Alban Vineyards
Alban 2006 Viognier, Alban Estate, Edna Valley. Light color, ripe stone fruit and oak, with some spice and lees notes. Rich and creamy texture with a smooth finish, this is still holding nicely.
Alban 2006 “Reva” Syrah, Alban Estate, Edna Valley. Very dark color, high-toned aromatics of blackberry, coffee, spice, and smoky oak, with a fairly dense mouthfeel and still grippy tannins.
Ampelos Cellars
Ampelos 2010 Viognier, Santa Ynez Valley. A blend of fruit from Cuatro Vientos, Evergreen, and Vigna Cesarina, fermented cool in tank with no malolactic fermentation. Nicely focused nose of white peach, citrus and citrus blossoms with a bright, crisp acidity. Ampelos consistently produces stylish Viogniers in leaner, crisper style. (AO)
Ampelos 2010 Rosé of Syrah, Santa Barbara County. Made from early picked fruit rather than saignée, fermented cool in stainless steel with no malolactic fermentation, a third of the fruit spent several days on the skins, and blended with 11% Riesling. Bright nose with strawberries and rhubarb and a hint of floral, light on its feet with crisp acidity and nice length, beautiful wine for summer. (AO)
Ampelos 2007 “Syrache,” Santa Barbara County. Blend of 72% Syrah and 28% Grenache. Lots of raspberry and red cherry fruit with some floral notes, medium bodied and very drinkable. (AO)
Ampelos 2007 “Gamma” Syrah, Estate, Sta. Rita Hills. From estate fruit with organic and biodynamic farming, from 383, 470 and Estrella clones. Darker fruit on nose with violets and spice, more red-fruited on palate with meat and herbs. (AO)
Andrew Murray Vineyards
Andrew Murray 2008 “Espérance,” Central Coast. 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 15% Mourvèdre. Medium color, black cherry, spice, and vanilla/oak aromas, medium-bodied with moderate tannins.
Arcadian Winery
Arcadian 2006 Syrah, Sleepy Hollow Vineyard, Santa Lucia Highlands. Medium color, showing red fruits, earth, iron, and spice aromas. Very juicy mouthfeel with a long, tasty finish, a distinctive Syrah in a lighter style that should age nicely.
Arcadian 2006 Syrah, Stolpman Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. Medium-dark color, with aromas of leathery dark fruits and baking spices. Richer on the palate than the Sleepy Hollow bottling, with moderate tannins.
Arcadian 2006 Syrah, “Hommage a Max,” Santa Ynez Valley. Medium-dark, displaying savory plum and blueberry aromatics along with spice and pepper notes. Lively mouthfeel with refined tannins, nice.
Arcadian 2003 Syrah, Stolpman Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. Medium-dark color, with darker fruits, leather, herbs, and earth on the nose. Still fairly rich on the palate, with moderate tannins.
Arcadian 2003 Syrah, “Hommage a Max,” Santa Ynez Valley. Made from four favorite barrels, the ’03 includes Syrah from three vineyards. Darker color, this showed greater intensity of fruit along with minerals, earth, and spice. With a silky texture and resolved tannins, this is an elegant Syrah that is aging well.
Bedrock Wine Company
Bedrock 2009 Syrah, Hudson Vineyard – T Block, Carneros. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Bedrock 2009 Syrah, Sonoma Coast. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Bedrock 2008 Syrah, “Whole Cluster,” Hudson Vineyard North, Carneros. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Bedrock 2008 Syrah, “Cofermented,” Hudson Vineyard North, Carneros. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Bedrock 2008 Syrah, “Pleine de Chêne,” Hudson Vineyard North, Carneros. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Friday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Bernat Vineyards and Winery
Bernat 2008 “Latitude” Syrah, Colson Canyon Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. Dark color, with earthy ripe dark fruits, smoke, and chocolate aromas. Rich, smooth mouthfeel with medium-big tannins on the finish.
Bernat 2008 “Focus” Syrah, Estate Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. Dark color, with savory blackberry fruit, spice, mocha, and an overlay of vanilla/oak. More structured on the palate than the “Latitude,” with very grippy, youthful tannins.
Big Basin Vineyards
Big Basin 2007 Syrah, Coastview Vineyard, Monterey County. Dark color, intense plum and darker berry fruit, coffee/mocha, smoke, and herbs. Rich yet lively mouthfeel, with fairly chewy tannins and a long finish, nice. A big wine but nicely balanced.
Broc Cellars
Broc 2010 Rosé, Paso Robles. Made from Counoise, about 11.5% alcohol. Very light orange-pink color, with bright and slightly tart red fruit aromas, with a mild floral note. Light, crisp and refreshing.
Broc 2009 Roussanne, El Dorado County. Sourced from Ellen Ridge Vineyard and made in an “orange wine” style, this spent 18 days on the skins. Medium-light gold color, displaying pear, apple skin, minerals, and spice on the nose. Medium weight and vibrant on the palate, with some mild tannins showing on the finish, quite distinctive.
Broc 2009 “Cassia” Grenache, California. Medium color, with strawberry and cherry fruit plus lots of assorted baking spices. Bright and lively, with moderate tannins.
Broc 2007 Syrah, Dry Stack Vineyard, Bennett Valley. Medium-dark color, with dark berry fruit, grilled meat, black pepper, and spice aromas. Medium weight in the mouth, with fairly grippy tannins. Very nice, and should develop well with more cellar time.
Broc 2008 Mourvèdre, Luna Matta Vineyard, Paso Robles. Medium-dark purple, showing earthy and spicy plum on the nose, with touches of game and dried herbs. Big and structured, with chewy tannins
Comments: Chris Brockway always pours something a little unusual, such as the very light Rosé and the skin-contact Roussanne. (Disclosure – I do some occasional work for Broc Cellars)
Cabot Vineyards
Cabot 2004 Syrah, “Reed’s,” Humboldt County. Medium color, with red fruits, spice, and a slightly briny note. Vibrant mouthfeel with well-resolved tannins.
