TNs: 05 Lillian, 04 Kosta Browne RRV and 03 Carlisle PS

WINE TALK
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Oh, it’s been some time since I shared three bottles over an evening, moreso that it was just two of us. Thanks to Sean for coming over, playing some cards and providing the Lillian and the KB. After 5 hours, Sean took down the victory through a modified game of gin, what we call Rosebay Gin. We developed the game years ago and it still holds up well, especially with wine along side. Overall, the three wines below showed pretty well. We chilled down the KB and let it come to room and even at room, while it picked up some weight, did not have for me any heat tones. The Carlisle, to Sean’s comment last night, is a bit leaner than expected, especially if one places it alongside the 2002 Carlisle, which for me is still the best petite Mike has made to date, although the more recent bottlings I have high expectations for. The Lillian, very interesting and impressed me very much. While I did not order this year, I expect to take down some of the next release, as the flavors and style of this wine are very much what I enjoy stylistically in syrah, and as I said below, if someone would have blind served me the Lillian, I would have guessed something made by Wells, even Cayuse. Anyway, Friday night bites the dust over some nice bottles…thanks, Sean.

  • 2003 Carlisle Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (8/8/2009)
    Ripe nose but not raisiny nor pruny. Generous texture, plum, blackberry with some grip and the finish that closes down. At the same time forward with petite richness but not as big as some petites. Can let it age or drink. Our aeration time was 2 hours before the bottle was drained.
  • 2004 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/8/2009)
    I would say drink it now. We put some chill on the wine so that we could track it as it warmed. Even as it came to room temp, it did not lose its way, nor show any heat edges. Brown spice, some elements of asian 5 spice, with candied apple and raspberry, too. There is some trailing acidity but letting this go any longer, IMO, is not going to improve the wine so get it wile the fruit is still center.
  • 2005 Lillian Winery Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (8/8/2009)
    I think I last tried this wine about 18 months ago, during a wine dinner in Portland. Since then, the wine for me has become more expressive and in the vein of Cayuse or Copain, with the stem notes, lavender, campfire smokiness, olive, blue and black fruit and a grapey texture with some oak overtones. Finishes with menthol and good length. I was very impressed by this tasting of the wine.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Well, the next morning is actually this morning but getting through 3 bottles is not something I am used to [truce.gif] . Was more common when I was 24, not 44.

Anyway, I plan to drain off the last glass of Lillian later today and then I’ll repost a final impression as I want to see if my note from last night stands up. Cris and I disagree more often on wines then we agree so if it doesn’t thrill him, well then, we would have statistical validity. [winner.gif] neener

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Don’t get me wrong, the Lillian is good. It’s just not $65 good. And the style is a bit soft for me.

This reminds me I need to order my Lucia Susan’s Hill. A better wine at 2/3’s the money. [wink.gif]

4

Interesting comments Frank…I really do like the Lillian and I am hoping it does not turn “Cayuse like.” I know the Cayuse releases are popular as well as controversial, but in my limited experiences, I have not really enjoyed them.

Cheers!
Marshall [wink.gif]

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[quote=“Frank Murray III”]Well, the next morning is actually this morning but getting through 3 bottles is not something I am used to [truce.gif] . Was more common when I was 24, not 44.

I second that. 3 bottle nights are for a younger man’s world.

Thank you Frank and Jill for the pizza, cheese, and breakfast. As for the wines, my take is along the same lines as frank with the Carlisle really standing out to me as a well balanced eloquent PS.

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Sean, glad you could make it by.

As a follow back on the Lillian, much softer today and showing a mix of red and black notes with an allure of chocolate and more silky. Very much softened up overnight.

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I’m such a sheep, i signed up for the mailing list a bit back cause everyone was talking about it. This was a week after I tried it and really wasn’t a fan at the price point. bahhhh is me.

8

Definitely would jump on the pro-Lillian bandwagon here. Had the 2005 two times now thanks to Carrie, and both times it showed very well. One of the times, at a SQN offline, it certainly held its own, making me think, $65 is quite a deal! It is a special wine IMO . . .

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Charlie,
If you have any of the Lillian left bring it to Berserkerfest flirtysmile

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Or sell it to me! [berserker.gif]