Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine impressions - 8-12-18
Bubbles:
N/V Cedric Bouchard, Champagne In ‘Florescence La Parcelle Blanc de Noirs - it has been my privilege to taste from five separate bottles of this wine over the years. One was very good, one was extraordinary and three have been mind bending. This was one of the latter. Unbelievable depth, persistence and finesse; a palate presence like no other and an ethereal completeness that is beyond description. This bottle was the best Champagne of my life and one of my three best wines ever. The fact that we opened it for my wife’s birthday, makes the experience all the better. A life list wine - oh my!
2006 Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs - fresh, great tension in the mouth, lots of cut and very clean. Lovely bottle, this.
Whites:
2013 Site, Roussanne Stolpman Vnyd. - golden color, some floral aromas with honeyed stone fruit, rich, viscous, full bodied with a stony edge to big fruit and a slight bitter note on the finish. 13.7 abv which I would not have guessed as it stops just short of cloying - a big mouthful of Roussanne.
2017 Cowan Cellars, Ribolla Gialla - more Friulian than past years but also a nod toward Viognier in the nose. Pretty nice and likes staying chilled.
Reds:
1982 Castello dei Rampolla, Chianti Classico Riserva - sous bois, mellow fruit, although not much of it and its falling apart, minimal grip and structure. Not gone but tiresome to drink.
2008 Capezzana, Barco Reale di Carmignano - mostly Sangiovese with some Cab, Cab Franc and Canaiolo; light nose suggesting warm earth and sangio, medium weight with some grip, some savory elements, rustic fruit, a touch of bitter and a decent finish. Not bad for $12 but probably not again. No indication it’s ten years old.
2015 Vincent, Pinot Noir Willamette Valley - floral, mixed berries, fearthery, the light touch that keeps me coming back for more. And at 12.5 abv, why not?
(Aside: if terroir is important to you, you should look at these wines. Quite clearly cool climate; certainly a more feminine approach; and, unquestionably well made. Nothing complex or brooding but, what is here, is lovely.)
2014 Vincent, Pinot Noir Bjornson Vnyd. - fresh, bright, great acids, beautiful fruit, 12.6 abv, , jeepers this is good!
1999 Chave, Hermitage Rouge - extraordinary nose that explodes from the glass but shortly thereafter, everything, nose included, gets a bit tired. As it airs out, it youngs up and by the end of the evening it is a mid-weight Syrah of good but not great pedigree. Other bottles may be different, just not this one.
2014 Galerie, Cabernet Sauvignon - a lot of oak here makes this hard to get at. Not terrible but the wood makes it too sweet.
2013 Thomas Fogarty, Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains - a pleasant, easy drinking wine. Not much chance of being profound or of great development. Still, not a bad little Pinot. Kind of charming, actually . . .
2016 Argot, Cabernet Sauvignon Starstruck - Napa cab made by a Sonoma house; there is ripe fruit, there are herbal notes and . . . oh hell, it’s still Napa cab and it will sell like wildfire but not to me. The oak is evident and the delivery is singular. Even so, something here makes me pour it again. (Aside: the winemaker for Argot is a dear friend; Justin Harmon is a wonderful man and a committed winemaker. His style is different from mine but I am not above recognizing talent in styles that aren’t in my wheelhouse. This one isn’t - but for those who like the style, this is strong.)
2016 Elio Grasso, Langhe Nebbiolo Gavarini - with air, this is baby Barbaresco; supple, full of Nebbiolo aromas and flavors, with moderate tannins and good length. At $20/bottle, ridiculous QPR. More please.
2002 Radio-Coteau, Pinot Noir Marsh Vnyd. - sweet fruit aromatics and a little sweet on the palate but otherwise, legitimate Sonoma Coast Pinot. In honor of Pete.
1975 Ridge, Petite Sirah York Creek - solid, undeveloped, but sliding slightly; one taste is plenty.
1994 Phelps, Insignia - an entire forest died for this single bottle; aside from wood, there are no aromatics, the wood sours the palate and dries the finish. Terrible winemaking.
2007 Outpost, Cabernet Sauvignon True Vnyd. - Howell Mountain fruit that overwhelms the palate. Maybe in time . . . but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
2016 The Prisoner - oh good grief.
1998 Dom. Lucien Barrot, CdP - restrained, slightly salty, pretty wine that offends no one but doesn’t sparkle either.
2006 Chris Ringland, Shiraz - huge, confected, processed wine food.
1995 Flowers, Pinot Noir Moon Select - something is amiss, a sort of thin bath water texture and a bit too sweet. Although, others enjoyed it.
