I met a few friends in santa fe last week for my 40th and we tasted through a fun set of wines (including a laherte during the zoom tasting). Most of these are really young wines because that’s what was available, but very enjoyable overall.
2015 Clos de Gamot Cahors Cuvée des Vignes Centenaires
Violet color, nose of cedar, pencil shavings, plum, hint of citric acid. Palate of red plum, eucalyptus, black licorice, some tartness on the finish, medium plus body. Medium plus tannins, medium coarseness, medium plus acidity. This is a really elegant wine, I wish I had more to see how it evolves in another decade or so. (93)
2019 Domaine Saint Préfert Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Auguste Favier
Fruit up front that is balanced by a spiced mid-palate. Dominated by black cherry, black raspberry, some florals, baking spices. The finish has some savory earthiness that supplants the fruit and balances the progression in an interesting way. Medium plus tannins with a coarse texture, medium acidity. Great bottle, plan to get more of this. JD review is spot on, though we have a different point scale. (94)
2019 Eulogio Pomares Rías Baixas Sal da Terra
This is a great wine. Hard to describe, the fruit is muted, like maybe a ground cherry, dried apricot, with some earthy tones. The most prominent parts of the palate are some oakiness and saline. Really great balance, both enjoyable, crowd pleasing, and intellectual. (93)
2016 Relic Wines Syrah Scarpa
What a fantastic value! Nose of earth, pu ehr tea (aka horse barn), some background dried blueberry, citric acid. Palate of dried blueberry, very full bodied, some heat, dirty earthiness. This is really different from any Syrah I’ve tried. It has none of the traditional violet or bacon fat notes, but it has a dirt earthiness that is really great. I would buy this again in a heartbeat! (94)
2018 Dominus Napanook Red
Nose of black raspberry, cherry gum, tarragon, purple flowers, brioche. Palate is similar, purple fruit, floral with herbal notes, a little steminess, slight hint of buttered brioche. Highly tannic, medium to fine coarseness, medium acidity. This is a really nice bottle. The tannins are quite strong and seem to be a little on the less ripe side. I expect this to develop into a fantastic wine in another 7+ years. (94)
2016 Dana Estates Cabernet Sauvignon Vaso
On the nose are violets, boysenberry, white flowers, purple fruit with some blackberry in the background. Palate is similar, purple fruit, floral from the front end through the finish, slight hint of vanilla. I love the floral profile, but there isn’t a ton of depth. Great texture, ripe tannins, moderately tannic with a fine, silty texture, medium acidity. This is an outstanding bottle. It’s in a similar ballpark as Caterwaul Regusci, maybe close in quality to Rivers-Marie Panek but with a little less depth. This was ready to drink soon after opening, but I recorked and drank most of it on day 3, when it was slightly improved. (95-96)
2019 Herman Story Casual Encounters
Definitively Herman story, bold, extracted, and intense. Intensely violet on the palate, blueberries, tarragon or some similar herb on the mid palate. Prominent coarse tannins, medium low acid. I find this GSM blend to be more balanced than the Herman story syrahs. Really nice bottle if you’re ok with heavy extraction paso wines. (93)
NV Laherte Frères Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
I didn’t take notes but this was fantastic. High acid/tartness, mineral, some yeast. I really loved this. (93)
2019 Domaine Tempier Bandol
Had this at dinner and didn’t take notes (if you’re in santa fe check out Geronimo–really top-notch!!), but this was really enjoyed by all. A bit of barnyard on the nose, medium body, muted raspberry with herbal elements, very rustic style. This was briefly decanted but gone long before it had time to really open. (92)
2019 Patria Avoyelles Oakville
Opened and recorked for 24h. Inky black violet color. Fragrant nose of barnyard, dark roast espresso, black and purple fruit, wet tobacco leaf, great aromatic complexity. Palate is more fruit forward than the nose, purple and black fruit, espresso, green tobacco, leather, violets, excellent floral driven long finish. Strong tannins, medium to fine coarseness, medium acidity.
This was #1 (2/3 of tasters agreed) out of about 10 excellent bottles shared with friends this week. Exceptional bottle, I will look for more of this to hold until it’s prime.
2018 Château Léoville Poyferré
Opened and recorked 24h in advance. Nose of purple flowers, boysenberry, hints of oak, moderate aromatic intensity. Medium plus bodied, purple fruit, floral. Very tannic with moderate coarseness, medium acidity. Saving the second half for day 3. This is a fantastic bottle. The tannins are very strong, so if you’re averse I would not open this anytime soon. It seems slightly closed, but still very good. I’m very excited to see where this goes in another 10 years.