Lots Of Copain TNs: Offline @ Fratello's In The South OC

WINE TALK
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COPAIN OFFLINE @ FRATELLO’S IN THE SOUTH OC - Fratello’s Laguna Niguel (12/23/2009)

A reason for the season…well, not the reason but more of an excuse on a cold OC night to get together and do Fratellos. The theme was only Copain, a mix of old and new to check in on style.

As for the flights, not really a flighted event but easier to arrange the wines for display by using this format and in truth, the order we passed the wines very much followed the line up below
Ridge

  • 1984 Ridge Geyserville - USA, California, Sonoma County
    This was the kick off to the Copain dinner. Man, for 25 years old, still fresh. If bagged and served blind, then asked to guess vintage, I would have never got close to offering a vintage guess of this age. Fresh nose, even a bit of cobbler. Strawberry fruit, hints of herb and maybe some sigar leaf but the latter in the background. Very nice and fresh–bravo.

Copain White and Pinot
With the smaller group, we just could not feature everything so unfortunately, no Kiser, Hacienda Secoya or the like made it into the dinner.

  • 2005 Copain Roussanne James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    Nutty flavor with lemon peel and a pineapple note. Not sweet but also more fleshy with a waxy edge.
  • 2006 Copain Pinot Noir Tous Ensemble - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Mixes ripeness with also some of the newer Copain style. The ripe part is shown in the palate where candied red apple, strawberry and even some black cherry mix. But, some minerality also shows, just not to the degree of some of the other Copain pinots that really express site and tension. More of an up front drinker.
  • 2006 Copain Pinot Noir Wentzel Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Zesty is what I noted on the wine. Lots of verve with tart raspberry and a finish that was full of red apple skin notes. Very nice. BTW, did not get much of a decant.

Copain Syrahs
A good mix of 2007s, judged against some of the 2006s.

  • 2000 Copain Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
    This was just vintage removed from the first EPR vintage of 1999. Lavender notes on the bouquet, some creamy raspberry notes, earth, mixed against some green flavor and perhaps some austerity on the finish. Not bad but at this age, I thought the wine would be a bit more seamless and together. Likely needs some more time–drank pop and pour.
  • 2005 Copain Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
    Menthol and stem aromatic. Meaty. Ripe blueberry mixes with some green stemmy notes, with some mocha. The stem and fruit is colliding here so this will need some more time to let the two complement each other.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
    Flowery nose, sweet lavender and really expressive and fragrant. Blue fruit, minerality/rocks and tannin. As opposed to the 2005 EPR which we tasted alongside this 2007, the latter shows the flavors well married and complementing each other. I love the minerality that carries the finish–great showing and another testament to the 2007 Copains.
  • 2005 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    Some stems, hint of pepper too, on the bouquet. The palate is just smooth and balanced, with a mixture of the Thompson blue and black fruit. Stil some stems showing in the wine with a youthful finish. This wine will IMO settle in for a nice balanced life so drink in 2010 and it will go more after that.
  • 2006 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    In viewing the recent set of CT notes as I post, I would have to agree with the comments about “primary” and even the one about heat. Even my own note from earlier this year was not as enthusastic as I often am when I open Copain. This 2006 is a bit disappointing, which was arrayed in the same dinner with the 2005 and 2007 Thompsons. This 2006 shows as one dimensional, lacking complexity, with some heat. Coffee and blueberry, and a maple note. Just lacks the Copain elegance. I have 2 left in the cellar and plan to open another one in the next couple months to re-rest the note here.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    My 3rd bottle this year, and as of right now, I own all the TNs in CT so these are certainly early impressions within the community. As with the bottle 2 weeks ago, this 2007 is humming. Broken rocks in the bouquet, even and balanced on the palate with black fruit, minerals and a purity like I found when I first tried it this past June with Wells @ the winery. It does add weight as the wine warms but it holds together and drinks like Thompson should, but with the added touch of Wells to add the structure and complexity. Excellent.
  • 2006 Copain Syrah Madder Lake - USA, California, North Coast, Lake County
    Soft and easy drinking was this experience. Smooth palate, with olive, white flower and a fleshy riper edged raspberry.
  • 2006 Copain Syrah Spirit Rock Alder Springs Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Stone fruit pit on the nose with a bouquet, expressive like the 2007 Copain EPR. Iron, black fruit, and steely yet married with a moderate level of ripeness. Unlike the 2006 Thompson that showed as out of snych, this 2006 Spirit Rock is excellent and impressed me a lot. The screwed up part is I don’t own this bottling–not sure how that happened but this 2006 is terrific.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    This wine shows its origin–it’s big and full of flavor and depth, and as much as this wine carries its weight, there is no heat in or around it. Rseolved and opulent with bittersweet and espresso flavor and of the 2007s, this was IMO the most ready to go.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah Hawks Butte Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
    Was eager to retry this wine, as I have high respect for this veinyeard and how Wells makes it always sing. As with June, my notes from last night say “pure”. Olive, iron and menthol with earth and dark fruit, finishes with a liquid minerality and crushed rocks. Excellent. Listed alcohol of 13.4%. Someone take me to task that this isn’t high class syrah. I’ll buy another 3 more if it pops up.

