Wow. I have a small number of bottles of the 2021 and 2022 that I’ll have to check in on soon, but unfortunately I didn’t grab any 2023.
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We just popped the 23 P-H Bracken Pinot on Sunday and it was similarly excellent
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As mentioned in another thread, I am drinking a 2019 Arabilis Willamette Valley PN tonight and am quite impressed with it. It was a bit firm on opening at cellar temp, but it is opening up and showing off now. It still has a dark, loamy profile, but red fruit (cherry/raspberry) and floral notes are emerging as the wine gets more air. I think this wine has years in the tank, but it is plenty of fun now.
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We’re having one too! Interesting forest/earthy/piney note in the mid-palate. Enjoyable.
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My first foray into my BD17 purchases. The way my week has been going so far, I might be putting up a few more notes soon!
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Consumed two from a mixed case of Maitre de Chai. 2024 Chenin Blanc is pleasant. Typically skeptical of dry California wines below 12%, as one screechy Chardonnay is one two many, but this is a complete wine that would be a great accompaniment to food as the weather warms. I prefer more fruit/heft in my chenin, but this is a nice drink. Similar to the various Sandlands chenins I’ve had.
2023 Sauvignon Blanc Reserve is much more in my wheelhouse. Label says 18 days on the skins and 21 months in barrel but nothing orange or oaky here. Creamy, classy and very appealing. Really fun to drink CA SB.
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Thanks @Brad_S_w_a_l_l_o_w and @JoeL13! That 2019 PN is singing. Love the character and the tone of 2019.
- Native fermentation
- Pumpover only
- Just over 40% whole cluster
- Backbone is Sojeau, but 92% Eola-Amity Hills
- 17 months in lightly used puncheon (basically neutral)
- Unfined / unfiltered - it’s throwing some sediment these days
2024 Firmin Dezat Sancerre c/o @Jason_L
Really expressive on the nose with grapefruit, basil, crunchy pineapple & white pepper. Already more textural than the Pouilly-Fumé was at first pour. Perfect interplay of acidity and bright tropical & citrus fruit. Crisp finish that fans out, though it could use to elongate some. Very good & looking like quite the value play
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2023 William Lane Wine Company Frappato Nero d’Avola
I’m on night two with this one. I’m not at all familiar with Sicilian wine so their focus on those varietals in California seemed worth exploring (the labels are also awesome TBH). Light in body and color, 11.9% ABV. The nose yesterday was almost like cola gummy candies, with a bunch of red fruit. On PNP was a bit too sharp but only needed 10-15 minutes to calm down. Inverse mullet with a fun balance between brightness up front and tannin on the back end. Feels like it gained some weight overnight, and that an hour in the decanter is probably the sweet spot right now. Getting raspberry now versus cherries yesterday. Nice wine and looking forward to trying out the rest.
Sidenote: I don’t think Fine Disregard has done BD for a bit, but had their Chenin Blanc again a few nights ago and damn is that a winner.
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Championship Bottle
2023 History Ablaze Rose
A more serious Rosé, a little more on the savory side albeit I didn’t get a great read on it because I think I served it too cold.
@Saul_Mutchnick spring release is currently open. 4 whites and 2 rose’s. He makes some fun wines at seriously great prices. With warmer weather Inbound I’d recommend reaching out and giving some championship bottles wines a try!
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2024 Paper Planes Rosé of Pinot Noir. BOOM!!!
From the label: “Rosé isn’t an afterthought – it’s our only thought.” Them’s some big words:
Well, they backed them up. That said, if you went to your cellar looking for a Rosé and not, per se, a Paper Planes Rosé, you would skip past this because, well, it’s not pink. It looks for all the world like a pale, straw-colored white. Maybe there is a pink tint, I tell myself as I swirl the glass. Maybe.
Anyway, it’s a Rosé to be taken seriously. Big dose of white peach with some lime and saline notes. This is no wimpy Rosé – it is mouth-coating and long, but it’s still light on its feet. Far from an afterthought, it is a fun and engaging wine. And you don’t have to wait until it’s hot outside to enjoy it (good thing since I live in Maryland, where apparently it never will be warm again).
So, @LauraGabriel , this is killer Rosé, and I am glad there was another one in that Roundtrip Ticket case you sent me. But those other 10 bottles – you must think about something other than Rosé at least some of the time!
PS: I love the Newbies aspect of BD!
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Thanks for all the kind words! The History Ablaze definitely shows better a bit warmer and/or with some air. The '23 has been one of the wines of ours that we’ve opened the most in the last 6 months or so, as it tends to pair with just about everything. I suspect the wine will really peak in a few years–though I get that aging rosé isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
Just had the the 2016 version a few nights ago.
Nice bright fruit, had a little oak note I wonder if this saw some new wood and if so how much. Very nice overall-might hold off on my other bottles a few years
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This morning, I opened two PNW sparklers from BD 17 to sip with Sunday brunch: Flaneur Extra Brut Chehalem Mountains Willamette Valley 2021 and Grosgrain Blanc de Noirs Alderbanks Vineyard Walla Walla Valley 2021. I was quite favorably impressed with both.
As a side note, I was charmed by the turtle logo on the Flaneur’s capsule 
.
Yeah I opened this last year with @Matt_England and I think we were in agreement that it was pre-peak.
Schone Tal Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir Hirschy Vineyard OR
Pop and pour. Nose: sweet red cherry, floral, some nice asian spice notes. Taste: red cherry, raspberry, red licorice(?) with some crispy acidity. Light bodied and elegant. Very nice and good pairing with cedar-planked salmon.
After the disappointing 2017, this was quite nice. I will drink my other bottle soon while it is in this nice spot.
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Yea it was still very primary. That was also my first try of that producer and if blinded I would have guessed California
I opened the 2019 and coravined it by myself as my Sunday night chill down drink.
Like others, it took about 2-3 minutes in a wider glass to fully become involved. At first sip, it was acidic and had fruit. Luckily life (laundry) got in the way so it sat a few minutes. It’s got a lovely cherry base but the tea/oak thing on the end is just so fantastic. It’s almost dark and brooding in the best way. I noted the sediment floating around when I was messing with it..
My gf is sick and asked to live through me, I can’t wait to share this with her. My friend, this is a fantastic wine. Thank you.
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From a few BD’s ago, first mag I tried I didn’t like I thought it was a bit to tropical and not enough acid? Must have been a root day lol. This one still had a bit of tropical fruit but bright acid and a lot of oyster shell and sea spray, very nice!
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@NMarusiak89 - Nickolas thank you!! Can’t wait for you to share with your gf.
How was it on the second day in the Coravin? And yes, our Pinots are unfined / unfiltered. The 2019 is sure throwing sediment. I’ve been recommending the @Jorywinekit. Check it out - How it works – Jory.