TNs: Big Reds and BBQ

WINE TALK
#1

BIG REDS AND BBQ - Brand BBQ, Chicago IL (1/9/2010)

I met up with Shane, Ward, and their wives at brand bbq to kick off the year. The general theme was bring a big red that would stand up to the food
opening whites

  • 2004 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
    nose: buttery nose at first along with tones of tropical citrus’, orange peels, meringue and some bits of toasty oak. Excellent balance with good depth, this is almost as textbook of a california chard as you can want. The oak and butter aren’t too overwhelming on the nose to really make them a problem

taste: full bodied with rich and balanced tones of tropical citrus, some butter, orange peels, meringue, spice, and some new oak bits on the back end. Good medium acidity is there as well. The oak lingers a bit much on the back end of the palate, but it isn’t too much either

overall: A textbook cali chard. Well balanced with good tones and a real richness to it. I didn’t get a chance to revisit it later to see if it improved, but this was extremely good and enjoyable (90 pts.)

taste: extremely tasty medium feel with nice medium+ acidity and delicious tones of green apples, minerals, lemon peel, and some bits of peaches. Excellent feel that has real good weight to it and moves very well across the palate

overall: this was served at a bit lower than room temperature. Even with it being slightly warmer then normal, it still had a real nice crispness to it (91 pts.)

The big reds

  • 2003 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
    nose: extremely smokey nose at first that came off as a bit disjointed. With air, it really came together and deepened with well layered tones of black cherries, olives, mineral rich earth, and tart raspberry tones. Great depth and very expressive that draws you in

taste: was slightly hollow on the mid-palate at first and was uninspiring. With air, the feel fleshed out greatly and turned into a satiny medium/full feel with nice smooth tannins and tones of char-smoke, black cherries, mineral rich earth, and raspberry tones

overall: this took a bit to get going. Was told that it had been double decanted for about 2-3 hours. This transformed magnificently and became a real beauty of a wine as it got more air. Great layering on both the nose and palate. This is a very sensual wine and would’ve been fun to follow with for a longer period (93 pts.)

  • 2006 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
    nose: lush and rich nose that struts with rich red cherry tones, olives, some smoke tones, black pepper, bacon fat, and tones of lavender. Has a real tart fruit base on the nose and it really just sings in the glass with great depth and layering

taste: full bodied with a real fat feel as well. Excellent supporting tannins give this a good spine along with deep tones of bacon fat, red cherries, lavender, fresh berries and raspberries along with some smoke tones as well

overall: A young wine, but has the ability to be a real stunner with a bit more age. The fruit on it is just so delicious and deep. Great balance on both the nose and palate, and the nose just sings (94 pts.)

  • 2004 Pax Syrah Cuvée Keltie - USA, California, North Coast
    nose: rich and dark nose of blackberries, black cherries, smoke, anise and spices. Good depth and has a more forward style

taste: full bodied and rich with big tones of blackberries, black cherries, spices, and bits of incense. Excellent balance and it holds the style well along with bringing great depth

overall: Seems to be ready to go for the most part. It isn’t over-ripe, but it is forward and certainly new world (90 pts.)

  • 2003 Château La Nerthe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Cadettes - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
    nose: rich and syrupy nose with tones of hoison, roast beef, black cherries, dark berries, and some sorts of portish/stewed tones. Good depth and holds back a bit of the super-ripe parts of 03. At the same time, it shows off the vintage well

taste: good firm tannins give the backbone to a real good medium feel and tones of hoison, roast beef, black cherries, liqueur, and some dark berry tones. Almost port-like on the palate with a bit of heat on the back end

overall: An interesting CdP. Shows off the vintage with having a port-like quality to the wine and rich tones. Good depth and is certainly coming off young at this time (91 pts.)

A real fun night, and a great way to kick off what promises to be a great year. Laid back atmosphere with real good food and friends always makes for a great combo
Posted from CellarTracker

#2

nice Cayuse notes Keith - who is on their list or were these secondary market wines?

#3
  • 2003 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (1/10/2010)
    In retrospect I would have given this a good 60 minute decant. As it was we did a quick DD and let the bottle breath. Very funky nose out of the gate. Someone got bourbon at first but that blew off quickly. Tons of smoke,red cabbage,black cherries. The palate is in a really great place- silky light but explosive at the same time bringing gorgeous cherries,dust,tobacco,tons of cabbage,black pepper. This just kept changing and changing. One of a kind finish and balance. WOW. (94 pts.)
  • 2006 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (1/10/2010)
    I believe! This is living up to the hype of other notes. This was decanted for 90 minutes. Lush cherries,peppered meats,bacon fat,tobacco,licorice,a nose that just goes on and on. The mouth feel on these 2 Cayuse(this and the 03 En Chambertin we had tonight) are utterly stunning. It is like someone whipped up a mousse for 10 hours and then shot it into your mouth.It is a modern wine but the palate is very earthy and balanced. Such a light but layered delivery. This seems to be poised for aging it will be quite intriguing to see how well these age. (95 pts.)
  • 2001 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (1/10/2010)
    Apricot,lemon,chalk,citrus finish of medium length. A nice little wine if not somewhat one dimensional. (90 pts.)
  • 2004 Pax Syrah Cuvée Keltie - USA, California, North Coast (1/10/2010)
    Meh- a little too new world for me . There are gobs and gobs or dark fruit,licorice, and right now heat. A well made wine
    that delivers a nice big palate- would either decant for a couple hours or sit on this for a few more years. (90 pts.)
  • 2004 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (1/10/2010)
    butter,lemon stone,chalk and apricot. Oak is there but just a kiss. medium finish- Big bold Cali Chard. drink up. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

#4

shane’s on the list, but these were sourced. It was nice to have one with some age on it and one that was young

#5

i like that contast of vintage years too. had the 02 & 03 BF while in W2 last June and an older En Chamberlin, all so good but the 02 BF was a top 5 wine for me last year.

#6

The palate that those wines carried was a very unique one. My first two Cayuse but I would say the hype is justified.