Tasting on December 28, the last in 2007

The last wine tasting of 2007; present were Winepath, Uncle-E, Jimmy and Uncle-N. We tasted 3 wines blind. Very interesting combination of wines.


1. Clos Salomon (Givry) 2005, score=2

Nobody correctly identify this as Burgundy from Givry (in Cote Chalonnaise near Chalon-Sur-Saone) where Winepath has visited in the past. We noticed light color but rather dark for Burgundy. We thought (except for Winepath), nobody will bring Pinot Noir let alone Burgundy to our tasting. Nose is rather austere with crushed stone and faint tar with some red fruits. Again rather austere on the palate with some red fruits. Tannin is rather mild but tasted too acidic. This is Winepath effort to bring our group up to the level of other people who drinks "real" wines.

2. Penfolds Bin389 Cabernet Shiraz 2004, score=2+

The color is inky black. Black fruits and mint on the nose. Nice mouth feel with taste of mainly black fruits, balanced tannin and acid. No real peppery spice on the finish. Some thought this is Shiraz but lack of characteristic black pepper was noted.








3. Tignanello 2004, Score=2

From Antinori Winery, "Super-Toscan". Since 1982 Tignanello is said to have been made from 85% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc but on the label, we could only recognize Sangiovese and Cab Sauv. This has interesting nose (to say the least) with sulfur, cattle manure and unclean toilet (by Uncle-E). Interestingly, these smells dissipated rather quickly. This is rather heavy wine; Sangiovese, Cab sauv, Syrah have been mentioned as possible grapes in this and the nose was definitely "European". The palate is rather austere with blanced tannin and acid with muted black fruits.

Extraordinary tasting of Integrity, Marquis Phillips Shiraz,2003

Well, have to post this: due to Uncle Piroca's generosity, we have tasted the 2003 Marquis Phillips's Integrity (2003 Shiraz from Mc Laren Vale) Present were JuneBug, Winepath, Taddy (you know who you are). Marvelous, a definite 4 to 4+. RP gave it 94 points. Velvety, darker than the darkest night, toasted blue fruit (whatever that means) long vanilla and blackberry. A truly great wine. And I am NOT crazzy about shiraz (usually). Best holiday wishes to all!

BARRELING DAY, AT UNCLE WINEPATH'S WINERY

Today, the Napa-derived merlot was placed in a year-old french 23-liter barrel. The cabernet sauvignon, from central California, was put into a brand new french barrel. Both barrels had a medium toast preparation. Both young wines have high alcohol content, 13-14%; the merlot tastes harsh and fairly acidic, while the cab has deeper color and more pleasant taste. Both young wines have undergone malo-lactic fermentation, following their regular maceration of 8 days on skins and three rackings in individual carboys. We hope to "oak" for approximately 6 months.

Wine Tasting on December 21, 2007

We tasted 4 wines blind and one white wine as an extra (#0). Present are Winepath, Uncle-E, Uncle-N, Piroca, Grasshopper, and Jimmy (full participation). It was a good tasting and all wines are good to drink.

0. Pride Viognier 2006

This was an extra before tasting real wines contributed by Piroca. Nice fruity nose of green apple and hint of citrus. Nice smooth viscous mouth feel with crisp acidity. You do taste some wood. It was said to be fermented and aged in "neutral" oak barrels, (I suppose "neutral" may mean old or used French white oak barrel). Nice long finish. As a white wine, definitely more interesting.

P.S. Carol an I tasted this wine the day after, the character imparted by oaking came out very nicely and more prominently; almost reminded of good old California Chardonnay. Nutty, buttery taste and smooth viscous mouth feel really got pronounced. This is a pleasant surprise from Viognier but this is from Pride after all.

1. El Nido Clio 2005 score=4

Monastrell 70% and Cab Sauv 30%. New world wine from Spain. Uncle-E thought this could be a boutique cab from California such as Bucella (may have been influenced by the heavy bottle).

We are so impressed with 2004. 2005 just came out. We had a big expectation and it did not disappoint. Nice cherry, minerals, and vanilla nose. Complex black fruits on the palate with nice tannin (will be milder with age). Long finish with mocha and chocolate. Compared to 2004, Piroca felt bit too tannic but the rest thought it was just fine. For about $40 right now, it is a good buy but if 2004 is an example, the price will go up as supplies get scarce.

2. Lewelling 2004 Cab Sauv, Wight vineyard, score=4 or (5)

This is the wine Piroca raved about in the previous post; to quote him "The tasting experience is beyond pleasurable and I would venture to say that it is almost orgasmic. ..... It revoked (meant to say "evoked"?..Uncle-N) all the flavors I have experienced throughout my entire life, good and bad. ...... be ready to experience your life parade in front of you." Not everybody reached the "orgasm". Mineral and Cherry nose. It is in old world style and complex but subtle on the palate. Long finish and excellent tannin structure. Piroca and Uncle-E (as being one of the most sophisticated) liked this one the best.

