SteveTimko
Steve Timko
Matt Marcewicz, who operates arguably Reno's best wine store, had a handful of us over for a tasting last night.
2005 J.K. Carriere Pinot Noir Antoinette - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (4/14/2010)
Still young and tight. I would have never guessed a 2005 in a blind tasting. This has got a ways to go.Dark cherry and black fruit. A little bit of earthiness. More will show as it gets older, I suspect. Balanced. Maybe a touch of oak. Good finish. Looking at the price tag, though, I was running through my mind all the good Burgundy I could get for less. Or two bottles of Varner pinot noir.
2004 Terre del Marchesato Emilio Primo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (4/14/2010)
Stinky nose. Reminds me a little bit of those smelly bouquets on wines made by Loire hipsters. It's a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah, but no one grape seemed to dominate. Mostly darker fruits on the nose and the palate. The only major flaw is that the oak was intrusive. It didn't overwhelm but it is is prominent. A good finish. With the right food this is a nice wine. A Small Vineyards import;
2005 Christophe Buisson St. Romain Sous le Chteau - France, Burgundy, Cte de Beaune, St. Romain (4/15/2010)
Nice Burgundy funk on the nose. Good earthiness. On the palate, it's mostly darker fruits. Matt called it chunky and I see what he means. The tannins are noticeable, especially for a five-year old wine. The tannins reminded me of young Barolo. Not at all like Volnay. Kind of rustic but still has Burgundy elegance and balance. Good finish. Still too soon to drink this. I'd give it at least another five years. I believe it was a Kermit Lynch import.
2005 Palmina Malvasia Bianca Larner Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (4/14/2010)
Easily the best Palmina white I've had. Straw and flowers on the nose. Quite pleasant. On the palate, nice Eyetalian acidity Lemon zest and a little bit of chenin-like stoniness. Balanced and a nice finish. A good summer wine. It's still got a few years left but I doubt it's getting any better.
2008 A. et P. de Villaine Bourgogne La Digoine - France, Burgundy, Cte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne (4/14/2010)
Nothing in this bottle to dispute the idea that 2008 is a good vintage for Burgundy. Great nose of red cherry and forest floor. Sweet, almost candied on the nose. Nice Burgundy funk, too. On the palate, definitely lots of red fruit. So much it seems to hide the tannins. Not overripe, though. Elegant, but not yet showing a lot of finesse. Nice acidity. This is good now in the baby fat stage but it will be delicious I suspect around 2016-18. Matt had left this uncorked overnight to get it to open up. A Kermit Lynch import.
2005 J.K. Carriere Pinot Noir Antoinette - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (4/14/2010)
Still young and tight. I would have never guessed a 2005 in a blind tasting. This has got a ways to go.Dark cherry and black fruit. A little bit of earthiness. More will show as it gets older, I suspect. Balanced. Maybe a touch of oak. Good finish. Looking at the price tag, though, I was running through my mind all the good Burgundy I could get for less. Or two bottles of Varner pinot noir.
2004 Terre del Marchesato Emilio Primo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (4/14/2010)
Stinky nose. Reminds me a little bit of those smelly bouquets on wines made by Loire hipsters. It's a blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah, but no one grape seemed to dominate. Mostly darker fruits on the nose and the palate. The only major flaw is that the oak was intrusive. It didn't overwhelm but it is is prominent. A good finish. With the right food this is a nice wine. A Small Vineyards import;
2005 Christophe Buisson St. Romain Sous le Chteau - France, Burgundy, Cte de Beaune, St. Romain (4/15/2010)
Nice Burgundy funk on the nose. Good earthiness. On the palate, it's mostly darker fruits. Matt called it chunky and I see what he means. The tannins are noticeable, especially for a five-year old wine. The tannins reminded me of young Barolo. Not at all like Volnay. Kind of rustic but still has Burgundy elegance and balance. Good finish. Still too soon to drink this. I'd give it at least another five years. I believe it was a Kermit Lynch import.
2005 Palmina Malvasia Bianca Larner Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (4/14/2010)
Easily the best Palmina white I've had. Straw and flowers on the nose. Quite pleasant. On the palate, nice Eyetalian acidity Lemon zest and a little bit of chenin-like stoniness. Balanced and a nice finish. A good summer wine. It's still got a few years left but I doubt it's getting any better.
2008 A. et P. de Villaine Bourgogne La Digoine - France, Burgundy, Cte Chalonnaise, Bourgogne (4/14/2010)
Nothing in this bottle to dispute the idea that 2008 is a good vintage for Burgundy. Great nose of red cherry and forest floor. Sweet, almost candied on the nose. Nice Burgundy funk, too. On the palate, definitely lots of red fruit. So much it seems to hide the tannins. Not overripe, though. Elegant, but not yet showing a lot of finesse. Nice acidity. This is good now in the baby fat stage but it will be delicious I suspect around 2016-18. Matt had left this uncorked overnight to get it to open up. A Kermit Lynch import.
