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2006 Gary Farrell Zinfandel Bradford Mountain Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (8/16/2009)
14.4% alcohol. Opened and refrigerated overnight before drinking. This needed the air time. Aromatic Zin, with lots of spice and red-black fruit on the nose, along with a touch of minerality. In the mouth, a mixture of plush and linear. The fruit is almost crisp, but the spice character really gives a kick on the back side of the palate. Strong acidity that was smoothed out by it being open so long. Long finish. A- -
2007 Copain Syrah Tous Ensemble - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (8/16/2009)
13.5% alcohol. An astonishingly pretty and refined wine. Opened two hours before drinking but not decanted. Fragrant nose of black and blue fruit, with a subtle hint of pepper lurking beneath the surface. In the mouth, opulent, balanced, and concentrated, without any of the sins of California Syrah. There was no heavy, port-like texture here. It’s light on its feet but powerful on the palate, bursting forth with tasty fruit. Good acidity. Refined finish. A- -
2001 Arcadian Pinot Noir Jill’s Cuvée Bien Nacido Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley (8/15/2009)
13.4% alcohol. This took a lot of time to unwind. Still very youthful, but by the time it had been open about five hours, it was really smoking. Initially a bit of tomato on the nose, as Bien Nacido can have sometimes. But this blew off over time, fortunately, revealing a very pretty and addictive nose of red cherry, minerals, flowers, and earth. In the mouth, supremely focused and delivering gorgeous red cherry fruit that was bolstered by ample spice and earth that then ran into a wall of minerals and acidity. Excellent finish. Delicious wine with some more upside coming to it. A-/A -
2005 Scherrer Winery Zinfandel Old and Mature Vines Alexander Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (8/15/2009)
14.5% alcohol. This is such a lovely Zin. Compelling aromatics of black fruit and spice, which are just so uplifting. In the mouth, rather plush but also intensely focused fruit. This is a pleasure to drink. It’s got a Pinot sensibility to it in terms of fruit and structure. Bright acidity. Long finish that shows a bit of tannin. It’s hard to keep your hands off a wine this fine at this stage, but it will develop for another couple years. A- -
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Ewald Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/15/2009)
14.1% alcohol. This is drinking quite well. Black cherry color, actually a touch darker than that. But the nose is strikingly lighter than the color. Beautiful bouquet of black cherry, baking spice, and minerals, with a faint hint of funk behind it. In the mouth, a textural delight, with plenty of black cherry fruit tinged by blackberry, spice, earth, and excellent acidity that shapes the structure of the wine. Long finish that is smooth and adds to the overall sense of balance. A really drinkable wine. A- -
2005 Pali Wine Co. Pinot Noir Inman Olivet Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/14/2009)
13.6% alcohol. This is showing so beautifully. Beautifully fruited nose of black cherry and blackberry, with a hint of floral that’s one of the endearing aspects of this vineyard. In the mouth, lively and fruit-forward, if slightly one-dimensional. Delicious and juicy, with bright acidity and a solid finish. It’s the purity and tastiness of the fruit that carries this wine. A-
Posted from CellarTracker