2006 Morlet Family Vineyards “Coteaux Nobles” Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2006

Producer/Winery: Morlet Family Vineyards

Wine: Coteaux Nobles Pinot Noir

Country: USA

Region: California

Appellation: Sonoma Coast

Varietal Composition: 100 % Pinot Noir

Aging: 14 months, 100 % new French Oak

Climate: Maritime

Alcohol: 14.5 %

Winemaker: Luc Morlet

Production:  150 cases

Bottle Value: $75 USD

Where: Walla Walla  When: December 31, 2009         With whom: Greg, Tyler, Chelsea, Peter, and Scott

Perspective:  A very well made wine with new world fruit and a noticeable Burgundian essence.  Super clean, dry and well defined vivid red fruits.  Impressive terroir and hints of smoked meat.   Lean and tight at first so decanting for 30 minutes makes a huge difference.  This wine will show well over the next five to eight years.       

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Dull clarity. (Unfiltered) Deep ruby core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium (+) youthful aromas of rhubarb, strawberry, red cherry and toasted oak.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium soft/ripe tannins.  Medium (+) alcohol.  Medium body.  Pronounced flavors of red and black cherry, strawberry, sweet rhubarb, smoky meats, vanilla and forest floor.  Balance – Dry.  lively acidity, supple tannins, generous alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – Silky tannins and fluid viscosity.  Overall Impression – Refreshing ripeness, vivid freshness and well-structured. Medium length.

Conclusion: Very good quality for structure and balance. Drink now but will age well for the next 5-8 years.

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2006 Morlet Family Vineyards “Ma Douce” Chardonnay

Vintage: 2006

Producer/Winery: Morlet Family Vineyards

Wine: Ma Douce Chardonnay

Country: USA

Region: California

Appellation: Sonoma Coast

Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay

Aging: 100 % new French Oak

Climate: Maritime

Alcohol: 14.7 %

Winemaker: Luc Morlet

Production:  360 cases

Bottle Value: $70 USD

Where: Walla Walla, WA         When: December 31, 2009         With whom: Greg, Tyler, Chelsea, Peter, and Scott

Perspective: This was one of the stars of the evening.  Hazy golden hue with creamy vanilla and clarified butter on the nose.  Sultry and rich marshmallow, ripe pear and candied orange peel.  Great acidity and balance.  Sexy, borderline glutinous and sooooo delicious.  This was my first time tasting this wine and it’s now on my top list of Chardonnays.  I had the Sonoma Pinot Noir from them as well and it was quite good.  I’m definitely curious to see the rest of the Morlet lineup. 

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Dull clarity. (Unfiltered) Deep golden yellow core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium(+) youthful aromas of ripe pear, toasted oak, sweet vanilla, butter, honey and orange peel.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity. Medium soft/ripe tannins.  Medium (+) alcohol and body.  Pronounced flavors of ripe pear, buttery toasted oak, popcorn kernel, and citrus peel.  Balance – Dry.  Refreshing acidity, supple tannins, generous alcohol and soft/well defined fruit. Texture – Silky tannins and creamy viscosity.  Overall Impression – Refreshing ripeness, vivid freshness and well-structured. Medium (+)/long length.

Conclusion: Outstanding quality for structure, balance and length. Drink now but will age well for the next 10-15 years.

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2007 Miner “Wild Yeast” Chardonnay

Vintage: 2007

Producer/Winery: Miner Family Vineyards

Wine: Wild Yeast Chardonnay

Country: USA

Region: California

Appellation: Napa

Varietal Composition: 100 % Chardonnay

Aging: 15 Months 70 % new French Oak

Climate: Maritime

Alcohol: 14.4 %

Winemaker: Gary Brookman

Production:  2070 cases

Bottle Value: $50-60 USD

Where: San Jose, CA When: December 24, 2009         With whom: Anh and family

Perspective: Just what I have been craving, a rich golden toasty chardonnay with great acid and fruit that last forever in the mouth.  After being in Washington for the past four months and not being able to find a wine of this caliber it was a great experience.  When these wines are done right there is nothing like them.  The trend for un-oaked chardonnay is well and good but it can never replace the experience of good quality fruit aged in spicy new French oak barrels.  This chardonnay is among my most favorites produced in the states. We had this with Christmas Eve dinner, the most interesting course being the curry leaf scented butternut squash soup that Anh made.  Seek out and enjoy.  This wine is showing well now and will developed nicely over the next ten years if that’s your style.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Bright clarity. Pale golden core and rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium(+) youthful aromas of ripe pear, toasted hazelnuts, sweet vanilla, butter and citrus peel.

