SteveTimko
Steve Timko
2006 Twisted Oak Petite Sirah Calaveras County - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Calaveras County (9/9/2009)
This was an okay wine but nothing really stood out. It didn't have the power of most petite sirahs but yet ti wasn't especially elegant either. That could change with age. Mostly dark fruits on the nose and palate with some dusty fruits on the palate. No significant tannins. No blueberry I seem to always find in petite sirah. Maybe this needs to be cellared for a couple of more years to show anything.
2007 Twisted Oak Mourvedre River of Skulls Dalton Vineyard - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Calaveras County (9/9/2009)
This was pretty tight and not showing much of anything initially. It took lots and lots of swirling in my glass to get it to open up. It did open a little lbit finally. All dark fruits on the nose and maybe some vanilla. On the palate, dark cherry and maybe some cassis. Short finish. I get the sense this wine is still developing and will be much better in two or three years.
2005 Twisted Oak *%#&@! - USA, California, Sierra Foothills (9/9/2009)
This is a nice example of California Rhone and is showing well right now. A Rhoniish leather, meat and spice on the nose. The mourvedre seems to dominate here. On the palate, nice cherry and peppers and spices. Good finish. Not tannic at all. Nice elegance and balance, despite the name.
2007 Twisted Oak Rubens Blend - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (9/9/2009)
A nice Rhone white. The most obvious thing for me was the creamy Rhonish texture. It wasn't quite oily but I almost expected it to be. And it's not zingy. It's a little heavy, but not in a bad way. There's white fruit and maybe a touch of honey on the nose. The palate is definitely nutty with more white fruits and citrus. Decent finish. My sense is that this will improve with a year or two in the bottle and gain more eomplexity, but it drinks nicely now.
This was an okay wine but nothing really stood out. It didn't have the power of most petite sirahs but yet ti wasn't especially elegant either. That could change with age. Mostly dark fruits on the nose and palate with some dusty fruits on the palate. No significant tannins. No blueberry I seem to always find in petite sirah. Maybe this needs to be cellared for a couple of more years to show anything.
2007 Twisted Oak Mourvedre River of Skulls Dalton Vineyard - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Calaveras County (9/9/2009)
This was pretty tight and not showing much of anything initially. It took lots and lots of swirling in my glass to get it to open up. It did open a little lbit finally. All dark fruits on the nose and maybe some vanilla. On the palate, dark cherry and maybe some cassis. Short finish. I get the sense this wine is still developing and will be much better in two or three years.
2005 Twisted Oak *%#&@! - USA, California, Sierra Foothills (9/9/2009)
This is a nice example of California Rhone and is showing well right now. A Rhoniish leather, meat and spice on the nose. The mourvedre seems to dominate here. On the palate, nice cherry and peppers and spices. Good finish. Not tannic at all. Nice elegance and balance, despite the name.
2007 Twisted Oak Rubens Blend - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (9/9/2009)
A nice Rhone white. The most obvious thing for me was the creamy Rhonish texture. It wasn't quite oily but I almost expected it to be. And it's not zingy. It's a little heavy, but not in a bad way. There's white fruit and maybe a touch of honey on the nose. The palate is definitely nutty with more white fruits and citrus. Decent finish. My sense is that this will improve with a year or two in the bottle and gain more eomplexity, but it drinks nicely now.