Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine impressions 8-22-22
2006 Scholium Project, San Floriano del Collio Reserva - Skin-fermented Pinot Gris from the Rocky Hill Vineyard at 16.9% abv. Purchased at release and held in my cellar since. Every bottle up until now has been horrid, DNPIM, pour down the drain.
This one, wasn’t.
Aldehydic and reduced upon opening but quickly sheds those faults to become an oloroso sherry without the sweetness and oxidation, with medium body and excellent complexity. Absolutely no indication of the alcohol save the textural volume. An odd yet captivating anomaly that could only be produced by Abe Schroener.
Who’d a thunk?
2019 Dirty & Rowdy, Syrah Brosseau Vineyard - resolved, perfumed, olive, mustard, Syrah goodness in an easy drinking package. Nothing out of place, lovely symmetry and a delivery that keeps you coming back for more. Hardy usually describes his wines in cosmic terms; to me, this is of the earth and grounded in delicious fruit.
Very fine.
2005 Edmunds St. John, Syrah Bassetti Vineyard - decanted off moderate sediment; earthy, funky nose but with the solid black fruit of this site; layered, proportional but without the complexity I expect after 17 years. Could probably use a few more years yet showing nicely now.
And, on the occasion of Steve’s 75th, the perfect metaphor - solid but not quite there.
Rock on, brother Steve.
2019 Vincent, Pinot Noir Armstrong Vineyard - the nose is reticent and it’s about cinnamon and dark chocolate; the palate brings the fruit and juiciness; but make no mistake, this wine is about its place - and that place is about firmness and dark fruit. It’s young, it’s balanced and it’s going to be far beyond what it is now.
Hold or decant several hours.
It’s future should be the quintessential expression of Ribbon Ridge. Sort of the Corton of Oregon.
(Aside: the 2019 pinot vintage in Oregon is not to be missed.)
2010 Cowan Cellars, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - significant bottle stink requires decanting; the nose cleans up nicely with air. Slightly angular in the mouth, at first, but air helps here, too. Once it’s had some breathing time, this is notably feminine, elegant and composed. And unmistakably Sonoma Coast; you can sense the morning fog.
(Aside: I made this with pump-overs only, no punch downs, in an attempt to keep the tannins at bay - and it worked. Silky and refined and without the vegetal elements so often found in SC Pinots.)
2010 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Moaveni Vineyard - Bennett Valley fruit at about 13.2 abv. Quite complex upon opening with olive, garrigue and leather notes but “young’s up” quickly to a fairly straightforward boysenberry/blackberry palate. At 12, I expected the development noted upon opening but not the narrowing to almost all fruit. Maybe this still needs time. Perplexing.
Best, Jim
2006 Scholium Project, San Floriano del Collio Reserva - Skin-fermented Pinot Gris from the Rocky Hill Vineyard at 16.9% abv. Purchased at release and held in my cellar since. Every bottle up until now has been horrid, DNPIM, pour down the drain.
This one, wasn’t.
Aldehydic and reduced upon opening but quickly sheds those faults to become an oloroso sherry without the sweetness and oxidation, with medium body and excellent complexity. Absolutely no indication of the alcohol save the textural volume. An odd yet captivating anomaly that could only be produced by Abe Schroener.
Who’d a thunk?
2019 Dirty & Rowdy, Syrah Brosseau Vineyard - resolved, perfumed, olive, mustard, Syrah goodness in an easy drinking package. Nothing out of place, lovely symmetry and a delivery that keeps you coming back for more. Hardy usually describes his wines in cosmic terms; to me, this is of the earth and grounded in delicious fruit.
Very fine.
2005 Edmunds St. John, Syrah Bassetti Vineyard - decanted off moderate sediment; earthy, funky nose but with the solid black fruit of this site; layered, proportional but without the complexity I expect after 17 years. Could probably use a few more years yet showing nicely now.
And, on the occasion of Steve’s 75th, the perfect metaphor - solid but not quite there.
Rock on, brother Steve.
2019 Vincent, Pinot Noir Armstrong Vineyard - the nose is reticent and it’s about cinnamon and dark chocolate; the palate brings the fruit and juiciness; but make no mistake, this wine is about its place - and that place is about firmness and dark fruit. It’s young, it’s balanced and it’s going to be far beyond what it is now.
Hold or decant several hours.
It’s future should be the quintessential expression of Ribbon Ridge. Sort of the Corton of Oregon.
(Aside: the 2019 pinot vintage in Oregon is not to be missed.)
2010 Cowan Cellars, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - significant bottle stink requires decanting; the nose cleans up nicely with air. Slightly angular in the mouth, at first, but air helps here, too. Once it’s had some breathing time, this is notably feminine, elegant and composed. And unmistakably Sonoma Coast; you can sense the morning fog.
(Aside: I made this with pump-overs only, no punch downs, in an attempt to keep the tannins at bay - and it worked. Silky and refined and without the vegetal elements so often found in SC Pinots.)
2010 Cowan Cellars, Syrah Moaveni Vineyard - Bennett Valley fruit at about 13.2 abv. Quite complex upon opening with olive, garrigue and leather notes but “young’s up” quickly to a fairly straightforward boysenberry/blackberry palate. At 12, I expected the development noted upon opening but not the narrowing to almost all fruit. Maybe this still needs time. Perplexing.
Best, Jim