Palate: Dry. Medium(+) acidity. Medium soft/ripe tannins.  Medium(+) alcohol and body.  Pronounced flavors of melon, apple, ripe pear, creamy toasted oak, and butterscotch.  Balance – Dry.  Lively acidity, rounded tannins, generous alcohol and well defined fruit. Texture – Velvety tannins and creamy viscosity.  Overall Impression – Refreshing ripeness, vivid freshness and harmonious. Medium(+)/long length.

Conclusion: Very good quality for structure, complexity and length. Drink now but will age well for the next 10 years.

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2007 Miner “Gary’s Vineyard” Pinot Noir

Vintage: 2007

Producer/Winery: Miner Family Vineyards

Wine: Gary’s Vineyard Pinot Noir

Country: USA

Region: California

Appellation:  Santa Lucia Highlands

Varietal Composition: 100 % Pinot Noir

Aging: 14 Months French Oak (70% New)

Climate: Maritime

Alcohol: 14.4 %

Winemaker: Gary Brookman

Bottle Value: $60 USD

Production: 911 Cases

Where: San Jose, CA                When: December 20, 2009                         With whom: Anh & I

Perspective: This is one of my favorite wines from Miner Family Vineyards.  I visit the winery once a year and pick up an assortment of great wines that I put away and some that I drink immediately.  This one should have gone to the wine locker but after drinking so many Bordeaux varieties lately I was craving a pinot.   The wine is super clean with bright red fruits intermingled with toasty oak and spice box flavors.  I allowed the wine to breathe-without decanting-for three hours before I drank it.  This makes all the difference.  Drink now if you have a few bottles and keep the rest for a few more years or more.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Medium garnet core, pale ruby rim.  No sediment or deposits.

Nose: Clean. Medium intense youthful aromas of red and black cherry, green olive, dried hay, and pimentos.

Palate: Dry.  Medium(+) acid.  Medium(-) ripe/soft tannins.  Medium alcohol. Medium(-) body. Medium(+) intense flavors of red cherry, ripe raspberry, plum, sweet spiced vanilla, toasted oak, and earthy/stony minerals.  Balance – Drying. Refreshing acid, supple tannins, warm alcohol, well defined fruit. Texture –  Silky tannins and fluid viscosity. Medium(+) length.  Overall Impression – Refreshing ripeness.  Well defined freshness and harmonious.

Conclusion: Very good quality for balance and length. Drink now and for the next 8 years.

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2005 Palacios Remondo “La Montesa” Rioja Crianza

Vintage: 2005

Producer/Winery: Palacios Remondo

Wine: La Montesa Rioja Crianza

Country: Spain

Region: La Rioja

Appellation: Rioja Baja

Varietal Composition: 40% Garnacha, 45% Tempranillo, 15% Mazuelo and Graciano

Aging: 14 months 75% is French oak, 25% American oak – 10% new oak. 90% split equally between, one, two and three year old wood.

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 14 %

Winemaker: Alvaro Palacios

Imported By:  Folio Wine Company

Bottle Value: $20 USD

Production: 60,000 Cases

Where: San Jose, CA              When: December 17, 2009         With whom: Anh & I

Perspective: This is an interesting Rioja because it uses more French oak than most producers.  Honestly if I where to taste this wine blind I might mistake it for a young inexpensive Burgundy.  Upon opening it wreaked of barnyard, hay, rusty iron and red cherry. On the palate the wine was lean and reluctant to relinquishing its fruit.  The only marker that it wasn’t Burgundy was the opaque color of the core, depth of the rim and brown highlights.  Nonetheless this producer is a favorite of mine and I try to always revisit his wines.  With some age this wine will develop nicely, I think in two years I should give this wine another try… or perhaps tomorrow night. Additional Note:  After re-tasting this wine the next night it had changed completely.  The wine was more centered and dense with less mineral and hay notes and the fruit structure was more pronounced.  Take your time with this one it seems to be a little stubborn.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity.  Opaque ruby core, deep ruby rim.  Brown highlights.  No sediments or deposits detected.

Nose: Initially unclean. Faint traces of Brettanomyces-farmyard and horse sweat.  Conclusively clean.  Medium(+)  intensity, youthful aromas of red and black cherry, rusty mineral, hay and sweet tobacco.

Palate: Dry. Medium (+) acidity and alcohol.  Medium (-) unripe tannins.  Medium (-) body.  Medium intense flavors of dried red cherry and red currant. Earthy mineral notes of rust with herbaceous medicinal flavors. Balance – Drying. Lively acid, supple tannins and generous alcohol.  Texture – powdery tannins and fluid viscosity.  Overall Impression – stemmy ripeness, tertiary freshness, and mellow. Medium(+) length.

