A few recent stand out wines!

WINE TALK
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  • 2004 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (3/21/2020)
    My last of 3 btls. This terroir driven wine screams the rocky, brushy terrain of the southern Rhone. First taste were a little lean and tight so slow oxed in glass and btl for 3 hours. Drank from Riedel Burg glasses. Mature ruby red with 1/2" of bricking on sides. I love the big nose with tons of garrigue, hint of leather, a little funk & red fruit. The garrique carries over to the red fruited palate as does the leather element. There is compelling complexity that keeps you guessing and intrigued to the last drop. A great pairing with Bison burgers. or just fun to smell and sip stand alone after an hour or 3 of slow ox air. Throwing a lot of sediment so pour carefully! Or, decant. 14% alc. Fully mature, I’d drink up within 3 years. Defiantly old school and one of only 2or 3 CDPs I still enjoy. There are likely other small, under the radar, producers in CDP I’m unaware of who might travel in the same direction. Too many are too over the top today for my liking. (94 pts.)
  • 2017 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills (3/20/2020)
    Wow, not what I expected from a potentially rainy, cooler off vintage in Oregon! This is what Dujac CDL & CSD taste like if you could buy them for $67 instead of $600. Seriously, this is very reminiscent of 99,02 and other vintages I have had of the two big guns from Dujac. Darker, still semi translucent, ruby red color. Uber pure, ripe, rich raspberry with just a hint of early damp forest floor notes on an energetic and fresh frame not unlike… Burgundy. I opened this 2 hours prior to dinner and slow oxed in glass and btl. Stellar as always from the unassuming hermit, John Thomas! Well done, thank you John! 13.2% alc. 94pts+ Holding back my score only because this likely gets even better with 3 -10 years more. (94 pts.)
  • 2016 Avinyó Cava Brut Reserva - Spain, Cava (3/13/2020)
    This caught my attention at a restaurant in Maui so I grabbed one locally to make sure it wasn’t just the ocean sunset exciting me. Luminous straw gold color. Lively aromas of citrus & rocks. The palate picks up a notable seemingly limestone infused minerality with a range of citrus, stone fruit and bread dough. This is heads and shoulders more interesting than most Cava. Best Cava I’ve had. Will hunt for more :slight_smile:. Nice value at $17 too. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

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Agree on the 2004 Pegau. Unfortunately it was so good even early on I finished my case a few years ago.

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That’s a pretty glowing review. Glad, I went long.

RT

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Not sure that 2017 would actually be a rainy cooler vintage though. We saw a wee bit of weather, but every forecast for .75” turned into a spattering. As the vintage wore on sugars spiked and the later 2017 picks were riper than normal.

John Thomas is definitely one of the best at picking his fruit at the correct time, and I would guess his 2017 would be tremendous.

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Love “off-vintages” in OR. flirtysmile Just can’t help it. No use fighting it.

RT

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Wait til the 19s hit, Rich. If social distancing permits, I’m backing the truck up.

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Great notes. Pegau and Thomas are two of my favorites from a style perspective. Both age very nicely as well. Was the Cava sourced localy?

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Nice notes. I’ve got three of the Pegau, and have not ever tried it. A couple of those bottles will have your name on them!