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2005 Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir La Neblina - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/12/2009)
14.4% alcohol. This is superb Pinot. Bing cherry color. Gorgeous bouquet of sour cherry and black cherry, with tightly focused mineral, spice, and earth notes to it. The nose just kept opening up and becoming more endearing with air. It was tremendous. In the mouth, a laser beam. Stunning, slightly tart cherry fruit, with marvelous layers of spice and earth, giving this great complexity. Strong acidity keeps things bright. Long finish that shows a bit of tannin. A-/A -
2006 Siduri Pinot Noir Parsons - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/12/2009)
14.1% alcohol. Young. Opened one hour before drinking but not decanted. Drinks tight. Not much bouquet at first, but black cherry, blackberry, spice, and a whiff of heat come out of the glass with air. In the mouth, rather stout, if a touch inelegant. The fruit is tasty, with a bit of oak popping through. Quite sharp acidity. Solid finish, but a touch of heat. B+ -
2006 Marqués de la Concordia Rioja Crianza - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (8/10/2009)
13.5% alcohol. This is a terrific QPR wine. Bright nose of pure Tempranillo fruit, with no oak influence, even though it’s aged in plenty of American and French oak. There aren’t any dill notes. It’s pure red fruit and minerals, with a touch of floral quality. In the mouth, racy and bright. There’s terrific structure, but it’s a pretty slinky wine. Simple and fruity, this is terrific to drink and the acidity would be a great match for food. -
2004 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/9/2009)
14.2% alcohol. Opened two hours before drinking but not decanted. Beautiful cherry color. Fragrant bouquet of black cherry, spice, flowers, and minerals. You can sense the life of the wine in the nose. And on the palate, it delivers a lively, racy burst of black cherry fruit, mineral-laced spice, and bright acidity. Long finish. A- -
2004 Porter Creek Pinot Noir Fiona Hill - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/9/2009)
13.5% alcohol. Similar to the first bottle. There is just something riper and a touch flabby about this wine. Ripe nose of blackberry and black cherry, some spice, and a touch of port-like notes. In the mouth, smooth and pretty nice texturally. The fruit feels a bit subdued. There is just a bit of a tired edge to the wine, though it wakes up with a nice kick of acidity. It fades again on the finish. This was better young and fresh. B -
2006 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/8/2009)
14.5% alcohol. Big, ripe Cab that is showing quite well right now. Big black-fruited nose with a touch of tobacco-laced earth. In the mouth, ripe and plush but retains its sense of balance. Not flabby, it packs in terrific fruit but it drinking a bit closed down in the center palate. Good acidity. Excellent finish, with a touch of oak and strong tannins. This is going to need a couple more years before it really comes into the prime window. B+/A- -
2008 Copain Tous Ensemble - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (8/8/2009)
13.4% alcohol. A really lovely rose that is the picture of summer. Light nose of watermelon, strawberry, and a hint of minerals and flowers. In the mouth, elegant and delightful. Tickles the palate with summer fruits that refresh your tongue. Elegant and balanced, with a solid finish. A- -
2007 Siduri Pinot Noir Sonoma County - USA, California, Sonoma County (8/7/2009)
14.1% alcohol. Such a pretty wine. Funky upon first opening, and the funk stays with the bottle most of the way. Beautiful black cherry and spice on the nose, with perhaps a hint of warmth. In the mouth, just drinking beautifully. Full of black cherry and blackberry fruit, a hint of earth and spice, and good acidity. Solid finish. Hard to find more value in Pinot than this. A- -
N.V. Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée Brut - France, Champagne (8/7/2009)
12.0% alcohol. From half bottle. Such a beautiful bottle of wine. Light straw color, with terrific bubbles. Gorgeous bouquet of apple, pear, brioche, a touch of creaminess, minerals, and a hint of citrus. In the mouth, the linear, focused power of Krug just explodes. The fruit pours across the palate, bolstered by strong acidity and structure, with a creamy, effervescent complexity about it. Superb, long finish. Outstanding and living up to the pedigree. A-/A -
2006 Nicolas Potel Côte de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Nuits Villages (8/4/2009)
13.0% alcohol. Initially tasted from a bottle open since August 1. Reticent bouquet, showing a touch of caramel from oak and dried sour cherry. In the mouth, bright with slightly subdued fruit but a delicious cranberry and sour cherry profile. Strong acidity and a solid finish. Then, from a fresh bottle, and this is such a pretty wine. You can see its quality. Bright cherry color. Gorgeous nose of red cherry, minerals, and flowers. In the mouth, laser-like and irresistible. Cuts a solid line across your tongue, with sour cherry, light spice, rich earth, and a compelling, light floral note. Excellent acidity and a solid finish. Young but pretty. A- -
2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/28/2009)
14.9% alcohol. Easily the best showing for this wine so far. A bright nose of black cherry, blackberry, and spice, with just a touch of heat rising out of the glass. In the mouth, plush and velvety, with that beautiful texture Kosta Browne is so good at achieving. The fruit bursts forth, with a hint of red cherry and cherry pie coming through on the palate. Not overly complex, but there is a nice spice and earth hint. Good acidity. Very long finish, tinged by a little heat. These just needed time. A- -
2005 Thibault Liger-Belair Bourgogne - France, Burgundy, Bourgogne (7/18/2009)
Some funk on the nose, with a lot of red and black cherry. In the mouth, attractive, lively, and somewhat simplistic. But a tasty, smooth drinker. Solid finish. B+
Posted from CellarTracker