Conclusion: Good Quality for concentration and length.  Hold for another year and drink over the next five or more years.

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2007 Clos de Noi Samso

Vintage: 2007

Producer/Winery: Clos de Noi

Wine: Negre Samsó Vinyes Velles

Country: Spain

Region: Catalunya

Appellation:  Montsant DO

Varietal Composition: 100% Samsó (Carignane)

Aging: 3 Months French Oak

Climate: Mediterranean

Alcohol: 13.9 %

Winemaker: Carles Escolar

Imported By:  Vinos & Gourmet Inc.

Bottle Value: $15 USD

Where: San Jose, CA               When: December 15, 2009         With whom: Anh & I

Perspective: The wine is made from 40 year old vines of Samsó- which is a synonym for Carignane in Montsant.  On the shelf this wine looked very interesting in its clean modern package.   Upon opening the wine showed concentration and depth but after fifteen minutes or so it tapered off and developed one dimensional characteristic.  Driven by overripe fruit and earth this wine is not bad by any means, it only lacks balance and complexity.  I would like to try it again in another vintage to see if it changes before I dismiss it completely. The wine would pair well with a rich gamey protein such as slow braised lamb or venison. Note:  The morning after I opened the wine I went back for a re-taste. The wine had lost most of its aromatics but the fruit was much brighter and clean.  Perhaps decanting for an hour before drinking will allow the wine to show better.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity.  Opaque ruby core, deep ruby rim.  No sediments or deposits detected.

Nose: Clean.  Pronounced aromas of overripe black cherry, plum, cassis, spearmint, wet leaves and earthy mineral.

Palate: Dry. Medium acidity.  Medium plus tannin, alcohol and body.  Medium plus flavors of raisin, prune and dried lavender.  Balance – Drying, thick acidity, dried out tannins, generous alcohol, and meager fruit. Medium length. Texture – dusty tannins, (medium-low) thin viscosity. Overall Impression – Overripe, dull and disjointed.

Conclusion: Acceptable quality. Lacking balance and complexity. Ready to drink now but could age for another 3 years.

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2004 Saggi

Vintage: 2004

Producer/Winery: Long Shadows Vintners Collection

Wine: Saggi

Country: USA

Region: Washington

Appellation: Columbia Valley

Varietal Composition: 35% Sangiovese, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Syrah & 14% Barbera

Aging: 18 Months French Oak

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 14.5 %

Winemaker: Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari with Allen Shoup

Bottle Value: +/- $60 USD

Production: 633 Cases

Where: Walla Walla               When: October 5, 2009         With whom: Myself

Perspective: The first thing that came to mind was the essence of Brunello di Montalcino.  Toasted walnuts, red and black cherry, toffee, red liquorice, and spicy wood and mineral notes.  Elegant, refined and very pleasant to drink. I have yet to exercise the patience to hold a wine from Long Shadows.  After three hours of being open the wine was showing great. I have been tasting more and more wines from Long Shadows I am now learning that they need time in the bottle and even more time to breathe before they showcase their potential.  Patience is the key to enjoying these wines.  Keep in mind that all these winemakers are known for age worthy wines, understanding that may very well be the key to appreciating their counterparts in Washington.  If you like Super Tuscan style wines this wine will appeal to you, Drink now or let it sit for another 3-5 years.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity.  Opaque ruby core, deep ruby rim.  No sediments or deposits detected.

Nose: Clean.  Pronounced aromas of vanilla bean, wet clove and cinnamon, roasted game, with developing scents of black cherry and smoked cedar.

Palate: Dry. Medium plus acidity, tannin alcohol and body.  Medium plus flavors of new oak, blackberry, black cherry, dried bramble, red cherry and pomegranate finely integrated into creamy toasted oak notes and pencil lead shavings.  Texture – fine grained tannins, supple viscosity.  Balance – Drying, refreshing acidity, well-integrated tannins, and generous alcohol, soft yet well defined fruit. Medium plus length.

Conclusion: Very good quality for balance and complexity. Ready to drink but can age for another 3-5 years.