Cabot 2006 Syrah, Humboldt County. Medium-dark purple, displaying smoky bacon notes along with blackberry and dried herbs. Medium-full bodied and still a bit rough on the palate, with a tannic finish.
Cabot 2007 Syrah, Humboldt County. About 1% Viognier, around 20% whole-cluster fermentation. Dark color, with savory dark berry fruit, clove, and a touch of earth. Rounder on the palate than the ’06, but with grippy tannins on the finish, this should develop very nicely over the next few years.
Comments: I had tasted some of the Cabot wines in March (the ’06 “Aria’s” Syrah was my favorite of those), so in the interest of time I only tasted a few of their wines here. The ’07 Humboldt Syrah was my favorite of these three, and narrowly missed the “Favorites” list.
Caliza Winery
Caliza 2007 “Azimuth,” Paso Robles. 53% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre. Medium-dark color, with aromas of plum and raspberry, spice, grilled meat, minerals, and vanilla/oak. Fairly rich but not heavy mouthfeel, with grippy, youthful tannins, nice.
Callaghan Vineyards
Callaghan 2009 “Wayne’s” Grenache, Sonoita, Arizona. Medium-light color, very ripe red fruits, smoke, and herbs on the nose. Medium-bodied with some bitterness on the finish.
Carica Wines
Carica 2008 “The Siren,” Kick Ranch, Sonoma County. 75% Syrah, 12.5% Grenache, 12.5% Mourvèdre. Medium-dark color, showing smoked meat, black cherry and plum, dried herbs, and a dash of pepper. Medium-bodied, vibrant mouthfeel with fairly big tannins on the finish, very tasty now and should age well for at least a few years.
Comments: The Carica wines sourced from Kick Ranch are ones to keep an eye on – I’ve liked them quite a bit.
Cass Vineyard & Winery
Cass 2010 Roussanne, Paso Robles. Very light color, showing citrus, pear, and some spice and lees notes. Lighter-bodied with good acidity and a clean finish.
Cass 2008 Syrah, Paso Robles. Medium-dark color, ripe plum and black raspberry framed by spicy oak. Moderate acidity but with a bright finish.
Château Bizard
Bizard 2007 “Serre de Courrent,” Coteaux du Tricastin. A blend of mainly Syrah with some Grenache. Dark berry with some cherry fruit and interesting earthiness. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Château de Beaucastel
Beaucastel 2008 Châteauneuf du Pape. Medium color, intense plum and black cherry fruit, a floral note, lots of spice, and a touch of earth. Medium-bodied and relatively smooth, with a clean finish that was not too tannic.
Beaucastel 2007 Châteauneuf du Pape. The color was a bit lighter and redder than the ’08, showing a similar aromatic profile but with added touches of minerals and dried herbs. Livelier on the palate than the ’08, showing better acidity and structure, with more tannin on the finish. Still a youngster, this should be outstanding with more bottle age.
Beaucastel 2006 Châteauneuf du Pape. Medium red-purple, the aromatics displayed the earthy, leathery notes Beaucastels often have, along with spices and a darker fruit profile than the other two wines. Smoother mouthfeel and finish than the ’07.
Comments: These wines were poured at the Vineyard Brands table. Nice opportunity to taste a three-year vertical from Beaucastel.
Château de Nages
Nages 2009 Nostre Païs Blanc, Costières de Nîmes. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Nages 2009 Vieilles Vignes Rouge, Costières de Nîmes. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Friday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Château Jean-Pierre Gaussen
Gaussen 2007 “Longue Garde,” Bandol. 100% Mourvèdre. Dark cherries and blueberries, earthy, savory spiced meat, more savory than fruit driven, a nice traditional-style Bandol. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Château Mas Neuf
Mas Neuf 2007 “La Mourvache,” Costières-de-Nîmes. A blend of equal parts Syrah and Mourvèdre. Ripe raspberries and dark cherries with some spice, some tannins along with some noticeable wood. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Cowhorn Vineyard & Garden
Cowhorn 2009 Viognier, Applegate Valley, Oregon: Light straw color, restrained aromatics of stone fruit and tropical fruit, with a leesy note. Medium-bodied with good acidity and a pleasant finish.
Cowhorn 2009 “Spiral 36,” Applegate Valley, Oregon: Light color, displaying peach, tropical fruit, and floral aromas. Very lively on the palate, with a clean, crisp finish, nice.
Cowhorn 2008 “Reserve” Syrah, Applegate Valley, Oregon: From Estrella, 174, and 470 clones. Dark color, with black fruits, coffee, and spice on the nose. Medium-full mouthfeel, with moderate tannins.
Comments: First time I’d tasted wines from this biodynamic grower, and they were quite good.
db Winery
db 2008 Syrah Premier Coastal Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. Medium-dark color, earthy and a bit funky, but showing plenty of blackberries, pepper, and spice. Lively and well-structured in the mouth, with a fairly tannic finish.
Derby Wine Estates
Derby 2008 “Fifteen10” White, Derby Vineyard, Paso Robles. 51% Viognier, 29% Roussanne, 20% Marsanne. Very light straw color, ripe peach and nectarine, lees, and some floral notes on the nose. Somewhat creamy and medium weight on the palate, with moderate acidity and a smooth finish.
Derby 2007 Counoise, Derby Vineyard, Paso Robles. 100% Counoise. Medium color, with intensely aromatic floral, raspberry and plum, spice, and vanilla/oak components. Medium-bodied and fairly smooth yet vibrant on the palate and finish, very tasty.
