So great to have special time in the evening with Jim Salvito and Perry Norton in Santa Barbara. I was super-thrilled to see Phil Carpenter again after many years (and owe him much thanks for helping to set up so much of my SB tasting array) and Larry Schaffer joined us with his son, Jackson spinning some tunes for us on his iPad----and very well done indeed!
The Wines:
2010 Prager Achleiten Ries
I brought this especially for Perry and was delighted at how much she loved it. So did I. Nothing else is this–steel…iron, even…and lime and very crisp apple scents. Dazzling again–it sucks you right in with super-controlled acidity, lime and white pepper bite. There is so much grand authority to the wine. WOTN.
2014 Tercero The Outlier Gewurtz
Larry brought a couple wines with him, including this one. Very perfumed nose, lots to like. Ditto on the palate, nice sweet and easy-but-yummy drink
2005 J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Ries Spatlese
Fuel up. The diesel is not a small component here! But it works. And this is a Spat for sure–slams into you with apple-filled donut with some gas. It is a classic German Ries.
2009 Alban Roussanne
It’s sleeping now, but you can smell the power. Ton of marzipan, buttered greens. Powerhouse is right–thick with a bitter pear and melon. I can’t love it, at least not right now.
2005 Kosta-Browne Amber Ridge PN
Well, this was a lovely surprise for Larry to bring along. I haven’t had this in a coon’s age. Settles down to cinnabon and citrus-tinged red cherry. I am impressed—after 13 years, it still holds its grainy-coating richness. Where it has changed is the fruit, which seems overripe and macerated now. And yet—with a couple days’ air, the fruit actually freshens up.
2017 Lucien Crochet Rose
Sancerre Rose. Very tangy and herb-centric with raspberry and cranberry. Though much-liked by the group, I don’t think this was the best of these–I’ll take the Cotat Chavignol version any day.
2001 Chateau Guiraud
Jim has had this full in the fridge for a long time. Decided to open it. The “typical” for me custard and baked caramel nose. To taste, salted caramel, but expressing very little. Is this one of the tilted Guirauds from this year? I told Jim to leave it open for a day and try it the next. I’ll check in with him to see what happened.
Much more importantly than the wine or food was the camaraderie and conversation which brought me ever closer to these great friends. It was terrific to meet Jackson as well, he was a trooper to stay with us.
Mike