As part of our Live Zoom tasting last week featuring rhone varieties, Paul and I traded wines, and I opened all 6 of these that night prior to the broadcast. Paul had recommended that I decant each wine, but as I was hanging out in a hotel room so that I could be close to my Mom to comfort her after the passing of my father, I did not have that luxury . . . so I tasted small amounts of each that night and found all of them really enjoyable and distinct.
Fast forward to last night - a full 8 days post that event. Each bottle had been opened, perhaps 100 mLs were taken out, and then the corks were put back as tightly as possible - and the wines had been stored in the styro shipper I had received from Paul, in my living room at about 65 degrees since.
I pulled the corks and was expecting to find wines that were ‘over the hill’ but this was not the case at all. In fact, these wines were all very much alive and had developed beautifully. To me, this is a great sign for what lay ahead for each of these, and a ‘cautionary tale’ that if opened now, they probably won’t show their ‘potential’ unless they are decanted and left to open for hours.
In any event, I wanted to share these so here goes (and sorry in advance for any spelling errors):
2018 Roussanne
Honey suckle and lemon verbena on the nose, opening up with some earthy butterscotch as well. It’s picked up more weight in the mouth, showing unexpected richness for the low alcohol level that this is, plus some wonderful acidity and a wonderful fresh lemon quality. Unbelievable for being open for 8 days . . .
2018 Grenache
This has really blossomed since opening, meaning that it is still so darned young. Bright fruit with a touch of herbaceousness, some pepper, and a touch of orange rind as well. No heat whatsoever – and great texture, too. If you are able to get your hands on this, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed – but I’d either sit on it for awhile or open it up and enjoy it over a really long evening . . .
2018 Mourvedre
Plum and cranberry and white pepper aromatics with a touch of oak; medium bodied with noticeable tannins and nice firm acidity as well. More fruit than funk at this point – but would be interested in laying this down for awhile to see where it goes.
2018 Esquito
High toned aromatics that speak of Grenache first, with some bright raspberry and cherry, white pepper and herbs de provence and a touch of black tea, with more structure than the Grenache, with a longer finish, most likely from the syrah. A wonderful blend that will only improve with age.
2018 Alturas
Dark cherry and pepper, a touch of kirsch, a touch of school glue (not a bad thing, by the way); good fruit intensity, great refreshing acidity and some gritty tannins; still quite young with a very long life ahead for those with the patience to let these sit
2018 Elevacion
More blue fruited than the Alturas, with noticeable pepper and a touch of anise and a some black tea, too; great intensity and a ramp up in structure that the Alturas.
In closing, buy with confidence . . .
Cheers!
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