Derby 2007 “Fifteen10” Red, Derby Vineyard, Paso Robles. 59% Syrah, 29% Grenache, 12% Mourvèdre. Medium purple color, with ripe plum, smoke, baking spice, and sweet oak aromas. More full-bodied than the Counoise, with medium tannins.
Comments: I loved a barrel sample of the Derby Counoise at HdR a couple of years ago – glad to see that it was bottled on its own and that it still retains those beautiful aromatics.
Domaine Alain Voge
Alain Voge 2008 “Les Peyrouses,” Côtes du Rhône. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Alain Voge 2007 “Les Vieilles Vignes,” Cornas.(see seminar TN on this wine)
Alain Voge 2006 “Les Vieilles Vignes,” Cornas. Red raspberries, floral with pepper, structured but medium bodied and elegant. (AO)
Alain Voge 2004 “Les Vieilles Vignes,” Cornas. Raspberries and blueberries, baking spice, a little anise, richer and deeper fruit than the 2006. (AO)
Alain Voge 2001 “Les Vieilles Vignes,” Cornas. More developed aromas, red berries and currants, earthy with some raw peppered meat, iron. (AO)
Alain Voge 2005 “Les Vieilles Fontaines,” Cornas. From 80-year old vines on granitic soil. Dark color, with intense aromas of meaty, earthy black fruits, iron, and spice. Big and mouthfilling, with very good balance and firm, chewy tannins on the finish. Very nice, and should age well for years to come.
Alain Voge 2001 “Les Vieilles Fontaines,” Cornas. Dark berries, chocolate, showing some oak, a rich, fruit-driven and somewhat international style wine. (AO)
Comments: The first two of these wines were poured at the Friday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine Auguste Clape
Clape 2010 Saint-Péray. 100% Marsanne. Very light color, showing citrus and pear aromas with a touch of minerals. Medium-bodied, with a creamy texture that was still vibrant on the palate. This should benefit from some bottle age.
Clape 2008 “Renaissance,” Cornas. From 12-25 year-old vines. Medium color, with very tarry, leathery notes coming to the fore, followed by dark fruits and spice. Medium-bodied with moderate tannins.
Clape 2008 Cornas. From 40-80 year-old vines. Medium-dark color, showing both red and black fruits, iodine, meat/game, minerals, and black pepper. Impressive texture and structure on the palate with huge tannins on the finish – this is the real deal of Cornas!
Clape 1996 Cornas. Medium ruby/reddish color, with black cherry and plum along with iron and meat elements. Medium-bodied with resolved tannins, perhaps a touch acidic on the finish but a fine mature Cornas.
Comments: These wines were poured at the Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant table. It was a real treat to taste the ’96 Cornas in particular.
Domaine Cottebrune
Cottebrune 2008 “Transhumance,” Faugères. Mostly Grenache and Syrah with some Mourvèdre, élevage in mix of barrels and vats. Fresh nose of red berries, plums and garrigue, soft tannins. (AO)
Cottebrune 2008 “Parole de Berger,” Faugères. Mostly Syrah and Mourvèdre, a selection of the best barrels from the “Transhumance.” Darker berry fruit with more structure and more noticeable oak influence. (AO)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Domaines Pierre Gaillard table. The wines come from Gaillard’s vineyards in the Faugères appellation of Languedoc.
Domaine de Cabasse
Cabasse 2007 “Cuvée Garnacho,”, Côtes du Rhône Villages Séguret. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Cabasse 2007 Gigondas. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Friday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine de Cristia
Cristia 2009 Châteauneuf du Pape. 90% Grenache, 10% Syrah. Medium-dark purple, with ripe red fruits, spice, and a touch of earth. Medium-bodied, with a silky mouthfeel and a clean and juicy finish.
Cristia 2009 “Renaissance,” Châteauneuf du Pape. 60% 100-year old Grenache, 40% Mourvèdre. Darker color, with earthier and darker ripe fruit aromas, together with baking spice and sweet oak. Richer on the palate, but with more structure and tannin on the finish.
Cristia 2009 “Vieilles Vignes,” Châteauneuf du Pape. 100% Grenache. Medium-dark color, this was the least fruit-forward of the three Cristia wines, showing lots of earth, spice, and dried herbs along with black cherry and plum fruit. Showing a bit more roundness in the mouth, it finished with grippy young tannins, and should have good potential for cellar age.
Domaine de la Biscarelle
Biscarelle 2009 “Les Anglaises,” Châteauneuf du Pape. 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, plus Syrah and Cinsault. Medium-dark color, this displayed earthy plum and blueberry fruits, herbs, and a touch of pepper. Big and mouthfilling, with substantial tannins on the finish.
Comments: This wine was poured at the Châteauneuf du Pape Wine Producers table.
Domaine de la Mordorée
Mordorée 2010 Rosé, Tavel. Medium-light pink color, with bright aromas of strawberry and spice, with some earthy and savory notes. Lively mouthfeel and a crisp, refreshing finish, very nice.
Comments: This wine was poured at the Syndicat AOC Tavel table. As it often is, this was my favorite Rosé of the event.
Domaine de la Solitude
Solitude 2009 “Cuvée Barberini” Blanc, Châteauneuf du Pape. Mostly Roussanne with some Grenache Blanc and Clairette. Medium-light color, with minerally, earthy pear and nectarine aromas. Medium-bodied with a nice texture on the palate and moderately long finish, should be a good candidate for some cellar time.
Solitude 2007 “Réserve Secrète,” Châteauneuf du Pape. Medium-dark color, with savory dark berry fruit, some earthy, funky notes, and white pepper on the nose. Very nice texture and structure in the mouth, with medium tannins.