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2006 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 2006

Producer/Winery:

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: USA

Region: Washington

Appellation: Walla Walla Valley

Varietal Composition: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

Aging: 21 months 100% French oak; 55% new oak, 45% used oak

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 14.1 %

Winemaker: Jean-François Pellet

Bottle Value: $55 USD

Production: 2,374 cases

Where: Pepper Bridge Tasting Room            When: October 21, 2009       With whom: Lacey & Andy

Perspective: Tasting both the 2006 and the 2005 Cabernets gave me a great glimpse of how well these wines can age.  Just an infant, the 2006 has many of the same components of the 2005 but in a more concentrated form.  The only discernable difference was that the acid structure in the 2005 was higher than the 2006.  Toasty barrique and creamy black fruits on the nose.  Sweet black cherry, black currant, leather, chocolate and minerals on the palate. The 2006 seemed to be a warmer vintage based on the flavor profile.  Nevertheless a full-bodied French style Cabernet that will age well over the next 5-8 years, possibly longer but I would need to taste older vintages to conclude this.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity.  Opaque ruby core, deep ruby rim. No sediment detected.

Nose: Clean.  Pronounced and youthful aromas of red and black currant, black cherry, pebbles and graphite.

Palate: Dry.  Medium acidity. Medium high fine-grained tannins.  Full bodied, pronounced flavors of blackberry, black cherry, currants, leather, dried mushroom, chocolate and earthy minerals. Texture: Fine-grained tannins, mouth coating viscosity.  Balance: Drying with lively acidity and robust tannins.  High alcohol and well-defined fruit.  Medium plus length.

Conclusion: Very good quality for concentration, balance and length.  Drink now and over the next 5 to 8 years.

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2005 Pepper Bridge Cabernet Sauvignon

Vintage: 2005

Producer/Winery: Pepper Bridge

Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon

Country: USA

Region: Washington

Appellation: Walla Walla Valley

Varietal Composition: 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot

Aging: 22 months 56% new oak, 44% used oak; 100% French oak

Climate: Continental

Alcohol: 13.9 %

Winemaker: Jean-François Pellet

Bottle Value: $55 USD

Production: 2,465 cases

Where: Pepper Bridge Tasting Room            When: October 21, 2009       With whom: Lacey & Andy

Perspective: The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is a great representation of the quality of Walla Walla fruit and its ability to produce wines in an old world style.  Firm aromas of black currant, forest floor, toasted barrel and lead pencil.  Rich and velvety black cherry, blackberry, and currants flavors, with earthy mineral and hints of damp leaves. Great acidity and balance.  Drink now or over the next 5 years.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity.  Deep ruby core, pale ruby rim.  No sediment detected.

Nose: Clean.  Medium plus developing aromas of creamy toasted oak, underbrush, graphite and black currant

Palate: Dry. Medium plus acidity, tannin, alcohol and body.  Medium plus intense flavors of black cherry, blackberry, black currant, vanilla, and sweet spices. Texture:  Fine-grained tannins, and fleshy viscosity.  Balance:   Drying, refreshing acidity, well-integrated tannins, generous alcohol and well defined fruit. Medium plus length.

Conclusion: Very good quality for balance, concentration and length. Ready to drink but can age another 5 years.

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2005 Chateau Vaissiere Minervois

Vintage: 2005

Producer/Winery: Chateau Vaissiere

Wine: Minervois

Country: France

Region: Languedoc-Rousillon

Varietal Composition: 100 % Syrah

Aging: 12 Months new French Oak

Climate: Mediterranean

Alcohol: 14%

Winemaker: Olivier Mandeville

Imported By: Vinum Importing & Distributing LLC

Bottle Value: $21 USD

Production: < 700 cases

Where: Home- Walla Walla. WA                 When: September 15, 2009    With whom: Raff, Ron-dinner party.

Perspective: I was craving an old world wine that was copasetic for a meager harvest intern’s budget.  I picked this wine up at a local gourmet shop the Salumiere Cesario.  The place is owned by Damon Burke, a fellow wine and food enthusiast and through his recommendation discovered this wine.  It was everything that I was hoping for and more.  When did Minervois get this good?  This is what us wine geeks dream of a wine for this price that really delivers.  Rustic black and red fruits with tons of herbaceous and mineral notes that complicate and excite the long complex yet simplistic finish.  Bad ass little wine and also built to last.

Systematic Approach

Appearance: Clear clarity. Opaque garnet core. Deep ruby rim.  No sediments detected

Nose: Clean. Medium intense, youthful aromas of black cherry, rubber, tar, charred oak, tobacco, and sweet hickory.

Palate: Dry. Medium acid, tannin, body and alcohol.  Medium plus flavors of chalk, dusty gravel, ripe bramble fruits, black cherry, cedar, and sweet vanilla layers with smoke, pencil shavings, plum, prune and raisin. Smooth old world texture Drying fruit, lively acidity, supple tannins, generous alcohol, and juicy well defined fruit.  Silky tannins, supple viscosity and medium plus length.

Conclusion: Good to very good quality for balance, complexity and length. Ready to drink now or over the next 10 years.

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