Old favorites with mixed results and one of the most bizarre wine experiences I can remember.
2008 Rhys Syrah Skyline Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (1/15/2021)
This was really good. Aromatically complex notes of mineral and olive brine to go with the fruit. Steph really liked it, which was interesting. At plateau but I have no idea what the time frame is here. My last bottle. (91 points)
2012 Azienda Agricola San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino Stella di Campalto Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (1/15/2021)
OK, so this may have been a bit of a mistake. A mismatch with the food. I don't have much experience with Stella di Campalto Brunello so I wasn't prepared for the elegance here where a bigger expression of Sangiovese would have worked better. Really haunting aromatics but tightly coiled. I think I'll give it another 3-5 years before I check in again. Intriguing wine, it's too bad about the pricing but worth trying. I find this to be a really unique Brunello with a lot of potential. (91 points)
2016 Azienda Agricola Caparsa Chianti Classico Caparsa - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (1/15/2021)
This was its consistently excellent self. Tracking with other bottles. I liked how the rusticity showed in this one. (91 points)
2006 Ch“teau Pradeaux Bandol - France, Provence, Bandol (1/16/2021)
Oh my, isn't this something? Opened to go with cassoulet from Rue Cler as I don't have a single bottle of Cahors or Madiran. Given that I've referred to Caparsa as the Pradeaux of Chianti it was nice to open this the next day and get some confirmation of that. Noble rusticity is still the best descriptor. This is a mid-weight version of Pradeaux Bandol with all of the Provençal notes, as well as the distinctive tree bark one I get specifically here, one would expect with a red fruited profile and strong but well proportioned tannin, not spiky nor a brick wall. I do wonder whether there is enough fruit to outlast the tannin but prior experience has shown that this generally happens. It hasn't yet developed that lavender note that can be so haunting in these wines. I don't see any reason not to open one now if you have the proper meal for it although it may be immortal. I've never had a Pradeaux that seemed over the hill, only spoiled bottles due to exogenous causes. (92 points)
2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken "Mutter Anna" #1 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (1/16/2021)
A bit more reticent than the first bottle but I think I may not have enough of this. Could end up being thrilling. (91 points)
2016 Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône (Le Poutet) - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (1/17/2021)
I have to say, I was disappointed with this bottle. It has always been such a reliable wine and it was very good when younger. I guess I expected more of the spice cake and cherry compote notes I love from Grenache but they weren't here. (87 points)
2016 Domaine Charvin Ch“teauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ch“teauneuf-du-Pape (1/17/2021)
Another disappointment. Rather boozy and unrefined. More depth of fruit than the CDR. What was supposed to be a really fun comparison didn't turn out that way. In general, my hit rate with Charvin hasn't been great in the last few years. I seem to need to catch them at exactly the right time to really love them (and when I do, I do) but I don't follow them closely enough to be able to do that consistently. I don't know, 3-5 years until the next one? (89 points)
2016 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (1/18/2021)
Consistent with my last bottle but a little bit airier. Dark berry fruit smashed on limestone with hints of herbs and tobacco. Floral top note. Violets maybe? Then fine grained, limestone inflected tannin. Perfectly fun to drink now although it's apogee is several years down the road. (92 points)
2007 Bernard Faurie Hermitage Bessards-Le Méal - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (1/20/2021)
This was corked but I'm posting a note anyway because the most amazing thing happened. I got the hint of corkiness when we opened it and I was totally bummed but once it's there, you can't unsmell it. The interesting part is that I tried the recorked bottle from the counter the next day and at first, I couldn't perceive any cork. Meaty dark fruit and licorice with a leathery snap. I freaked out and Steph noticed the lack of cork too when I shoved it up to her nose in excitement. Alas, with a bit more exposure to air, the TCA came back. I think this is a testament to the awesomeness that must be lying in wait under the TCA but it was a totally weird experience that was a first. I've never had the perception of TCA go away and then come back like that. Fascinating. (NR/flawed)
2014 Ghostwriter Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (1/20/2021)
Not as good as other bottles I've had which were silky but poised Syrah loaded with fruit but not exceedingly ripe or our of shape (the alcohol is ~13%). This bottle was just a bit clumsy with a perception of wood that one can sometimes get in Syrah even if it isn't there. FWIW, Steph liked it more than I did. (89 points)
