Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine impressions 11-13-21
2019 Extradimensional Wine Co., Hold Me Tight - 91% Mourvèdre with small amounts of Zin., Barbera, Semillon, and Chenin from 6 different CA counties; 13.5 abv. This is a quintessential Hardy wine; light weight, fresh red fruit, lots of treble with just a little bass, but nicely structured. Reminds me a lot of the D&R Santa Barbara Mourvèdre but as it sits in the glass there are fewer veggie notes and greater complexity. Still a young wine but not closed and, with decanting, even more compelling.
(Aside: On his website, Hardy lists suggested decant times for each of his wines; ‘probably a good idea to follow those.)
2012 Cowan Cellars, Isa - 100% skin-fermented Sauvignon Blanc aged 28 months in very old barrels. Saturated copper color; expansive and complex nose with hay, broth, tangerine, herbs and earth tones; dense in the mouth with some tannic grip and flavors that echo the nose, good cut and a slightly closed finish. Not at peak but still an interesting wine that doesn’t taste like every other orange wine.
2019 Extradimensional Wine Co., After Midnight Light Red - 63% Mourvèdre, 18% Semillon, 13% Chenin, 3% Zin and 3% Barbera from 6 different CA counties; 13% abv. This has a sweeter (almost sweet-tart) profile than the Hold Me Tight and also more herbal notes. And the tannins are more noticeable. But decanting makes a real difference in how the wine shows so, again, the website suggestions help.
At present, I prefer the HMT wine to this although the complexity here makes me think time will be kind. We’ll see.
2019 Clos Cibonne, Rose Tradition - although this wine is made sous voile there is absolutely nothing here that suggests oxidation. Fresh, charming, feminine and crisp; lovely light berry flavors, perfect balance and a wine that pairs well with many meals but still delivers on its own. One of those wines I will always try to have in my cellar.
2020 Jadot, Macon-Villages - this has a distinct character, solid fruit, moderate layering, some depth and good balance. And no damn wood. It has become, as far as I’m concerned, as good a $14/bottle of wine as is currently available in mass distribution. But I offer one caution; do not put it in the fridge. Too cold and it is oddly shaped and has an unpleasant nose. Cellar temp. is fine but any colder and it’s ugly.
2014 Piedrasassi, Red Wine Harrison Clarke Vineyard, Ballard Canyon - 50/50 Syrah/Mourvèdre, 14.5 abv; I tasted the components of this wine before assembly; the Syrah was good, the Mourvèdre was other worldly. At this point, the Mourvèdre is carrying the aromatic and flavor load with the Syrah filling in the blanks. Which makes for a delicious and soulful wine. But there is more - you can feel it - and surely much of its path is time in the cellar. But part of what is “becoming” is not just about time but about the place and its moment and the dirt.
This is for real.
Hold.
2015 Sandlands, Trousseau - 12.4 abv, from Sonoma County; dusty raspberry and pine/floral scents; light weight, brisk, mouthwatering, lovely red fruits; crisp finish. Reminds of the Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault with perhaps a little less volume. Very easy to drink and character driven.
I like most of the Sandlands wines but I loved their Napa Chenin (which I believe is no longer produced) and the Syrah from Santa Lucia Highlands.
2018 Barbacan, Rosso di Valtellina - ridiculously good, terroir driven wine; not akin to Barbaresco or Barolo but sufficient unto itself; superb earthy, Nebbiolo flavors with an earth driven baseline that anchors a wine that will deliver for years - unfortunately, my last bottle but the 2019 is waiting in my cellar. A yearly buy.
2018 Louis Michel, Chablis Montee de Tonnerre - like drinking mountain spring water with a kick; so achingly beautiful and so much promise. Now or later; your choice. It is not possible to have too much of this wine.
Best, Jim
2019 Extradimensional Wine Co., Hold Me Tight - 91% Mourvèdre with small amounts of Zin., Barbera, Semillon, and Chenin from 6 different CA counties; 13.5 abv. This is a quintessential Hardy wine; light weight, fresh red fruit, lots of treble with just a little bass, but nicely structured. Reminds me a lot of the D&R Santa Barbara Mourvèdre but as it sits in the glass there are fewer veggie notes and greater complexity. Still a young wine but not closed and, with decanting, even more compelling.
(Aside: On his website, Hardy lists suggested decant times for each of his wines; ‘probably a good idea to follow those.)
2012 Cowan Cellars, Isa - 100% skin-fermented Sauvignon Blanc aged 28 months in very old barrels. Saturated copper color; expansive and complex nose with hay, broth, tangerine, herbs and earth tones; dense in the mouth with some tannic grip and flavors that echo the nose, good cut and a slightly closed finish. Not at peak but still an interesting wine that doesn’t taste like every other orange wine.
2019 Extradimensional Wine Co., After Midnight Light Red - 63% Mourvèdre, 18% Semillon, 13% Chenin, 3% Zin and 3% Barbera from 6 different CA counties; 13% abv. This has a sweeter (almost sweet-tart) profile than the Hold Me Tight and also more herbal notes. And the tannins are more noticeable. But decanting makes a real difference in how the wine shows so, again, the website suggestions help.
At present, I prefer the HMT wine to this although the complexity here makes me think time will be kind. We’ll see.
2019 Clos Cibonne, Rose Tradition - although this wine is made sous voile there is absolutely nothing here that suggests oxidation. Fresh, charming, feminine and crisp; lovely light berry flavors, perfect balance and a wine that pairs well with many meals but still delivers on its own. One of those wines I will always try to have in my cellar.
2020 Jadot, Macon-Villages - this has a distinct character, solid fruit, moderate layering, some depth and good balance. And no damn wood. It has become, as far as I’m concerned, as good a $14/bottle of wine as is currently available in mass distribution. But I offer one caution; do not put it in the fridge. Too cold and it is oddly shaped and has an unpleasant nose. Cellar temp. is fine but any colder and it’s ugly.
2014 Piedrasassi, Red Wine Harrison Clarke Vineyard, Ballard Canyon - 50/50 Syrah/Mourvèdre, 14.5 abv; I tasted the components of this wine before assembly; the Syrah was good, the Mourvèdre was other worldly. At this point, the Mourvèdre is carrying the aromatic and flavor load with the Syrah filling in the blanks. Which makes for a delicious and soulful wine. But there is more - you can feel it - and surely much of its path is time in the cellar. But part of what is “becoming” is not just about time but about the place and its moment and the dirt.
This is for real.
Hold.
2015 Sandlands, Trousseau - 12.4 abv, from Sonoma County; dusty raspberry and pine/floral scents; light weight, brisk, mouthwatering, lovely red fruits; crisp finish. Reminds of the Bechthold Vineyard Cinsault with perhaps a little less volume. Very easy to drink and character driven.
I like most of the Sandlands wines but I loved their Napa Chenin (which I believe is no longer produced) and the Syrah from Santa Lucia Highlands.
2018 Barbacan, Rosso di Valtellina - ridiculously good, terroir driven wine; not akin to Barbaresco or Barolo but sufficient unto itself; superb earthy, Nebbiolo flavors with an earth driven baseline that anchors a wine that will deliver for years - unfortunately, my last bottle but the 2019 is waiting in my cellar. A yearly buy.
2018 Louis Michel, Chablis Montee de Tonnerre - like drinking mountain spring water with a kick; so achingly beautiful and so much promise. Now or later; your choice. It is not possible to have too much of this wine.
Best, Jim