TN 06 McPrice Les Galets

WINE TALK
1

I dropped out of the wine club after my enthusiasm waned on the 06 early release Grenache and Syrah. I thought they were really exciting, albeit raw on release. Time mellowed them, and although I can see how this may appeal to some (most) – I was a bit disappointed. Once the spring mailer came out, and the Vig was dropped (my favorite of the whites), that sealed the deal for me. With a couple of late release '06’s in the cellar, I figured I’d kill 'em and post in Mike’s ‘dead to me’ thread. As Murphy would have it, the Les Galets was awesome. I don’t think I could pick it from a great Pax blind, and at 29 bucks – a steal.

2006 McPrice Myers Syrah Les Galets - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley (4/26/2009)
Dense, glass staining purple. Full bodied and wound tight, but giving up rich, smoky chocolate flavor with a subtle sweetness on a lingering finish. Spicy aromatics dominate the attack and carry across the midpalate. Exotic spices repeat on the finish. A bit tight and rustic, but offers plenty of depth/bang for the buck. (92 pts.)

2

Thanks for the note, Jody. This and the “Beautiful Earth” are my favorite MM bottlings … sublime stuff, in my book.

3

Brian, I agree, the Les Galets is indeed sublime stuff. I’m less excited about the Beautiful Earth, but it’s still a really solid value. The Larner Homage sounds promising too.

4

Jody,
I had a chance to check-in on the Larner Homage about a month ago … the bottle had already been open for a day when I tasted it … do not, by any means, even think about opening either of your bottles for at least another couple years. That puppy is tighter than a drum, but has enormous potential. I’m looking forward to McPrice’s Mourvedre bottling, as well as his Cote-Rotie style “Les Galets” bottling that he’s supposed to be releasing sometime in the next year. My eyes got really big when I read that you dropped-off the list, but it sounds like your reasons for being on are quite different than mine, so i guess it makes sense that i don’t understand.

5

sorry, one more thing i meant to ask … did you get any “funky” or “leathery” notes in the '06 Les Galets? I seem to remember that with the '05, but I haven’t yet cracked either of my '06. thanks. [cheers.gif]

6

Yeah, I’m having a bit of dropper’s remorse after trying the second round of wines from ’06. I went through quite a bit of the Grenache, Beautiful Earth, Vigonier and white wine. I wasn’t happy with how the Grenache and BE were aging, and I really didn’t care for the white wine. I thought the Vigonier was awesome, but alas, it wasn’t bottled separately this year. As the spring shipment came and went, I figured I’d pop the Les Galets and it was then I realized the error of my ways. I’ll have to beg for re-admittance this fall, perhaps just to the mailing list though so I can limited purchases to the wines I really like.

Thanks for the note on the Larner. As I only have two, I’ll try to hold out. I didn’t recall any funk or leather on the Galets. Although there was a faint beefy/fat note, it really wasn’t that prominent. This was more fruit driven, with that exotic/brambly/spice profile dominating start to finish.

7

I’m not a huge fan of McPrice’s Syrahs. Good wines, but they just don’t wow me. But, I think the Atlas Vinas and Hommage grenaches are killer and the whites are fantastic.

8

The Beautiful Earth is my favorite of the McPrice Myers, but I have not had the ‘Les Galets’. I found Beautiful Earth to be far better than Alta Mesa or Cuvee Kristina…but that’s just me. I believe the latter two were too inky, dark, and rich for my taste - the Beautiful Earth was a bit lighter bodied, but more terroir-driven overall. I also felt the heat on the latter two was too overpowering

9

NOSE: loads of black pepper and dark purple fruits; roasted cow meat; oak; nice earthiness; hint of alcohol. Moderately intense expressiveness.

BODY: medium-full to full bodied; tons of fine particulate matter; purple color of medium-deep depth.

TASTE: lots of pepper; oak; a tad bitter; intense fruit (blackberries & plum) with juicy acidity; a bit alcoholic tasting on the mid-palate; well-balanced; medium-long finish (approx. 45 sec.); I would drink these in the short term.

B: 50, 5, 12, 17, 7 = (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

10

Sounds like this is in a nice place Brian. I couldn’t keep my hands off the rest of mine, but life is good, Mac let me back in the club. I remember popping one on release and it seemed years away from ready, but these really evolve pretty quickly.

11

NOSE: dark nose; black cherry; sweet; oak; kind of simple.

BODY: lots of fine particulate matter; ruby-purple color of great depth; medium-full bodied.

TASTE: sweet (r.s.), yet also a tad bitter; concentrated dark fruits; mineral; oak on the finish; a bit fat and a tad hot on the long finish (55 sec.); full palate; not complex; 16.2% alc.; drink soon.

B: 50, 5, 12, 15, 7 = (89 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

12

Interesting Brian, reading your sequential notes. They indicate that in time, the wines lose their nose and gain sweetness and length. I hadn’t put that together before, but that has been my experience as well with all of his wines, and probably why I finish mine off within a year. I love these for the wild, showy boquet on release, and as you know, they don’t need the additional weight and length. I know there’s been some backlash on the style, but these still have a prominent place in my cellar. I’ve got piles of stuff I can’t drink, but I can always count on these to be ready to go, as a pop and pour, right on release. So much bang for the buck.

Thanks for the peek. My 6’s and 7’s are already gone!

13

I totally agree with this. I do wish Mac would dial it back a bit, but it’s hard to deny the convenience of having some mighty tasty juice that, not only do I not mind popping now, but actually want to pop now. [basic-smile.gif]