Five Bedrocks

WINE TALK
1

Really good run from a board darling over the past few weeks, I guess the concept of it’s all hype can be gently pushed aside. In the order enjoyed…

2008 Lauterbach Hill Syrah Ready, willing and able already. Obviously Syrah in the nose yet nobody gets hit over the head, rather a lovely perfume and elegant attack. Have a few left, thank goodness. Comfortably at home with Syrah costing twice as much.

2012 Sonoma Valley Old Vine Zinfandel WJD this if he made Zin from water? Can a Jew make this query? It’s ludicrous for the price to form any criticism but I actually liked the one I uncorked a few months ago better. Can $20/btl wine be in a phase and need some cellaring?

2009 Dolinsek Ranch Heirloom Wine Afro-American puh-leeze this is great. Opened by mistake as I stupidly thought this wine would need time but it’s delicious almost beyond measure. Red to Black fruits, balance tannins and tremendous mouthfeel. Have one!!!

2009 Kick Ranch Syrah 5% Viognier and all the better for it, entering what will be a lengthy and glorious drinking window. Ink, chocolate and plenty of tannin, don’t expect a La-La and it’s just a joy to behold. Opened this on a really tired night, Mel & I just looked at one another.

2012 Monte Rosso Zinfandel Just a baby and we sadly didn’t decant this. 6 hours sounds about right as our last glass gave a glimpse of what the bottles I have deeply cellared will present like one day. May not be the 1993 Ravenswood MR, and then maybe it will be!

Bravo you two.

2

[dance-clap.gif] We are spoiled aren’t we? Damned if I don’t have multiples of all of those on the cellar. Thanks Glenn!

3

Dude.
Feel free to keep cracking the Bedrocks and reporting the results! Awesome week, eh?

4

Well, two weeks Nate.

5

Thanks for the notes Doc! Think I will pull out one of those syrah’s for near term comsumption. Fortunately my MR’s are buried so deep I would throw out my back trying to get one [cheers.gif]

6

Nice notes Glenn. I agree the 2012 Old Vines would benefit from some cellar time. The Dolinsek is a conundrum since is has a wonderful acidity to carry it for untold years but it’s so gorgeous young too, probably the most approachable of all the Bedrock heirlooms.

I’ve been working through a cache of 1993 Swan Frati Ranch (the vineyard currently known as Dolinsek) and these are amazingly fresh and youthful and the acidity still carrying the wine. Nice to think the Bedrocks do the same, but actually I already drank all mine.

7

I have '11 and '12 Dolinsek but I have no form of self control that would allow anything older.

8

I know the feeling. The problem is that they are accessible young. I have exercised some self control with the Bedrock Heirlooms, however, and these wines reward age.

9

Thanks for the great (and funny) notes Glenn. I’m inspired to pull a couple corks.

10

Funny. I have opened very few recent vintage Bedrock reds recently because my impression was the opposite, good, but tannic, reserved, and promising more in the future. Maybe I should start tapping those '09’s.

11

Any word on what to expect from the 13’s?

12

The '13 from what I’ve tasted seem darker and more tannic than any recent vintages - excellent quality and seriously structured.

13

That’s great news indeed. I love Morgan’s stuff but on occasion I wish for a touch more structure. That being said, my cellar is stacked with Bedrock with no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

Interestingly, I’ve never heard of the Lauterbach Syrah listed in the OP. I thought I had purchased pretty much all the syrahs Morgan released. Did this come out at the same time as the 08 Kickranch? Odd I didnt pick it up [oops.gif]

14

'13 is a year of structure throughout Northern California. One of those kind of vintages.

15

Ugh, an INTL posted on page 1. Inside joke.

16

No the Lauterbach came out much, much later. It was a very small lot which got extended time in a single puncheon due to its coarse tannin. Limited release - I don’t think anybody got more than 2 bottles. Mine are long gone.