2004 Ridge Grenache Lytton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
– popped and poured –
– tasted a single glass non-blind over 20 min. –
– 75% Grenache, 16% Petite Sirah, 9% Zinfandel –
A bit funky with American oak and hints of spice on the nose. Color is rustic mahogany, and is of medium depth. Medium bodied on the palate. Earthy, spices, figs & plums - a very elegant style. I would recommend drinking this in the near term.
2007 Sandler Wine Company Zinfandel Buck Hill Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County
– popped and poured –
– tasted a single glass non-blind –
Very pretty nose - floral. Pure fruits, not overblown. A nice understated Zin.
2006 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon La Capilla Collection - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind –
Nose is chalky with a hint of mint, cherry, and a slight chemical smell (v/a?). Garnet color of medium depth. Medium bodied. Tannic with good acidity on the palate. Sweet red fruits; a fennel note emerged with extended air time.
2003 Dover Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Hansen Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind –
NOSE: the nose on this started off extremely vegetal, a bit fishy, and a bit of a new car/plastic smell, but changed considerably as it received air: the vegetal element receded quite a bit, and the fishy note disappeared; hint of anise came out, and it had really nice florals somewhat akin to the scents one gets from Bombay Sapphire gin.
BODY: ruby color of medium depth; medium bodied.
TASTE: started out very grenachey, but air exposure lent it more depth, as well as more tannin. Spicy with red fruits on the palate. This was kind of an odd showing for this wine – this wine continues to bring drinking pleasure and intellectual confusion.
2003 Le Vieux Donjon Châteauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind –
NOSE: gorgeous CdP funk - no brett; smells like a good piece of lamb; fruits are there, but not at the forefront.
BODY: rustic mahogany color of medium-light depth; medium bodied – is this really an ‘03?!?
TASTE: earthy; muted fruits; spicy; a bit smoky/underbrushy; extremely surprised at the elegance coming from a CdP from such a hot vintage - this is a light-weight CdP; 14%; our table was divided on the ageability of this wine: I say drink soon, most everyone else says hold. I don’t see this wine having the stuffing to show very well much further down the line, but who knows … maybe that damned Grenache is merely in hiding right now, like it so often does. This is a wine I would be very curious to re-visit in 5 years or so.
2004 Château Pontet-Canet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind –
NOSE: super graphite!! how many No. 2’s were ground-up and dissolved into this puppy!?! pleasant florals; purple fruits hiding in back; extremely tight right now.
TASTE: Medium bodied on the palate. A bit spicy; a hint of Bdx funk; oak; fruits are hiding; tannic. Super tight right now, which surprisingly didn’t make me not like this – in fact, I love this wine. Hold hold hold!!
2006 Dönnhoff Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Spätlese - Germany, Nahe
– popped and poured –
– tasted non-blind –
NOSE: petrol; asian pear; moderately expressive; hint of sweetness.
BODY: medium bodied; pale yellow color.
TASTE: a bit spritzy; lemon curd; very light Spat.; suffering from young Riesling syndrome right now: straightforward, super-tasty on the tongue, and almost no finish to speak of. 8% alc… Hold.
A 2007 Denner - Grenache was also consumed, and was enjoyed by all.
A 2001 Guenoc Vintage Port was also consumed, and enjoyed by all … especially surprised me, not being a port-lover and all.