Rob Breaks Out The RM

  • 2007 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    As we wrapped up the Copain wines, we eyed Rob’s RM Cab, which Frenchenstein had just traded to Rob for Copain to use in the dinner. Out with the cork. As I tasted this wine, which was pop and pour, I do not recall the wine I tasted in June showing this much oak: coffee, mocha and that new oak scent of cologne. The fruit was cherries and milk chocolate, like a Hershey’s Bar with fruit. This wine will need some time for the new oak to fade and I won’t touch my other bottle until 2011. Clearly CA in style and new world all the way.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Phillip-- [welldone.gif] . Support the varietal and the guys making it. [berserker.gif]

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FMIII,

Kudos on pulling off this tasting on such short notice! Wish I still lived in the OC - would have loved to be there!

I’m diggning the sounds of the 07’s - hoping that one or two of these might be around at pre-falltacular?!?!?!? Wouild love to try that 07 Thompson - and give it a test drive vs. mine to compare/contrast!!!

Thanks again . . . and Happy Holidays to you and the rest of the die hard OC crew!!!

Cheers!

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Frankie,

Lots of syrah love in the OC last night!

Happy Holidays my friend…

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IMPROMPTU COPAINS AT FRATELLO’S - Fratello’s San Clemente (12/23/2009)

Starters
Ridge wines age so well including the Zins which supposedly don’t.

  • 1984 Ridge Geyserville - USA, California, Sonoma County
    Bright brambly nose smelling much of Zinberry. Very bright on the palate, clean and lean with powerful acidity behind cherry fruits. Very good and showing more clearly like a Zin than other aged examples have to me. Not just holding up but doing very well. Very good.
  • 2005 Copain Roussanne James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    Nose shows pineapple and tropical candies, also a touch of caramel. Richer on the palate and rounder fruited than I remember these wines typically being. Have liked other vintages of this much better.

Pinots
Was hoping to have more Pinots to check out the style shift more but both of these showed good balance and nice fruit without being thick.

  • 2006 Copain Pinot Noir Tous Ensemble - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Spicy nose. Rich cranberry expression and much bigger than I remember but no fruit bomb. Plenty of tannin here behind generous fruit.
  • 2006 Copain Pinot Noir Wentzel Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Rich and dark nose early on that brought out some cherry candy, apples and citrus later on. Bit chunky with rich fruit up front and good acidity behind. Becomes clean and sharp in the glass. Good pieces here that need a couple more years in the bottle.

Syrahs
The 07’s showed a lot of balance even though they were babies. Plenty of fruit but good complexity and length.

