Multiple Wines: Carlisle, Sandler, Alcina, Novy, Riesling and more

Over the last two days I have been helping Ed Kurtzman bottle some wines. Mostly Roar Syrah and Chardonnay, August West Chardonnay and Syrah and Sandler Pinot along with Ed’s project with Andrew Vingiello and Tim Perr. Ed’s wine is the Industrial which is a Zin. Here’s some brief impression taken from lunch time tasting notes:

1998 “PA Ohler” Kommerzienrat, Schlossberg Riesling, Auslese
This was pretty nice. Showing a lot of green apple upfront finishing with slate and ripe apricot on the back end. Ultimately though a little simple with a shortish finish. Nice but not great

2008 Navarro Gewurtztraminer, Anderson Valley, Dry
This is fantastic wine for the money. Varietally correct with notes of lychee, white flowers, sweet fruit (although bottled as a dry wine) and a little spice. Didn’t fool anyone, this is Gewurtz…

2006 Novy Chardonnay, Rosella’s Vineyard
Not sure if this is all stainless but very clean, nice fruit, a little complexity good tropical fruit without being a butter/malo bomb. That being said it almost seems a little too clean…I wanted some funk or something…

2005 Alcina Syrah, Connell Vineyard, Bennet Valley
Blind tasted this is drinking really well. SHowing some whole cluster steminess/greeness but nice dark fruit, pepper, herbal quality and screams cooler climate Syrah…I liked this a lot and despite the NeoCork it is holding up well.

2004 Carlisle “Carlisle Vineyard” Zinfandel
Tasted blind. Immediately tabbed as Zin and too ripe for me. Showing some elevated VA and that tell tell peachy aroma…did not like and did not finish

2008 Sandler “Sonoma Coast” Pinot Noir
Tasted this out of tank (did not try the SLH out of tank) and this is rockin right now with terrific red fruits, nice acidity, a little earthy quality…Ed really nailed this vintage and for those that think 08 is a bad vintage based on Jim Laube’s comments and one winemaker with the initials JK, need to rethink that assessment.

2008 Tres Viticultourist, The Industrial", Zinfandel
I hope I spelled that right but this is a collaboration between Ed K, Andrew Vingiello and Tim Perr (Pali Wines). Ed’s contribution is a Zin from Buckhill Vineyard. This is really good. Nice red fruits, that Zin jaminess that I love, white pepper in a very well balanced packaged with no VA, heat or other issues…Not sure when it will be released but a Zin lovers Zin for sure.

I know I am missing some wines but so be it, I took no notes…

Thanks for the notes - especially for The Industrialist. I got a chance to taste a barrel sample of Andrew’s cab portion of the project this past summer - big, bold and chocolately is what I remember - it is going to be called The Treat. Do you know what Tim P. is doing?

The strange thing about Alcina – it was excellent wine.

The Alcina pinots I have had lately have been victims of the neocork. DOA way before their time.

What did John Kongsgaard say or is there another JK?

Paul - Tim is doing a late harvest Chardonnay a la a Bobby Kacher wine. It will be called The central. Each wine is named for the street their wineries is on.

Mike - Greg did make some good wine. Neocork killed a few prematurely but this one held up nicely