A LOT OF WINES AT TOMMY’S CLAMBAKE (AGAIN) - Tommy K’s. (9/28/2014)
Yesterday my wife and I attended our friend, Tommy K’s, annual clam bake. This is a yearly ritual that indicates the start of fall. It is a major blow out with food trucks, kegs, giant bon fires, clam chowder and lots of other foods. A sub group of us gather in the corner, bring a few bottles each and drink a lot of wine. Tommy thru a bunch in as well. Of course, a lot of others stop by our table to sample the wines as well. It makes for a fun afternoon into the late evening.
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2009 François Chidaine Vouvray Clos Baudoin - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
Yellow gold in color. Lots of apples on the nose. Crisp acidity. Long finish. This was my first wine of the night and I hoped to get back to it once I got settled in but the bottle was drained quickly. It was quite tasty, and I would have liked to spend a bit more time with it. Certainly in my mind, they are in the top level of Vouvray producers. (91 pts.) -
NV Charles Duret Crémant de Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Crémant de Bourgogne
Interesting wine. Pale pink in color. The nose has rhubarb on it with possibly some cranberries. On the palate, it is more tart apples. IMO, this needs some food to set off the acidity and bring out the fruit. On a hot late September afternoon it was refreshing though. (88 pts.) -
1989 Château Palmer - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Stunningly good wine. Its owner bought this on release and cellared it. It drinks like a great mature Bordeaux. Most of the crowd were not wine geeks. Many in the crowd didn’t appreciate it and it was funny, we geeks were careful to only take small pours assuming this would be drained first. Late in the evening there was still a glass left which was eventually taken by an elderly woman who just wanted more alcohol. Oh well. The nose has that great earthy funk, cigar tobacco and still plenty of cassis. It is layered and complex and I would think at peak. Just lovely. A real treat to drink a wine I will no longer pay the tariff on. (97 pts.) -
2006 Antica Terra Pinot Noir - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
This bottle had been open and poured at lunch, so this was now about 5 hours later when I tried it. The nose is deep and ripe. Spice and macerated cherries. Also some plums. Slight heat on the wine. It is very good with nice dark cherry fruit on the palate. Good finish. Can’t see this improving from here and I would drink up sooner than later. (89 pts.) -
2000 Harlan Estate The Maiden - USA, California, Napa Valley
I liked this a bit more than the group. The chief complaint which I agree with is that the oak has outlasted the fruit. It has faded a bit and there is an older Cal Cab quality which is quite nice. But there is still vanilla and fresh cut lumber on the nose and the palate without much fruit to offset this against. That said, there is an earthy, dusty, and tobacco quality to the nose which I find attractive. Plenty of layered complexity on the palate. Nice finish. (89 pts.) -
2003 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Certainly a love it or hate it kind of wine, I had not had this vintage in a while. Those who didn’t like it, still won’t as it is very fruit forward, but at the same time, those who claimed it would fall apart right away are wrong. This bottle has started to integrate and shows no sign of falling apart anytime soon. Lots of raspberries and spice on the nose. Great juicy/lush texture. Plenty of jammy fruit still. No heat. In the glass it unwinds and shows a nice layering. Long finish. Delicious now, but if you own some and don’t like that style, hold and try it in ten years. (94 pts.) -
2010 Bodegas Langa Calatayud Pi 3.1415 - Spain, Aragón, Calatayud
My first time trying this wine or this grape. It is 100% Concejon. I believe it sells for under $20. Cool label for mathletes. This is an easy to drink, spicy/oaky wine with some black cherry fruit. Nothing special here but drinks fine. (87 pts.) -
2012 Chakana Estate Selection - Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
The nose has fruit black currants. Smooth and easy to drink. Warming heat on the finish. I liked this wine. Last year at this same party, I had the 11. This seems much better than I remember that. I still don’t know the pricing though. I believe it is a Malbec, Cab, Syrah blend. I don’t think it makes old bones, but if it is under $25 or so, this is a nice value. (90 pts.) -
2007 Carlisle Syrah Bennett Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
Not one of my favorite Carlisles, nevertheless, this is drinking quite well. Most of the group enjoyed it even more than I. Plums, black raspberries and some black pepper on the nose. Tannic. Good fruit but certainly not uber ripe. Starting to show some complexity, but certainly no hurry at all. It really is a beautiful wine. (91 pts.) -
1992 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
I would have thought this was DOA. A poor vintage in CdP and 22 years later. And I was wrong. The nose has an earthy funk with slightly dried cherries. Very smooth and no tannins. There is some fresh cherry fruit on the palate. No complexity, but drinking just fine. Nice enough balance. Medium bodied. Who knew? (88 pts.) -
2005 Pepper Bridge Merlot - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
The nose has cherries but is slightly weedy. Much better on the palate. Cherries although it finishes slightly bitter. I doubt it improves from here. Still, it is a fine enough wine. (88 pts.) -
2006 Shane Syrah Jemrose Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
