SteveTimko
Steve Timko
1990 Domaine du Pga Chteauneuf-du-Pape Cuve Rserve - France, Rhne, Southern Rhne, Chteauneuf-du-Pape (8/15/2010)
Served blind. Because of its impeccable balance and silky smoothness I guessed an aged Charvin Chateauneuf-du-pape, although I had some hints to guide me towards the Rhone guess.
The nose on this wine seems to be at the opposite end of the CDP spectrum from Beaucastel. This is a lot of flowers like violets and straw. The Beaucastel has the animal meatiness of the mourvedre that shines through. Both of course have garrigue. Some anise, too. A nice, complex nose. The palate is dark cherry and spice and maybe a streak of chocolate. Fantastic finish. Still has some tannic structure so it's got several years to go. Wine of the night and one of the best wines I've had all year. Imported by Hand Picked Selections. Thanks, Dan.
2007 Mount Aukum Winery Viognier Fair Play - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Fair Play (8/15/2010)
Served blind. I guessed white Rhone but I got none of the distinctive aromatics of viognier, so I went with marsanne. Lana thought the lack of the nose had to do with the temperature. But it was an excellent match for the arugula salad. The white fruit of the wine perfectly complemented the nuttiness of the arugula and the sweetness of the shaved, uncooked fresh corn. Not an overly complex wine but the pairing more than made up for it. It comes from Fair Play but Cedarville's wine from that vintage has more complexity.
2002 Domaine du Closel Savennires Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennires (8/15/2010)
Served blind. Lots of baked apple and almond. A little bit of honey, maybe. Off dry and probably not enough acidity to balance the sweetness. For the Montrachet served blind I guessed chenin blanc but for this I guessed Alsace pinot gris. The intense fruitiness threw me. Still a nice bottle of wine. Good finish. A Louis/Dressner import.
2009 Bodegas Gurrutxaga Bizkaiko Txakolina - Spain, Pas Vasco, Bizkaiko Txakolina (8/15/2010)
Quite polarizing wine. I loved this. Glenn hated it and called it underripe and vegetal. Clearly it demands food because of high acidity. Light bubblegum pink color. Some fizz. Strawberry Jolly Rancher on the nose. Red fruits and water melon rind on the palate. Good finish. Light and 10 percent alcohol make it a nice summer quaffer. May be an acquired taste but I definitely have an acquired taste for it. De Maison Selections import.
1995 Cave de Tain l'Hermitage Cornas les Nobles Rives - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, Cornas (8/15/2010)
Nice texture to this wine. Some nice meaty flavor. But everything was overwhelmed by a chemical scent, which I guess is just VA. This producer is inconsistent and hopefully my remaining two bottles will be okay.
1995 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, Cornas (8/15/2010)
Excellent syrah. Andy opened it to go with the smoked prime rib and the smokiness of the wine complemented the smokiness of the meat. Still some tannins but the wine has clearly matured. It was smokey on the nose and there was some nice mushroominess and bacon fat. A very masculine nose. More smoke on the palate along with some olives and meaty flavor. Good finish. Wonderful balance and Rhone expression all around. This is drinking well now. I don't think it's going to get any better. Imported by Julienne Importing.
1983 Schloss Groenesteyn Kiedricher Grfenberg Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Rheingau (8/15/2010)
The capsule on this one was more corroded and the wine was not in good shape, unlike the one we tried in June. The cork also came apart and fell into the bottle, just like the one in June.
1996 Louis Jadot Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles - France, Burgundy, Cte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru (8/15/2010)
Served blind. It was bone dry, slightly painful from the acid. Absolutely devoid of fruit. I guessed a bone dry chenin blanc because it seemed so stony. Andy said he served it because in its youth it was the wine that helped him see truth in Burgundy. He said he's had it over the years and this bottle shows it's on a downward slope.
Served blind. Because of its impeccable balance and silky smoothness I guessed an aged Charvin Chateauneuf-du-pape, although I had some hints to guide me towards the Rhone guess.
The nose on this wine seems to be at the opposite end of the CDP spectrum from Beaucastel. This is a lot of flowers like violets and straw. The Beaucastel has the animal meatiness of the mourvedre that shines through. Both of course have garrigue. Some anise, too. A nice, complex nose. The palate is dark cherry and spice and maybe a streak of chocolate. Fantastic finish. Still has some tannic structure so it's got several years to go. Wine of the night and one of the best wines I've had all year. Imported by Hand Picked Selections. Thanks, Dan.
2007 Mount Aukum Winery Viognier Fair Play - USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Fair Play (8/15/2010)
Served blind. I guessed white Rhone but I got none of the distinctive aromatics of viognier, so I went with marsanne. Lana thought the lack of the nose had to do with the temperature. But it was an excellent match for the arugula salad. The white fruit of the wine perfectly complemented the nuttiness of the arugula and the sweetness of the shaved, uncooked fresh corn. Not an overly complex wine but the pairing more than made up for it. It comes from Fair Play but Cedarville's wine from that vintage has more complexity.
2002 Domaine du Closel Savennires Clos du Papillon - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennires (8/15/2010)
Served blind. Lots of baked apple and almond. A little bit of honey, maybe. Off dry and probably not enough acidity to balance the sweetness. For the Montrachet served blind I guessed chenin blanc but for this I guessed Alsace pinot gris. The intense fruitiness threw me. Still a nice bottle of wine. Good finish. A Louis/Dressner import.
2009 Bodegas Gurrutxaga Bizkaiko Txakolina - Spain, Pas Vasco, Bizkaiko Txakolina (8/15/2010)
Quite polarizing wine. I loved this. Glenn hated it and called it underripe and vegetal. Clearly it demands food because of high acidity. Light bubblegum pink color. Some fizz. Strawberry Jolly Rancher on the nose. Red fruits and water melon rind on the palate. Good finish. Light and 10 percent alcohol make it a nice summer quaffer. May be an acquired taste but I definitely have an acquired taste for it. De Maison Selections import.
1995 Cave de Tain l'Hermitage Cornas les Nobles Rives - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, Cornas (8/15/2010)
Nice texture to this wine. Some nice meaty flavor. But everything was overwhelmed by a chemical scent, which I guess is just VA. This producer is inconsistent and hopefully my remaining two bottles will be okay.
1995 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas - France, Rhne, Northern Rhne, Cornas (8/15/2010)
Excellent syrah. Andy opened it to go with the smoked prime rib and the smokiness of the wine complemented the smokiness of the meat. Still some tannins but the wine has clearly matured. It was smokey on the nose and there was some nice mushroominess and bacon fat. A very masculine nose. More smoke on the palate along with some olives and meaty flavor. Good finish. Wonderful balance and Rhone expression all around. This is drinking well now. I don't think it's going to get any better. Imported by Julienne Importing.
1983 Schloss Groenesteyn Kiedricher Grfenberg Riesling Sptlese - Germany, Rheingau (8/15/2010)
The capsule on this one was more corroded and the wine was not in good shape, unlike the one we tried in June. The cork also came apart and fell into the bottle, just like the one in June.
1996 Louis Jadot Chevalier-Montrachet Les Demoiselles - France, Burgundy, Cte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru (8/15/2010)
Served blind. It was bone dry, slightly painful from the acid. Absolutely devoid of fruit. I guessed a bone dry chenin blanc because it seemed so stony. Andy said he served it because in its youth it was the wine that helped him see truth in Burgundy. He said he's had it over the years and this bottle shows it's on a downward slope.