Some weekend tastes amidst some really beautiful north Georgia weather.
2005 Argyle Pinot Noir Nuthouse - USA, Oregon (5/31/2009)
Very bright red cherry palate backed by some firm acidity and slightly drying tannins. Opens with air and dances a fine line between sweet red fruit, cinnamon notes, and really fine structure. Seems that there is a good 5 years left in the one. I liked it a good deal.
2004 Domaine Pavelot Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru La Dominode - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Savigny-lès-Beaune 1er Cru (5/30/2009)
Friend whipped up a killer duck dish from the FAT cookbook…Floral nose, with smoke and wet stones too. Somewhat linear, the sense of dark fruit and cocoa lurking behind a stony-steely palate. Very nice with duck breast in blackberry-port sauce that really popped the palate here. Good show for the money.
2004 Arcadian Syrah Westerly Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (5/29/2009)
Again, terrific weight in the mouth. Sweet blackberry fruit, balanced by a bright, lively acidity. I feel it’s posed for showing its real strength in a couple years. It’s quite nice, now, though.
2006 Moshin Vineyards Pinot Noir Lost Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (5/27/2009)
Enjoyed this when we visited Moshin last summer. Tonight it seemed flabby hot and awfully sweet upfront. Too much alcohol poking about, too. Not really what I was hoping for; though not all together uninteresting. Needs time.