I scored this, but it was ever so lightly corked. Hard to detect and certainly worth drinking. The nose has black raspberries and a hint of dark chocolate. Every so often a wisp of tca shows itself. Complex. Great texture. Plenty of juicy black raspberry fruit. It is a delicious wine and we did not dump the bottle. In a great place IMO. (92 pts.) -
2007 Seghesio Family Vineyards Zinfandel Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County
This used to be such an excellent value. I have not had it in a while and I was told the price is north of $25. Still probably worth it. At this point, this is soft and juicy. Much of its Zinness is gone, but it is still a quite pleasurable red wine. Shows some complexity. Nice balance. Nice finish. (89 pts.) -
2009 Saxum Paderewski Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Really great showing for this wine. It had been open for a while when I got to it, and was drinking great. The nose has bramble, raspberries, a bit of mint and graphite. Seamless. Gorgeous and quite accessible. Showing some complexity but this is more about richness and deliciousness. Lovely balance. (96 pts.) -
1996 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Ygay - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja
From Magnum. corked. Too bad. It seemed to be nice under the TCA. NR (flawed) -
2010 I Pentri “Flora” Beneventano IGT - Italy, Campania, Beneventano IGT
I really thought this was quite good and a very nice value. It is very clean. The nose has lemon crème which carries thru to the palate. Also some floral tone. A very nice acidity. Food friendly yet quite refreshing as well. Seamless. (91 pts.) -
2010 Gallica Suzuri Series Shake Ridge Ranch - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
Had this last year as well. Maybe a skosh better now. The nose is nice enough, kindof Rhone like but there is a rosemary/green olive streak that is not great. Much thinner on the palate. Drying tannins at the end. A bit of a green streak. This is a GSM blend. (87 pts.) -
2007 Ridge Lytton Springs - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Really nice showing for this wine. I know these drink well for a long time, but this is approaching a bit of maturity. Lots of black raspberry fruit. Complex and layered but still lots of youthful fruit. Nice finish. Always a great wine. (91 pts.) -
2006 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Really in a great place right now. The nose has black cherries, raspberries, minerals and slight charred wood notes. Seamless. Medium bodied. Complex and layered with plenty of fruit. No tannins. I don’t see this getting better but no hurry. delicious and complex. (93 pts.) -
2010 Jaffurs Syrah Larner Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
From Magnum. I got to drink this at a few times during the night as the format provided a lot of chances. The nose has black raspberries, roasted meats, black pepper, spice and oak. On the palate, this is very young and comes together in the glass. Lots of fruit. Nice acidity. This is a big wine. It is delicious and in need of time. It has a lovely precision that belies it size. Loved it. (94 pts.) -
2007 Giovanni Sordo Barolo Ceretta Di Perno - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Tart cherries on the nose. Kind of sweet on the palate. A nice wine, but not a great Barolo. Plenty of tannins. (88 pts.) -
2012 Peay Vineyards Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
The nose is deep with black cherries and a bit of leather. More like cherry pie filling on the palate. This is nice. 13.8 Alc. Easy to drink at this point. Seems to have depth but needs some time. Popular with the crowd. (91 pts.) -
NV Locations Corse - France, Corsica
This is a Dave Phinney location wine. Vermentino from Sardinia. For under $20 there is some value here. It is steely on the nose with minerals. Tart acidity. Blood oranges on the palate. Easy to drink and refreshing acidity. (89 pts.) -
2007 Epiphany Révélation - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
The nose is chocolate and raspberries. Nice texture. Some complexity. Black raspberries on the palate. (90 pts.) -
2012 Jasci & Marchesani Montepulciano d’Abruzzo - Italy, Abruzzi, Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Bitter. Tart fruit. Out of balance. Not good. (78 pts.) -
2007 Sineann Grenache Scorched Earth Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
This was a one time wine IIRC. It is a nice wine, but I wouldn’t pick it as Grenache. Others seem to like it more than I. Aromas of black cherries and leather. Medium bodied. Red fruit on the palate. Seems more generic to me. (89 pts.) -
2003 Fonseca Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
This was decanted but I don’t know for how long. It is very nice but I think not at its best at this point. Let it sleep. With air it showed more, but still needs some time. Slightly sweet. Raspberries and dark chocolate. Slight heat. Tightly layered. (93 pts.) -
2007 Jaffurs Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
This is their basic Syrah. Still on the young side but showing a nice complexity. Black raspberries and black pepper on the nose with a bit of gamey meat. Juicy black raspberries on the palate. Layers unwind in the glass. No hurry but drinking well. (92 pts.) -
2010 Kutch Pinot Noir McDougall Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Opened late, this is drinking very well. A nose of dark cherries, macerated cherries and some leather. Deep. This unwinds in the glass to show a lot of complexity. Needs time, but again, drinking well now. The crowd loved it. (91 pts.)
Thanks Tommy. I know this was a lot of work, but we were glad to attend!
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