2006 Tres Sabores “Porque No?” DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2006
Producer/Winery: Tres Sabores
Wine: “Porque No?”
Country: USA
Region: California
Appellation: Napa Valley, Sonoma County, & Lake County
Varietal Composition: Zinfandel(52%) Cabernet Sauvignon (32%) Petite Sirah (15%) Petit Verdot (1%)
Aging: French and American Oak
Climate: Continental
Alcohol: 13 %
Winemaker: Julie Johnson
Production: +/-500 cases (Organic)
Bottle Value: $23 USD
Where: New York Vintners
Perspective: Sitting at my desk finishing up a long day. Brandon and I are talking about how busy and great things are lately with the wine classes and events. I went downstairs to the cellar to grab a bottle of something smooth and easy and there and behold my recent order of Porque No? where right in front of me. This is one of my favorite wines from California from winemaker Julie Johnson who I consider a talented colleague among the many crazies that inhabit this industry. This wine has been a favorite of mine for about four years. Smooth supple spicy black fruits with creamy soft layers of vanilla and toasty oak. Imagine the best blackberry cobbler you have every had in your life-crispy, toasty, buttery cinnamon crust filled with the perfect amount of sweet and lush macerated blackberries that seem to last forever on your palate. This is truly such a relaxing experience to drink this wine at the end of my day. Cheers Julie can’t wait to see you this summer on my next visit to Napa!
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Medium(+) Intense opaque ruby core and rim with purple highlights. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Pronounced youthful aromas of vanilla, oak spice and blackberry and ruby red grapefruit.
Palate: Dry. Medium(+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium alcohol. Medium (+) body. Medium (+) intense flavors of ripe raspberry, blackberry, black cherry, toast, cinnamon, and vanilla. Balance – Refreshing acidity, warm alcohol and well defined black and red fruits. Texture – velvety tannins and supple viscosity. Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Great quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 2-3 years.
2002 Frederic Magnien Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Charmes VV DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2002
Producer/Winery: Frederic Magnien
Wine: Chambolle-Musigny Charmes 1er Cru Vielle Vigne
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Cote d’Or Sub-Appellation: Chambolle-Musigny AOC
Varietal Composition: 100 % Pinot Noir
Aging: 100 % new French Oak
Climate: Continental micro-climate
Alcohol: 13 %
Winemaker: Frédéric Magnien
Production: n/a
Bottle Value: +/-$80 USD
Where: New York Vintners When: October 5, 2010 With whom: My work
Perspective: Hard to believe how young this wine is still showing. Tons of toasty new oak influence with a concentrated deep core of black cherry, clove, and vanilla. Though I am sure there is some mineral and earthiness there somewhere it will not show itself until much later on in it’s life. A great wine for a patient collector. Don’t touch it now unless you decant it for at least five hours.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Brilliant deep ruby core and rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Pronounced youthful aromas of vanilla, oak spice and black cherry.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium(+) alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of black cherry, plum, vanilla, smoke and toasty barrel. Balance – Refreshing acidity, generous alcohol and well defined black fruit. Texture – velvety tannins and supple viscosity. Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Great quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 10-15 years. More if you like it dusty…..
2007 Collovray et Terrier Pouilly Fuisse “Plenitude de Bonte” DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2007
Producer/Winery: Collovray et Terrier
Wine: Pouilly Fuisse “Plenitude de Bonte”
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Maconnais Sub-Appellation: Pouilly-Fuisse AOC
Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay
Aging: Barrel fermented 30% new French Oak
Climate: Continental micro-climate
Alcohol: 13 %
Winemaker: Christian Collovray & Jean-Luc Terrier
Production: n/a
Bottle Value: +/-$30 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: June 23, 2010 With whom: Tasting Group: Brian Rudin and Ashley Trout’s house
Perspective: Full bodied with sweet caramel apple aromas and well defined minerality. Definitely a new world style of Pouilly-Fuisse-starting to wonder if all Pouilly-Fuisse is now new world-with concentrated flavors of honey, citrus and tropical fruits. Very enjoyable wine for an afternoon with a fresh baguette and bloomy rind cheeses like Pierre-Robert, Delice d’Bourgogne and L’Edel de Cleron.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Brilliant pale golden core and pale yellow rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of baked apple pie, honey and chalkboard.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium (-) tannins. Medium alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of lemon, green apple, pineapple, mango, mature oak and chalky mineral. Balance – Unctuous. Refreshing acidity, generous alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – chalky tannins and supple viscosity. Overall Impression – warm climate ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years.
