A few additional wines from our Saturday gather. Impressions as opposed to notes, since everyone was kinda busy having fun.
2001 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Nahe
Allright, this is so enjoyable… Peach and citrus (lemon/lime) framed nicely by the acidity. Good persistence on the finish. Seems to have had some additional development and added complexity after sitting out on the counter overnight. The future should be very kind to these. Salud.
1992 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
Fuller bodied cabernet that does not exhibit any sign of fading in the near term. On the first night the oak seemed to get in the way, but by day 2 the oak seemed more integrated. Nice, but it comes across on the simple, straight forward side. A few in the group are Altamura-addicts, but I guess I’ve never appreciated them for anything more than a “pleasant” wines that don’t seem to develop into anything more than “pleasant”.
1995 Laurel Glen Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Mountain - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Every time I drink a Laurel Glen, I wonder why I didn’t buy more of this stuff. A classy and almost elegant Cali-Cab that never comes across as over the top. Dark cherry fruit, touches of ash tray/tobacco and a friendly hint of mint. Balanced. No need to be in a big rush to drink this one up.
1995 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Zinfandel Estate Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
Over the years I have had maybe 6 Storybook Zins and have enjoyed every one of them. This was certainly no exception and firmly dismisses the myth that Zinfandel can’t age. Vibrant/youthful of full of red fruits without going overboard. Refreshing acidity. Actually, restrained and balanced. Super long finish. Very much in the style of Nalle which is another Zin producer I enjoy.
Redwinger