Thank you to the 20 or so who came on by yesterday and killed some bottles with us. Honestly, I thought it would be cooler, given that Sataurday seemed to be nice and it did not seem like any heat was coming but it did get reasonably warm, about 79 in the house.
The theme was 2-fold. For one, we wanted to have Larry from TERCERO down to taste his wines, which many in the group already buy and drink, as well as do grenache (which we did totally blind). I knew some of the wines, as I either bagged them or put them into the lineup but overall, I knew very little about what was brought. Now, to my dismay and absentmind, I failed to log the wines against the bag #s so if any of you have that cross list, I would love to see it. I took TNs on nearly all the blind wines, plus Larry’s wines, but I’m going to have to rely on someone to help with the list in order to do a full post.
First, a comment about Larry and the TERCEROs. Who markets and reaches out harder than Larry? You don’t need me to explain it…he’s doing events it seems regularly, getting out to meet people, both current and potential customers. He’s passionate, he’s got the batteries and tenacity of anyone out there to run 100 MPH–I really dig that about him. And, he’s humble, he’s looking to get better. I respect that aspect about him, as many here also do.
As for the 2 vintages, both the 2006 and 2007…for me, the 2007 TERCERO wines are a step up. The colors and flavors on the syrahs are deeper, darker, more intense, as compared to the 2006s. Is it vintage? Larry will say it’s vintage…I buy that…some of it but I also think Larry has enough desire and zeal to get better and despite what he tells you, it’s also his efforts. the 2006s to me have a sweeter edge with the 2007s clearly at another level. The 2007 The Climb bottling he poured, which is 1/2 Rodney’s Petite and 1/2 Thompson Syrah…a bitchen wine, full of flavor, depth, intensity. It’s pure, with plenty of blue edges and some leather–a sure purchase for me, as this kind of wine speaks what I speak in CA reds. Then the 2007 Watch Hill Vineyard Grenache…dark, intense, with such lovely perfume, it lifts from the glass and it’s real good. Same with the 2007 Camp 4 Vineyard Grenache (which I prefer less to the Watch Hill), it’s done with no new wood but shows grip, depth and a juiciness. Larry, you did good with the 2007s.
As for the blind grenaches, I saw a 2001 Alban, a 2007 Tensley Colson, the 2 2006 Janasse wines…so let me offer a couple TNs, since I do have a couple things listed…
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2001 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley (7/27/2009)
Spicy and intense core, with some juiciness. Pretty good and for me, if I got my notes right, came off as classy and well put together. -
2006 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/27/2009)
This too got decanted, much like the 06 Saxum James Berry, roughly for about 3 hours in total. Enough? Don’t have enough experience to know but this wine did not connect with me. Still some chalky edges early on, with strawberry, black cherry and tasted a little sweet, brown sugared. What’s the hype? -
2006 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/27/2009)
At this stage, all things equal with decant and tasting time, for me this bottle beat the 06 VV at $30 less the price. Lots of structure, leather and cherry, good acidity and a spicy long finish. I liked it and while I am still not overly wild about CdP and remaind squarely a CA syrah person, I can see some of why this wine is appreciated. -
2006 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/27/2009)
I opened this wine at about 10AM and left in the bottle, where it stayed until it was drank from roughly 2PM-6PM. Should have I decanted it? Probably, as it did not show me a wine that should command just under $100. Spicy with a long finish and red fruits but it did not wow me over. Maybe I oughta take some lumps for the decant treatment. -
2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (7/27/2009)
decanted for about 90 mins before it was tasted and the bottle lasted in the decanter about 4 hours before it got wiped out. Some saddle leather, hint of funk, sexy smooth, polished with some glycerine and finsihing spicy and long. Only nit…a hint of heat that I got early on. -
2007 Linne Calodo Sticks and Stones - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (7/27/2009)
Aromatic with some heat. Toasty, juicy with a ripe core and a very spicy finish, along with a cool note of licorice. -
2007 Valréas Coöp Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Prestige - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages (7/27/2009)
Gentle but balanced along with tannin and mineral, too. Gentle red fruit, nice acidity, too. Stuck with me and got my attention. The average user price in CT shows less than $8 and the only other 2 notes on the wine just describe a wine different than what I found. I really enjoyed this wine a lot.
Larry, thanks for making the drive down and enjoying the TERCEROs with us and for all of you who were able to make it by. Again, if someone has the cross list, flip that to me so I can put the rest of my TNs up.
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