2008 Rhys Syrah Skyline Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (1/15/2021)
This was really good. Aromatically complex notes of mineral and olive brine to go with the fruit. Steph really liked it, which was interesting. At plateau but I have no idea what the time frame is here. My last bottle. (91 points)
2012 Azienda Agricola San Giuseppe Brunello di Montalcino Stella di Campalto Riserva - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (1/15/2021)
OK, so this may have been a bit of a mistake. A mismatch with the food. I don't have much experience with Stella di Campalto Brunello so I wasn't prepared for the elegance here where a bigger expression of Sangiovese would have worked better. Really haunting aromatics but tightly coiled. I think I'll give it another 3-5 years before I check in again. Intriguing wine, it's too bad about the pricing but worth trying. I find this to be a really unique Brunello with a lot of potential. (91 points)
2016 Azienda Agricola Caparsa Chianti Classico Caparsa - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (1/15/2021)
This was its consistently excellent self. Tracking with other bottles. I liked how the rusticity showed in this one. (91 points)
2006 Ch“teau Pradeaux Bandol - France, Provence, Bandol (1/16/2021)
Oh my, isn't this something? Opened to go with cassoulet from Rue Cler as I don't have a single bottle of Cahors or Madiran. Given that I've referred to Caparsa as the Pradeaux of Chianti it was nice to open this the next day and get some confirmation of that. Noble rusticity is still the best descriptor. This is a mid-weight version of Pradeaux Bandol with all of the Provençal notes, as well as the distinctive tree bark one I get specifically here, one would expect with a red fruited profile and strong but well proportioned tannin, not spiky nor a brick wall. I do wonder whether there is enough fruit to outlast the tannin but prior experience has shown that this generally happens. It hasn't yet developed that lavender note that can be so haunting in these wines. I don't see any reason not to open one now if you have the proper meal for it although it may be immortal. I've never had a Pradeaux that seemed over the hill, only spoiled bottles due to exogenous causes. (92 points)
2019 Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett trocken "Mutter Anna" #1 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (1/16/2021)
A bit more reticent than the first bottle but I think I may not have enough of this. Could end up being thrilling. (91 points)
2016 Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône (Le Poutet) - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (1/17/2021)
I have to say, I was disappointed with this bottle. It has always been such a reliable wine and it was very good when younger. I guess I expected more of the spice cake and cherry compote notes I love from Grenache but they weren't here. (87 points)
2016 Domaine Charvin Ch“teauneuf-du-Pape - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ch“teauneuf-du-Pape (1/17/2021)
Another disappointment. Rather boozy and unrefined. More depth of fruit than the CDR. What was supposed to be a really fun comparison didn't turn out that way. In general, my hit rate with Charvin hasn't been great in the last few years. I seem to need to catch them at exactly the right time to really love them (and when I do, I do) but I don't follow them closely enough to be able to do that consistently. I don't know, 3-5 years until the next one? (89 points)
2016 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (1/18/2021)
Consistent with my last bottle but a little bit airier. Dark berry fruit smashed on limestone with hints of herbs and tobacco. Floral top note. Violets maybe? Then fine grained, limestone inflected tannin. Perfectly fun to drink now although it's apogee is several years down the road. (92 points)
2007 Bernard Faurie Hermitage Bessards-Le Méal - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (1/20/2021)
This was corked but I'm posting a note anyway because the most amazing thing happened. I got the hint of corkiness when we opened it and I was totally bummed but once it's there, you can't unsmell it. The interesting part is that I tried the recorked bottle from the counter the next day and at first, I couldn't perceive any cork. Meaty dark fruit and licorice with a leathery snap. I freaked out and Steph noticed the lack of cork too when I shoved it up to her nose in excitement. Alas, with a bit more exposure to air, the TCA came back. I think this is a testament to the awesomeness that must be lying in wait under the TCA but it was a totally weird experience that was a first. I've never had the perception of TCA go away and then come back like that. Fascinating. (NR/flawed)
2014 Ghostwriter Syrah Santa Cruz Mountains - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains (1/20/2021)
Not as good as other bottles I've had which were silky but poised Syrah loaded with fruit but not exceedingly ripe or our of shape (the alcohol is ~13%). This bottle was just a bit clumsy with a perception of wood that one can sometimes get in Syrah even if it isn't there. FWIW, Steph liked it more than I did. (89 points)
