Cedarville 2000 Zinfandel (El Dorado) 15.7%. Ive never had a Cedarville wine that I didnt think was too oaky for its own good, and this caused me to give up on the winery despite palates I trusted trying to convince me otherwise years ago. Based on this bottle, I kinda wish Id listened. The oak, once lavish, has integrated; its not gone by any means, but it is now just a partner to the vibrant, spicy, mountain-pine and fields-of-berries fruit. That fruit, however, is still fairly primary, and there are no disjointed elements to the structure, so I cant say that I think this is any danger of needing consumption. In fact, it might not even be ready yet. (3/10)
Edmunds St. John 1995 Syrah Durell (Sonoma Valley) 14.4%. Such a deep purple its like drinking a Jon Lord keyboard solo. Still very structured, with fine balance but with its cards held very close to its chest. It takes about five minutes to unwind from a cranky and difficult opening, and then it just sits there, unchanging, for hours. And hours. A touch of volatile acidity eventually develops in the glass, but its minor and non-hyper-sensitives probably wont even notice it. Five to ten more years, at least, are required here; its certainly not in a generous mood at the moment. (3/10)
Abrente 2009 Albario (Napa Valley) Only 13% by the label, but absolutely consumed by its alcohol. So much so that theres almost nothing else to be said. Grossly, pathetically imbalanced. Wheres thewell, anything other than ethanol? (5/10)
Ridge 1999 Geyserville (Sonoma County) 14.8%. Open 24 hours and tasted from a mostly empty bottle. Coconut oil, spicy earth, walnut, and chocolate. Good acidity. This is in a slightly weird state, and I have a disagreement with the source of the bottle; he thinks its ready to drink, I think its in need of more time. (3/10)
Scholium Project 2008 Naucratis Lost Slough (California) 16.3% California verdejo, and isnt there just bound to be a massive potential market for such a thing? Very spicy. Perfumed roses, lots of skin to the structure, huge, and very hot. This is served blind, and I get nowhere even vaguely close. (3/10)
Edmeades 2000 Zinfandel Ciapusci (Mendocino Ridge) 15.9%. Blackberry-infused whiskey, prune, licorice, and coconut rum. This might as well be 25.9% for all the heat, burn, and fire it shows. The wine has always been a wallop in the head, but I dont think trying to age it was a good idea. (3/10)
Miller 2006 Grenache Shannon Ridge (Lake County) 14.7%. Candy, bubblegum, synthetic strawberry syrup, and all the vapidity of badly-conceived plastic surgery caked with cheap makeup. Alcoholic, too. (4/10)
Renwood 2002 Zinfandel Old Vine (Amador County) 15%. Twisted red and black berries fading to pine and layered with too-prominent coconut. This is about half spiced rum at this point. Which isnt an entirely unusual fate for aging zinfandel, but this was better in its youth. (4/10)
Edmunds St. John 1995 Syrah Durell (Sonoma Valley) 14.4%. Such a deep purple its like drinking a Jon Lord keyboard solo. Still very structured, with fine balance but with its cards held very close to its chest. It takes about five minutes to unwind from a cranky and difficult opening, and then it just sits there, unchanging, for hours. And hours. A touch of volatile acidity eventually develops in the glass, but its minor and non-hyper-sensitives probably wont even notice it. Five to ten more years, at least, are required here; its certainly not in a generous mood at the moment. (3/10)
Abrente 2009 Albario (Napa Valley) Only 13% by the label, but absolutely consumed by its alcohol. So much so that theres almost nothing else to be said. Grossly, pathetically imbalanced. Wheres thewell, anything other than ethanol? (5/10)
Ridge 1999 Geyserville (Sonoma County) 14.8%. Open 24 hours and tasted from a mostly empty bottle. Coconut oil, spicy earth, walnut, and chocolate. Good acidity. This is in a slightly weird state, and I have a disagreement with the source of the bottle; he thinks its ready to drink, I think its in need of more time. (3/10)
Scholium Project 2008 Naucratis Lost Slough (California) 16.3% California verdejo, and isnt there just bound to be a massive potential market for such a thing? Very spicy. Perfumed roses, lots of skin to the structure, huge, and very hot. This is served blind, and I get nowhere even vaguely close. (3/10)
Edmeades 2000 Zinfandel Ciapusci (Mendocino Ridge) 15.9%. Blackberry-infused whiskey, prune, licorice, and coconut rum. This might as well be 25.9% for all the heat, burn, and fire it shows. The wine has always been a wallop in the head, but I dont think trying to age it was a good idea. (3/10)
Miller 2006 Grenache Shannon Ridge (Lake County) 14.7%. Candy, bubblegum, synthetic strawberry syrup, and all the vapidity of badly-conceived plastic surgery caked with cheap makeup. Alcoholic, too. (4/10)
Renwood 2002 Zinfandel Old Vine (Amador County) 15%. Twisted red and black berries fading to pine and layered with too-prominent coconut. This is about half spiced rum at this point. Which isnt an entirely unusual fate for aging zinfandel, but this was better in its youth. (4/10)