Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 21 Oct 2008
Medium lemon yellow core with a bright clear rim. Ripe and tropical on the nose with yellow pear and apple fruits backed by rich mango, nectarine and a dose of wet slate. Impressively round in the mouth with nice full body and rich mouth feel. Pineapple and mango flavors are accented by zesty lemon and lime, all underscored by a good dose of minerals and acid. Round and ripe yet crisp and refreshing. A complex, fun California Chardonnay.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2006, apple, california, Central, chardonnay, Coast, Highlands, lemon, lime, Lucia, mango, mer, mineral, monterey, nectarine, pear, pineapple, ripe, santa, silver, slate, soleil, tropical, white, White wine, wine, yellow, zest
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
90 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 01 Sep 2007
Clear and bright in the glass with a medium lemon yellow core. Good intensity on the nose with ripe yellow apple, candied citrus and a touch of blue slate minerality. The palate presents the same rich ripe sweet yellow apple and pear up front with a nice moderate acidity keeping it crisp and clean. Honeyed notes and a touch of cream, candied lemon and some tropical pineapple and mango notes keep the mid-palate nice and round, and the wine finishes with a medium length of crisp bright fruit. A well made, enjoyable wine great for drinking over the next couple of years.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2006, apple, blue, california, candy, Central, chardonnay, citrus, Coast, cream, Highlands, honey, lemon, Lucia, mango, mer, mineral, monterey, pineapple, santa, silver, slate, soleil, tropical, white, White wine, wine, yellow
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
92 / B+
Tasted by Mike Supple - 03 Oct 2008
Intense inky purple core with just a glimmer of a fuchsia rim. Massive aromas of bacon, roast coffee, toffee, blackberry, white licorice, violets and a hint of truffle. Soft and full on the front palate. Sweet dark fruits: raspberry, blackberry, cassis. Round and full on the mid-palate without getting weighty. Good fresh anise flavors spice up the finish with roasted earth and dark chocolate notes.
This is a big, young wine, so I had it sit around open for about 12 hours before tasting it, giving it time to breathe. While it weighed in at 14.25% alcohol (according to the label - and given the legal margin of error here putting .25% is ridiculous) it managed to stay very impressively balanced. This is a great example of what Syrah can be when not made in a heavy, jammy, Australian manner.
Click here for full grades section
Tags: 2005, Alesia, anise, bacon, barbara, blackberry, california, cassis, chocolate, coffee, County, dark, earth, Fairview, fruit, fuchsia, Highlands, licorice, Lucia, purple, Ranch, raspberry, red wine, roast, santa, sweet, Syrah, toffee, truffle, USA, violet
Posted in Tasting Notes | No Comments »
