recent wining

J

Jeff Grossman

Jeff Grossman
Joseph Swan 2005 Pinot Noir "Great Oak" - what had been so nice in 2010 (minerally, structured) has become fat and flabby; sigh

Thevent 2009 Regnie "Grain et Granit" - what a great nose; in the mouth it is (too) ripe and (too) full but, with some air, a bit of minerality pushes its way through; yum

St. Innocent 2007 Pinot Noir, Momtazi Vineyard - in a vigorous New Worldy style but clearly suave, light and deft; I knew I would like this but I like it rather more than I expected to

G. Mascarello 1995 Barolo "Monprivato" "Ca d'Morissio" - a lovely bottle: dark and tannic and maybe even a little spirity, vivid tangy cranberry-raspberry flavor with a hint of the perfumy-mushroomy things yet to come (..and what a long cork!)
 
Jeff,
The more I fool with the stuff, the more I think pinot goes through stages - some of them fat and flabby; some of them mineraled and structured. If you have more of that, don't give up just yet.
Best, Jim
 
While in fairly limited supply, if you have interest in Momtazi pinot, you might keep an eye open for the one from Kelley Fox Wines. Lots of acidity and unusual minerality for domestic pinot. Ms. Fox is the wine maker for Scott Paul Cellars which also uses Momtazi fruit in some cuvees. Biggio Hamina makes one as well, but I have not sampled as yet.

Great Oak is generally the biggest, darkest, richest of the Swans. You might give the Saralee's Vineyard a try if you are looking for something more restrained (for Cali anyway). The Swan estate/trenton wines, with history back into the 70's, do have a track record for aging in interesting ways. The GO has only been around for a few years, so who knows.

Finally thanks for the update on the Grain et Granit, I remember you brought a bottle to dinner in Seattle last summer. Vinopolis in Portland was blowing this out for under $18 this week, but it appears to be long gone at this point.
 
Jim,
The Biggio Hamina pinots were a surprise for me. I liked them more than anticipated and think they are what Oregon used to be about (please excuse me, the generality is for effect).
Best, Jim
 
I concur on Biggio Hamina. I've had both the 2007 Ana Vineyard, and Deux Vert pinots, just not the Momtazi. Also have a couple 2008 Deux Vert in the cellar but have not gotten to one yet.

You probably know this but Todd Hamina made the Maysara wines for the Momtazi family in (I think) 2005 and 2006, so he should have a feel for the vineyard.

Worth checking out the BH Deux Vert Syrah as well - whole cluster and cofermented w/ Viognier.
And, while I have not tried one yet, he also makes a Melon.
 
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