TN: A Metric Shit-Ton of TNs/Impressions Very Looooong

WINE TALK
1

So today one of MDs fine wine wholesalers had a good tasting down in Fells Point. After a long day at work and a birthday party for my niece I found some energy to go taste some wine.

FULL DISCLOSURE
I do business with this distributor but don’t currently sell any of these wines at my store. In the future I might bring in one or two, and I plan on getting a few bottles of some of these for my cellar when funds are available.

I didn’t take any formal notes so I will list the wineries and wines with general impressions. If anyone actually makes their way to the end of my notes, feel free to ask about specific wines and I can try to elaborate.

The wines covered a wide range of the quality spectrum. from point
a) I’d like to get a few bottles of that to follow as they evolve
to
b) I wouldn’t use that wine in my bidet (not that I have one)

So first we went to taste some value wines from Australia and Spain. There were some alright values and all were solidly made, but nothing super notable except a nice little garnacha from Campos de Luz. It is a DI so I’m not sure if it is in any other states.

Then to the Central Coast table

Ambullneo:
Nonno Zito Tocai 2004
Big Paw Chard 2006
Fang Blanc Chard 2006
Mastiff P/N 2006
Bulldog P/N 2006
Canis Major P/N 2006
Solomon Hills P/N 2006
Rancho Ontiveras P/N 2006

The Tocai was very interesting with a mineral, saline, orange blossom thing. I didn’t know they made Tocai, but it was quite tasty. The chards didn’t move me much. And as usual, i like the Bulldog the best. I didn’t think the big boys were worth the premium. These are pricey!


JC Cellars:
Preston marsanne 2006
California Cuvee Syrah 2006
Ventana Vineyard Syrah 2005
Fess Parker Syrah 2005
Caldwell Vineyard Syrah 2005
Rockpile Vineyard Syrah 2005

Jeff Cohn worked at Rosenblum though his style is more balanced and nuanced. It was nice to have an alternate expression of the Rockpile vineyard Syrah as it is probably my favorite Rosenblum wine (along with the Rockpile Petite Sirah) Overall the wines were nice, but I’m not jumping up and down.


Palmina Wines:
Pinot Grigio 2008
Arneis 2007
Tocai Friulano 2007
Dolcetto 2007
Barbera 2006
Nebbiolo 2004

Honestly, Cal-Ital wines don’t usually do much for me. The whites were ok, but not exciting. The reds were all a little thin for my taste, underfruited and I’m not a fruit-bomb kinda guy to start with. Pricing was fair, but nothing grabbed me.


Tensley Wines
Camp 4 Blanc 2008
Lea’s rose 2007
Syrah Colson Canyon 2007
Syrah Tierra Alta

I wasn’t too impressed overall. My girlfriend liked the rose more then I did. The syrahs were nice.

Winner of the table here was the Ambullneo Tocai.

Last table was North Coast wineries. Some hits and…MISSES!

First up…was…Red Car Wines:
Aphorist P/N
Trolley P/N 2007
Boxcar Syrah 2007
Tomorrowland Syrah 2007

I don’t even know what to say here. I actually got mad. especially when the guy said that they had to but 2 cases of the Aphorist to get one of a new P/N that got 96 points or so.
In my opinion…FOR MY PALATE…(what do I know)…the Aphorist would be a reasonable value for $5 wholesale. A touch of rose petals, and tons of confected cherry fruit. A touch of RS? All fruit up front, no acid, noticeable alcohol, and the finish lasted for a staggering .01 seconds!!
I’ve never FROWNED from tasting a wine before. Unless the wine was flawed.
This was (again, for my palate) the worst line up of wines I’ve tasted in a long time. The Tomorrowland Syrah was drinkable, but a joke at $50.
I’m still worked up about these wines. I just don’t get them. all fake fruit and no finish. wow…


I had to get that taste out of my mouth

Palazzo:
Napa Valley Red 2006

This was tasty with lots of dark fruits. Worth the money in my opinion, but not a steal. around $50

Shafer:
Merlot 2006

always tasty

Tor Kenward:
Cab Mast-Cimarossa 2005
Cab Cimarossa 2006

I’ve tasted the Tor wines on a few occassions and they have never done anything for me


Blackbird:
Illustration 2004

I tasted the full line up a couple of months ago and thought that they were good. tonight this was showing very well with bigger tannins than I remember.
and, i know it is what is inside the bottle that matters, but the label is really freakin cool!


Audelssa:
Tephra 2006
Cab 2006
Maelstrom Syrah 2006
Zephyr GSM 2006
Tempest 2006
Summit Blend 2006

Pretty solid line up. The Tephra was lighter than I would have imagined for a Syrah/Zin/Cab but good flavors. The Cab was tasty but with huge tannins, cellar time.
Maelstrom and Zephyr were good but were overshadowed by the Tempest. Definitely my wine of this tasting. Cote rotie style Syrah with a touch of Viognier. Very well balanced and tasty, will be fun to watch this baby grow up


Breggo:
Chard Savoy 2006
P/N Anderson Valley 2007
P/N Ferrington 2007
P/N Savoy 2007
P/N Donnelly Creek 2007

All the Breggo wines were very well made. Clearly spoke of the grape and were all classic Anderson Valley. However, I felt like they were lacking soul or personality. While technically correct, they seemed to be missing the extra oomph I get from Littorai

Anyway, hope it is ok to post on these. Again, I don’t sell the wines in my store. And if you actually made it through all my crappy notes and ramblings you deserve a prize…so here it is

[berserker.gif]

2

I think I like the Palmina wines more than you.

3

As do I - as I have been getting more into Italian wines (white and red), I’m finding the Palmina wines to be a great alternative if you prefer not having to wait 20 years or so to drink it. The Nebbiolo based wines, in particular, are quite fun, and have much of the same great aromatics, but are far more approachable in the near term, of course.

4

Maelstrom was definitely my favorite Audelssa syrah when i tasted up there a few months ago. thx for all the notes.

5

Tha Palmin had nice balance, I kinda felt like they were overshadowed by some of the bigger wines. i can imagine that if they were consumed at home instead of a tasting they would have shown better to me. I really appreciated their pricing too.
The nebbiolo did have a nice nose!

6

Agreed, John. Like you, I drink a fair share of Italian wines, and try to moderate my expectations on Cal-Itals. I tasted at their room a few weeks ago, and found the wines well-made and very food friendly, especially their new dry Moscato, a perfect summer wine.