2015 Yves Cuilleron Cornas Le Village

 A little too polished for my taste

Cru (July 2023)

 

Leonard Taylor and Ric Alpert hosted our wine tasting this month.

(my favorites are indicated)

Prelude:
2016 Christophe Baron Champagne Les Dessus de Bois Marie
2016 Christophe Baron Champagne Les Alouettes (magnum) favorite

First flight
2005 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard
2007 Copain Syrah Thompson Vineyard
2006 Copain Syrah James Berry Vineyard (favorite)
1998 Ojai Syrah EH Roll Ranch Vineyard (2nd favorite)
2000 Ojai Syrah Thompson Vineyard Special Bottling
2008 Alban Syrah Reva

2nd Flight
2020 Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage
2020 Turley Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard
2020 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog (favorite)
2020 SQN Distenta II (2nd favorite)... Syrah with small amounts of Grenache and Mourvedre
2020 Liminal Syrah Block 16 Weather Eye
2020 Mollydooker Shiraz The Boxer

No formal notes, however this was my first taste of the Baron Champagnes which are 100% Pinot Meunier. The 2016 Alouette was the more approachable of two, showing nice fruit and some early complexity. I'm not a huge fan of 100% Pinot Meunier champagne. To me, they are either too earthy or the fruit is too lean. The Baron Champagnes were a revelation into what heights Pinot Meunier can reach.

The first flight was a smorgasbord of beautifully aged California Syrah by Wells Guthrie, Adam Tolmach and John Alban. All bottles were purchased direct from the winery and perfectly cellared. 

The second flight was a superb showing of younger syrahs with Zinfandel ringer (both flights tasted double blind). The bouquet on the Bionic Frog is crazy interesting. 

2020 Cantina Terlano Vorberg Riserva

 

Obviously a bit young. Quite a bit more structure and acidity than recent vintages. This one is a good bet for the long haul. Once it opens up, some of the beautiful Vorberg fruit peeks through. A classic in the making, I think.

2020 Borgo del Tiglio Ronco della Chiesa

 EG is right on:

https://v1.vinous.com/wines?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=2020+Borgo+del+Tiglio+Ronco+della+Chiesa

Very early stage of drinking window. Decanting and aerating for a couple of hours highly recommended. 
Tocai Friulano.... super elegant and quite a bit of complexity emerges after a few hours. I think @"Mark Scudiery" turned me on to Borgo del Tiglio a number of years ago.

2017 Kelley Fox Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard (Dundee Hills)

 

Early drinking window has opened. Decanted to aerate for about an hour prior to rebottling for journey to restaurant. Minimal sediment. Beautifully translucent color, with signature whole cluster aromatics. An olfactory pinot noir delight.
Fox's version of Maresh Vineyard has always reminded of Dugat-Py Vosne-Romanee. Lithe, high toned cherry fruit with sort of a rhubarb-y influence on the mid-palate. Once it unfurls, there's a lot of complexity on the finish weaving in some blue fruit. I love this stuff.
Paired with an amazing mushroom torrecelli with fresh truffles .... a melange of flavors that was off the charts at Kindred restaurant.



 

2016 Bodegas Cota 45 UBE El Carrascal Las Vegas

 I'm really digging the wines of Ramiro Ibáñez at Cota 45 in Sanlúcar, Jerez. Beautifully stony expression of Palomino varietal grown in the famous chalk of the region. Just delightful. 👍

More info at:
http://www.josepastorselections.com/cota-45.html

Paired beautifully with crawfish gnocchi dish at Joe Kindred's eponymously named restaurant in Davidson NC, always in the running for a James Beard award.