On Friday, I spent the day helping my good friend Ed Kurtzman bottle his 2008 August West Rosella’s Pinot Noir. Ed is amazingly generous with those that volunteer, providing lunch and wine and after some prodding, I got an August West baseball hat. Here’s some brief notes on the day’s wine"
At lunch:
2007 August West, Rosella’s Vineyard, Chardonnay
This was firing on all cylinders with notes of ripe pear, hazelnut and citrus. A little oak in the background but medium bodied, fun and lively…91-93/100
2007 Roar, Rosella’s Vineyard, Chardonnay
bigger scaled than the AW Chard and more new oak and showing a little white chocolate to go with the pear, hazelnut, oak and spice. I liked this but preferred the more pure fruit of the AW. 90-92/100
2006 AP Vin, Clos Pepe Vineyard, Pinot Noir
Unscrewed and poured. Very nice with good tannin structure, ripe red fruit, spice and vanilla. Ultimately though a little simple and I think a victim of 2006, which I am convinced now produced nice drinkable wines but not very complex wines…at least for Pinot. Still, I wouldn’t kick this wine out of bed…89-90/100
Now the run of August West Rosella’s Vineyard Pinots…opened for Traci’s friends from Houston who don’t participate on any wine boards but do buy those they like by the case…The 2006 was very good for the vintage with bing cherries and nice spiciness. Medium bodied with a nice finish this earns a 90/100 from me. The 2007 was a huge step up with more bing cherries, spice, forest floor, cola and beet root…its rich dense complex and very well balanced with everything for long term aging…94/100. The 2008, which we bottled, was a little beat up but somewhere in between the 07 and the 06. Very similar in taste and aromatics to the 07 but just a touch less complex so I would give it 92/100.
I also talked Ed into opening a couple other bottles…not hard since I asked Ed what I could open for them and he said, open whatever you want…so I opened the 2005 August West, Rosella’s Syrah. Wow. Ed’s 2005 Syrahs (both AW and his own Sandler, Connell Vyd Syrah) are firing on all cylinders. 100% whole cluster fermentation the wine is all violets, peppers, spice a little well desired green peppercorns, long finish…I hope to keep a few of these around to see how they age…93/100
And, lastly, I thought I brought home a partial sample of 08 AW Rosella’s Pinot to finish but this is the 08 Graham Family Vineyard…bottled yesterday but open for 24 hours. Typical ruby red color that Ed seems to get with every Pinot. Nose is spice, wet concrete and a little cola. The palate is rich, spicy, mineral laden and a hint of orange peel and forest floor…not quite the 05 Graham’s but very close. 92-93/100
For those who ask…Ed is a very good friend and I help at harvest and bottling from time to time. Besides that, Ed is one of the most generous/nicest guys in the wine biz…Tony - proudly wearing his AW baseball hat…thanks Ed