1985 Trapet, Chambertin - quite green on the nose with virtually no fruit; better in the mouth but nothing here speaks to terroir.
1996 Chateau Pichon Lalande - unquestionably Pauillac, reasonably open, but too monolithic; still, not a bad wine. Maybe a few years . . .
2004 Wild Duck Creek, Alan’s Cabernets - just shoot me now
2001 Ponsot, Clos de la Roche - everything is there but it’s muted; hold.
1995 Rousseau, Mazy-Chambertin - very little fruit and out of balance.
1993 Tudal, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - reminds me of Togni wines with its herbal tones but this is so well balanced and it’s barely medium weight. What a lovely, complex cab; if there were more cabs like this, I’d buy some.
2009 Lapierre, Morgan - at full song on opening and gets a little blousy later on. But this was soooo nice.
2010 Ladd Cellars, Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - svelte, earthy, balanced wine that retains its feminine side.
1978 Ridge, Merlot/Cabernet York Creek - 60/40 Merlot/Cab; bottle bouquet, developed fruit with Merlot the most evident, some complexity and great structure. Nicely done and not headed downhill.
1998 Dom. de Trevallon - 50/50 Cab/Syrah; broad, deep and full in the mouth with concentration and intensity, good acid and length. A wine that needed air but, once it got it, delivers. The savory part of this wine was very nice indeed.
Sweet:
2003 Gysler, Spatburgunder Rose, Beerenauslese (375) - quite sweet but good balance and not tasting much different from a Riesling sticky. Eh.
1984 Capo Salina, Malvasia della Lipari - (I did my best to report what I think this label said but my Italian is not that good) a stunning wine with very light sweetness and a cascade of scents and flavors - cardamom, curry, anise, oil of camphor, flowers, etc.; perfect balance, immense finish. Original price tag says $16.99 and one of the most unusual and compelling off dry wines I’ve ever had. Thanks Tristan.
Best, jim
Bubbles:
N/V Cedric Bouchard, Champagne In ‘Florescence La Parcelle Blanc de Noirs - it has been my privilege to taste from five separate bottles of this wine over the years. One was very good, one was extraordinary and three have been mind bending. This was one of the latter. Unbelievable depth, persistence and finesse; a palate presence like no other and an ethereal completeness that is beyond description. This bottle was the best Champagne of my life and one of my three best wines ever. The fact that we opened it for my wife’s birthday, makes the experience all the better. A life list wine - oh my!
2006 Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs - fresh, great tension in the mouth, lots of cut and very clean. Lovely bottle, this.
Whites:
2013 Site, Roussanne Stolpman Vnyd. - golden color, some floral aromas with honeyed stone fruit, rich, viscous, full bodied with a stony edge to big fruit and a slight bitter note on the finish. 13.7 abv which I would not have guessed as it stops just short of cloying - a big mouthful of Roussanne.
2017 Cowan Cellars, Ribolla Gialla - more Friulian than past years but also a nod toward Viognier in the nose. Pretty nice and likes staying chilled.
Reds:
1982 Castello dei Rampolla, Chianti Classico Riserva - sous bois, mellow fruit, although not much of it and its falling apart, minimal grip and structure. Not gone but tiresome to drink.
2008 Capezzana, Barco Reale di Carmignano - mostly Sangiovese with some Cab, Cab Franc and Canaiolo; light nose suggesting warm earth and sangio, medium weight with some grip, some savory elements, rustic fruit, a touch of bitter and a decent finish. Not bad for $12 but probably not again. No indication it’s ten years old.
2015 Vincent, Pinot Noir Willamette Valley - floral, mixed berries, fearthery, the light touch that keeps me coming back for more. And at 12.5 abv, why not?
(Aside: if terroir is important to you, you should look at these wines. Quite clearly cool climate; certainly a more feminine approach; and, unquestionably well made. Nothing complex or brooding but, what is here, is lovely.)