  • 2000 Copain Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
    A tale of two wines with the nose holding a lot of promise but the palate coming up short. Complex seamless nose showing peppery rubber and meaty notes. Soft palate that falls off in the middle with heat late. Good to try one from the earlier vintages but looks like it was part of the learning process.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
    Nose of tar and thick berries. Primary with tons of tannin but shows a nice even line from start to finish. Stoney notes coming out later on. Holds very good potential but a thick rich baby right now. I liked the mineral type of note coming out later.
  • 2005 Copain Syrah Eaglepoint Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
    Nose shows pepper, tar and stems. On the round side showing more stem notes and astringent tannins. I would say leave this be for the time being or give it a long decant. Basically was a pop n pour.
  • 2005 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    Strong stem notes on the nose showing asparagus aromas. A touch of sweetness but complete, well balanced and complex. A touch of heat and plenty of tannin still. One of my favorite Copains. I believe this was decanted though it seems to want more bottle time to me.
  • 2006 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    Ripe fat nose with a good bit of rubber. Very short, thick and fat with rubber flavors.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
    Rich yet tight nose with a coffee note. Wide and juicy, balanced with a big finish. Dark, primary and mouth coating with lots of red berries and late acting tannin. A bit of a clumsy kid with loads of potential. Very promising. I like what Wells does with this vineyard.
  • 2006 Copain Syrah Madder Lake - USA, California, North Coast, Lake County
    Ripe baked fruits on the nose. Juicy soft full and even. A nice even wine but not very notable on the night.
  • 2006 Copain Syrah Spirit Rock Alder Springs Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
    Woody nose showing slightly baked fruit and tire rubber. Dark berries with greenish astringent tannin.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    Ripe big berry nose with a touch of tar and heat. Great concentration with a saucy quality that lingers on the palate. Late acting tannin. I liked this for a more forward styled Cali Syrah. Yummy, lively and tasty. The concentrated core of fruit tells me it will get better over the next few years.
  • 2007 Copain Syrah Hawks Butte Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
    Darkly fruited nose with some mineral notes. Clean, even and focused with very good concentration and very tannic. This needs time but should appeal to a wide audience covering those with a more old world palate.

Bonus

  • 2007 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
    Nose of coffee and chocolate. Big sweet rich palate, plush and thick. Not my kinda Cab but I know plenty dig these.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Another great evening, and confirmation that what Frankie said is indeed true - there IS a change in style from '05 to '06 and '07, and the '07 Copains, as a whole, are quite fantastic.

I don’t have specific notes on each wine, but I do recall my favorites, as it was a clear race for me. The Roussanne was quite nice, but I’m guessing not the best vintage of it - from what I’ve tasted of all '07’s, I bet the '07 Roussanne was killer. The fruit was a bit tired to me, but still enjoyable.

As I said, the '07’s were the CLEAR winners for me, and of those, my favorites of the evening were the '07 Thompson, the ‘07 James Berry (Cris’ description is dead on), and the '07 Hawks Butte. The JB was quite concentrated, as one might expect, but so well balanced.

I was also a huge fan of the '06 Alder Springs ‘Spirit Rock’ - I’m going to be sure to get some '07 Spirit Rock when it becomes available, as the shortcomings I experienced with the '06’s as a whole (flat midpalate, NO finish) were not at all present on this wine. I would differ with Cris on it in his review, and while it was not the top wine for me (the '07’s were too good, and way young, but so much potential) this was a close runner for me. I felt it was very well structured, and a unique fruit profile.

Jason, Fu, and Dietz would be happy to know that I brought two FULL bottles (unopened!) of wine to the event…

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Way cool. [welldone.gif]

Great to have these notes on Copain.
Love old Ridge wines too.

Happy Holidays to all!

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sounds like a pillow!

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As I said on the other board in a similar post, those who maintain syrah is dead or that the varietal is gloppy, tired or over-extracted and high in alcohol, then they need to shut down their rant and go taste the 2007 Copains. After finishing some work this morning, I retrieved the bottles from last night’s dinner that I took back home with me–the Hawks Butte, Thompson and James Berry, all 2007. These wines are outstanding. And, one measure of a wine’s quality and pedigree for me is the wine’s ability to hold its attraction and draw over time. Given that I tried these wines just this past June, and spoke highly of them, it’s a fair test to run to see if they maintain their esteem–they did. As much as I spoke highly of them in June, so to again, having retasted these three below just now. Make your own decisions on what you drink, what CA syrah means to you, but these wines below are true class and speak to not only the vintage but what skill Wells has with syrah and where he is heading. Todd’s comments on the 2007s are spot on and I just wish we could have done all the 2007s last night, specifically the pinots. So, to the updated syrah TNs…

