TN: A Picpoul & Two Zins...(short/boring)

WINE TALK
1

Tried these three last night:

  1. Forlorn-Hope Picpoul RorickVnyd/CalaverasCnty (12.27%) Murphys 2014: Med.gold color; strong appley/pear bit herbal/grassy/SauvBlanc-like slight earthy bit new mown hay/Kansas hayloft interesting nose; quite tart/tangy/bit steely rather apple/pear/herbal/grassy/haymow some earthy/chalky/mineral little fruit flavor; med.long quite tart/tangy/metallic light apple/pear rather mineral/stony/chalky slight herbal/grassy rather lean finish; rather a lip-stinger true to its name; a rather lean/mineral/steely white w/ little fruit that offers up little in the way of joy.
  1. Arnot-Roberts Zin KirschenmannVnyd/MokelumneRiver/Lodi (13.5%; 3 brls) Healdsburg 2019: Med.light color; strong earthy/loamy/Lodi/mushroomy very light raspberry/Zin bit emaciated nose; quite tart/tangy/lean bit prickly light raspberry/Zin/slight spicy some earthy/Lodi/loamy/mushroomy bit dusty/OV rather lean/thin/eviscerated/spare flavor w/ light tangy tannins; med.short quite lean/tart/tangy/emaciated light raspberry/Zin some earthy/Lodi/loamy/mushroomy finish w/ light tannins; a mean little Zin that speaks mostly of Lodi Zin in a high-pitched/whiney voice; an ugly little Zin true to the A-R spare/lean style; offers up little pleasure.

And desperate for something good, I cracked:
3. Lagier-Meredith Tribidrag MtVeeder/NapaVlly RW (15.3%) 2013: Quite dark color w/ no bricking; very strong Zin/blackberry/boysenberry/licorice very classic MtVeeder spicy/peppery light pencilly/toasty/Fr.oak fairly complex beautiful peppery/Zin nose; quite tart/tangy quite rich/structured very strong MtVeeder spicy/peppery/blackberry/boysenberry/Zin some toasty/Fr.oak rather wirey/crunchy fairly complex lovely flavor w/ ample brisk tannins; very long/lingering very strong Zin/blackberry/boysenberry/licorice quite MtVeeder/peppery/very spicy quite structured/chewey some toasty/Fr.oak complex finish w/ ample tannins; starting to show a bit of evolution but quite structured that belies the 15.3 alcohol; still needs age to resolve the tannins; seems a bit awkward/angular right now but packed w/ flavor & aromatics; reminds a bit of MikeBernstein’s MtVeederWnry Zins but more structure but same peppery spiciness; a Zin built for the long haul.

A wee BloodyPulpit:

  1. Arnot-Roberts: This Zin was not a bad wine, but in a style that does not at all work w/ Zin. I’m about to give up on the A-R reds. The whites work a lot better w/ this style.
    Tom
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Nice notes Tom. Those Lagier-Meredith ‘Tribidrags’ are something. ‘Belies the alcohol’ is right - I’ve never had any hint on the palate that these are 15%+ wines.

3

I’m with you on the A-R reds - just too lean and mean for me. Also agree with the 2013 structure comment - I am working my way through the rest of my 2013’s and really wonder if they will ever come around - even if held for several more years. I always question why these structured vintages garner such high praise, but that is just me. Cheers!

4

Tom, you need to try the Highlawn Picpoul. Seriously. Imagine the grape made in the style of a great Chablis.

Tiny label from a techie wine geek, who interned with Abe Schoener, Scott Shapley and Ed Kurtzman. Makes wines at Ed’s place. No market presence because his wine sells out to a close circle, maybe 2 barrels per wines. Rorick Albarino, Halcon Syrah, Theopolis PS, Poor Ranch Zin, this Terra Alta (Bokisch) Picpoul.

5

I also agree on that A-R. The 2017 was simply awful. It’s too bad I have a second bottle.

6

Maitre de Chai Stampede Vineyard Zin from Lodi is perhaps the faith-restorer to all your A-R Zin let-downs. A fantastic wine.

Speaking fo A-R, I had their Trousseau the other day and wasn’t feeling it either, but I did have a very nice Syrah from them. I just got on their list, so will explore a little further. Never popped any of the whites yet.