3. Linne Caldo 2005 Nemesis Syrah, score=3

Initially most of us thought this could be Chateauneuf . Slight funk; described by Uncle-N as "sweaty armpit with perfumey deodorant applied". Because of the funky nose, we thought this is European. Good red and black fruits on the palate with subtle spices. Pleasant tannin and relatively long finish. We noticed that sometimes, California wine may have slight funk (never like some of the French or Italian wines though). Old world style syrah (actually 85% syrah, with monastrell).

4. Chateau de la Gardine, 2004 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, score=3

Gutsy move from Winepath. This made an appearance with thick bown bag "burka" to conceal the Pope's hat-shaped bottle. Unmistakable funk on the nose with spice box (smells like somebody broke a bottle of Worcestershire sauce in the covered of musty wet basement, please note that we did not taste "Lea and Perrins", the label is just for reference). Old world style (obviously) nice balance of acid and tannin. Among the Chateauneuf we have tasted, one of the best.


5. Lea and Perrins Worcestershire sauce, non-vintaged

Tangy spice box, acid, and anchovy on the nose. Remind of some Chateauneuf -du-Pape.

Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon, Wight Vineyard, 2004, Score = 5

This creature is superb and deserving of all RP's accolades. The wine has great color, deep garnet/purple, almost black. The nose is exquisite and resembles mixed berry jam with hints of tire rubber, smoke and vanilla. The tasting experience is beyond pleasurable and I would venture to say that it is almost orgasmic. This is truly a chameleon of a wine as far as tastes goes. It starts by coating the taste buds with strong and sweet mixed berry flavors associated with vanilla, caramel and some dirt. In the mid palate it creates a nostalgic flavor revolution. It revoked all the flavors I have experienced throughout my entire life, good and bad. The finish is very long, going for over a whole minute. I suggest that you have this beast by itself or with food and be ready to experience your life parade in front of you.

SATURDAY NIGHT SINGLE TASTING

This was a suprising Cabernet. Ferrari-Carano 2004, released last March. Disapointing nose, with mild rotten egg smell. But soon after, the smell dissipated. Tasted wonderfully, velvety chocolate, caramel dark fruit: guava, anis, vanilla, nutmeg, red curry, cillantro, cassis, mango and tamarind. There might have been some roast lamb, moose, venison and old scrawny chicken (the latter unmistakenly fed on roasted pine nuts). A definite 3 on the winepath scale. Finally, we are drinking some real wine.

Pre-party wine tasting on December 14, 2007

Before our departmental holiday party, we tasted few wines. Initially present were Piroca, Uncle-E, Winepath and Uncle-E then big crowd joined in. We also tasted Sauv blanc to start. Since these are not our usual tasting, no score was given.

1. Molly Dooker "Blue Eyed Boy" Shiraz 2006

One of the Piroca's new acquisition of 2006 M-D wines. In 2006, all M-D proudly crowns screw tops. This is a very nice wine. Nice nose of plum, meat juice and black pepper. Good blackberries, plum and black cherry tastes on the palate with finish of black pepper. Nice soft tannin. Very easy to drink without any edges. Compared to other M-D, prominent "sugarfied" fruits are not present. Although it is a new world wine, it is walking the line between new and old worlds.

2. Karl Lawrence 2004 Cab Sauv

This is a special contribution from Uncle-E; one of three bottles from the two cases in existence in the whole state of Georgia according to him. Many of us were not familiar with this winery. Cab Sauv grapes were from Morisoli Vineyard on the valley floor near Rutherford and the Lamb Family Vineyard on hillside of Howell Mountain. This is a classic big young California Cab. Nice nose of cheery, vanilla and caramel. Complexed black and red fruits on the palate with long finish with taste of chocolate, vanilla and caramel. Tannin is rather chewy leaving some edge on the finish. Piroca thought that it reminded him of Numanthia from Spain and Uncle-N Lokoya Howell mountain. We felt that it, definitely, will improves on bottle aging.


P.S. At the party, Wood bridge cab sauv tasted like classic jug wines with grapey somewhat sweet taste on the palate. Score=1+

Wine Tasting on December 7, 2007

We tasted 5 wines blind. Present were Winepath, Piroca, Uncle-E, Jimmy and Uncle-N. It was rather good tasting and we liked all 5 wines. They appear in order of tasting. For the first time in our history of tasting, Uncle-E arrived first.

