Felsina, Chianti Classico Riserva, 'Rancia', 2004
Tobacco, leather, savory flavors, wood notes and carob shell. Tight and austere, not really that attractive. Rather strange: almost has corked hints but opens more broadly to savory and woody notes. Lacking fun and enjoyment.
Suertes del Marques, Valle de la Orotaven, 'El Ciruelo', 2013
Unlike the Rancia, fun in spades. Black pepper nose with red fruits. Simple but refreshing, with black pepper, ripe cranberry and crabapple skin. [old vine Listan Negro from the Canaries]
Produttori, Barbaresco, 2006
Whoa! Tannic as hell without fruit to back it up. Nasty: thin, acidic, enamel scratching tannins. Yuck. [And this is from the so-called "better" later bottling of "reserve juice"] Nothing like a bottle tried when it first came out.
Domaine del Aguila, Ribera del Duero, 'Picaro del Aguila', 2014
Dark, with deep boysenberry, plum, and sandalwood. A strong minerality, but rather soft for such a young wine. Oak present on the backend. Like a wine from Paso. Prefer the rosado better. 14%
Louis Jadot, Beaune, Domaine Gagey, 'Cent Vignes' 2009
Floral strawberry and rosewater. Lightweight Burgundy...airy textured. At 9 years, ready to go.
Francois Cotat, Sancerre, 'Les Monts Damnes', 2010
Grapefruit with grassy scents. Soft in feel, citrus not as pronounced in the glass. Light butter cream frosting, watery egg white, touch of lemon water and caraway seed. Dee-lish.
Wegeler, Bernkastel Doctor, Riesling, Spatlese, 2004
Pristine color for a 14 year old. Green apple, bergamot, elder blossom with bright acidity. Youthful.
Guccione, Vino Bianco, 'C', N/V
Medium gold color. Savory brine with a salty tang. The slight oxidative note makes this feel like it's on the cusp of going downhill, so I would say to drink up to the thousands of owners of this strange bottle. Not as fresh as an Etna carricante (which this is made from, but from a different part of Sicily), or without the lift of it either. 13.5% Shows better cooler.
Passopisciaro, Sicilia IGT, 2009
Trying to find a good time to open these wines is a trying exercise. Very dry austerity, full of stems and seeds, amaro bitters, chinotto, and stern red fruits. Clamping tannins. Feels well-made, but just so tough to drink right now. 14%
Eminence Road, Pinot Noir, Finger Lakes, Elizabeth's Vineyard, 2012
Subtle smoky nose and mulled red fruits on the nose. Bright and spicy red fruits, blackcurrant leaf, with perhaps a tad of brett and/or volatile acidity. Good, but a little one dimensional and straight forward. 12.4%
Damien Laureau, Savennieres, 'Les Genets', 2007
Medium deep gold color. Quite a mute nose, perhaps some flaxseed and quince. There's ginger and quince on the palate, used chamomile teabags. Doubt this has the intensity to age further...drink up. 14%
Burgaud, Cote Rotie, 2007
Deep mulled plum with saltine cracker and shiso. Rich and full, but one sided. Not very charming. Lower acidity than usual for Burgaud, but still a bit oafish.
Domaine du Mas Blanc, Collioure, 'Clos du Moulin, 2004
Perfumed nose, with salted sweet plum and cherrywood. The tannins have melted away... Lots of sediment, so for those that have these, might want to decant. Lovely.
Drouhin, Savigny-les-Beaune, 'Clos des Gordeaux', 2009
Delicately textured and flavored, with raspberry and watermelon wash and light tannins. One dimensional, but good. Tastes like a California trousseau.
Sandlands, Trousseau, Sonoma County, 2013
Full of dull strawberry and stemmy sewage, lightly tannic still with good acidity, some orange rind in the back. Bit one dimensional, but not bad.
Livio Sassetti, Brunello di Montalcino, 2001
Sweaty aromas with black cherry and leather, herbs. Feeling soft and mature, with mulberry jam and old leather. It's alright, but a previous bottle was much better.
