grapevine: hear.it.first

Posts Tagged ‘Coast’

1997 J Late Disgorged Brut

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

92 / B-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 19 Dec 2008

Straw yellow with small, delicate bubbles. Very toasty, yeasty, bready aromas around light golden apple, a touch of caramelized pear and raw honey. Dry entry on the palate with silky bubbles. Crisp apple and pear surround honeyed biscuit. Medium bodied with a nice citrus zest finish.

Click here for full grades section

2006 Saddleback Cellars Old Vine Zinfandel

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

87 / C+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008

Medium purple core with a lighter rim. Brambly fruit aromas with brown sugar, a hint of fresh herbs and a pop of black pepper. Juicy entry on the palate with an herbal edge. Well balanced, but not overtly fruity as one might expect from old vine Zinfandel. Lots of acidity with nice tannic structure and chocolate on the finish.

Click here for full grades section

2005 Chateau St Jean Cinq Cepages

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

90 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Dec 2008

Dark purple core with a lighter fuchsia rim. Oak and vanilla aromas float over rich black cherry, cassis and raspberry with dark charcoal, spicy cinnamon and a hint of eucalyptus. Smooth entry on the palate, quickly building to a full bodied wine. Lots of tannins, yet very well integrated and balanced. Cedar and cinnamon are layered over plum and cassis leading to a chocolate, spice and fruit finish. Decant a couple hours and enjoy it now or put some in the cellar and let it keep getting better for several years.

Click here for full grades section

2004 Saddleback Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

90 / B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008

Dark ruby core with a ruby rim. The nose is somewhat muted at first, but opens up as the glass sat implying continuing development in the bottle if you have the patience to let it evolve. Aromas of violets and earth are backed by black cherry and cassis with a touch of sweet vanilla. A hint of green pepper on the front palate is quickly followed by dark fruits - black cherry, blackberry, plum - and accented by hints of toasty vanilla. Fairly tannic with body and acid to match making this a well balanced wine that should age for many years.

Click here for full grades section

2007 Saddleback Cellars Chardonnay

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

89 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008

Medium gold core with a clear rim. Toasty oak aromas flow over baked yellow apples, brown sugar and light hints of pear. Nice and round on the front palate with great balance acidity in the middle. Medium-to-full bodied. This is rich yet well balanced with a nice roasted apple and pear finish.

Click here for full grades section

2007 Saddleback Cellars Pinot Blanc

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

90 / A-

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008

Bright pale yellow core with a clear rim. Very floral and tropical aromas jump out of the glass: mango, candied flowers, ripe peach and wet stone with a touch of golden delicious apple. Fresh, crisp apples on the front of the palate followed by a touch of orange and tons of mango, all supported by light flint. Medium acidity with a long, lingering finish. This is incredibly easy to drink, yet impressively balanced and complex.

I highly recommend this one for drinking before a meal, with any type of fish or cream sauce dish, or just hanging outside on a warm spring or summer day. Throw a bottle in a cooler, drag to a park and just people watch.

Click here for full grades section

2007 Saddleback Cellars Pinot Grigio

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

89 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 15 Dec 2008

Pale gold core with a clear rim. Light aromas of honeydew, yellow pear and a touch of stone. Nice entry into the mouth - round and fuller than expected from a Pinot Grigio. Flint and melon flavors with a nice concentration of lemon, peach and a touch of cream. Round and lush through the finish.

Click here for full grades section

2006 Gary Farrell Chardonnay Russian River Selection

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

89 / B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Dec 2008

Pale, bright steely gold color. Light pear and apple aromas are joined by caramel, baking spices and wet stones with a lingering touch of ripe nectarines. Round and creamy on the entry with a warm, toasty apple cobbler mid-palate. Full bodied with great balance. Long, lingering butterscotch flavor.

Click here for full grades section

2006 Gary Farrell Pinot Noir Russian River Selection

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

91 / B+

Tasted by Mike Supple - 12 Dec 2008

Medium ruby core with a paler ruby rim. Cola and sweet black cherry aromas are surrounded by wet earth and stone with a spicy orange zest note and a hint of creamy caramel. Voluptuous on the palate. Soft up front with rich fruit building to a solid core of fruit acid and sort tannins. The finish is very long with creamy, toasty oak layered over black cherries. Great now and will improve for another 2-5 years easily.

Click here for full grades section

2006 Core Mr Moreved

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

88 / B

Tasted by Mike Supple - 10 Dec 2008

Maroon core with a thin pink rim. A bit austere on the nose with oak and slate dominating the fruit - a touch of cherry and some orange zest. Fruity on the front palate (mostly red cherries) followed by a hint of smoke and game with slatey minerality and a touch of oak on the finish.

Click here for full grades section