2009 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard and 2009 Big Basin Pinot Noir Lester Family Vineyard

Popped and poured at dinner at a local restaurant.  Nice showcase of the different terroirs of Sonoma and Santa Cruz Mtns.  
The Big Basin was pretty tight at first with sour cherry and cola. Aubert was smooth as silk from the start. As the Big Basin unwound with beautiful aromatics, the palate smoothed out with nice licorice and minerality becoming apparent.   The Aubert is a gorgeous, rich wine.  However, the Big Basin disappeared fast and seemed the favorite.   It just had a lot of interesting things going on.... go figure. ..
Both wines went really well with my sea bass ...

2003 Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage les Varonniers

Full decant. A bit closed at first certainly not giving up much on the aromatics.  About an hour later, the flavors began to appear.  3+ hours and she's singing. Super - refined black truffle fruit, olive, bacon and iodine and, oh yes, a lovely 12.5% alcohol !  This is a classic. Sourced from old vines in the Varognes and Les Meysonniers sites.
Paired with pasta and fresh Périgord truffles... delightful. 

1995 Ceretto-Bricco Rocche Barolo Prapo

Opened this alongside the 1997 Parusso Bussia Vigna Rocche. Full decant.  This is a very different wine. Lots of plum fruit and earth... rich texture. 

We enjoyed the second half of the Prapo the next day with dinner and decorating the tree.  Mature plum character really comes out along with licorice nuance. Violet floral on the nose. Allspice and big earth. Jammy character indicative of a warm growing season ...?  Quite enjoyable...
Happy Holidays! 

1997 Armando Parusso Barolo Bussia Vigna Rocche

It's that time of year when we celebrate with a Parusso Bussia Vigna Rocche and the 1997 posed an interesting comparison to last year's 1998.. 

Decanted the 1997 Parusso Bussia Vigna Rocche two hours ahead of dinner.  Good nose and impeccable composition upon opening - all that was needed is to open up. And open up nicely it did... black cherry, tar, earth and anise with a nice underlying minerality. .. Man, you know a good Barolo when you hit one...
The nose was enjoyable but a bit more reticent than expected over the evening (perhaps as compared to the sexy nose of the '97 Moccagatta Bric Balin from yesterday. .. and we poured the last of the Bric Balin this evening where the aromatics where still just as alluring).
Overall though, the '97 Parusso Bussia Vigna Rocche had that sweet perfume and truly noble palate that typifies a great Barolo...
I think I've read where this is a whole cluster wine... if so, it is certainly reflected in the body and soul of this bottling. . .. we always enjoy the Parusso wines! 

1997 Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin

Popped and poured. 14% alc. Nice floral notes on nose. Subdued palate for the first hour.  Slow-o in bottle. 2nd hour started opening up with red & blue fruits and dusty tannins. Nicely balanced. 3rd hour and beyond was revealing. .. delicate nebbiolo profile with more red fruit now... the aromatics are so fine with very classic tar and roses.... a delight to just enjoy the nose.  Amazing the similarity between Barbaresco and Burgundy in terms of appeal... 
No reason to wait on this... it's on the far side of optimal drinking window.  Overall I would describe as an enjoyable moderately priced Barbaresco.   

1996 Colin-Deleger Chassagne Montrachet en Remilly

Popped and poured with dinner (chicken piccata, broccoli rabe and tomato-mozzarella salad drizzled with balsamic)
Very nice honeyed floral aromatics right away.  Bright lemon, stone, baked bread with hints of tropical fruit (13.5% alc).  I like '96 white Burgundy on the far, mellow end of the drinking window. 
 Enjoyed this over several hours as it opened up for business and we revisited stories of a trip to Lyon and dining at Paul Bocuse many years ago.

Piedmont, Priorat, Bordeaux and Mendocino

The Whites

(Paired with crab dip and a selection of cheeses)

2012 Forman Chardonnay

Always a hit.  Not your standard Napa chardonnay.  Bracing minerality with citrus and pear.  Only 10% new oak and no malo. Mr. Forman is a traditionalist.  13.5% alc.

2011 Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay Reserve

A more modern chardonnay (14.5% alc) from Carneros.  Quite tasty ... more peach and hazelnut influence.  The oak is not too obtrusive.  A dependable, enjoyable chardonnay.

The Reds (Paired with grilled bone-in ribeye steaks, broccoli salad and medley of potatoes & root vegetables in white wine)

1998 Elio Altare L'Insieme

First time to try this wine.  2 hours slow-o.  Interesting blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, Syrah and Petit Verdot from La Morra.  The L’Insieme association is a wine growers initiative and charitable organization founded in 1997 by Elio Altare. This is one of those blends that works due to the high quality of the components and skill of the winemakers. Substantial, but past its prime.  Tasty blackberry, spice and cassis with hints of sweetness. 14% alc.

2000 Mas Garrian Mas del Camperol

From Priorat....  1.5 hours full decant.  Carignan, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and a dollop of Syrah. (14% alc)  I am a fan of Spanish wines made from a blend of different varietals (e.g., Quinta Sardonia, El Nido Clio...)  Raspberry fruit with attractive tartness and minerality. Very enjoyable florals on the nose.  No reason to hang on to this any longer.  It's ready now.

2005 Clos les Lunelles 

From Cotes de Castillon (Right Bank Bordeaux).  Popped and poured with full decant.  Lots of very fine grained sediment.  Really attractive nose right out of the gate with hints of anise.  Took about an hour to start to show its stuff.  Mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. (14% alc)  Edging out the Insieme as my favorite wine of the evening with its freshness and being in its prime drinking window.  Black fruits, currant and fully integrated sweet tannins.  Very enjoyable minerality.  Rolland is the consulting winemaker.  Note: Day 2 on this wine brought out even more complexity and aromatics, re-confirming it as my favorite. 
 
2007 Agharta Exhibit C

A Pax Mahle project. 15% alc. From Alder Springs Vineyard in Mendocino.  Equal parts Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc with a dollop of Petit Verdot.  Aged 48 months in barrel.  Popped and poured with full decant.  Serious funk on the nose that just would not blow off.  Put aside for later.  Day 2 - funk had completely dissipated revealing a subdued nose.  Massive black and red fruits. Tastes a bit more like a big Syrah (?) rather than a right-bank blend.  Monolithic and tasty. I rather like the Agharta Grenache but this bottling is more of a puzzle.

2012 Raffaldini Sangiovese Riserva 

From the Swan Creek Vineyard in the Piedmont of North Carolina.  Very deft 13.7% alc. Bright cherry with cedar. Better on Day 2.