TNs: Sea Smoke Ten 2005, Roederer l'Ermitage 2000

WINE TALK
1

Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley l’Ermitage 2000:
You don’t seem to see many reviews on this wine for some reason. Its really a pretty good wine. Rich and crisp, packed with flavors like Fuji apple, roasted pear, ginger snaps and ground spices. I’m not really sure this will age too much more but its a nice drink now. 89 points

Sea Smoke Cellars Pinot Noir Ten 2005:
This was my last bottle of 2005 Sea Smoke. Based on this tasting I am thrilled. This was just awful to be honest. The nose smelled of alcohol, candied cherries and stewed prunes (Medjool dates maybe?). Putting the wine to my lips was torture; trying to find something that wasn’t off-putting about it was pretty hard. I let my wife try it and she suggested “that it didn’t taste like any Sea Smoke she had had before” and “that it was like fruit juice splashed with Vodka.” I stopped buying these guys wines but I still have a bit in the cellar. I think I will have to try something else out soon. BTW- I was so disappointed I decided not to open anything else.*** 81 points**

***** I gave the nearly full bottle to an ITB friend of mine the next day. He thought it was “gross” and full of VA. FWIW, I didn’t note any VA.

2

Wow - sounds like there must have been something wrong with the Sea Smoke. I have a couple of bottles of the 05 TEN sitting around. Perhaps I’ll have to dig into one of them and see what it’s like.

3

Yeah, I’m thinking the same, or, perhaps, take that high bid that came through on Vinfolio!

4

Oh there was plenty wrong with it . . .

I am at a loss as to why only a single bottle out of every 2005 Sea Smoke I purchased tasted this way. Every bottle was stored the same. The only difference: this bottle was the most long in tooth.

5

That is pretty strange. I’ve only ever had one bad bottle from Sea Smoke and it was an amazingly corked 06 Southing.

6

Tried 2007 Seasmoke 2 weeks ago and it beyond sucked.

7

What was wrong with it? Which bottling was it?

8

2007 Southing (sorry left that part out).

It was very “grapey” and for me, undrinkable.

9

When I had that one a few weeks ago it just seemed quite tannic and backwards to me at this point. I don’t remember it being especially ‘grapey’.

10

i am not a “professional” critic but have been drinking SS within the context of a considerable CA PN experience since the 2002 vintage. wine needs 5 years sideways to begin to show its stuff and TEN needs more than that IMO. only Botella is approachable young and i loved the 2004 we drank this summer.

i would decant 2005 Southing 3+ hours now and wouldn’t approach any younger Sea Smoke offering yet.

11

I saw a similar note in CT to the original post for the 06 Southing. Interesting.

I agree with Rob about the 07. It’s certainly fruit forward at this young stage to be sure, but when I hear it is “grapey,” I think cough syrup, and I didn’t find it anywhere near that.

12

All I can say is that the wine appeared to “correct” but did not taste good.

It was a wholesale tasting. The Schoolhouse next to it was completely off, and half empty. I had them replace that btl after I smelled it.

The Sea Smoke was just bad wine, IMO.

I think I have some 2005 in the “cellar.”

I will crack one soon.

13

I had the 98 last month. I still have a couple and wanted to check in on it. It was still incredibly young and fresh. My favorite domestic sparkler.

14

Not good, I’ve got ten of them on the way.

15

I ran across 3 of th 1993 for a great price, and enjoyed all of them this year.

16

I got my allocation. Will sell easily.

Some people like this stuff, as mentioned above.

17

I second what Glenn just said !!