TNs: Numerous Poor Experiences- Alban, Paul Hobbs, Bordeaux, Etc.

WINE TALK
1

I have a string of bad/flawed/corked bottles recently, as well as a number of serious under-performers. I thought I would collect all the notes here. Not that they really go together . . . other than their collective disappointment!

Le Clementin Pape-Clement 2005:
Corked. I have a few more. I’ll check this one out again soon. Underneath were some fruit and smoke aromas. NR/Flawed

Fontenil 2000:
Smelled like stewed prunes and burnt dates. Methinks someone roasted this bottle for fun (either in the sun or on a grill) and then gifted it to me as a gag. What friends I have! NR/Flawed

Leoville-Poyferre 2001:
I remember liking this wine a lot more the last few times I had it. In fact I remember remarking to someone that I thought Bob had criminally underrated it! It seems irony was poking at me with a stick while I was sipping on this disaster of a bottle. Drank and smelled like a pipe shop and road tar. Don’t know who stole the fruit but I’m pressing charges. Right at the end a whip of acid snaps at your tongue. Ouch. 83 points

Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard 2002:
This smelled like what I imagine being marooned in the middle of the desert with the Kool-Aid Man would be like- that sweaty bastard, leaking fruit and sugar everywhere and just beaming with heat. This wine wanted to scream “Oh Yeah!” but moments after hitting my lips the Kool-Aid Man put his head to the floor in shame, shook it a little and whispered “oh no . . .” 80 points
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir Hyde Vineyard 2005:
I normally enjoy Paul’s wines. In fact I have been on his mailing list for a long time. This wine was a huge disappointment. This tasted like the bastard love child of Kosta Brown and Mollydooker (I appologize if you enjoy these wines). Candied Robitussin mixed with tart cranberries and all carefully stirred by a 2x4 coated in vanilla extract. What happened here? I can only think of GN’R’s I Used to Love Her . . . 83 points

2

Nope that is how Fontenil ages. Drink it young. I loved the '98 upon release and aged a few and they tasted and smelled exactly as you describe. It’s the Rolland magic touch! rolleyes

3

The man is a genius. If only I liked his wines young. [bleh.gif]

4

Conventional wisdom is that you are correct, the wines are crap. You could take the professionals’ opinions on the matter, and age the wines for another 10-20 years, at which point you would wish that more of them were corked :wink:

5

Josh, of course you are right. But if only I could erase some of those unpleasant taste memories . . .

6

Liotta- You just need to drink better wines. Try some of the boxed stuff. neener