2007 Maison Henri Boillot Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Pitangeret DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2007
Producer/Winery: Maison Henri Boillot
Wine: Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Pitangeret
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Appellation: Cote du Beaune Sub-Appellation: Saint-Aubin AOC
Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay
Aging: 50 % new French Oak
Climate: Continental micro-climate
Alcohol: 13.5 %
Winemaker: Henri Boillot
Production: n/a
Bottle Value: $40 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: June 23, 2010 With whom: Tasting Group: Brian Rudin and Ashley Trout’s house
Perspective: Out of six wines we tasted blind in the tasting group this was my favorite. Great balance, concentration, and lively acidity. This wine hit all the right spots with toasty oak and vanilla, citrus blossom and stony/chalky minerality. This is exactly what you would want out of a $40 bottle of white Burgundy. Showing great at the moment with the potential to hold for the next 5-8 years.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear brilliant clarity. Yellow/green core and pale yellow rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty new oak, vanilla, citrus, stony mineral and floral blossom.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium (-) tannins. Medium alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of lemon, white peach, and chalky mineral. Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, generous alcohol with well defined fruit. Texture – chalky tannins and creamy viscosity. Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, vivid freshness and well structured. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 5-8 years.
2007 Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf-du-Pape DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2007
Producer/Winery: Le Vieux Donjon
Wine: Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Country: France
Region: Southern Rhone
Appellation: Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Varietal Composition: 75% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre, and 5% Cinsault
Aging: 2 years new French Oak
Climate: Mediterranean
Alcohol: 14.5 %
Winemaker: Lucien Michel
Production: 5,000 Cases
Bottle Value: $65 USD 750ml / $37 USD 375ml
Where: Walla Walla When: June 21, 2010 With whom: Myself
Perspective: This half bottle was a gift from Nicole for putting together a cheese and antipasto platter for a baby shower she was hosting for her friend, “Thank you Nicole!” The first time I tried this was with Peter on New Year’s Eve after tasting through numerous other bottles of wine and champagne so I think, scratch that, I know I was a little too buzzed to capture its true essence. I remember it being extremely tight with grainy tannins and I knew that it was too young to drink. Now, almost six months later, it seems to have come around a bit more with fruit expression and aromas. (Remember this is a half-bottle so it may vary from a normal 750ml) Lots of grassy dark chocolate and plum on the nose initially, then after some air you start to get those barnyard bretty aromas that I love in CNDP. On the palate the wine is still very lean and showing mostly new oak characteristics like lead pencil and toasty vanilla. If you dig deep you can pick up hints of ripe strawberry, black cherry and baked plum. Great acidity and tannins on this wine will allow it to cellar very well for the next 10-15 years, possibly longer depending on how you like them. Need to compare a 750ml bottle to these notes and see if they differ.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and pale ruby rim, deep purple highlights. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of dark chocolate, lavender, plum, tobacco, barnyard, and sweet new oak spices.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium body. Medium intense flavors of black cherry, wild strawberry, dark chocolate, oily mineral and plum, Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, well integrated tannins, warm alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – clay textured tannins and fluid viscosity. Overall Impression – Stemmy/refreshing ripeness, well defined freshness with great structure. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 10-15 years.
2008 Maison Bleue “Le Montagnette” Grenache DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2008
Producer/Winery: Maison Bleue
Wine: “Le Montagnette” Grenache
Country: USA
Region: Washington
Appellation: Horse Heaven Hills: Alder Ridge Vineyard
Varietal Composition: 85 % Grenache, 15% Syrah
Aging: 10 months in 3 year old French Oak
Climate: Continental
Alcohol: 15.4 %
Winemaker: John Martinez
Production: 303 Cases
Bottle Value: $25 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: June 18, 2010 With whom: Myself
Perspective: This is one of the most elegant Grenache based wines I have discovered out of Washington State. Velvety plum, strawberry and raspberry with complex mineral and hints of spicy vanilla-must have used some nice old barrels-make this wine incredibly easy to drink. Be careful, though it does not feel like it is 15.4 % it is! Enjoyed a nice block of Cabrales blue cheese from Spain with it, which was a match made in heaven. This is truly a wine to look out for. I will post more notes on some of Maison Bleue’s other wines which are proving to be very atypical for this region. Be sure to drink this wine at cellar temperature (55 degrees) it makes a world of difference. Check him out www.mbwinery.com
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and pale rim with highlights of purple in the halo. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of wet stones, plum, strawberry, kirsch, white pepper and sweet spices.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium body. Medium (+) intense flavors of red cherry, wild strawberry, raspberry and plum, Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, supple tannin, generous alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – supple tannins and fluid viscosity. Overall Impression – refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and elegant. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now and over the next 3-5 years.
2008 Eidos de Padriñán Albariño DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2008
Producer/Winery: Eidos de Padriñán
Wine: Albariño
Country: Spain
Region: Galicia
Appellation: Rias Baixas D.O.
Varietal Composition: 100 % Albariño
Aging: Stainless steel
Climate: Maritime
Alcohol: 13.3 %
Winemaker: Emilio Vidal
Production: 5000 cases
Bottle Value: $25 USD
Where: Vintage, Walla Walla When: January 3, 2010 With whom: Greg, Peter, Megan and Dustin
Perspective: I love the simplicity, elegance and freshness of good Albariño. This was my first time with this wine and I will repeat the affair several more times in the future. Clean and fresh with wet limestone, chalk, green apple and lemon zest. I wish I had shellfish and it was summertime.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Pale yellow core and rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of stony mineral, green apple and lemon zest.
Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium tannins. Medium alcohol. Medium (-) body. Medium (+) intense flavors of green apple, lemon, limestone, chalk and tart melon. Balance – Dry. Lively acidity, supple tannin, light alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – clay textured tannins and fluid viscosity. Overall Impression – cool climate ripeness, vivid freshness and elegant. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Very good quality for concentration, balance and texture. Drink now.
2006 Pedestal Merlot DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2006
Producer/Winery: Long Shadows Vintners Collection
Wine: Pedestal Merlot
Country: USA
Region: Washington
Appellation: Columbia Valley
Varietal Composition: 86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot and 2% Malbec.
Aging: 22 Months, 100 % French oak, 85% new.
Climate: Continental
Alcohol: 14.7 %
Winemaker: Michel Rolland
Production: 1877 cases
Bottle Value: $60 USD
Where: Vintage, Walla Walla When: January 3, 2010 With whom: Greg, Peter, Dustin and Joel
Perspective: I’d compare this wine to a pseudo hot celebrity that I wouldn’t kick out bed but after an hour or so I would get a little bored with. It’s definitely a good wine, but I wish it had more complexity and layers. Full delivery on extraction and body. Balanced flavors of toasty barrel, black cherries, plum and dark chocolate with a smooth supple finish.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep garnet core and rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty oak and black cherry.
Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium (+) soft/ripe tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium (+) body. Medium (+) intense flavors of black cherry, vanillin, dark chocolate and plum. Balance – Dry. Flabby acidity, supple tannins, generous alcohol and fruit driven. Texture – velvety tannins and fleshy viscosity. Overall Impression – overripe ripeness, expressive freshness and mellow. Medium length.
Conclusion: Good quality for concentration. Drink now or hold for the next 3 years.
2006 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2006
Producer/Winery: Ladera
Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon
Country: USA
Region: California
Appellation: Napa Valley
Varietal Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec, 5% Petite Verdot.
Aging: 17 months, 100 % French oak. 39% new / 61 % used
Climate: Maritime
Alcohol: 14.5%
Winemaker: Karen Culler
Bottle Value: $40 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: January 1, 2010 With whom: Greg, Peter, Tom, Dustin and Megan
Perspective: Fun, easy drinking Napa Cabernet with all the right components. Dark, berry fruits, toasty new oak spices, and fleshy tannins make this wine into something that can be enjoyed any night of the week. Drink while it’s young and decant for 30 minutes for best results. If you looking for a cellar wine, Ladera makes a nice Howell Mountain Cabernet that can be stowed away.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep garnet core and rim. No sediment or deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of toasty oak, blackberry, cassis and plum.
Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium (+) soft/ripe tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium (+) body. Medium (+) intense flavors of bramble fruit, black cherry, vanillin, and plum. Balance – Dry. Refreshing acidity, well-integrated tannins, generous alcohol and well-defined fruit. Texture – clay-textured tannins and fleshy viscosity. Overall Impression – Refreshing ripeness, expressive freshness and harmonious. Medium length.
Conclusion: Good quality for texture and balance. Drink now or hold for the next 3-5 years.
2005 Quinta do Crasto Douro Reserva Old Vine DIRECT LENDER payday loans
Vintage: 2005
Producer/Winery: Quinta do Crasto
Wine: Douro Old Vines Reserva
Country: Portugal
Region: Porto
Appellation: Douro
Varietal Composition: Blend of 25-30 different local varieties
Aging: 18 months, 85% French oak, 15 % American oak
Climate: Continental
Alcohol: 14%
Winemaker: Dominic Morris and Manuel Lobo
Production: 6900 Cases
Bottle Value: $70 USD
Where: Walla Walla When: January 1, 2010 With whom: Greg, Peter, Tom, Dustin and Megan
Perspective: A great wine considering that it’s a blend of 25 to 30 different varieties with an average vine age of 70 years old. For me it felt like a Tinto Roriz (Tempranillo) and Touriga Nacional blend. Very clean and well structured. Definitely needs decanting to even out the initial tannins. After it breathes for a bit it’s quite lush and robust with earthy baked black fruits. Apparently it was #3 on Speculators top 100 last year and received 95 pts. Definitely a great wine but not sure that an old vine field blend is worth seventy bones.
Systematic Approach
Appearance: Clear clarity. Deep ruby core and rim. Thick sediment and deposits.
Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of blackberry, plum, tobacco, and woody spices.
Palate: Dry. Medium acidity. Medium (+) fine-grained tannins. Medium (+) alcohol. Medium (+) body. Medium (+) intense flavors of dark chocolate, black cherry, vanilla, stony mineral and plum. Balance – Dry. Refreshing acidity, well-integrated tannins, generous alcohol and well-defined fruit. Texture – fine-grained tannins and fleshy viscosity. Overall Impression – overripe, expressive freshness and well structured. Medium (+) length.
Conclusion: Good quality for texture, concentration and balance. Drink now or hold for the next 5-8 years.