1. Finca Allende Rioja 2004, score=2+ to 3

This is the wine that winepath raved about in the past post. Uncle-N found this and brought this to see if Winepath could recognize it (of course not). To quote Winepath, "it's what a Bordeaux should taste like when it grows up: fine nose of funky vanilla with undertones of clementine and tangerine dark-roast ethiopian coffee. Musty hints of green peppercorn and rubbing alcohol (isobuthanol, to be exact). The tannins reflected the 36 months spent in eastern-silesian bariques, followed by 400 days in in norvegian aspen barrels. Definitely spicy, peppery on the mid-palate with medium-toasted sesame, ginger afalfa and new mexican blue corn with a hint of lebanese cedar resin and european white oak acorns". The rest of us are not as astute to appreciate all this mambo jumbo but, again, we all like this wine. Spain is definitely doing better than other old world.

2. Cliff Lede cab sauv 2005, score=2+ to 3
Everybody agreed that this is a new world wine from Napa. Some thought it tasted like 2004 Neal. Nice nose with lots of red fruits and vanilla. It tasted like a good Napa cab with lots of fruits, vanilla and caramel. Some thought this is bit over oaked as many Napa cabs are. Rather young and tannin has bit of an edge. We agreed that bottle aging may do good.

P.S. Uncle-E brought 2004 Cliff Lede before which some of us have tasted (not Uncle-N) and gave score of 3.


3. Caro 2002, score=2+

We tasted this several times before but we could not identify it. Some thought this could be Bordeaux but lacking mineral or terriore taste. This was collaboration of French and Argentine; blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec made in Bordeaux style by two renowned wine families; Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) and Nicolas Catena. Nose has slight funk (reminiscent of Bordeaux) but by no means not too disturbing. Rather austere but nice complex taste of balanced tannin, fruits, and acidity. Finish is bit short. Again we will rather drink this than over-priced Bordeaux.

4. Contender 2003, score=4

We tested this in the past but none of us (beside Piroca who brought this) could not identify it. This is from famed Behrens and Hitchcock Winery. Blend of cab sauv (73%), cab frank (22%), Merlot (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). Nice nose with cherry, vanilla and green pepper. This is by no means a fruits bomb and rather subtle but complex tastes. It tasted like good Bordeaux should be. Nice long finish and nice tannin structure. Our favorite of the evening.

5. Ghost Pine Sab Sauv 2005, score=3

It is 100% cab sauv, 61% from Napa and 39% from Sonoma. Nose is bit closed but no funk and slight red fruits. It was bit warm when tasted. Taste is rather austere at first but after some time, it opened up (as per Winepath and Jbug, the wine tasted better next day). with nice complexed tastes of berries, cherries with vanilla and caramel tastes in the finish. Nice solid tannin. To us, this is more subtle than many of the Napa or Australian fruits bombs but it is more sophisticated and complex.

P.S. Additional "floral" description by winepath showing off his innate ability to bullshit and his unwillingness of using spell checker. Quoted as is; "Ghost Pines, to me, had a definite boysenberry and soft parsimon jam finish. Underneath all that, a subtle, yet noticeable whiff of parsley, azalea and seared radicchio was also detectable."

Wine tasting on 11-30-07

We tasted 5 wines blind. Present were Winepath, Piroca, Jimmy, and Uncle-N.

1. Guido Porro Barolo 2003; score=1

What a disappointment. It is difficult to imagine that Antonio Galloni of WA gave 91! This is the wine only Uncle-E can appreciated but he was not here. Winepath is the only one who thought this is rather elegant. The color is very light and you can see through. Piroca wanted to shake it so that the pigment sank in the bottom may get mixed to make it darker. Nose has some floral note but has sort of chemical or tar-like smell (?characteristic for Borolo). Taste; what can we say. Some tannin and acidity; the rest you have to use your imagination but I (uncle-N) can not taste anything else. Wheres is the fruits??? Piroca gave -1 (minus one).

2. Castano Hecula Monastrell 2004, score=2+

This is a very decent everyday wine (at $10) and is a good value. Nose is nice with some fruits and slight funk. Taste does not blow you away but nice combination of tannin and acid with some black fruits and coffee in the finish. Piroca will not like me saying this but this is a good food wine.


3. Robert Foley Claret 2003, score=4+

Hands down this is the winner. What a wine! Remind us of Mollydooker but has more stronger tannin and "candied" fruits aspect is less pronounced. Nose is very nice with lots of black fruits, cherry and licorice, vanilla and caramel. Mouth feel is velvety smooth and silky. Fruits bomb but not over-the-top. Long finish with caramel and chocolate.
Only complaints we have about this wine is a terrible label and high price!



4. Ben Marco Expresivo 2003, Score=3

Malbec, Cab, Shiraz blends. We all liked this as the second best. Good nose with black fruits and slight smoked meat notes. Good mouth feel with black fruits and relatively soft but nice tannin.





5. Excelsior Cab Sauv 2005, score=2+

This cab from South Africa has been one of the favorite everyday wine of Winepath. This year it honors a "screw" top. Again, this is a solid wine although not anything extraordinary. Excellent value and good everyday wine.