The Lost Slough and Roasted Slope Tasting
All Jay Hack Inc. events are mandated by corporate charter to begin with at least one Scholium Project wine so we started with the 2008 Scholium Project Naucratis from the Lost Slough Vineyard located in the bowels of the Lodi Valley.
2008 Scholium Project – Naucratis Lost Slough Vineyard
I was extremely excited to try this wine because I volunteered to help out during harvest and this is one of the wines that we crushed while I was there. I can still remember vividly everything about the gloriously beautiful day the grapes came into the winery and in particular tasting the fresh juice! I was the first one to arrive at the restaurant so I poured myself a glass and sat with it for 20 minutes or so in deep contemplation before the next person arrived. This wine is simply intoxicating! The first thing I notice is the very light clean color which is atypical of most Scholium whites. Then an exotic aroma of fresh sea air and banana taffy erupt from the glass. Based on the lighter color and exotic aromas I expect this to be lighter on the palate. Yet, the initial impression on the palate is schockingly intense and loaded with minerality. As I sit with this wine I realize it has multiple personalities – it has a light and exotic bouquet but then it has a cocky and arrogant mouth feel. Ample amounts of acidity and minerality. Extremely long-penetrating finish. Saline characteristics. With air the wines continues to evolve and beguile with a nutty trait then a Jamón Serrano like trait. This wine is simply thrilling and a joy to drink…
It is worth noting that Abe changed the packing on the Lost Slough to look more like his higher-end bottlings and that he significantly lowered the price on this for his mailing list because as he said he wants as many people as possible to drink these wines. I think it is near impossible to find a wine in California that is as unique and as exciting at this price point.
95+
After the thrilling Naucratis I turned my attention to the 2008 Scholium Project Riquewihr, another stunning package as it has a special label and a 500 ml bottle.
2008 Scholium Project – Riquewihr Lost Slough Vineyard
Another crazy nose! Floral aromatics combined with exotic fruits. Fresh sea air. On the palate the wine is creamy yet still light. Some spices combined with pineapple and grapefruit. But most interesting is the intense minerality that frames and gives structure to the wine.
93
2005 Yves Cuilleron – Côte-Rôtie Madiniere
Typical Côte-Rôtie smoked meats on the nose combined with ripe dark fruits. Juicy. Sweet and sour on the palate. Pepper. Slate dust. Still young and definitely ripe but not too jammy. Overall a very nice wine.
92
2001 Saint Cosme – Côte-Rôtie
This was not a crowd favorite. It had a very strong green pepper flavor that I loved. Even though it had a green component it still had very nice fruit. Lots of smoked meats. Juicy on the palate. Some smoke. Overall a balanced wine that just happened to have a strong green pepper element.
93
1999 Gaillard – Côte-Rôtie
Slightly muted nose at first but explosive on the palate. Shockingly young and full of energy. With time the wine opened up and showed typical Côte-Rôtie flavors of grilled meat. Some minerality emerged. A textbook Côte-Rôtie. It did die quickly after it opened up.
92
2003 Guigal – Brune et Blonde
I had this wine six months ago and it was too jammy and hot for my tastes. On this night it was served slightly colder and with six more months of age and it was much less jammy and enjoyable. It definitely has lots of ripe dark fruits combined with some smokiness and a decent amount of tannin. I think this will continue to get better yet it will never be classic Côte-Rôtie because of the vintage.
91
1995 Guigal – Brune et Blonde
This wine initially appeared corked. All but one of us thought it was corked. It clearly got much better with time and although a few of us thought it had some TCA it was drinkable. The 1995 was a classic Côte-Rôtie and much lighter in style than the 2003. I think this is a very nice wine and if it was not partially off would have been significantly better than 2003.
NR
2003 Bonnefond – Côte-Rôtie
Sweet ripe fruit on the nose and palate. A bit of oak showing through. Not much spice or smokiness. A bit one-dimensional. Vintage?
89
2003 Jamet – Côte-Rôtie
This wine was flat out amazing. Smokiness combined with violets. Great acidity. SMOKED BACON…this is why I love Côte-Rôtie. Ripe fruit because of the vintage but in no way over-the-top.
94
1997 Guigal – d’Ampuis
Very elegant and mature profile. Very smooth and probably at its peak. A very distinct smokiness like the ashes from a burned-out camp fire. Balanced and smooth. Some mineral like characteristics emerged.
94
2001 Guigal – d’Ampuis
Very ripe deep dark intense fruits. Smoked meats and spice. Some oak showing through. This wine should get better but it may be too ripe to evolve into the 1997.
92
2002 Kracher Chardonnay TBA #2
Wow! This was incredibly intense and insanely juicy.
94
Thanks for organizing Jay!