SteveTimko
Steve Timko
2007 Von Hvel Riesling Balduin Von Hovel - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer (6/20/2010)
Still in good shape. A little bit of alcohol showing thorugh at first but it came into balance as it got air. The lime seems much more pronounced this time. Almost like limeade. It seems to have a little more zing, too, although it's still far from dry. Pretty light and simple. A nice summer quaffer and not overly serious, but the Saar rules.
2007 Bodegas La Cartuja Priorat - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (6/19/2010)
What a great QPR. Wonderful aromatics. It was both the Priorat mocha and toffee on the nose, plus the typical grenache cassis. This was served by the glass at Sezmu so I imagine it had been open at least a day. On the palate, it was mostly blueberry and dark fruits. Good complexity. Nice finish. Good balance and no oak I could detect. It is a llittle big but it doesn't overwhelm the food. I get the sense this is going to improve for at least another few years. Ole Imports.
2006 Belle Pente Riesling - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (5/30/2010)
CellarTracker! shows I've got three more of these left. That's pretty good news. Except for some alcohol on the nose, this is showing pretty well. The 18 months or so bottle age since I last tried this have helped.
The biggest change was the addition of marzipan to go with the yellow fruit flavors. It's adding weight as well. Good finish. The acid is fine for me but others would probably call it soft. Tastes more German than Austrian or Alsace.
Sadly, this is the last vintage from this vineyard.
2008 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Arroyo Grande Valley - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley (5/10/2010)
Okay, I decided to take one for the team and I opened this early. This is showing well and I think it will be much better in two or three years.
For the first 10 minutes after I pulled the cork the oak was strong. Eventually it got air and the fruit came forward and the oak is hardly noticeable. Quite nutty on the nose. On the palate, sharp acidity but not out of balance. Fairly good depth for an estate chardonnay. Mostly green apple on the palate. Crisp and focused. Not transparent to the level of a good Burgundy but more transparent that most California chardonnay. Nothing that gives me a strong sense of place. A little generic in that sense, but that may come with age. Nice finish.
I like Talley chardonnay more since they reduced the oak influence.
I'd say this will be more rounded and quite good in three or four years.
Still in good shape. A little bit of alcohol showing thorugh at first but it came into balance as it got air. The lime seems much more pronounced this time. Almost like limeade. It seems to have a little more zing, too, although it's still far from dry. Pretty light and simple. A nice summer quaffer and not overly serious, but the Saar rules.
2007 Bodegas La Cartuja Priorat - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (6/19/2010)
What a great QPR. Wonderful aromatics. It was both the Priorat mocha and toffee on the nose, plus the typical grenache cassis. This was served by the glass at Sezmu so I imagine it had been open at least a day. On the palate, it was mostly blueberry and dark fruits. Good complexity. Nice finish. Good balance and no oak I could detect. It is a llittle big but it doesn't overwhelm the food. I get the sense this is going to improve for at least another few years. Ole Imports.
2006 Belle Pente Riesling - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (5/30/2010)
CellarTracker! shows I've got three more of these left. That's pretty good news. Except for some alcohol on the nose, this is showing pretty well. The 18 months or so bottle age since I last tried this have helped.
The biggest change was the addition of marzipan to go with the yellow fruit flavors. It's adding weight as well. Good finish. The acid is fine for me but others would probably call it soft. Tastes more German than Austrian or Alsace.
Sadly, this is the last vintage from this vineyard.
2008 Talley Vineyards Chardonnay Estate Arroyo Grande Valley - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley (5/10/2010)
Okay, I decided to take one for the team and I opened this early. This is showing well and I think it will be much better in two or three years.
For the first 10 minutes after I pulled the cork the oak was strong. Eventually it got air and the fruit came forward and the oak is hardly noticeable. Quite nutty on the nose. On the palate, sharp acidity but not out of balance. Fairly good depth for an estate chardonnay. Mostly green apple on the palate. Crisp and focused. Not transparent to the level of a good Burgundy but more transparent that most California chardonnay. Nothing that gives me a strong sense of place. A little generic in that sense, but that may come with age. Nice finish.
I like Talley chardonnay more since they reduced the oak influence.
I'd say this will be more rounded and quite good in three or four years.