showing. -
2011 Edmunds St. John Heart of Gold - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, El Dorado County
This was uncharacteristically uninteresting for a Steve Edmunds wine and it seemed tired out like its best days had passed. Wasn’t really off, just never came into anything other than seeming waxy slightly oxidative. -
2007 Schäfer-Fröhlich Bockenauer Felseneck Riesling Großes Gewächs - Germany, Nahe
Yow. Intensity. Fresh nose that is more earthy, not entirely riesling-like with a grassy and herbal thing, some peach. Really powerful, I noted the extract that just lingers on the palate. Chewy. Long…Will probably outlive us all. -
1995 Kalin Cellars Chardonnay Cuvée W - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Livermore Valley
What to say about these 90s Kalins? Another great bottle. Amazing concentration still. Slightly oxidative, but there is an acidity that adds freshness. Brown butter and butterscotch notes, some hints of bitters and honeyed flavors. Becomes more honeyed with air. Really interesting. Very good. -
2017 Noble Wine Cellar Petit Manseng - USA, Georgia
Revelation of the Year! Thanks Brad! The best Georgia (state) wine I have ever tasted! Blind it was called old world. Almost Sauv blanc-like. Highly aromatic, peach and apricot and a really lively acidic spine. Crisp and fresh, almost seems it can age a bit and stretch its legs. Highly drinkable and one to follow. From vineyard in NC, bottled in Clayton, GA.
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2005 Edmunds St. John Syrah Bassetti Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, San Luis Obispo County
Terrific northern Rhone-like nose that is meaty and peppery, slightly funky. Palate was rather tight, like the wine had closed down hard, or was just in an awkward phase. A+ nose. Not sure after that. Having many of Steve’s Syrahs over the years, was expecting more, and this was not a great showing. Others liked it more than I did. Maybe its me. -
2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Awesome Rayas sauce. Garrigue and pepper. Kirsch. Super duper sexy. Palate is like silk. Long. Burgundian. Intense presence without weight. Elegant. Still youthful, the palate hasn’t totally fleshed out. Love it.
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