SteveTimko
Steve Timko
2006 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Bacon Fat "One Barrel" Kimberly's - USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County (1/21/2010)
Had a great showing among the seven wine geeks at dinner, particularly two mid 1970s graduates of Humboldt State University. One looked at the bottle beforehand and boldly stated that no good wine grapes could be grown in Humboldt County but seemed the most tickled to be proven wrong.
I pulled the cork the day before and left it out overnight.
Obviously bacon fat on the nose. Meaty and smokey. The winemaker talked about this having more red fruit than the regular bottling but it wasn't very far on the spectrum to red fruit. It was mostly dark fruit. Smokey. No white pepper but black pepper. Maybe just the slightest bit of oak. Balanced. Good finish. I liked this a lot. I'm not sure it can be laid down for a decade but I can see it improving for another couple of years.
It's not just my first wine from Humboldt County, it's my first intoxicant of any kind from there.
2005 Torricino Fiano di Avellino - Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino (1/21/2010)
Another great recommendation from Roberto at Wine Expo. Lots of acid to let you know it's Eyetalian. Nutty. smokey nose. On the palate there's maybe a streak of melon and a dab of honey but it's all about the stony minerality. Nice focus and good finish. Another good food wine. I was afraid this might be over the hill but this wine has several years left. Texture wise, more like an auslese than a kabinett. Vitis Imports.
2005 Handley Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (1/21/2010)
Loved this wine. Elegant and didn't betray its 14.5 percent alcohol. Nice pinot funk on the nose. The palate was mostly dark cherry with a nice streak of tart cranberry from the acidity. Silky smooth. Nice finish. Went well with the food.
2005 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (1/21/2010)
Huge, massive, over-the-top Shiraz, the one that gives Aussie wines a bad name. It's an interesting contrast. This label said 14.5 percent, the same as the 2005 Handley Anderson Valley pinot noir. The Handley was elegant and matched the food well. This was liquid Ludens and antagonized the food. Sweet red fruits all on the attack. Moderate finish. Hollow midpalate. Oak. American Estate Wines import.
2006 Vino Noceto Sangiovese Riserva - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Shenandoah Valley (1/21/2010)
Loved this wine. It's food friendly. It will go with a wide range of meats, from fish to thick steaks. No oak. Nice acidity. Really good black cherry flavors. Maybe some chocolate. A little bit of earthiness. Smooth. Only the slightest bit of tannin. Balanced. Good finish.
1990 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/21/2010)
My success rate finding cabernet sauvignon I like to drink is about one in 20 and this is one of the rare ones I liked. As soon as I smelled it and didn't pick up that cardboard I so often get I saw potential. Darker fruits and maybe some coffee on the nose. Dark fruits and some pepper on the palate. Smooth wine. There's still some tannins but they've mostly resolved. Decent finish. This wine has several years left in it.
2004 Selene Chesler - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/21/2010)
Cabernet Sauvignon isn't my grape. I got oak and vegetal flavors with this wine. Not pleasurable on my taste buds.
Had a great showing among the seven wine geeks at dinner, particularly two mid 1970s graduates of Humboldt State University. One looked at the bottle beforehand and boldly stated that no good wine grapes could be grown in Humboldt County but seemed the most tickled to be proven wrong.
I pulled the cork the day before and left it out overnight.
Obviously bacon fat on the nose. Meaty and smokey. The winemaker talked about this having more red fruit than the regular bottling but it wasn't very far on the spectrum to red fruit. It was mostly dark fruit. Smokey. No white pepper but black pepper. Maybe just the slightest bit of oak. Balanced. Good finish. I liked this a lot. I'm not sure it can be laid down for a decade but I can see it improving for another couple of years.
It's not just my first wine from Humboldt County, it's my first intoxicant of any kind from there.
2005 Torricino Fiano di Avellino - Italy, Campania, Fiano di Avellino (1/21/2010)
Another great recommendation from Roberto at Wine Expo. Lots of acid to let you know it's Eyetalian. Nutty. smokey nose. On the palate there's maybe a streak of melon and a dab of honey but it's all about the stony minerality. Nice focus and good finish. Another good food wine. I was afraid this might be over the hill but this wine has several years left. Texture wise, more like an auslese than a kabinett. Vitis Imports.
2005 Handley Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (1/21/2010)
Loved this wine. Elegant and didn't betray its 14.5 percent alcohol. Nice pinot funk on the nose. The palate was mostly dark cherry with a nice streak of tart cranberry from the acidity. Silky smooth. Nice finish. Went well with the food.
2005 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (1/21/2010)
Huge, massive, over-the-top Shiraz, the one that gives Aussie wines a bad name. It's an interesting contrast. This label said 14.5 percent, the same as the 2005 Handley Anderson Valley pinot noir. The Handley was elegant and matched the food well. This was liquid Ludens and antagonized the food. Sweet red fruits all on the attack. Moderate finish. Hollow midpalate. Oak. American Estate Wines import.
2006 Vino Noceto Sangiovese Riserva - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Shenandoah Valley (1/21/2010)
Loved this wine. It's food friendly. It will go with a wide range of meats, from fish to thick steaks. No oak. Nice acidity. Really good black cherry flavors. Maybe some chocolate. A little bit of earthiness. Smooth. Only the slightest bit of tannin. Balanced. Good finish.
1990 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/21/2010)
My success rate finding cabernet sauvignon I like to drink is about one in 20 and this is one of the rare ones I liked. As soon as I smelled it and didn't pick up that cardboard I so often get I saw potential. Darker fruits and maybe some coffee on the nose. Dark fruits and some pepper on the palate. Smooth wine. There's still some tannins but they've mostly resolved. Decent finish. This wine has several years left in it.
2004 Selene Chesler - USA, California, Napa Valley (1/21/2010)
Cabernet Sauvignon isn't my grape. I got oak and vegetal flavors with this wine. Not pleasurable on my taste buds.