Domaine du Clos des Fées
Clos des Fées 2009 “De Battre Mon Coeur,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Clos des Fées 2006 “Vieilles Vignes,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Clos des Fées 2006 “Le Clos des Fées,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Clos des Fées 2008 “La Petite Sibérie,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages. From a single plot of old-vine Grenache. Dark color, with intense ripe plum, blueberry, herb, and oak aromas. Rich and dense on the palate, with a big, tannic finish.
Comments: Three of these wines were poured at the Saturday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine du Trapadis
Trapadis 2007 “Les Adrès,” Rasteau. 80% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 10% Mourvèdre. A little tight, dark cherries and blackberries with some savory notes, I think this wine will be more developed in a couple years. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Domaine François Villard
Villard 2009 “Les Contours de Deponcins” Viognier, Vin de Pays Collines Rhondaniennes. Very light color, fairly straightforward ripe peach and apricot aromas, medium-bodied with a tasty, smooth finish.
Villard 2009 “Deponcins,” Condrieu. Light straw color, with floral, mineral, and stone fruit notes. More lively and structured in the mouth than the previous wine, with a clean finish, nice.
Villard 2009 “Les Terrasses du Palat,” Condrieu. Light straw color, with more intense aromatics, showing a strong floral component along with ripe stone fruit and a leesy note. Richer and creamier on the palate but retaining good acidity, with a long, smooth finish, nice.
Villard 2009 “Version,” Saint Peray. 100% Marsanne.Light color, subdued fig and melon aromas and a streak of minerality. Fairly light and lean on the palate, with a clean finish.
Villard 2008 “Poivre et Sol,” Saint-Joseph. Medium-dark color, displaying lots of black pepper along with red fruits, tar, and spice. Medium-bodied with moderate tannins.
Villard 2008 “Mairlant,” Saint-Joseph. Medium-dark color, featuring plum and black cherry, tar, and smoke. Bigger on the palate, with more grippy tannins on the finish.
Villard 2008 “Reflet,” Saint-Joseph. Medium-dark color, the fruit profile is a bit more tart, with more earth and herb components plus coffee. Bolder and more structured than the other two Saint-Joseph bottlings.
Villard 2008 “Seul en Scène” Syrah, Vin de Pays Collines Rhondaniennes. Medium-dark purple, aromas of plum and black cherry, iron, spice, and minerals. Nice texture in the mouth, with chalky tannins on the finish, nice.
Villard 2008 “Le Gallet Blanc,” Côte-Rôtie. Medium-dark color, floral notes along with apricot, darker fruit, spice, and sweet oak. Fairly full-bodied, with a grippy tannic finish.
Comments: François Villard presented a fine group of wines, and his Condrieus were particular standouts.
Domaine la Barroche
Barroche 2008 “Signature,” Châteauneuf du Pape. About 65% Grenache, along with Syrah, Mourvèdre, and Cinsault. Medium color, with bright aromas of ripe red fruits and spices. Very fresh and lively on the palate, with moderate tannins on the finish.
Barroche 2007 “Fiancée,” Châteauneuf du Pape. 50% 130-year old Grenache, 50% Syrah. Dark color, with a more earthy, darker fruit profile along with herb and mineral notes. Bigger on the palate with more structure than the ’08 “Signature” bottling.
Barroche 2006 “Pure,” Châteauneuf du Pape. Entirely from 100-year old Grenache from a single plot, near Rayas. Medium color, with ripe strawberry and cherry fruit, herbs, and baking spice, along with a floral component. Big and intense, with a rich mouthfeel, good structure, and long finish, very nice.
Comments: The Barroche wines are in a bigger, more “modern” style of CdP, but they’re certainly tasty.
Domaine La Croix Gratiot
La Croix Gratiot 2010 Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc. Bright citrus and a little melon with some floral notes, very crisp and refreshing. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Domaine les Terres de Fagayra
Fagayra 2009 “Op. Nord,” Maury. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Saturday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine Madeloc
Madeloc 2009 “Cuvée Tremadoc,” Collioure. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Madeloc 2006 “Cuvée Magenca,” Collioure. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Madeloc 2007 “Cirera,” Banyuls. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Saturday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine Marc Sorrel
Marc Sorrel 2007 “Les Rocoules,” Hermitage Blanc. 95% Marsanne, 5% Roussanne. Peach and peach pit, some citrus, bitter almond, great depth and density but very young. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Domaine Roc des Anges
Roc des Anges 2009 “Les Vieilles Vignes” Blanc, Vin de Pays des Pyrénées-Orientales. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Roc des Anges 2008 “1903,” Vin de Pays des Pyrénées-Orientales. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Saturday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine Rouvre Saint Leger
Rouvre Saint Leger 2009 Blanc, Côtes du Rhône Villages-Laudun. 100% Viognier. Tropical nose of apricot and pineapple, soft with some weight on the palate. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Paul M. Young Fine Wines table.
Domaine Thunevin-Calvet
Thunevin-Calvet 2007 “Les Dentelles,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages.(see seminar TN on this wine)
Thunevin-Calvet 2007 “Hugo,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages.(see seminar TN on this wine)
Thunevin-Calvet 2007 “Les Trois Marie,” Côtes du Roussillon Villages.(see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Saturday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Domaine Yves Cuilleron
Cuilleron 2008 “Vertige,” Condrieu. Medium-light color, oak and lees notes are followed by melon, white peach, and spice on the nose. Creamy and rich mouthfeel with moderate acidity and a smooth finish.
Cuilleron 2008 “Les Serines,” Saint-Joseph. Dark purple, showing a bit of reduction at first, but opening to both red and black fruits, black pepper, and minerals. Rather youthful and hard on the palate, with lots of acidity and a tannic finish.
Cuilleron 2008 “Terres Sombres,” Côte-Rôtie. 100% Syrah. Dark color, showing some floral notes along with blueberry, smoke, and earth. Big and structured, but with relatively refined tannins, nice.