2014 Vincent, Pinot Noir Bjornson Vnyd. - fresh, bright, great acids, beautiful fruit, 12.6 abv, , jeepers this is good!
1999 Chave, Hermitage Rouge - extraordinary nose that explodes from the glass but shortly thereafter, everything, nose included, gets a bit tired. As it airs out, it youngs up and by the end of the evening it is a mid-weight Syrah of good but not great pedigree. Other bottles may be different, just not this one.
2014 Galerie, Cabernet Sauvignon - a lot of oak here makes this hard to get at. Not terrible but the wood makes it too sweet.
2013 Thomas Fogarty, Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains - a pleasant, easy drinking wine. Not much chance of being profound or of great development. Still, not a bad little Pinot. Kind of charming, actually . . .
2016 Argot, Cabernet Sauvignon Starstruck - Napa cab made by a Sonoma house; there is ripe fruit, there are herbal notes and . . . oh hell, it’s still Napa cab and it will sell like wildfire but not to me. The oak is evident and the delivery is singular. Even so, something here makes me pour it again. (Aside: the winemaker for Argot is a dear friend; Justin Harmon is a wonderful man and a committed winemaker. His style is different from mine but I am not above recognizing talent in styles that aren’t in my wheelhouse. This one isn’t - but for those who like the style, this is strong.)
2016 Elio Grasso, Langhe Nebbiolo Gavarini - with air, this is baby Barbaresco; supple, full of Nebbiolo aromas and flavors, with moderate tannins and good length. At $20/bottle, ridiculous QPR. More please.
2002 Radio-Coteau, Pinot Noir Marsh Vnyd. - sweet fruit aromatics and a little sweet on the palate but otherwise, legitimate Sonoma Coast Pinot. In honor of Pete.
1975 Ridge, Petite Sirah York Creek - solid, undeveloped, but sliding slightly; one taste is plenty.
1994 Phelps, Insignia - an entire forest died for this single bottle; aside from wood, there are no aromatics, the wood sours the palate and dries the finish. Terrible winemaking.
2007 Outpost, Cabernet Sauvignon True Vnyd. - Howell Mountain fruit that overwhelms the palate. Maybe in time . . . but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
2016 The Prisoner - oh good grief.
1998 Dom. Lucien Barrot, CdP - restrained, slightly salty, pretty wine that offends no one but doesn’t sparkle either.
2006 Chris Ringland, Shiraz - huge, confected, processed wine food.
1995 Flowers, Pinot Noir Moon Select - something is amiss, a sort of thin bath water texture and a bit too sweet. Although, others enjoyed it.
1985 Trapet, Chambertin - quite green on the nose with virtually no fruit; better in the mouth but nothing here speaks to terroir.
1996 Chateau Pichon Lalande - unquestionably Pauillac, reasonably open, but too monolithic; still, not a bad wine. Maybe a few years . . .
2004 Wild Duck Creek, Alan’s Cabernets - just shoot me now
2001 Ponsot, Clos de la Roche - everything is there but it’s muted; hold.
1995 Rousseau, Mazy-Chambertin - very little fruit and out of balance.
1993 Tudal, Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - reminds me of Togni wines with its herbal tones but this is so well balanced and it’s barely medium weight. What a lovely, complex cab; if there were more cabs like this, I’d buy some.
2009 Lapierre, Morgan - at full song on opening and gets a little blousy later on. But this was soooo nice.
2010 Ladd Cellars, Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - svelte, earthy, balanced wine that retains its feminine side.
1978 Ridge, Merlot/Cabernet York Creek - 60/40 Merlot/Cab; bottle bouquet, developed fruit with Merlot the most evident, some complexity and great structure. Nicely done and not headed downhill.
1998 Dom. de Trevallon - 50/50 Cab/Syrah; broad, deep and full in the mouth with concentration and intensity, good acid and length. A wine that needed air but, once it got it, delivers. The savory part of this wine was very nice indeed.
Sweet:
2003 Gysler, Spatburgunder Rose, Beerenauslese (375) - quite sweet but good balance and not tasting much different from a Riesling sticky. Eh.
1984 Capo Salina, Malvasia della Lipari - (I did my best to report what I think this label said but my Italian is not that good) a stunning wine with very light sweetness and a cascade of scents and flavors - cardamom, curry, anise, oil of camphor, flowers, etc.; perfect balance, immense finish. Original price tag says $16.99 and one of the most unusual and compelling off dry wines I’ve ever had. Thanks Tristan.
Best, jim
