2006 Woodenhead Pinot Noir Morning Dew Ranch - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (2/2/2009)
Although this was a big ripe wine with a fairly full mouth feel, it did not wear me out. Pushes the limits but an interesting wine. Smells of plush ripe fruit with oak and slight dill. I get pleasant dill at the front and middle of the palate. Lots cherry fruit and a bit of spice. Overall nice balance. Medium acid and light tannin. (90-91 pts) (90 pts.)
2004 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru (1/23/2009)
The aromatics took a little to but now they are strong out of the glass. Shows a touch of green but it works for me. With the food I didn’t notice any green. There is some toast and wet stone (not Cris). Early in the evening the fruit was subdued, balanced and seamless. With time the fruit got bigger but the wine kept awesome balance. With out the food the tannin seemed to dry the wine out a bit but maybe a little more time will sort that out. I should have bought much more. I was sad to see the price jump in later vintages. (92 pts.)
2004 Château d’Angludet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (1/13/2009)
Enjoyable aromatics. More earth and mushrooms than the Dassault. Getting lots of oak. I went back and forth on this but in the end I really enjoyed this. Lay off for a few years. (90 pts.)
2004 Château Dassault - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (1/13/2009)
Big aromas at first. Tar, asphalt and other earth and mineral elements. With time, the aromas became more subdued and intriguing. It has a very slight stewed quality. Dark earthy flavors with big ripe fruit. The next day there were more vegetative elements as the fruit seemed to settle down. Heavy mid-palate but nice finishing acid and tannin. (89 pts.)