Forlorn-Hope Dragone Ramato PinotGris RorickVnyd/CalaverasCnty (11%; 187 cs) Murphys 2016: Light red/dark rose color; fairly strong resiny/phenolic/ViniMacerati rather floral/rose petal/PG/spicy slight cedary/pencily slight earthy quite fragrant lovely nose; quite tart/tangy lovely floral/rose petal/PG/spicy light phenolic/VM/resiny slight earthy/dusty bit complex flavor w/ light tannic bite; very long rather floral/rose petal/PG/spicy light phenolic/resiny rather floral/perfumed rather savory finish w/ light tannic bite; a really lovely expression of PG Ramato & great alternative to a rose.
WindGap Syrah SonomaCoast (390 cs; 12.1%; www.WindGapWines.com; #4211) PaxMahle/Forestville 2008: Very dark color w/ light bricking; very strong Rhonish/whole-cluster/smokey/graphite/ozone/WWII beacon strong cold-climate/black pepper/blackberry/Syrah/blueberre slight black olive slight smokey/oak quite complex nose; very tart/teeth-chattering/lean/austere very strong Rhonish/w-c/smokey/graphite/ozone/pungent strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah bit smokey/oak rather complex flavor w/ ample rugged/chewey tannins; very long/lingering rather acidic/screechy intense Rhonish/w-c/peppery/smokey/roasted/graphite/ozone strong black pepper/c-c/blackberry/Syrah quite savory very complex finish w/ lots of chewey tannins; a huge amount of Rhonish character but pretty screechy/brutal on the palate; probably needs more to temper the acids & tannins but not sure it will ever be pleasurable to drink.
A wee BloodyPulpit:
Dragone: Upon release, this was a pretty austere wine dominated by the phenolic/VM character. It has really evolved nicely w/ the PG fruit coming to the forefront and the phenolic/VM character taking a back seat.
Tom
Yup… the smell of burning graphite. Mostly ozone… but a bit more.
During the LondonBlitz, the beacons to spot Nazi bombers had two rods of graphite carrying a heavy current that burned in an arc w/ a very intense light at the focal point of the reflector.
After WWII, these beacons were sold off as war surplus and then repurposed to signal the opening of movie theatres/auto dealerships/etc. When my Dad would see a beacon flashing across the sky, he would put me in the car & we’d go track it down to see whatssup. He would hold my hand & we’d stand there and listen to the carbon arc crackle and smell the ozone. Very distinct memory from my youth (which, I should mention, was not that long ago).
In the early days, movie theater projectors were powered by carbon arcs. Same principle on a smaller scale, same smell. I used to sit in the last row in the theatre in front of the projector booth to revel in that same smell.
Tom
Thank you for explaining and sharing stories from your youth. I do not recall that smell, but I do remember seeing 4 or 5 beacons flashing in the sky signaling the grand opening of a new business. It is great how sometimes you smell the aromas in your glass, close your eyes, and are transported back in time. A deja vu, nostalgic kind of moment. I love when I experience that in a wine! Cheeers
Yup… Stephen… every once in awhile… I’ll pick up a smell in a wine that transports me back to my youth. It’s why I have a fondness for a bretty CdP… takes me back to my GrandPa’s Kansas outhouse and the Sears&Roebuck catalog sitting right there!! Kansas outhouses are sorta special. You had to have been there!!
Tom