SONKINCELLARS PARTNERS MEETING - The Barn (5/23/2014)
Last night the partners of SonkinCellars (3 couples), met for a planning meeting and a chance to try our 2012’s for the first time since bottling. Its always nice as we are all very close friends despite being in business together. We brought a bunch of other wines too add in. The food was excellent. As for the wines:
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2006 Marcassin Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Golden in color. The nose is nice with citrus (tangerine) and vanilla. Perhaps the proverbial creamsicle nose. Very creamy on the palate. Not a lot of acidity, but quite delicious. There is oak, but its enjoyable and not obnoxious. Worked well alone, but also with food. Going back at the end of the night and it had not budged much. Years left in this, but complex now. (94 pts.) -
2009 Chester’s Anvil Gretna Green Stagecoach Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
I haven’t had this vintage in a while. Its still outstanding if different than release. The floral quality is gone from the nose. Left is a mineral quality with a bit of fruit, perhaps peach. On the palate, the acidity is more pronounced but still well within bounds. Perhaps its even more food friendly. Still crisp and not tasting over the hill in any way. Some lemony notes on the finish. I would drink these up though in the next year or two as the fruit is fading a bit. Of course, it depends on what you like. (91 pts.) -
2011 Rhys Alesia Chardonnay Alder Springs Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
My first time trying this wine. Light golden in color. The nose has lemon/citrus. Also some fresh oak. On the palate, there is crisp lemons, nice acidity, vanilla and some fresh cut oak. I think another year will benefit this wine as it integrates. It will never be a fruit bomb, but has enough lemon fruit and great acidity to develop a bit I think. Glad to have more. (91 pts.) -
2010 SonkinCellars Persona - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
In a great place right now. Pnp, it did close up a bit for a time, then reopened. I don’t believe this is quite at peak yet, another year or two. I would recommend a few hours of slow ox. -
2012 SonkinCellars Persona - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Partners meeting. First time trying this wine out of bottle. I love the new labels. IMO, this is our best vintage yet. The wine was pnp and really needs air. I would say 48 hours of slow ox at this time. Still, this is our most complex wine with a smoothness to it. It has elegance and power. I know I am biased, but it got my attention. All the good Whitehawk fruit, but less savage than the prior releases. There is an underlying depth that is also not in the 2010 drunk by its side. I am excited to see where this goes. -
2012 SonkinCellars Unmasked - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands
Again, first time trying this wine out of bottle at our partners meeting. This is a new wine for us. It is more of an AFWE style wine. The label says 13.9 but in reality it came in around 13% alc. The fruit is mostly from Halcon vineyard. The group preferred the Persona, but I thought they would. Its a style thing. This is everything I was trying to achieve with this wine. More in the cote Rotie style, but still California. Its a real baby. I would say, it needs five years minimum to peak and likely 7. Time will tell. Its more about depth, dark and red cherry fruit (than say black raspberries). Lots of minerals. Its complex. There is some other stuff blended in small quantities here which gives it a complexity and a brightness. Great acidity and balance. Works well with food. I will really be interested to see the reaction to this wine. I commented that this is a wine that Somm’s will like as it will work well at a restaurant. And of course, I am biased so take this with a grain of salt I guess. -
2004 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
I am not sure how much air this saw, but I think it needs a bit more time. Purple/ruby in color. The nose has plums, cherries, cherry liqueur. Nice acidity. It seems to have depth, but also seemed a bit shut down when I got to it. Some vigorous swirling brought it back, only to disappear in the glass again. I think there is a huge upside on this wine, but I would wait a few more years. (92 pts.) -
2006 Sineann Pinot Noir Reserve Schindler - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Glass cork. Wow, I was surprised at how nicely this was drinking. Ruby in color, some purple. The nose has cherries, macerated cherries, some wet hay, slight barnyard. complex and layered on the palate. Perhaps getting to peak, but lots of time left. If you have more than one, this should be opened right now. Very pretty wine. It has changed a lot since its youth, losing some boisterous fruit and gaining a softer complexity. (93 pts.) -
2002 Paloma Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
A sentimental wine opened for my partners Tom and Kathy. Pop and pour. The nose has camphor, dark cherries, slight chocolate. Still tasting youthful. It probably would have benefitted from some air. Showing a nice layered complexity on the palate. Smooth and juicy. Great dark cherry fruit. Nice balance. Long finish. I wish I had more time with this, but it was getting late. (92 pts.) -
2008 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
My first time trying this wine. Others may like it more than I. Its nice, but, for me, lacked something. Ruby in color. The nose is good, just a bit of stink along with cherries, and spices. On the palate, medium bodied. Nice cherry fruit. Good acidity. Its a very good wine, just not at that top level. Tom W. paid the PC price of $25 for the bottle and that is a nice value for sure. (89 pts.) -
2006 Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Perhaps not as good as a prior bottle I had, this is still quite good. There is a lot of stink on the nose which surprised me a bit. Very strong barnyard, but also some cherries and spice. Stilly young, but starting to show some nice layering. Good acidity and balance. Nice cherry fruit on the palate. Opened late, and I was tiring, but I think this is nearing maturity and should at least be checked in on. (91 pts.)
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