TN: With ribeyes at the lake (Pride, Opus, Hillaire CdP, l'aventure)

WINE TALK
#1

01/23/10: NO DOGS WITH RIBEYES AT THE LAKEHOUSE - (1/23/2010)

We popped this contribution from Larry along with some leftover Grey Stack Sauv Blanc and a Larkmead Sauv Blanc.

  • 2008 Dutcher Crossing Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
    13.6% ABV. 84% Sauv Blanc, the balance Viognier, Roussanne, and Semillon. Medium straw in the glass. High pitched mineral resin and somewhat vague white fruit nose. Medium bodied with a somewhat creamy texture - i’m guessing this saw some oak. A little bit short, but pretty good.


  • 2007 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    14.5% ABV. Dark ruby garnet translucent in the glass. Complex balsa wood, garrigue, red fruit nose with a touch of a meaty savory element. Perfumed. Medium full bodied and rich with lovely savory/sweet black cherry fruit. Mouthfilling. Very good. I enjoyed this more than some higher rated '07 CdPs i’ve tried. Nice. (94 pts.)
  • 2005 Opus One - USA, California, Napa Valley
    14% ABV. Served with rib eyes. Dark garnet, translucent in the glass. Complex nose of cedar, mocha and a kiss of mint. Rich dark currant fruit. Medium full bodied. Rather seamless and elegant. Drinking just fine right now. There’s a part of me that wants to dog this wine, but it is really pretty good juice, albeit an expensive one. 93-94? (93 pts.)
  • 2004 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
    14.7% ABV. Dark garnet, mostly opaque in the glass. Red currant with a touch of charcoal and iodine on the nose. Rich red currant on the palate with secondary coffee, caramel, and cedar notes. Focused, but also a little narrow. Has some lingering tannin in the finish to suggest this could age a couple more years. Very good, but short of extraordinary. (93 pts.)
  • 2004 L’Aventure Syrah Estate - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
    16.4% ABV. Inky in the glass with a little translucence at the rim. Meaty/charred meat nose. Sweet attack of red raspberry fruit and bramble. Rich full bodied and still very youthful. With a little air the fruit seemed to slide back and forth between raspberry and blackberry. Still a little chewy. Very good. (94 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

#2

Nice to see that Opus is starting to make a qualitative turn back to the good old days…still kinda on the expensive side though.

#3

Bill,
You got it. I won’t be adding it to my cellar any time soon, but if someone else wants to pour it, it’s not half bad.

Best,
James

#4

James,

Nice notes. Hope to see you again soon.

#5

Nice notes James. I have a couple of the 2004 L’Aventure Syrahs and look forward to poping one soon. Too bad Stephan at L’Aventure is not making a stand alone Syrah any more. [swearing.gif]

#6

I agree with the Opus. I drank the 2003 on a cruise in October. Very nice, but for the price and in this market, no way.