I thought I should add to this thread so I pulled a fun bottle last night…
2016 Briceland Vineyards Zinfandel Ishi Pishi Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (8/25/2024)
I came across this rummaging through my cellar and damn if it isn't hitting on all cylinders. Crunch red fruits, a hint of herbs, light earthiness, a hint if vanilla, and refined tannins. Acidity is high/body is low+ for a Zin, resulting in a wine that drinks like a Pinot. Still, it's unmistakably Zin. Super delicious. (94 points)
I think I’ve had every vintage of Zin that @Andrew_Morris has made from this vineyard, and this has been a consistent favorite. Really nice stuff.
So good that during these hot summer months I fight a daily war with myself to show some restraint and not drink my entire haul. @Adam_Frisch worked wonders with this one.
I just had a 2021 Walter Scott Freedom Hill Vineyard pinot last night. Freaking delicious! It was my first WS wine and already I’m a convert. So glad to have taken a flyer on their BD offer.
Also have to echo the praise for Apollo’s Praise. In particular the rieslings and the dry rosé were outstandingly good. @Kelby_James_Russell knocked it out of the park and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Grabbed a couple recently. The Vincent was in a really nice place but no reason to rush to drink (other than it tastes really good). I liked the Sabelli-Frisch a bit more than it might appear from my note, but it’s not necessarily what I want from Syrah.
2017 Vincent Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge (9/2/2024)
No detailed notes as I was too busy enjoying this...crunchy red fruits and flowers with high- acidity and light+ body. Drinking well and goes down easy. 13.2%abv. (91 points)
2019 Sabelli-Frisch Syrah Harris Knowles Vineyard - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi Mokelumne River (9/2/2024)
Quite interesting, at once jammy and restrained. Unmistakably Syrah, the vanilla throws me off a bit but it sort of works in a berries and cream kind of way. Enjoyable, but I wouldn't rush back for more. 13.3%abv.
Thanks for the kind words! We still can’t get over all the BD15 love we received, and are thrilled people have enjoyed the first wines to trickle out.
I type this, meanwhile, as I painstakingly slowly pack up boxes with the second set of BD15 wines for everyone And these are the big gun wines, including the Lovejoy Knoll Blend that not even our own Wine Club knows exists. (Not that the first releases were small peanuts, the Dry Riesling in particular I think punches way above it’s weight.)
Yes, that first year was 6 months in 100% American oak, which turned out to be a bit much (although it has resolved nicely over time). Subsequent vintages have not had any oak on them.
I use oak sparingly, but when I use it I only use American oak for philosophical, environmental, sensory and historical reasons.
These were winners, especially the Albariño. On the list for repurchase next BD if they are on offer.
From CT reviews:
2021 Retford-Wetle Albariño:
Reticent aromas upon opening — made me think at first that this would be an ok Albariño, pleasant and inoffensive. How wrong is that? As low key as the scent is, the taste is surprisingly complex and dense. I don’t have a lot of Albariño in my life but…this is the best one I can ever remember having. Nectarine, lemon curd, thyme(? - some herb I can’t quite pin down now), a beautiful salinity in the middle and an intriguing almond edge to the finish. Terrific length, high but balanced acidity, just shockingly good.
Score : 93, highest Albariño score I can ever recall.
Relative to expectations: +++
I forgot to add in the CT review that this wine has a great waxy/lanolin palate weight to it that just adds to the surprises.
2021 Retford-Wetle Pinot Noir:
The exact opposite of Tekstura’s Albariño, which we tasted the same evening: here the palate was a little straightforward compared to the intense dark cherry, wild florals and light spice of the bouquet. The taste is fruit forward but this is not overextracted — just young. Frankly it’s so intense that I have no idea how or if it will age. Right now it’s like being at a rock concert, hard to pick out individual elements for the overall wall of sound coming at you.
Score: 92+. Relative to expectations: at least a +
Another of @Jim_Anderson great BD deals. The last few CT notes on this were concerning, so I wanted to check in. No worries as this bottle was in a great place. Pretty floral, sweet cherry, earthy/sois bois aromas with red cherry, raspberry fruit well integrated with the mild tannin. All that a wine should be - delicious and so much fun to drink! Might have to drink my last bottles sooner than later to enjoy the beautiful fruit.
Don’t know the notes. We’re not much of a CT winery for probably a lot of reasons. I haven’t had the 15 MS in some time but I would suspect that almost any of our 15s are still somewhat young and that wine, with its bones and infrastructure, should be just fine.
My Apollo’s Praise shipment arrived last week. I opened the 2023 Lovejoy a dry white blend of Gruner, Chardonnay and Riesling from New York’s Finger Lakes region. This was a special bottling that Kelby and Julia offered on Berserker Day 2024. Fresh and crisp, very delicious. Nice work!!
And these are the big gun wines, including the Lovejoy Knoll Blend that not even our own Wine Club knows exists. (Not that the first releases were small peanuts, the Dry Riesling in particular I think punches way above it’s weight.)
