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2004 Arcadian Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands (5/5/2014)
– popped and poured from a magnum –
– tasted a couple glasses blind, over the course of a couple hours –
Light berries on the Nose, along with some herbs and blueberry. Palate was initially tart and red-berried with some gentle oak tones. I initially thought NZ Pinot Noir, but another attendee’s OR Pinot Noir suggestion had me considering that option, which I hadn’t previously; I ultimately changed my mind to OR Pinot Noir. Over the course of a couple hours, it did seem to both sweeten-up a bit, and also tighten somewhat. Quite ripe, but hides its 15.9% alc. pretty well. This is such an atypical vintage for this wine — I never even considered Arcadian as an option before the reveal.
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1999 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (5/5/2014)
– bottle opened approx… 2.5 hours before tasting –
– tasted a couple pours blind over a couple hours –
Light to medium red color with noticeable bricking throughout; a bit hazy, too. Cork was soaked. Smells aged, with a calm cherry Twizzlers note, as well as a moderate leathery kick. Off the Nose alone, I was thinking aged Napa Bdx. Blend. As soon as I took my first taste, I completely abandoned my Napa Bdx. guess, and settled into a state of confusion. Good acidity; light bodied; red-fruited flavor with some pleasant spice notes; short finish. With my initial taste, I thought this was an older wine that was going to fade in the glass somewhat quickly — when I came back to the wine about 2 hours later, I was surprised to find that the wine really hadn’t changed much at all. I was surprised to see it was this young when it was revealed — I thought it was at least 10 years older than it is — some bad storage suspected.
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2003 Mitolo Shiraz Savitar - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (5/5/2014)
– popped and poured –
– tasted a single pour blind over approx. 30 min. –
The Nose on this showed very young, with ripe purple berries and a minty cherry note. Very peppery on the palate, with ripe red/purple fruit flavors; low acid; I thought this was a CA Central Coast Syrah. Nobody at the table to whom this was blind guessed Aussie; I was additionally surprised to see this wine already in its second decade. Impressive.
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2004 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/5/2014)
– double decanted 1.5 hours before dinner; ultimately poured about 3 hours after decanting –
– tasted a couple pours non-blind over approx. 1.5 hours –
Nose was obviously Napa Cab — ripe purple fruits, a touch floral, and some light-to-moderate oak. Ripe on the palate, but not gloppy; smooth; 14.8% alc. is well-hidden; medium-light oak — I was pleasantly surprised at how well the oak is integrating at this time; shows very young. Impressive showing. I will continue holding my other bottle.
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2006 SYZYGY Saros 139 - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (5/5/2014)
– popped and poured –
– tasted a couple glasses non-blind over approx. 1.25 hours –
– 50% Malbec, 25% Tempranillo, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon –
Nose has lots of very ripe fruits; floral; second glass smelled moderately sweet; smells like a CARhone blend. The palate flavors had me thinking CA Central Coast (raspberry predominant), but the acidity seemed a bit high for me to have much confidence in that thought; 14.9% alc… First glass better than the second — maybe needs a little bit of cellar time.
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2007 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (5/5/2014)
– popped and poured –
– tasted a couple glasses blind, over approx. 1 hour –
The super peppery/stemmy Syrah Nose here had me convinced this was a St. Joseph from a ripe vintage. The palate was bitter with somewhat muted ripe dark fruit flavors; polished (not tannic); young; green; a bit dumb. After I was assured that this was a New World wine, I did guess Cayuse — the killer Nose combined with the muted palate led me there, as that’s exactly the experience I’ve previously had with Cayuse. The second glass showed much more promise than the first, with the wine starting to unfurl and reveal some more focused fruit flavor. 14.6% alc… This bottle, being the second Cayuse I’ve tasted, has me quite befuddled and worried about these wines; despite many opinions to the contrary, maybe Cayuse Syrahs simply need lots of time in the cellar to show well?
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2005 Quintessa - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (5/5/2014)
– popped and poured –
– tasted a couple glasses non-blind over approx. 1 hour –
Nice; high-toned; impressive, well-embedded acidity; moderate oak; not gloppy/heavy; sage sausage; very tight; 14.9%. Will greatly benefit from additional cellaring; maybe my favorite wine of the night, even if it’s not the one I’d necessarily choose as showing the best today.
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2010 Radikon Pinot Grigio - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT (5/5/2014)
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind over 3 days –
NOSE: expressive; faint notes of mint, varnish/expoxy, cigar, and cedar; moderately alcoholic
BODY: hazy tan-amber color — looks like a natural apple cider; medium-light bodied.
TASTE: slight tannin; lots of umami; medium-high acidity; slightly sour; non-descript mineral aspect; light cigar flavor. Interesting, and I liked it.