Over the course of per week, I style a bunch of wine, normally with pals, and nearly all the time with my spouse. Listed below are a number of the wines we tasted over the previous few weeks. These are wines that have been not despatched as samples—typically, I really paid for these wines (though a couple of have been given as items).
NV Alfred Gratien Champagne Brut, France: Retail $60. Exceedingly Heavy Bottle (838g; 1lb 13.5oz). 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier. This was one of many 200(+?) wines on the Wine Spectator Wine Expertise in New Orleans and the vineyard’s representatives instructed that I take a pair bottles of this wine. Um. OK? Fairly nutty within the glass: macadamia, almond, and maybe walnut on the nostril with a contact of citrus and pear. Pretty. The palate is tart, wealthy, and fairly yeasty. Excellent. 93 Factors. Excellent. 93 Factors.
2003 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor, Puente Alto, Maipo Valley, Chile: Retail $100. Very Heavy Bottle (730g; 1lb 9.7oz). Beneath cork. 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc. I purchased this and a 2005 a dozen years in the past on-line for simply over $60 a bottle and I had deliberate to open the 2 of them collectively as a mini-vertical, however, nicely, that didn’t occur. Oh nicely, this one shouldn’t be getting any higher. Fairly darkish within the glass with loads of spice and a determined natural ingredient and there are touches of fruit on the perimeters, principally darkish (blackberry, cassis, plum), however I concern this is perhaps on the downward slope. The palate follows that concern with considerably muted fruit, an intense spice observe on the mid palate, greater than ample acidity, and a shocking quantity of tannins on the end. Yeah, that is nonetheless glorious, however I really feel it has dropped a step (or two) of what it as soon as was, signaling that it’s (handed?) time to drink. Wonderful. 90 Factors.
2007 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault, Sonoma Coast, CA: Retail $70. Heavy Bottle (651g; 1lb 6.9oz). Beneath cork. I purchased this bottle waaaay again in 2010, nicely earlier than my weblog was born. I had a tasting with Jasmine within the rudimentary “tasting room” the place we went by a lot of bottles over the course of a few hours. I’m not the primary to attest that Jasmine is participating, charming, and compelling. She embraced the attributes of what she known as the “excessive Sonoma Coast” and championed Hirsch winery (which in all probability wants little championing). Pretty gentle and a bit cloudy within the glass with black cherry and loads of spice on the nostril. The palate is reserved, or perhaps demure, nevertheless it packs an exquisite punch. Unbelievable fruit, zingy tartness, and finishes with spice and extra of that exceptional acidity. Wowza. Excellent. 96 Factors.
2009 Lemelson Vineyards Pinot Noir Thea’s Choice, Willamette Valley, OR:Retail $40. Actually Heavy Bottle (714g; 1lb 9.2oz). One other 12 months(ish?) and whereas that is nonetheless doing fairly nicely, it appears to have slipped, if ever-so-slightly because the fruit is dropping its grip… It nonetheless has nice acidity, good earthiness, and many to like. However no extra want to hold on to those (I’ve one left), in my view. Wonderful. 90 Factors.
2009 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Winery, Willamette Valley, OR: Retail $40. Actually Heavy Bottle (718g; 1lb 9.3oz). Beneath cork. I purchased eight of those from the Pennsylvania Liquor Management Board over a decade in the past and the primary few bottles have been lower than stellar. Properly, perhaps it simply wanted extra bottle time as the previous couple of have been incredible. It has been a strong 12 months plus since we cracked the final one and I actually thought these previous few bottles could be nicely on their approach to gones-ville, however not less than this bottle remains to be holding on with ample acidity, fruit, and extra {that a} shot of verve. Very good. Wonderful. 90 Factors.
2021 Vignobles Paradis Claire-Voie, Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence. France: Retail $25. Accountable Bottle (577g; 1lb 4.3oz). From WTSO. 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache Noir, 10% Vermentino. A 12 months to the day since I final wrote a observe about this wine (not deliberate, so bizarre) and it exhibits that “intentional” or “True Rosés” don’t must be consumed instantly upon launch. That is nonetheless vibrant, vibrant, and fairly tasty. Just about what one expects from the appellation: extra floral than fruity (however nonetheless loads of purple berry) on the nostril with very good acidity and a little bit of a chalky mouthfeel. Very Good. 89 Factors.
WINE OF THE WEEK: I popped a couple of corks this week that in all probability ought to have been pulled years in the past. Oh nicely, it occurs. As one would anticipate, a couple of of these “shoulda, woulda, coulda” bottles have been American Pinot Noirs–I’ve manner an excessive amount of “older” Pinots in my cellar, simply ask my beautiful spouse. One which didn’t observe that theme, nonetheless, was this week’s Wine of the Week, the 2007 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andreas Fault, whoa. I lived in California for a bit, and most of it was spent inside a couple of miles of the San Andreas Fault. I didn’t expertise an earthquake whereas a resident of the state however I’ve on one in every of my visits again, which was fairly horrifying. What shouldn’t be scary was this wine from Hirsch. In case you get an opportunity to attempt a wine from Hirsch, dive on in. It’s far more enjoyable than an earthquake.
What was/have been your Wine(s) of the Week?
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