2007 Copain Syrah Hawks Butte Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands (12/23/2009)
Copain Offline @ Fratello’s In The South OC (Fratello’s Laguna Niguel): Was eager to retry this wine, as I have high respect for this veinyeard and how Wells makes it always sing. As with June, my notes from last night say “pure”. Olive, iron and menthol with earth and dark fruit, finishes with a liquid minerality and crushed rocks. Excellent. Listed alcohol of 13.4%. Someone take me to task that this isn’t high class syrah. I’ll buy another 3 more if it pops up…and as a follow-up with the bottle fully decanted, this wine is about subtlety, balance and restraint. There is no fruit sticking out but instead, you’ll find purity of blue and red fruit, supported by acidity and tannin that is all fitting just perfectly. Classy, just like Hawks Butte should be when Wells does it.
2007 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/23/2009)
Copain Offline @ Fratello’s In The South OC (Fratello’s Laguna Niguel): This wine shows its origin–it’s big and full of flavor and depth, and as much as this wine carries its weight, there is no heat in or around it. Rseolved and opulent with bittersweet and espresso flavor and of the 2007s, this was IMO the most ready to go…and as with the other 2007 Copains from last night, following back up with a note here with the wine having been open since last evening. Of the 2007s (Hawks, ERP and Thompson), this JB is the most fruit driven. But again, like with the Thompson that is all warmer in climate and subject to bigger fruit and density, this doesn’t get that direction. Instead, you will get the blue and back fruit, even some density but it remains fresh, with some chalky edges and noticeable youth, reminding me in finish to the Hawks Butte, with the mineral streak, adding chalk, running through it. Pure and classy…adds a new signature to James Berry. Excellent.

2007 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (12/23/2009)
Copain Offline @ Fratello’s In The South OC (Fratello’s Laguna Niguel): My 3rd bottle this year, and as of right now, I own all the TNs in CT so these are certainly early impressions within the community. As with the bottle 2 weeks ago, this 2007 is humming. Broken rocks in the bouquet, even and balanced on the palate with black fruit, minerals and a purity like I found when I first tried it this past June with Wells @ the winery. It does add weight as the wine warms but it holds together and drinks like Thompson should, but with the added touch of Wells to add the structure and complexity. Excellent…and following back up on this wine which is now fully decanted overnight, pure blue and black fruit, married with charcoal, crushed rocks and healthy acidity. Neither gloppy nor fat, but like with the other 2007 Copains, just full of pure driven flavor and structure. Damn good and years ahead of it, which I will enjoy.
Posted from CellarTracker

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Sounds like a great time, I don’t own the Spirit Rock nor do I even remember seeing it released- Oh well something to look for. I really thought the '07 Eaglepoint is the best to date and am glad you guys liked it too, It’s the only '07 Syrah that I’ve opened- looks like I need to pop some ( I know some people hate the 3 packs, but having 3 allows you to pop one early and not worry about it) To bad there wasn’t more Pinot, next time I’m in and would love to do the whole '07 lineup.

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Thanks for the notes guys. Sorry to miss this one … although I would prefer to do the same tasting in 6-8 years.

Jason

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In.

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Thanks for the great notes everyone. Wish I could have been there. And if we are starting a list to revisit this in 6 to 8 years, please put me down as a maybe

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Excellent notes from what must have been an interesting tasting. Thanks! I have had the 2007 Baker Ranch, Eaglepoint, Thompson and JBV Syrah, and while they all have been obviously young, all were surprisingly approachable. Sure, this tasting probably should be held in 6 to 8 years, but with the wines being as alluring as they are today it’ll be tough to resist them for that long.

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I’ve had a few Copain’s in the past and wasn’t too impressed with what I had. I can now honestly say that their 2007’s have really changed my thinking of this producer. Instead of being fat, cloying, and alcoholic, as many of those I had in the past were. The 2007’s were fresh, vibrant, had good structure, balance, and complex long finishes on them, I really enjoyed these. I applaud this style change and I hope this is the path they continue down from now on.

Although I do have to say there is always an exception and the 2006 Copain Pinot Noir Wentzel Vineyard was an excellent Pinot and in a great spot right now, I really like this one.

Thanks everyone for allowing me to come on a few hours notice!

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Well said - I echo these sentiments exactly.

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It’s always nice to read people’s takes on Copain wines, especially the '06 and '07 vintages. Last night I opened a '06 Alder Springs ‘Spirit Rock’ Syrah and enjoyed it very much. Given the style, I was actually surprised at how well it opened up over only about 1/2 hour in the decanter. I was already completely sold on the pinots, but now I know I will continue to buy plenty of syrah from copain as well.