The Post IPNC Thrdowdown was educational as always. Thanks again to Elk Cove for tasting. Such a beautiful location in the mountains. Made me feel like I was at home in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
We certainly had a plethora of pre-wines. Jim Maresh sent us home with case of Arterberry Maresh and Tan Fruit so we brought them to the throwdown to share along with some of @RobB’s wines and some left over 30 year+ Dehlinger Pinot Noirs.
The 2013 Walter Scott chardonnay was showing well. The reduction and acid had integrated and come into balance with the fruit leaving elegant and complex wine. Nice job.
Of the Younger white wines, I admired the intensity and linearity of the Morgen Long X-Omni, Maresh Dux Vineyard and the Sandar and Hem Bruzzone (SCM Wine). I loved the floral nose on the Violin and the Tan Fruit White Oak Grove (strong orange nose).
Really the only wine that I thought was out of balance was the Aligote. Just too much reduction at this point in its evolution. I love reduction on white wines but for me, this was overdone and needed time to integrate. Awesome pre-wines all around.
Flight 1:
I preferred the PGC Berserker Cuvee. It was the most elegant and least concreated of the bunch. The tannins were well-integrated. Usually good at picking younger PGC out of a lineup but I would have not guessed PGC on this.
Runner up. Violin Sunny Mountain - It was ripe and luscious with good earth and a long finish with firm tannins.
Flight 2:
Lenne Le Nez - It was the most elegant of the bunch. It smelled old and stewed at first but transformed in glass with a beautiful nose of cherry, cedar and spice with a lightweight framework on the palate and nice finish. I am not familiar with this producer at all.
Flight 3:
The Eyrie Outcrop. Had a nice hint of reduction and age on the nose. Lighter on the palate with a med long finish.
Flight 4:
Two wines on this flight spoke strongly with me, and I will give them a Tie for WOTD.
Cameron - Abbey Ridge. The most easily identifiable wine of the tasting. Starts out with the Cameron funk and some reduction, along with rich red fruit. The funk and reduction were balanced and created a wine with great complexity on the nose and the palate. Loved it!
PGC - Durant . It might have been the lightest in concentration and the most elegant of the day. It had a complex nose and palate without weight. Ringer for Burgundy. Again, Would not have guessed P
GC at all on this, but what a wine. Great Wine @Jim_Anderson!
Flight 5: Palate fatigue setting in.
Clear winner, though for me, was the Walter Scott Temperance Hill. It had lovely fruit, great framing acid, and a long finish. 3rd place for WOTD.
Flight 6:
Several of the wines here were stylistically too concentrated and hot for my palate. My palate was fatigued by then so not as strong a feeling here.
Favorite: Goodfellow Whistling Ridge - I did not think this was a Goodfellow as it was quite fruity without the level of underlying acid I typically get with Goodfellow, but in hindsight, the firm tannins were a clue. Not overly complex, but good fruit and a very long finish. The Art & Science was my runner-up but again, palate fatigue at this point.
Overall I enjoyed the 13’s. Not my favorite vintage but far better than 15. Most of the wines were very enjoyable, but some were too ripe, concentrated and hot for my palate. A very educational tasting overall. Thanks to Steven and all the other locals that made us feel welcome at this event.
Sean