Domaines Pierre Gaillard
Gaillard 2009 Crozes-Hermitage. This is the first Crozes-Hermitage produced by Gaillard. Dark color, featuring black fruits, spice, minerals, and touch of mocha on the nose. Big but balanced, with moderate tannins.
Gaillard 2009 Saint-Joseph. Medium-dark color, savory and spicy plum and black raspberry aromas, along with notes of coffee and vanilla. Silky texture on the palate, with medium tannins on the long finish, nice.
Gaillard 2009 “Rose Pourpre,” Côte-Rôtie. Medium-dark color, pretty floral notes along with bright, savory dark fruits, along with smoke and a touch of oak. Fairly rich yet vibrant in the mouth, with surprisingly moderate tannins for such a young Côte-Rôtie, nice.
Gaillard 2009 Cornas. Very dark color, featuring intense blackberry, iron, spice, and mineral aromas. Big and structured, with a grippy tannic finish.
Comments: As was the case last year, Pierre Gaillard’s wines were one of the strongest line-ups at HdR.
Dos Cabezas WineWorks
Dos Cabezas 2009 “El Campo,” Pronghorn Vineyard, Sonoita, Arizona. Blend composed mainly of Mourvèdre and Tempranillo. Medium color, with ripe plum, smoke, pepper, and lots of spice aromas. Medium-full bodied with a nice texture on the palate, finishing with big, chewy tannins, nice.
Comments: This was a big step up from previous vintages, and the best wine from Arizona I have tasted yet.
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Dragonette Cellars
Dragonette 2010 Rosé, Santa Ynez Valley. 40% each whole-cluster press Grenache and Mourvèdre and 20% saignée Syrah. Light pink color, with watermelon, a bit of strawberry, and spice on the nose. Lively mouthfeel with a crisp, spicy finish.
Dragonette 2008 Syrah, California. 50% from Shadow Canyon Vineyard, 30% from Watch Hill, and 20% from Los Tres Burros. Medium-dark purple, with meaty, smoky dark berry fruit, with an undercurrent of vanilla/oak. Medium-bodied and well-structured for aging, it finished with fairly big tannins.
Dragonette 2008 “MJM,” California. 92% Syrah, 6% Grenache, 1% Mourvèdre, and 1% Viognier, from Shadow Canyon, Los Tres Burros, and Paderewski vineyards, 26 months in barrel. Dark color, showing blackberry, earth, coffee, anise and other baking spices, and sweet oak on the nose. More full-bodied than the previous wine but still lively on the palate, with a grippy tannic finish, nice.
Dragonette 2009 Grenache, Santa Barbara County. Bottled shortly before the tasting, this is mainly from Thompson and Watch Hill vineyards, and has a little Syrah and Mourvèdre blended in. Medium color, with earthy strawberry, raspberry, and spice aromatics. Bright mouthfeel with moderate tannins.
Dragonette 2009 Syrah, Shadow Canyon Vineyard, San Luis Obispo County (barrel sample). Dark color, with black fruits, coffee, smoke, and pepper notes. Very big and structured on the palate, with fairly chewy tannins on the finish.
Dragonette 2009 Syrah, Stolpman Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley (barrel sample). Very dark color, blackberry, mocha, and vanilla/oak aromas, rich and mouthfilling, with a very grippy tannic finish.
E. Guigal
Guigal 2006 “Brune et Blonde,” Côte-Rôtie. Somewhat restrained nose of red fruit, violets and spice. Seems a bit closed down at present. (AO)
Guigal 2001 “Brune et Blonde,” Côte-Rôtie. Raspberry fruit with savory notes of lavender and thyme, starting to develop game and bacon aromas. (AO)
Guigal 1997 “Brune et Blonde,” Côte-Rôtie. Raspberries and currants, with gamey smoked boar and dried herbs, medium bodied and silky texture. This wine has a lovely, mature nose and is drinking beautifully. (AO)
Guigal 2009 Saint-Joseph Blanc. Roughly 93% Marsanne with 7% Roussanne. Honeysuckle, apricots, some minerality, fairly fruit forward with a medium to rich texture. (AO)
Guigal 2009 “La Doraine,” Condrieu. Intensely floral, with peach, lime and some noticeable oak. Lushly textured, this is made in its typically voluptuous style but carries it well. (AO)
Guigal 2007 Gigondas. Forward, red cherries and plums, Provençal herbs, more powerful than in typical vintages. (AO)
Guigal 2007 Crozes-Hermitage. Despite the vintage, a
leaner, more savory wine, red berries and currants, raw meat, herbs and pepper. (AO)
Guigal 2005 Hermitage. Deep, powerful, and still quite tight, dark fruit, meat, iron, and quite tannic, this wine has the components for aging and needs another decade of development to hit its stride. (AO)
Guigal 2007 “Lieu-Dit Saint-Joseph,” Saint-Joseph Rouge. Forward red fruit with exotic spice and a little bacon, lush. (AO)
Guigal 2007 “Château d’Ampuis,” Côte-Rôtie. Red berries, with floral notes and a bit of apricot, pepper and spice, smoky, approachable with a velvety texture and nice length. (AO)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Vintus table. The first three wines here were an interesting trio that demonstrated the development of tertiary characteristics with age.
Écluse Wines
Écluse 2007 “Rendition,” Paso Robles. 52% Syrah, 42% Grenache, 6% Zinfandel. Medium-dark color, showing ripe boysenberry, and plenty of vanilla and spice on the nose. Fairly full-bodied, with big, grippy tannins on the finish.
Écluse 2008 “Improv,” Lock Vineyard, Paso Robles. 60% Syrah, 32% Zinfandel, 8% Merlot. Medium-dark color, with black cherry, sweet oak, and brambly Zinfandel aromas – struck me more like a Zin than a Rhône-style wine. Rich and smooth on the palate, with moderate tannins.