Tobacco, leather, savory flavors, wood notes and carob shell. Tight and austere, not really that attractive. Rather strange: almost has corked hints but opens more broadly to savory and woody notes. Lacking fun and enjoyment.
Suertes del Marques, Valle de la Orotaven, 'El Ciruelo', 2013
Unlike the Rancia, fun in spades. Black pepper nose with red fruits. Simple but refreshing, with black pepper, ripe cranberry and crabapple skin. [old vine Listan Negro from the Canaries]
Produttori, Barbaresco, 2006
Whoa! Tannic as hell without fruit to back it up. Nasty: thin, acidic, enamel scratching tannins. Yuck. [And this is from the so-called "better" later bottling of "reserve juice"] Nothing like a bottle tried when it first came out.
Domaine del Aguila, Ribera del Duero, 'Picaro del Aguila', 2014
Dark, with deep boysenberry, plum, and sandalwood. A strong minerality, but rather soft for such a young wine. Oak present on the backend. Like a wine from Paso. Prefer the rosado better. 14%
Louis Jadot, Beaune, Domaine Gagey, 'Cent Vignes' 2009
Floral strawberry and rosewater. Lightweight Burgundy...airy textured. At 9 years, ready to go.
Francois Cotat, Sancerre, 'Les Monts Damnes', 2010
Grapefruit with grassy scents. Soft in feel, citrus not as pronounced in the glass. Light butter cream frosting, watery egg white, touch of lemon water and caraway seed. Dee-lish.
Wegeler, Bernkastel Doctor, Riesling, Spatlese, 2004
Pristine color for a 14 year old. Green apple, bergamot, elder blossom with bright acidity. Youthful.
Guccione, Vino Bianco, 'C', N/V
Medium gold color. Savory brine with a salty tang. The slight oxidative note makes this feel like it's on the cusp of going downhill, so I would say to drink up to the thousands of owners of this strange bottle. Not as fresh as an Etna carricante (which this is made from, but from a different part of Sicily), or without the lift of it either. 13.5% Shows better cooler.
Passopisciaro, Sicilia IGT, 2009
Trying to find a good time to open these wines is a trying exercise. Very dry austerity, full of stems and seeds, amaro bitters, chinotto, and stern red fruits. Clamping tannins. Feels well-made, but just so tough to drink right now. 14%
Eminence Road, Pinot Noir, Finger Lakes, Elizabeth's Vineyard, 2012
Subtle smoky nose and mulled red fruits on the nose. Bright and spicy red fruits, blackcurrant leaf, with perhaps a tad of brett and/or volatile acidity. Good, but a little one dimensional and straight forward. 12.4%
Damien Laureau, Savennieres, 'Les Genets', 2007
Medium deep gold color. Quite a mute nose, perhaps some flaxseed and quince. There's ginger and quince on the palate, used chamomile teabags. Doubt this has the intensity to age further...drink up. 14%
Burgaud, Cote Rotie, 2007
Deep mulled plum with saltine cracker and shiso. Rich and full, but one sided. Not very charming. Lower acidity than usual for Burgaud, but still a bit oafish.
Domaine du Mas Blanc, Collioure, 'Clos du Moulin, 2004
Perfumed nose, with salted sweet plum and cherrywood. The tannins have melted away... Lots of sediment, so for those that have these, might want to decant. Lovely.
Drouhin, Savigny-les-Beaune, 'Clos des Gordeaux', 2009
Delicately textured and flavored, with raspberry and watermelon wash and light tannins. One dimensional, but good. Tastes like a California trousseau.
Sandlands, Trousseau, Sonoma County, 2013
Full of dull strawberry and stemmy sewage, lightly tannic still with good acidity, some orange rind in the back. Bit one dimensional, but not bad.
Livio Sassetti, Brunello di Montalcino, 2001
Sweaty aromas with black cherry and leather, herbs. Feeling soft and mature, with mulberry jam and old leather. It's alright, but a previous bottle was much better.