TN: 06 Alesia Chileno, 07 Switchback PS, & 2 -07 Terry Hoage's

WINE TALK
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  • 2007 Terry Hoage Vineyards Grenache Skins - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/3/2010)
    Sometimes texture gets lost in the TN shuffle. Well this wine demands that you talk about it. It has a thick but silky texture that is so welcoming, you just want to keep drinking it. With 10% Syrah, the fruit is lush and ripe. This drinks as well as any young CdP I can remember. The bottle was sucked down in no time at all. Lots of sunshine to be sure, but there is a complexity that I was not expecting. Maybe the best THV wine I can remember drinking. (93 pts.)

  • 2005 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir Chileno Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (1/3/2010)
    This bottle was drinking quite well on opening. Sure there is little in the way of aged complexity, but it is still showing some interesting dimensions. very pronounced sour cherry milkshake qualities which were quite delicious. Great balance. Easy to drink as a cocktail or with food. No hurry, but worth drinking now if you have a few. (92 pts.)

  • 2007 Terry Hoage Vineyards Cuvée The Pick - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/3/2010)
    A very nice wine, but not in the same league as a recent THV Grenache Skins. A blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Counoise, this is deeper and darker in personality. More of brooding nose dominated by gaminess and smoked meats, than the fruit. I think it will need a couple of years to show what it has. The alcohol is more noticeable on this as well (although lower than the Skins 15.4 to 15.1). Much more in line with prior Hoage wines (of which I am a fan at the right time and place). (91 pts.)

  • 2007 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/3/2010)
    I knew this was too young, but I wanted to try it anyway. It was unpleasant on opening. Raw, rough, alcoholic and overly tannic. I decanted it for a while and then back in the bottle for Day 2. Much more reasonable on day 2. A nice combination of black fruits, this is quite a muscular brute. It showed glimpses of complexity and had a velvety texture that was light enough on its feet to not get bogged down. I will certainly wait on my other bottles, but this was instructive to try this young.

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Loren, you inspired me. I had been thinking about the 2007 SR for a few weeks so with your note seen in CT, I figured I would open one. We pulled this wine first and it gave up nothing so we pulled a KB and sipped on that. At dinner, with twice baked potatoes, organic carrots and beets (I skipped the steak [basic-smile.gif] ), down went the decanted 2007 SR. So, to my note. This wine will not fall into the delicate zone–it’s big, huge.

Loren, I will differ with you on this wine…for me it is ready, provided it decants.

  • 2007 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/3/2010)
    Opened and poured at the request of my SIL for something big. I said aged or baby petite–he said baby. Out came the cork. Into the glasses, giving up nothing but some cocoa powder. Into the decanter, back to the cellar for a KB Garys’ pinot. We’ll head back to the SR after dinner–it needdddddddddds a decant…at 2 hours in the decanter, into the glass. Big wine, as big as the 2005, maybe more so but smooth and dark, a glass stainer. A molten quality to the wine, molten charcoal, chocolate and dark berry, all liquified with a pure decadent finish. It won’t make it until tomorrow but be sure, this is neither restrained nor delicate–pure, big and long.

Posted from CellarTracker