Ferrer Bobet
Ferrer Bobet 2006 Priorat. From old-vine Carignan (70%) and Grenache (30%). Bright red cherry fruit, somewhat ripe, graphite. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Vintus table.
Harrison Clarke Wine
Harrison Clarke 2008 “Sorellina” Grenache, Estate, Santa Ynez Valley. Blended with some Syrah. Ripe red berries, fruit forward nose with some anise. (AO)
Harrison Clarke 2008 Grenache, Estate, Santa Ynez Valley. From north facing slope and blended with a little Syrah. Red raspberry and cherry with some baking spice, less fruit driven than the Sorellina, medium bodied with good balance. (AO)
Harrison Clarke 2007 Syrah, Estate, Santa Ynez Valley. Red and dark berries, chalky minerality, coffee, with gentle tannins to reward some further aging. (AO)
Harrison Clarke 2007 “Cuvée Charlotte” Syrah, Estate, Santa Ynez Valley. From an almost solid limestone section of the vineyard, 1.1 tons/acre with tiny berries. Interesting aromatics of red and dark berries, spice, and floral components, deeper and richer than the regular cuvée but balanced by good acidity, chalky minerality with great length. (AO)
Comments: Harrison Clarke Vineyard is located in the Ballard Canyon portion of Santa Ynez Valley, between Beckmen Purisima Mountain and Tierra Alta vineyards, and the soil is mainly a very chalky limestone.
Henson Wines
Henson 2005 Syrah, Michaud Vineyard, Chalone. Dark color, displaying plum and blueberry, earth, minerals, herb, and iron aromas. Medium-bodied and lively on the palate, with a clean, tasty finish, very nice.
Henson 2007 Syrah, Michaud Vineyard, Chalone. Dark color, with black fruits, a bigger herb component, and a vanilla/oak overlay. Bigger mouthfeel with grippier tannins on the finish than the ’05.
Henson 2007 Syrah, Luna Matta Vineyard, Paso Robles. Dark color, more fruit-forward and ripe than the Michaud bottlings and showing more of a spice component. Fairly rich in the mouth, with moderate tannins.
Comments: This was my first experience with the Henson wines, and the ’05 Syrah was particularly good.
Hug Cellars
Hug 1994 Syrah, Edna Valley. Medium-dark purple with some bricking around the edges, starts with earthy, leathery notes, followed by dark fruits, spice, and a touch of dried herbs. With a smooth mouthfeel and resolved tannins, this is aging gracefully.
Hug 2005 “Rena Block” Syrah, Bassetti Vineyard, San Luis Obispo County. Dark color, showing herbal ripe blackberry fruit with some white pepper and sweet oak in support. Fairly rich on the palate with medium-big tannins. This wine is developing nicely and I’d say it’s still several years from its peak.
Hug 2009 “el Papé,” Central Coast. 70% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 5% Syrah, sourced from Cedar Lane and Santa Barbara Highlands vineyards. Medium-dark color, with bright, ripe red fruits along with earth and herb notes. Medium-bodied with good acidity, this finished with moderate tannins, should be very pleasant for near- to medium-term drinking.
Hug 2009 “el Maestro,” Central Coast. 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 10% Syrah, sourced from Cedar Lane and Santa Barbara Highlands vineyards. Medium-dark color, displaying strawberry, bing cherry, spice, and earth aromas, deeper and not quite as ripe as in the “el Papé.” With a bigger mouthfeel and chewy tannins, this wine should be improved by some cellar age.
Hug 2009 “el Jefe,” Central Coast. 37% Grenache, 36% Mourvèdre, 27% Syrah. Dark color, with plum and black cherry aromas, earth, plenty of baking spice, and framed by vanilla/oak. More viscous on the palate and with grippy tannins, this was showing very young and needs time to settle down.
Hug 2009 Syrah, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco. Dark color, with savory black fruits, earth, pepper, and spice aromas. Medium-rich mouthfeel, with a fairly big tannic finish, this will also take some patience for the wine to show its best, but it has all the elements for a very fine, cooler-climate style of Syrah.
Hug 2008 “el Grandé,” Paso Robles. Syrah sourced from Terry Hoage Vineyard. Very dark color, almost opaque, showing ripe blackberry, smoke, and dried herbs along with an overlay of sweet oak. Quite rich on the palate, the tannins are big but have a relatively smooth feel. The wine’s name fits it well.
Comments: The ’94 Syrah, sourced from Alban Vineyard, was the first release from Hug Cellars, and it was a treat to taste it again. The ’09 wines were bottled earlier this year and will need some time to show their best.
Jaffurs Wine Cellars
Jaffurs 2009 Grenache Blanc, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. Made in 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak. Very light straw color, showing apple/pear aromas along with spice, minerals, and a leesy note. Medium-bodied with good acidity and a pleasant finish.
Jaffurs 1998 Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley. Medium light reddish-purple color, showing earth, dark fruit, baking spices, and black pepper. Nice texture, with well-resolved tannins. While no longer vibrant, this has aged gracefully and should still have some years ahead of it.
Jaffurs 2001 Syrah, Stolpman Vineyard, Santa Barbara County – Hospice du Rhône bottling. Compared with the ’98 Bien Nacido, this displayed remarkably more youthful ripe fruit as well as a touch of sweet oak on the nose. A denser mouthfeel and still-grippy tannins suggest this still has a ways to go until it’s fully mature.
Jaffurs 2009 Syrah, Santa Barbara County. Sourced from three vineyards, and including about 5% Petite Sirah. Dark color, very fruit-forward and a bit primary, while also showing touches of spice and pepper. Juicy mouthfeel and not very tannic, quite tasty and a good choice for near-term drinking.
