2011 Ramonet Puligny Enseigneres - This was a couple of days old - I followed its evolution over those two days in the fridge, and it was consistently underwhelming. A touch too oaky and very anonymous, lacking concentration and aromatic intensity. A dud bottle? Provenance should be solid, it came from a good store.
2012 Schloss Saarsteiner Riesling Kabinett - From one of my favorite vineyards - I’ve never understood why this gets so little attention. This doesn’t have the depth of the 2012 Lauer Ayler Kupp Kabinett, or the explosive aromatics of the Prum or Willi Schaefer 2012s, but its not far off. Piercing, laser like acidity and a beautiful greenness - grass and herbs (more tarragon / borage than provencal)- underlie lime and pineapple. Perhaps the least ripe 2012 Saar Kabinett I’ve had yet, and that’s a compliment. Delicious.
2001 Chateau Beaucastel - Heat damage. Chocolate and caramel. Seemed ‘off’ at first and only grew more odd with several hours of air.
2000 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot - Sweet plum and black cherry, lots and lots of rich chocolate, tons and tons of provencal herbs, and fresh acidity. VERY ripe fruit profile, but structurally this is fairly balanced.
2011 EMH Black Cat Cabernet - Leftovers from a EMH tasting that Corey had gone to earlier in the weekend. Excellent! Shows the warmth of the site with its black fruit, but this also is gloriously complex -at moments, this smells like crushing thyme leaves in your hand. Remarkably open for a young cab - perhaps not the structure for long agining - but this reminds me of the better mature bottles of Montelena I’ve had, so I’m not sure thats much of a loss. My favorite wine of the day.