Florida Jim
Florida Jim
Wine impressions - 10-1-18
Bubbles:
N/V Paul Dethune, Champagne Brut - delicious from first sip to last swallow; crystal clear flavors, lovely balance; truly Grand Cru.
2011 Domaine Carneros, Blanc de Blanc La Reve - more complexity and character than most bubbles I get a chance to try, floral and lightly lemony, excellent finish. Expensive for domestic but, IMO, worth it when you’re feeling flush.
White:
2016 Cave Dog, Albariño - richer and fuller than most Spanish Albariño but every bit as spicy and precise. Terrific wine.
2010 Edmond et Anne Vatan, Sancerre Clos la Neore Chavignol - I have been privileged to drink several vintages of Vatan over the years and have enjoyed them all - but none have risen to this level. It isn’t perfect but its imperfections help weave a complicated yet beautiful tapestry. My last bottle of Vatan and the best.
A life list wine.
2016 Birichino, Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard - varietally correct, so very clean and balanced, pure flavors and scents, refreshing in the mouth, layers across the palate, texture of satin - well, you get the idea. I love this wine.
2012 Cowan Cellars, Ribolla Gialla - 100% skin-fermented, brass colored, apricot pastry and sassafras, grip, structured and deeply flavored, endless finish. This wine just keeps getting more complex and more integrated.
2016 Saladini Pilastri, Pecorino Offida - beautiful fruit, great acidity and excellent concentration, textural and complex. And inexpensive. Available at Total Wine.
2013 Casa Dumetz, Gerwurtztraminer - Santa Barbara white wine without spoof; correct to its variety and displaying some development with a clean and typical nose and a long, finely honed finish. There are very few old world Gerwurtz that can stand with it.
Reds:
2011 Ladd Cellars, Pinot Noir Moore Ranch - it may say Russian River on the label but it’s atypical for the AVA - more savory, more cut, more black fruit than red, more structure - Moore better! No hurry here; this will last. Shows greater kinship to Aloxe Corton than RR.
2017 Elio Grasso, Gavarini Langhe Nebbiolo - on day two (recorked and put in the cooler over night) this is more serious - still pure Nebbiolo with great fruit but the structure is now in evidence. I bet this would age nicely but I know I’m going to drink it all too fast. Less than $20/bottle by the case.
2013 Vincent, Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard - there are times I go to the cooler for a bottle and avoid CA Pinot and Burgundy because it’s too “serious” (or something like that). This wine is fun, stimulating and delicious. It has the structure and concentration to go long term but is yummy now. Pure, joyful wine.
2010 Cowan Cellars, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - sous bois, light cherry and earth aromas, lightweight delivery full of delicate fruit and savory accents and a good finish. When this wine was young, I didn’t like it. But it has taught me the lesson I needed - you can always dump it but let’s see what happens . . .
2013 Robert Konig, Spatburgunder Kabinett, Assmannshauser Hollenberg Trocken - pleasant nose of red fruit and earth; odd in the mouth - solid flavors but a watery, sour note intrudes and that sourness lasts into the finish. It doesn’t make the wine unpalatable, in fact it’s well balanced and that note becomes less noticeable over time, it’s just odd. I suppose it’s an acquired taste. Thanks Mark.
2016 Amapola Creek, Grenache - Never a favorite variety of mine this is nice; not overoaked, a little salty and with the fruit of a CdP; caught between the old world and the new. Easy to drink.
2016 Birichino, Mourvèdre - a knock off for Bandol without the aggressive tannins. Complex, balanced aromas and flavors in a lighter weight package. Wish I had more.
Best, Jim
Bubbles:
N/V Paul Dethune, Champagne Brut - delicious from first sip to last swallow; crystal clear flavors, lovely balance; truly Grand Cru.
2011 Domaine Carneros, Blanc de Blanc La Reve - more complexity and character than most bubbles I get a chance to try, floral and lightly lemony, excellent finish. Expensive for domestic but, IMO, worth it when you’re feeling flush.
White:
2016 Cave Dog, Albariño - richer and fuller than most Spanish Albariño but every bit as spicy and precise. Terrific wine.
2010 Edmond et Anne Vatan, Sancerre Clos la Neore Chavignol - I have been privileged to drink several vintages of Vatan over the years and have enjoyed them all - but none have risen to this level. It isn’t perfect but its imperfections help weave a complicated yet beautiful tapestry. My last bottle of Vatan and the best.
A life list wine.
2016 Birichino, Chenin Blanc Jurassic Vineyard - varietally correct, so very clean and balanced, pure flavors and scents, refreshing in the mouth, layers across the palate, texture of satin - well, you get the idea. I love this wine.
2012 Cowan Cellars, Ribolla Gialla - 100% skin-fermented, brass colored, apricot pastry and sassafras, grip, structured and deeply flavored, endless finish. This wine just keeps getting more complex and more integrated.
2016 Saladini Pilastri, Pecorino Offida - beautiful fruit, great acidity and excellent concentration, textural and complex. And inexpensive. Available at Total Wine.
2013 Casa Dumetz, Gerwurtztraminer - Santa Barbara white wine without spoof; correct to its variety and displaying some development with a clean and typical nose and a long, finely honed finish. There are very few old world Gerwurtz that can stand with it.
Reds:
2011 Ladd Cellars, Pinot Noir Moore Ranch - it may say Russian River on the label but it’s atypical for the AVA - more savory, more cut, more black fruit than red, more structure - Moore better! No hurry here; this will last. Shows greater kinship to Aloxe Corton than RR.
2017 Elio Grasso, Gavarini Langhe Nebbiolo - on day two (recorked and put in the cooler over night) this is more serious - still pure Nebbiolo with great fruit but the structure is now in evidence. I bet this would age nicely but I know I’m going to drink it all too fast. Less than $20/bottle by the case.
2013 Vincent, Pinot Noir Zenith Vineyard - there are times I go to the cooler for a bottle and avoid CA Pinot and Burgundy because it’s too “serious” (or something like that). This wine is fun, stimulating and delicious. It has the structure and concentration to go long term but is yummy now. Pure, joyful wine.
2010 Cowan Cellars, Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - sous bois, light cherry and earth aromas, lightweight delivery full of delicate fruit and savory accents and a good finish. When this wine was young, I didn’t like it. But it has taught me the lesson I needed - you can always dump it but let’s see what happens . . .
2013 Robert Konig, Spatburgunder Kabinett, Assmannshauser Hollenberg Trocken - pleasant nose of red fruit and earth; odd in the mouth - solid flavors but a watery, sour note intrudes and that sourness lasts into the finish. It doesn’t make the wine unpalatable, in fact it’s well balanced and that note becomes less noticeable over time, it’s just odd. I suppose it’s an acquired taste. Thanks Mark.
2016 Amapola Creek, Grenache - Never a favorite variety of mine this is nice; not overoaked, a little salty and with the fruit of a CdP; caught between the old world and the new. Easy to drink.
2016 Birichino, Mourvèdre - a knock off for Bandol without the aggressive tannins. Complex, balanced aromas and flavors in a lighter weight package. Wish I had more.
Best, Jim