Jaffurs 2009 Syrah, Larner Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. Very dark color, with blackberry, dried herb, spice, and iodine aromas. A powerhouse on the palate, and finishing with grippy, youthful tannins.
JC Cellars
JC Cellars 2008 Marsanne, Stagecoach Vineyard, Napa Valley. Medium-light yellow color, showing citrus, fig, and a touch of vanilla cream on the nose. Bold and creamy mouthfeel, with some stone fruit notes coming through in the flavors. It’s pleasant now, but this could be an interesting Marsanne to age for awhile.
JC Cellars 2005 Syrah, Caldwell Vineyard, Napa Valley. Medium-dark color, with game/meat, black pepper, earth, and dark berry fruit. Medium-full bodied, there were still noticeable tannins.
JC Cellars 2006 Syrah, Caldwell Vineyard, Napa Valley. Dark color, this had more intense aromatics than the ’05, with ripe blackberry, baking spice, and coffee dominating. Mouthfilling and rich, but with very good structure and a long tasty finish, quite nice.
JC Cellars 2007 Syrah, Caldwell Vineyard, Napa Valley. Dark color, showing more primary fruit than the ’06 or ’05, with touches of herbs, pepper, and a more distinct leathery/earthy component. Not quite as bold on the palate as the ’06, with medium-big tannins.
JC Cellars 2009 Zinfandel, Sweetwater Springs Vineyard, Russian River Valley. Recently-bottled, this was fermented and initially aged in concrete, then racked to larger-format cooperage, 20% new. Medium-dark color, showing fresh ripe red fruits and spice, almost Grenache-like. Medium-bodied on the palate and not too tannic.
Très Bonnes Années 2009 Syrah, Sonoma County. Sourced from Rockpile and Alexander Valley. Dark color, with blackberry, coffee, minerals, and a dash of black pepper. Big but balanced and lively, with medium-big tannins, this was a tasty Syrah that should show well for near-term drinking but has the structure to age nicely too.
Comments: Jeff Cohn showcased a three-year vertical of Caldwell Vineyard Syrahs, and sneaked in an “under the table” Zin too. The Très Bonnes Années Syrah is made for the girl + the fig in Sonoma.
Jonata Wines
Jonata 2008 “La Sangre de Jonata,” Santa Ynez Valley. 98% Syrah, 2% Viognier. Very dark purple, with dark fruit, pepper, spice, iodine, earth, and mineral elements. Rich on the palate with nice texture and firm tannins. A complex young wine that could age into something special, very nice.
Jonata 2007 “Todos,” Santa Ynez Valley. About 33% Syrah, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, with lots of other varieties taking up the rest – Sangiovese, Viognier, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot, and more. Dark color, a bit reductive at first on the nose, but opening to reveal plum, blueberry, earth, coffee, and vanilla. Rich and fairly smooth in the mouth, but with grippy tannins on the finish.
Jonata 2005 “El Corazón de Jonata,” Santa Ynez Valley. 50% Syrah, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark color, aromas of dark fruits, pepper, iodine, and herbs. Another big, rich wine and smoother on the finish than the “Todos.”
Comments: The Jonata wines were impressive for the complexity they showed given their big, rich style. They had a sense of elegance and structure to them that’s often missing in wines of that size.
Kenneth Volk Vineyards
Kenneth Volk 2008 Roussanne, Paso Robles. Very light color, with citrus and lees on the nose. Surprisingly light in body but lively on the palate and the finish.
Equus 2001 Viognier, Central Coast. Like most older Viognier wines I’ve tried, the floral aromatics are still present but toned down, more a quiet alto than soprano. Unlike most older California Viognier wines, this is still very fresh, with key lime aromatics and flavors, and a nice minerality. (AO)
Equus 1999 Roussanne, Paso Robles. Very slightly corked but Ken was still pouring it because the taint was slight and it was the only bottle he brought. Nice nose of honeyed apricots, rich yet fresh palate. (AO)
Equus 2000 Grenache, James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles. Lots of forward raspberry and cherry fruit with a little pepper. (AO)
Equus 1999 Syrah, Central Coast. A blend of fruit from James Berry and another vineyard. Raspberry and boysenberry fruit, spicy. (AO)
Wild Horse 1996 Syrah, James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles. Raspberries and ripe plums, earthy, powerful but balanced wine that is aging effortlessly. (AO)
Wild Horse 1997 Mourvèdre, Paso Robles. Dark cherry with loamy earth, shows like a much younger wine. (AO)
Kenneth Volk 2007 Mourvèdre, Enz Vineyard, Lime Kiln Valley. From a vineyard in San Benito County planted in 1922, dry-farmed, head-trained, 8x8 spacing, decomposed granite with limestone soils. Red plums and cherries, spicy and savory, earthy, lovely wine with great balance. (AO)
Comments: Ken Volk was founder of Wild Horse winery until selling it in 2003 and establishing Kenneth Volk Vineyards the following year. Equus was a Wild Horse label he started that was devoted to Rhone varietal wines. The wines he brought from his library were all amazingly youthful and fresh.
Lagier Meredith Vineyard
Lagier Meredith 2010 Rosé of Syrah, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley. Recently bottled, this had a light salmon-pink color – maybe a shade lighter than last year’s bottling – and featured this wine’s trademark watermelon and spice aromas, plus a touch of strawberry and a slight floral note. Very crisp and refreshing, should be a fine summertime wine.
Lagier Meredith 2002 Syrah, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley. Medium-dark color, showing dark berry fruits, black pepper, iron, and savory components on the nose. Medium-bodied and lively on the palate, the tannins are well-resolved and this is probably nearing its peak, though it should hold well for years more.
Lagier Meredith 2006 Syrah, Mount Veeder, Napa Valley. Medium-dark purple, with blackberry, black olive, dried herb, and some meaty notes. A bit bigger and richer in the mouth than the ’02 but retaining good structure, with tannins that still need awhile to smooth out.
