2015 Kutch Sonoma Chard
I haven’t let one of these age this way. The result was interesting—plenty of vibrancy and life, but also for me some clear lactic notes have joined the yellow fruit. It’s softened some on the finish as well, though still a long way from buttery. I may have slightly preferred the earlier-drinking version, but enjoyed by all at the table.
2014 Rhys Bearwallow PN
This was great. Opened with no decanting, tinges of coffee and earth are subsumed by the fine cherry and strawberry notes. The palate is giving, balanced and long, with very clear berry and cherry fruit and just a whisper of cinnamon. A fine, fine effort, wish I had more.
2015 Val di Suga Brunello
I decided to check in on this. 3 hours decant. The aromatics are beguiling–and were so right from the pour into the decanter—redolent leather and black forest cake. While the fruit is discernible on the palate and will be there for a long time, the palate is still very rugged and forceful at this point. I would hesitantly say that it will be 8 years to full window opening for this wine. Enjoyed it for what it may turn out to be.
2010 Miguel Torres Mas da Plana Penedes Cab
Nice bring from Tran here. Haven’t had their Cab, I don’t think. The time has done this wine some good, quite settled presentation with blackberry nose and mouth and small accents of herbs. Not too much and not too little here. Again, enjoyed it just fine.
2019 Mt. Horrocks Cordon Cut Watervale Ries
I think this is right–I didn’t take a close enough look at the bottle. A dessert bring from Tran, this was a very odd duck for me. It showed tropical fruit and while there was some liveliness and almost salivating curl, it also tasted like two wine expressions that didn’t want to play with each other at all. I am glad to have tried it, but this–which I believe sees passito treatment–is maybe not a treatment for Riesling that works for me.
Haere Ra,
Mike