TNs: SHANE and SPELL--Shane Finley Hangs Out In The OC

WINE TALK
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A few notes from last night, with Shane down to chill with the gang. One thing that I took away from last night is both the challenge and skill that comes with tasting a lot of wines in one setting. I really appreciate and respect those that can pull off TNs over the course of a long flight, with the inclusion of food, setting and other pleasurable distractions that come with an offline or dinner setting. Case in point is the 2008 Judge bottling below. Much better able to appreciate this wine tonight, and it becomes more clear to me that my best TN perspective is acheived when I can spend time with a wine and really appreciate what it is, even better if I like it!

Thanks again for Shane for stopping in–safe travels, man. And thanks for the group coming out last night.

SHANE FINLEY VISITS THE OC - Fratello’s Laguna Niguel (2/3/2010)

We are getting pretty good about having Shane down and keeping it real @ Fratello’s. 17of us hung out last night and enjoyed what I think Frenchmeister counted as 40 bottles. I didn’t have the 'nad to TN all the bottles and while I took some notes, I tried to focus on the wines Shane brought, since I buy and drink these wines, of which last night a few were new releases I had yet to taste. I am certain that Wet Rock or Mr London have some additional TNs should they see the post. Overall, a good time and I survived to do a full day of work today.

  • 2008 Spell Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
    Tasted upon opening and then later in the meal to create a final TN. Lots of nice spice on the wine (not brown spice) but spice in the aromatics. With 30% whole cluster, this I am sure adds some to the mix. Lots of darker fruit, but more blue to me than black, along with what my notes say was a hint of cranberry. Forest floor with some tart on the edge and even some loam on the finish. Damn solid with a star next to my notes.
  • 2008 Spell Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
    As compared to the Spell SCoast, this shows the AVA in which it came. And to in comparison, have to say I prefer the SC over this RRV. Lots of raspberry, hint of raspberry jam, red apple, a medium frame and seeming less defined and complex than the SC, more singular at this stage.


  • 2007 Shane Syrah The Unknown - USA, California, Sonoma County
    We also had with the 2008 Unknown this 2007, which was served direct from bottle. Has a similar nose to the 2008 Jemrose, what my notes say again as bloody/marrow. Seems to have a decent amount of what I thought was wood tannin, like barrel tannin on the tongue, but given the whole cluster in this wine, I may have missed the mark on this point. Smooth palate, olive and my main impression, this wine has softened up a lot since it first was released with the other 2007s. Drinking much smoother now.
  • 2008 Shane Syrah The Unknown - USA, California, Sonoma County
    Of the 2008 Shane, seems the tighest to me and most wrapped up. Primary and youthful, along with tannic. It did soften with some air and of the 2008s, this was the only cuvee I did not pour to the decanter (as we did with the Jemrose and Judge cuvees). Plush and full weighted with olive, chocolate and chalk. Needs time. I did buy 2 in my recent order and I will hold them until at least end of 2010 before I try another one.
  • 2008 Shane Syrah Jemrose Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
    For me, the standout of the three Shane 2008 syrahs. Was poured to decanter and was served from it throughout the meal. Has that bloody smell, with iron notes, too. Smooth and balanced. With time, it seemed to tighten, which I pointed out to Shane. Not released yet and will need some time but very nice and will stand out.
  • 2008 Shane Syrah Judge Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley
    This is a big ass wine, the biggest of the Shane 2008s. Big flowery nose, with ripe syrah expression, even some heat. The palate shows a big push of dark fruit, spicy, with iron ore and a dark finish. I have about 8 ounces left from last night so intend to revisit and sure I got the wine nailed properly…and retasting the wine tonight, at home in a different setting and with 24 hours of air time, the wine appears different. First, the aromatic seems more floral now, including what is like a crushed mint note, which I included as heat last night. Is there heat aromatically now? Nope. The palate is full of dark backberry fruit, with some juiciness, bittersweet chocolate and some faint licorice and mineral. While I was not wowed by this wine last night, I can say now that I like it much more as it walks both between flamboyant and pure. Will need another year of bottle age to really soften.

Posted from CellarTracker

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Frank,

This was a very fun evening!

I also enjoyed the 08 Jemrose syrah. Those blood, iodine, iron notes really hit a sweet spot for me.

The Spell Sonoma Coast did it for me as well, showcasing that cranberry, sage and spice.

Other standouts for me:

2006 Copain Roussanne - great balance, banana peel, melon, rich oily texture, incredible finish
2006 Betz La Serenne - deep, rich, powerful Syrah
2002 Pouilly-Fuissé - don’t recall the producer, but this was crisp, stark, loaded with minerals, white flowers, tart fruits

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I also immensely enjoyed the Sonoma Coast Pinot - in fact, I took it with me (the leftovers) and am polishing off the bottle right now, and it’s even better.

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Thanks to Frank and Shane for a great night. It was great to see Shane let lose and relax after a tough month. This was the first OC offline for me and my wife Sahba, and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Thanks to the usual suspects for welcoming us.

Just to create the full echo effect: My favorites were…you guessed it…the Spell SC Pinot and Shane Jemrose Syrah.

I was pleasantly surprised by the Spell Pinots, not that I wasn’t impressed with them at Falltacular, but they really showed well last night. Signed up for the Spell list before I hit the bed when I got home. Per Shane’s prediction, they showed true to their appellation. I particularly enjoyed the darker fruits/orange peel/asian spice in the SC.

The Jemrose was my favorite syrah, with a floral nose, dark fruit and balanced finish. Looking forward to this one in the summer release. I also enjoyed both 2007/2008 Unkowns, but they both need a couple of years. The 2007 was definitely more open and more evolved, but it’s still a year or two from impressing. I hope to pick up some 2008 Unknown sometime this spring if I can find the budget.

Others that I enjoyed were the 98 CdP and the Savennier, neither of which I can recall the producer.

Thanks again!

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thx to everyone for coming out to taste the wines! and special thx to frank for organizing!!

i was very happy w/how the wines showed. the judge is definitely the biggest wine ive made to date…i threw 100% whole cluster at it and it didnt even make a dent. to be honest, i didnt set out to make the wine that evocative but the vineyard is a beast and so it goes…

thx to steve n for bringing the 07 jemrose…i hadnt tasted that baby for at least 6 months…and for me that was the biggest surprise…i really liked how it’s setting down and showing its northern rhone/spice side…

i was bummed i blanked on the spell svd pinots…but w/some many wines on the table we were probably better off, but i did want to show the barton with 2/3 whole cluster and 0 new oak.

thx again to evrybody…fyi im applying to my oc passport in the near future [thankyou.gif]

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Shane, I finished the 2008 Judge last night, which was about a 6 ounce glass. It had fully fleshed out and really settled into a clear CA style. It lost most of thatr big/awkward presence which is how it showed duing the dinner, when we both discussed the size of the wine.

Curious, when do the Judge and Jemrose get released?

Sorry again for opening that damn Barton during Falltacular. hitsfan

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the 08 jemrose and judge will be out in june…