Comments: This was a nice opportunity to taste an older Lagier Meredith Syrah. I had tasted their more recent Syrahs in March so I did not taste them again here.
Linne Calodo
Linne Calodo 2005 “Martyr,” Paso Robles. 68% Mourvèdre, 29% Syrah, 3% Grenache. Dark color, with earthy ripe plum and blueberry aromas, coffee, and touches of smoke and spice. Lush texture on the palate with tannins that are resolving nicely.
Maison Nicolas Perrin
Nicolas Perrin 2008 Hermitage Blanc. 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne. Peach and peach skin, white flowers with some anise, pretty aromatics, rich but fresh and balanced, nicely done. (AO)
Nicolas Perrin 2007 Ermitage. Raspberries and blackberries, iron along with some smoke and meat, still fairly tannic and needs a few years of development. (AO)
Comments: Nicolas Perrin is a relatively new negociant label from Nicolas Jaboulet from the Northern Rhône and the Perrin family from the Southern Rhône. These wines were poured at the Vineyard Brands table.
Mas Belles Eaux
Mas Belles Eaux 2006 “Les Côteaux,” Languedoc. 70% Syrah, 20% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre. A deep, powerful and somewhat rustic wine, with dark berries and garrigue, a big wine but still with good freshness. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Vintus table.
Melville Vineyards & Winery
Melville 2009 Syrah – Verna’s, Santa Barbara County. From the estate vineyard in Los Alamos. Raspberry and cherry cola with some pepper and bacon, still a little young and will blossom over the next year or two, great value. (AO)
Melville 2008 Syrah – Donna’s, Sta. Rita Hills. From the estate vineyard adjacent to the winery. Plums and currants, violets, dark olive, and the typical notes of smoked meat and pepper, this is one of my favorite Syrah sites in the Santa Rita Hills. (AO)
Noon Winery
Noon 2010 “Dark Noon” Rosé, 20 Rows Vineyard, Langhorne Creek. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Noon 2008 “Eclipse,” McLaren Vale. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Noon 2009 Reserve Shiraz, 20 Rows Vineyard, Langhorne Creek. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Noon 1999 “Solaire,” Winery East Vineyard, McLaren Vale. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Noon 2010 Grenache, McLaren Vale (“Eclipse” component – barrel sample). (see seminar TN on this wine)
Noon 2010 Shiraz, Langhorne Creek (“Eclipse” component, destemmed – barrel sample). (see seminar TN on this wine)
Noon 2010 Shiraz, Langhorne Creek (“Eclipse” component, whole bunch – barrel sample). (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Saturday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Paul Lato Wines
Paul Lato 2008 Syrah “Cinematique,” Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. Very dark color, displaying floral notes plus ripe blackberry, spice, mocha, framed by sweet oak. Quite rich mouthfeel with big, grippy tannins that will need time to smooth out.
Paul Lato 2008 Syrah “Il Padrino,” Bien Nacido Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley. From 17-year old vines on the Hillside block. Very dark color, with aromas of ripe black fruits, baking spice, iron, smoke, coffee, and oak. Big and structured on the palate, with a chewy tannic finish.
Comments: Both wines include about 5%-8% Viognier.
Perrin & Fils
Perrin & Fils 2007 “La Gille,” Gigondas. 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah. Lots of red cherries on the nose and palate along with thyme, sweetish fruit with a touch of pepper. (AO)
Comments: This wine was poured at the Vineyard Brands table.
Prieuré de Montédzargues
Montédzargues 2010 Rosé, Tavel. Light pink color, with bright strawberry and spice aromas. Crisp and refreshing, nice.
Comments: This wine was poured at the Syndicat AOC Tavel table.
Qupé
Qupé 2000 Roussanne Alban Estate Vineyard, Edna Valley. Lovely nose of honey, apricots and peaches, nuts, slightly oxidative, delicious with lovely texture and length, a real treat to taste. (AO)
Qupé 2001 Syrah Bien Nacido Hillside Estate, Santa Maria Valley. Red and dark cherries, cranberries, some smoked herbs, lovely wine although still young. (AO)
Qupé 2008 Roussanne, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate, Santa Maria Valley. From the Tablas Creek clone. Light yellow color, aromas of citrus, pear, and white peach, with notes of wax, lees, minerals, and some oak spice. Fairly rich on the palate with a long finish, this should age beautifully, very nice.
Comments: Bob Lindquist usually brings a few interesting wines from his library, and that was the case again this year. And after tasting a few California Roussannes that didn’t seem very Roussanne-like, I came to his ‘08 and found the real deal.
Red Car
Red Car 2009 Syrah, Red Car Estate, Sonoma Coast (barrel sample). 10% stems added back, 25% new oak. Dark color, with very pretty floral aromas leading to dark fruit, anise, and pepper notes. Medium-full bodied on the palate with good structure and moderate tannins.
Red Car 2009 “Heaven & Earth” Pinot Noir, Bohemian Station, Sonoma Coast. Medium color, with pretty black cherry and spice on the nose, good structure on the palate, and a lingering finish.
Comments: The Red Car Syrah barrel sample was a terrific example of cool-climate Sonoma Coast Syrah, and hopefully that character will be retained in the finished wine.
Ritual Wine Company
Ritual 2008 Mourvèdre, Amador County. 85% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah. Medium purple color, plum and darker fruits, smoke, and earth aromatics, medium weight in the mouth with moderate tannins and some smoke on the finish.
Tenimenti Luigi d'Alessandro
D'Alessandro 2008 “Fontarca,” Toscana. 100% Viognier (some previous versions were blended with Chardonnay). Peaches and pineapple, floral, medium-bodied with a rich texture. (AO)
D'Alessandro 2008 Syrah, