2016 Chateau Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Humble entry wine from Vaudieu..
Sings on day 2 with prime rib. 
Green light for another 5 to 10 years of cellaring.
Very pretty fruit...

2014 Fiorenzo Nada Barbaresco Manzola

A very elegantly structured, lithe and classic rendition of Nebbiolo. More open and improving on day 2. Wish I had more of this.

Spain, Burgundy, Rhone and Barbaresco

Beautiful, aged Grenache from Spain, nice Volnay, very very nice Cote-Rotie, and delicious Barbaresco... paired with chicken and sausage jambalaya. Took some of the sting out of the Dawgs loss to Bama...
Volnay required a lot of aeration and was tasty. The Cote-Rotie was cranking from the start and just got better and better. It was my favorite of the night. The Barbaresco showed really really well after a couple of hours in a decanter.  I haven't tried any 2014 Barbaresco up until this one. My impression was of filigreed tannins and balanced fruit once it got some air. Needs another 5 years minimum. Nice potential. 
Cleaning up listening to Rolling Stones live at University of Leeds (1971) and finishing off the Barbaresco...

https://youtu.be/PpEz2R91Yjg?si=o89y7juY2AunN3Hv

Cru tasting November 2023

First flight:

1985 Leoville Las Cases (my favorite)

1986 Leoville Las Cases

1990 Leoville Las Cases

1996 Leoville Las Cases

2005 Leoville Las Cases

1912 D'Oliveiras Madeira Verdelho Reserva

Second flight:

2008 Anderson’s Conn Valley “Estate Reserve” Napa Cabernet (my favorite)

2009 Laurel Glen (Sonoma Mtn) Cabernet

2010 Plumpjack Estate Oakville Napa Cabernet

2011 Penfolds Grange

2012 Lewis Cellars Napa Cabernet

2013 Myriad Cellars “Three Twins Vineyard” Napa Cabernet

2015 SQN Trouver l'Arène

80% Syrah with the balance being Petite Sirah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Viognier..

30% whole cluster provides intriguing depth.

Needs lots of air. Actually gains presence bigtime over the course of a couple of hours. Very elegant.

Paired nicely with duck confit hash ....👍🍷

Pommard, Barbaresco, Barolo

 

2010 Domaine Billard-Gonnet Pommard 1er Cru Les Pèzerolles

Early... hold another five years at minimum for optimal enjoyment... powerful structure..... Lots of sour cherry.

After a couple of hours, starts to show more suppleness. Really nice potential .... classic Pommard. 

2011 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Reserva

Wow! Lascivious stage for this wine. Lush, sensual, big fruit, sweet tannins. Lots of length but this will be stellar in 10 years. Not the most elegant vintage but it's a keeper for the longer haul IMO.

2013 Vajra Albe

Blend of fruit from Fossati, Coste de Vergne and La Volta. Clearly a bit early on the curve. Fine structure, quite elegant medium weight.

....opens up a bit about an hour in for the fruit to show better..... we have leftovers on this one so we'll see what tomorrow brings 

2018 Cotas 45 UBE La Carrascal

 I've posted on this before.... a very interesting exercise in a totally dry Palomino. 

Trocken Riesling lovers take note.
This will benefit from cellaring since there's still a bit of heat on the finish...

I like this producer...

Musical pairing

https://youtu.be/a9PKXTyvVD8?si=_FB8UMO8HCXVmK71

2018 Kuentz-Bas Riesling Geisburg Grand Cru

 

First time trying this producer....
One of my favorite things about this wine at this early stage of development is the petrol accent on the nose...paired with smokey mac and cheese with bacon..

Music pairing

https://youtu.be/6B_xjv_pqro?si=b4PKO28gyFozpvrD

2020 Tre Monti Thea

 

First time trying this. 100% petit manseng. This is a wine to be paired with food. It has a somewhat voluptuous palate, with a pithiness on the finish. Based on notes from @"Eric Guido", the 2020 is somewhat of a weak vintage for this wine. I am inclined to agree since the wine, at this stage, lacks complexity and depth. However, it did show some development on day 2 which may bode well for the future. I cannot get enough of the white wines from Italy, Spain and Alsace these days. Fascinating stuff to be found every day.

Cru October 2023

Mike Brawley poured a flight of outstanding Spanish wines from his cellar. No formal notes.

The 1994 Artadi and 1998 Ramirez de Ganuza showed beautifully! The 2005 Planots is 50/50 blend of Carignan and Grenache and had fascinating complexity. The 2016 Proto Gran Riserva is a a really nice place right now with air, and shows the seductiveness of Tempranillo in Ribera del Duero..

1994 Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja Riserva

1998 Ramirez de Ganuza Rioja Riserva

2000 Fra Fulca La Vilella Alta Priorat Vinyas Velles

2002 Abadia Retuerta Seleccion Especial Sardon de Duero

2004 La Vinya del Vuit Priorat

2004 Bodegas Muga Rioja Torre Muga

2004 Bodegas Lan Rioja Riserva

2005 Cellar Cal Pla Mas d’En Compte Planots Priorat

2005 Artadi Pagos Viejos Rioja Riserva

2010 Celler de Capcanes Val de Calas Montsant

2012 Hanzana Rioja Tradicion

2016 Bodegas Protos Ribera del Duero Gran Reserva

 

Ischia

 

First foray with Biancolella from Ischia. Thanks to @"Eric Guido" for making me aware of these wines. A modestly priced wine. I'm guessing seeing only stainless steel. Quite suave, lemony quaff. Paired with duck confit hash (sauteed sweet potato chunks, prosciutto, garlic cloves, onions). Just stupid good. We're drinking a lot more white wine these days...
Music pairing:
https://youtu.be/aLq2z5CBwFw?si=6ZU-l4d3QiwtooCR
They've been touring with Wilco.. lot of great Wilco influence in their music, especially Tweedy, Cline and Sansone influence on triple guitar attack...

Cru wine flight 28 Aug 2023

Poured these at a recent tasting...

2019 Mayer Chardonnay Yarra Valley

2013 Pehu-Simonet Extra Brut Villers-Marmery Les Chouettes Fins Lieux No. 7 

2010 Clos du Mont-Olivet CdP La Cuvee du Papet (2nd favorite)

2015 Chateau de Vaudieu CdP L'Avenue

2016 Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard Walla Walla Valley

2015 Malartic-Lagraviere Pessac-Leognan

2015 Clos de l'Oratoire Saint-Emilion

2015 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Napa Valley (favorite)

The Pehu-Simonet showed better than six months ago when I tried it. 
The Mayer Chardonnay was a disappointment at that price range.
Beringer Private Reserve Cab may not be trendy these days, but it's a stalwart representation of how good Napa cabs can be.
Cayuse syrah have a signature herbal funkiness that diminishes over time. This example was not popular because of that unique nose and palate. Just too young. I like Horsepower better. 

2019 Krettnacher Euchariusberg Riesling Spätlese AP 14

 We've been knocking back with wines from Erich and Johannes Weber recently. 

This one is still young, but we vacu-vin'd half the btl to revisit after a few days. 
Day X : wow! Really blossomed. These guys make some of the most elegant Riesling available today.
When tasting at a cooler temperature,  a beautiful peach nose and palate hits you, with a lovely finish.
As it warms up, the palate transitions to some zesty lime on the finish... beautiful salinity.
My wife and I love these wines.
. 
Music to enjoy Riesling by...

https://youtu.be/EpXIt_7uso8?si=oRmyO_F5Acg91FH7

Lovely Italian White Wines

 

2021 Mastroberardino NovaSerra Greco di Tufo
Delightfully afforable, quaffable wine. Young, tart, fruit forward. Stainless steel, no oak showcases the terroir of the Montefusco vineyard. This bottle went quickly....👍 definitely a rebuy.

2017 Pievalta Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Riserva San Paolo
Mellowed nicely. Suave spicy lemony with some tropical influence and a bit of nuttiness on the finish.

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.

Krankl-mania

 SQN tasting line up from this evening. No detailed notes, but a helluva lot of fun. Bree Basham is the chair of our wine group and she's a Krankl fan. Superbly crafted wines as always. The service and the food at Dressler's Metropolitan, where our tasting group meets, is top notch.

Testa del Cherubi = Face of an Angel?

2011 PdB Asili and 2011 PdB Rabaja

 

Just brief impressions on these, enjoyed side by side. Both were decanted for aeration about an hour in advance. 

2011 Asili needs a bit more time to develop its famously ethereal tertiary complexity. Tannins are resolved, but the best is yet to come.

2011 Rabaja is in a fine stage of early drinkability. Opened up lusciously. Tannins have resolved and this is a seamless beauty. No harm in drinking one now, but this should evolve beautifully over the next decade. 

Looking forward to the 20 year report from @"Philippe Richer" in 2031 😊

2012 Vodopivec Vitovska Solo

 Elegant. Lithe winemaking style. Better enjoyed from Riedel Vinum Extreme Pinot Noir glass rather than the Burg glass shown in photo. A little past peak for now(?)

Need to learn more about Vitovska. 2012 was a slightly less than stellar vintage in FVG, I think. But this is a nicely balanced, tasty wine.

2018 Famille Lieubeau Muscadet Sevre et Maine Chateau-Thebaud

 

First time trying this producer and it was a delightful showing. Substantial vicosity and depth of flavor on the palate. This is a re-buy at under $30/btl👍

2018 Cota 45 Pandorga

This is a sweet sherry produced by the mad genius behind Cota 45 in Jerez, Ramiro Ibáñez, On first impression, I thought of a Tokaji, but with less acidity. I enjoy everything that Ibáñez is doing.
With air on day 2, there's glimpse of the potential complexity to develop. In 20 years, this Pedro Ximenez based wine will really show its stuff. 

2009 Drappier Grand Sendree

 From a single parcel in Urville, Cotes des Bar. 4g/l dosage. Disgorged January 2019. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir ....

2nd time I've had this wine in the past 18 months. Already a Wow cuvee, it's getting better each time I try it. Beautiful complex vinosity, mouthwatering salinity, lovely fruit driven bouquet. One of my favorite champagnes these days.. highly recommended ... paired with spicy tempura fried lobster tails!

2018 Bodegas Cota 45 El Carrascal Las Vegas

 

Superb now with air. Ridiculously good in 3 to 5 years. ..Sanlúcar region from winemaker Ramiro Ibáñez. This is a field blend of Palomino Fino, Palomino Jerez and Palomino Pelusón from a single vineyard called “Viña Las Vegas” planted in 1903.   Don't drink too cold. Splash decant couldn't hurt..👍👍👍

2007 Colli di Catone Colle Gaio (Malvasia del Lazio)

 

I'll let @"Eric Guido" 's outstanding notes speak to this unique wine. Glad I have several bottles.

https://v1.vinous.com/wines?utf8=%E2%9C%93&q=2007+Colli+di+Catone+Colle+Gaio

For this particular bottle, the nose was not forthcoming. However, the complex flavor profile and skin contact mouthfeel made for a fascinating experience. 

2017 Bodegas Cota 45 UBE Maina La Charanga

 Entering peak drinking window now...What a difference a couple of years makes...

Had the 2017 Cota 45 UBE Maina La Charanga (100% Palomino) this evening paired with crab cakes, and it showed marked improvement from August 2021....it has developed into a nicely integrated, beautiful wine. Delicious complexity on the palate... hint of sweetness on the finish...

2017 Deiss Schoenenbourg and 2020 Pelican Arbois Savagnin Maceration Pelicullaire

 

Paired with fried oysters as a first course and traditional Charleston-style shrimp & grits as a second course, with creme brulee for dessert.

Both wines showed very well despite being young. 

2017 Hofgut Falkenstein Riesling Krettnacher Euchariusberg Auslese AP 5

An enjoyable wine paired with apple galette and pear galette selections at the close of a dinner. Viscous on the palate, with sumptuous tropical fruit up front ... pineapple and tangerine with hint of banana on the long finish. Really nice complexity. The only thing I could've wished for is a bit more acidity. Gotta love what the Webers are doing in the Saar.

Marcel Deiss wines from Alsace

 

Love these wines. The Schoffweg needs a lot of air...it's typically a bit earthier than Grasberg 

NV Drappier Brut Blanc de Quatre Blancs Quattuor (Urville, Côte des Bar)

 

First time trying this wine....a blend of Arbanne, Petite Meslier, Blanc Vrai and Chardonnay.
Nose to die for upon uncorking, however it's too young from a palate perspective (no disgorgement date on the label). 
Opened up a bit after an hour or so to provide a glimpse of a favorable future. Quite dry with a fascinating, if unorthodox blend of varietals.
Paired nicely with blackened catfish etoufee and hushpuppies...

2020 Elena Walch Beyond The Clouds

 

May pair some recommended music cuts with wines.
 2020 EW BTC .... mostly Chardonnay from the Reitwies vineyard near Caldaro. With small percentages of the best of plots of Gewurztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc from various vineyards. Still too young, natch.  Much better on day 2. The wood needs to settle down and the varietals need more time to integrate.  Really solid aging potential. 
Paired nicely with grilled tuna....




https://youtu.be/lZ8zu1aRYA8

2011 Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino

 

Decanted for about 45 mins and then served ... oh my.... have always enjoyed the 2011 Il Marroneto BdM. This bottle has aged well and is at peak. Opened up beautifully and paired deliciously with grilled filet mignon.