LOTS OF WINES AT TOMMY’S CLAMBAKE - Tommy’s (9/15/2013)
Last night my wife and I attended our friend Tommy K.'s annual clambake. There was a subsection of people there who brought our own wine hand had a great time while enjoying the food and festivities. All wines consumed non-blind over a few hours with lots of laughs and food.
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2011 Dönnhoff Riesling - Germany, Nahe
Light gold in color. The nose is nice, clean, slight pineapple and wet rocks. Off-dry. Screw capped. (89 pts.) -
2012 Ousterhout Wine Pinot Noir Wood’s Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Salmon pink in color. The nose has some strawberries. On the palate, this is quite tart with cranberries and strawberries. Refreshing and a bit unusual. (89 pts.) -
2012 Domaine de la Mordorée Tavel Rosé Cuvée de la Reine des Bois - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Tavel
Light ruby in color. Nice nose. Cherries, watermelon, minerals and floral notes. Light cherries on the palate. Nice wine. (90 pts.) -
2005 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie Château d’Ampuis - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Purple in color. The nose is dusty with black raspberries and dark cherries. Firm tannins. Lots of layered complexity and surprisingly open. Long finish. This showed quite well but will probably improve. (92 pts.) -
1998 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Light ruby and brown in color. The nose is nice with leather, and dried cherries. Complex on the palate. Tart and certainly seems past prime and on a downward trajectory. Drink up. (87 pts.) -
1998 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
From Magnum. One of the WOTN’s. This was decanted and there was enough that I tried it a couple of times during the evening. It was just as good later on. Ruby/purple in color. The nose is complex with spice, dark cherries and a slight gamey note. Layered on the palate as well. Complex. Delicious. This bottle seemed at peak and I doubt it gets better, but it was glorious. (94 pts.) -
2004 Lillian Winery Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
I am told there was only one release in 04 (not blue or grey). Great nose of leather, black pepper and black raspberries. Great texture. The years have been kind to this. It has all come together and is seamless. Delicious. Great fruit on the palate. There was a slight rough moment on the finish, but that seemed to smooth out in the glass. Great wine. (94 pts.) -
2008 Outpost Zinfandel Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Nose starts off nice with bramble and dark cherries, but there is an aquarium note on the finish. I never know what this means or where it comes from. Luckily it is not dominant and does not carry thru to the palate. Delicious wine. Black raspberries, raspberries and some milk chocolate. Firm tannins with air. Nice wine that is probably where it needs to be and should be drunk in the next couple of years. (91 pts.) -
2009 Eric Kent Wine Cellars Grenache Dry Stack Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
Love his chards, this was the first Grenache I have tasted. Ruby/purple in color. The nose has dusty attic and slight cherry notes. Slightly bitter on the palate and not a whole lot of fruit. Faded in the glass a bit. Drinkable and interesting but there were better wines on the table. (86 pts.) -
2008 Shane Syrah The Unknown - USA, California, Sonoma County
I believe the first Shane Syrah I have had. Inky purple in color. Leather, black peppers and boysenberries on the nose. Lean and mean on the palate, in a good, cool climate way. Still seems like it could use some time, but very nice. (90 pts.) -
2011 Booker Vineyard Syrah Fracture - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
A love it or hate it wine amongst the crowd. I loved it. Inky purple in color. It is a big wine and does not hide its size at all. Black raspberries, oak, pepper on the nose. Tons of oak and fruit on the palate. Yet for all that, I found a certain smoothness about it. For some it had that Raspberry milk shake quality and too much alcohol and oak. I liked it and it even got a WOTN mention from a couple of people. (92 pts.) -
2007 Meerlust Rubicon - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch
Purple in color. The nose is celery and very powerful. Hard to get past that, but there was some black cherry too. Bitter on the palate. Black cherries. Not sure if this was a proper bottle, but nothing to suggest it was not. Even the AFWE’s in the group found it quite green. (87 pts.) -
2001 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Ruby in color. The nose is clean with spice, cherries and floral notes. Very smooth to drink. Nicely layered. Drinking at or near prime and very well. (92 pts.) -
2009 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Purple/ruby in color. The nose is great with dark cherries, showing some layering. Lush, full bodied texture. Not a Pinot for those who like them delicate, yet it is not a monster either. I love the intensity and package. Lots of black cherry fruit. Delicious. (91 pts.) -
2007 Carlisle Petite Sirah - USA, California
Still quite young. Inky purple in color. The nose has lots of depth with black cherries and chalk. The palate matches. I t unwinds a bit in the glass, but I think its best days are still ahead. (91 pts.) -
2010 SonkinCellars Persona White Hawk - USA, California
Obviously I am biased. The wine is developing nicely. Needs some air and a year or two away from maturity. Plenty of fruit. My favorite thing about this wine is the acidity. It makes it food friendly IMO. Thanks to George for opening it, but even more thanks to him for BUYING it.
