FRIDAY NIGHT TASTINGS, JANUARY 28, 2011

Present were at this modest tasting: Uncles P, Jimmy and Winepath. Tonight we tasted blindly, three wines. They were all excellent. Some great cheeses were also served, including a good camembert. The first bottle had a deep garnet color and an elegant nose. "Dusty-cab nose from California" was Uncle Winepath's accurate and unwavering diagnosis. Uncle Jimmy thought that it tasted toasty, "raisiny" and "perfumy", with firm tannin (I don't know what this means, I am only the messenger). Uncle P detected camphor ( not sure what this is, either). The wine benefitted from being open for 30 minutes, because a wave of unmistaken vanilla set in, very nice! This was Paul Hobbs' Sonoma Syrah, what a wine! Got 95 by RP, it fully deserves it we agreed on 3+ or 4. Interesting how different an Australian shiraz is in comparison to a Californian syrah.

This wine had a deep, inky dark red color. The nose had a zin-like, "perfumy" (Uncle Jimmy), raspberry, nose. It was thought to be a cab or cab-merlot blend. To Uncle P, this was a Rhone-like wine, with plenty of very red fruit, possibly a grenache. Close, but no cigar: a Spanish 100% Tempranillo, Prado Rey, 90 points by WS. Very good wine with a very reasonable price tag, an easy 3.

The third bottle to be tasted blindly tonight came with a Bordeaux-like, minus the bret, nose. Uncle P detected some b.o., reminding him of the 24-hour carnival dancers' sweat (the rest of us were unfamiliar with the experience). Deep, jus-de-viande nose, possibly a Californian cab or cab blend. Green fruit aroma, with loganberry, tobacco and smokey (all wines tonight were smokey, I wonder if some of the tasters are lighting up too frequently) and generally herbal undertones. Superb, long finish. Excellent wine. Turned out to be J.P.'s Backus, 2001- a wonderful wine. A 3+.

Wine Tasting January 14, 2011

For the 2^nd tasting of the year, our gracious host, uncle P, hosted the event with an offering of some incredible wines. In attendance were Uncle P, Jimmy, Uncle E and Uncle E's special guest Auntie P. Most wines came uncovered, so no official score is given.

Obsidian 2007

In the glass, opaque red hues. On the nose, dark red berries, cherries, mint and cocoa. In the mouth, intense flavors of cherries, berries, herbs, chocolate, clove and cocoa. The grapes for this wine are grown at 2600 ft. making it one of the highest growths.

Joseph Phelps, Backus 2001

What a great wine. This is the first time we had tried the Backus. We liked this wine. It is well balanced with aromas of licorice, espresso beans, blueberry syrup and spices. The texture and silkiness on the palate are seamlessly interwoven with concentrated layers of perfectly ripe tannin

Bond, St. Eden 2006

With Uncle E being late, while waiting, we tasted the last of this Bond which had been decanted.Aromas of blackberry, crushed blueberry and menthol with stunning black fruits, roasted herbs, sweet cassis, graphite, and new oak. In the mouth fleshy and even opulent . Then powerful, thick and deep, with chewy flavors of blueberry and minerals. Finishes with big tannins and superb length.

Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Yes the Beringer is in the background. The Araujo being previously decanted made a short but fabulous appearance.

The Beringer had smell and taste of smoky oak, espresso, blackberries, and graphite black-currant, plum, blackberry, tobacco.

Pride Mountain Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001

It reveals an inkier purple color along with a classic nose of graphite, creme de cassis, smoke, crushed rocks, and barrique. Surprisingly approachable, long, concentrated, impressive with flawless integration of wood, tannin, and acidity

Wine tasting on January 7, 2011

Our first meeting of the year was held at Uncle E's. In attendance were WinePath, Uncle E, Uncle P and Jimmy. Our latest member Peruvian Chicken, who, once again did not make it through the evening was in attendance as well. For a while at least, but then disappeared. Some of the pictures are taken form the web.

1. Mollydooker The boxer 2008, score= 3, 3-, and 2+

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   WinePath says a little light in color as it poured out of the bottle, but once in the glass this comment was recanted. New oak was noted again, as being poured. Taste is a little sweet. Syrah, Spanish, and Ausie were all called out. Mollydookerish was mentioned by Uncle P. High alcohol content was noted. Just before unveiling we proclaimed Mollydooker the Boxer. And it was.
   
   

2. The Salanques 2004 , score = 2+cuvee

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This one was a little darker in color. No Funk was noted. It had a nice fruited and woody taste. It was a little Acetic. We all thought it was sweet, we thought it was possibly a Zen. This was The Salanques cuvee it is the second wine of Cellar Mas Doix

3. Melis, Elix 2005 score=2+

This one had the smell of paper and Sulfurs, acetic in taste. If it were lighter in color we would have said Pinot. We noted it was similar in taste to #2 but not as sweet. From the web it is 45% Grenache, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Carignane, 6%Merlot, and 3% Syrah

4. Mica, score= 3+

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While covered before making it around the table it was proclaimed to be Mica. And it was. The Mica had the smell of vanilla, oak and espresso. It tastes of thick black fruit jam, cocoa, vanilla. The sweetness it is balanced with good tannins. This wine is made by Buccella, and uses secondary fruit. Ah to have secondary fruit like this!

5. Pride Mountain Merlot 2003, score = 3+

Some thought this wine was a little cold others said perfect temp. Taste is that of sweet Merlot. The flavor that is mentioned is that of rose, ripe plum, black cherry as well as mint. As it was being unveiled one last call from the crowd "it's Pride Merlot 2005". It was Pride 2003

1. Extra 1 Shafer Hillside Select, score = 3+, 4
   

Immediately on tasting this is a good Cali Cab.. Best of the night it has an unbelievable good smell of tobacco, sweet chocolate. As the wine sat in the glass, there were rumors of Merlot rising from the crowd then they subsided. Aromas of blackberry, black cherry and spice combined with baby power and perfume were noted. It had the taste of blackberry, toasty vanilla, mocha, herbs.

Extra 2 Coonawarra 1998, score = 2

Chemical smell taste Lemon, rose-pedal metal, camphor. We thought new world or Argentina possibly a Syrah.