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2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Heirloom Wine Pagani Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
Purple in color, some ruby. Nice nose of black raspberries and bramble. Great mouth feel. Layered complexity. Long finish. Very nice showing. (92 pts.) -
2010 Gallica Suzuri Series Shake Ridge Ranch - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
This is a GSM blend (42-29-29). The nose is slightly green with some black raspberries. On the palate, the green dominates the fruit. Distracting. Some black raspberry fruit. Lots of tannins too. Perhaps it needs some time to come together. (86 pts.) -
2011 Chakana Yaguareté Estate Selection - Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo
Malbec, cab and Syrah. This is a generic wine. If it is around $15, then it is fine. If much more, than I would want more. It is very soft and smooth. Slightly sweet/ripe fruit. Easy to drink. (87 pts.) -
2003 Milziade Antano Sagrantino di Montefalco - Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Sagrantino di Montefalco
Purple/ruby in color. Dusty nose with black cherries. Boysenberries and cherries on the palate. Nice acidity. Firm tannins. Long finish. Really a nice wine that has entered into a peak stage IMO. (91 pts.) -
2004 Ventisquero Syrah Pangea Apalta Vineyards - Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Purple in color. Dusty with black raspberries on the nose. Nice texture. Easy to drink. Lots of black raspberry fruit with some earthiness to it. Long finish. Very nice Syrah and one of the best wines I have had from Chile. (92 pts.) -
2007 Azienda Agricola Musella Amarone della Valpolicella - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella
Purple/ruby in color. The nose is sweet with chocolate covered raisins. Very smooth to drink. Slightly sweet and ready to drink. Raspberries and milk chocolate flavors. Nice acidity. Nice wine. (90 pts.) -
2007 Greg Linn Wines Syrah Rim Rock - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
Not sure how proper this bottle was. Purple/ruby in color. The nose had a dishwasher soap quality along with black raspberries. Very lean on the palate. (87 pts.) -
2010 Saxum James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Love this wine. After so much wine, a little bit was plenty. Tons of fruit. Still light on its feet. Black raspberries. Smooth. Very young. (95 pts.) -
2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20 - USA, California, Central Coast
Almost too much wine, although still quite good. The nose has warmth (in a good way) with black raspberries and a slight floral note. Lots of fruit but quite smooth. Some heat on the finish. (93 pts.) -
2007 Andrew Murray Syrah McGinley - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley
I liked this one a lot. I hadn’t had this vineyard since Clos Mimi stopped making wine. Purple/ruby in color. Very elegant, yet powerful. Black raspberries. Refined and complex on the palate. Layered and delicious. Nice finish. (92 pts.) -
1999 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Ruby, slight browning. The nose has funk. Love it or hate, I loved it. Some dark cherries hiding under the funk. Complex and layered on the palate. At peak for its style. Delicious. (92 pts.) -
2010 Domaine de la Mordorée Lirac Cuvée de la Reine des Bois - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Lirac
Love this wine. As good or better than a whole of CdPs. Purple in color. A nose of spice, dark cherries, black raspberries and floral notes. Still young and will make great drinking for a decade. (91 pts.) -
1996 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Orange gold in color. The nose has orange rind and a fresh, sea air quality to it. Slightly viscous. Off dry, not really sweet. Honey and orange blossoms on the palate. It was a bit flabby, but within bounds. Nice wine. (92 pts.)
Thank Tommy.
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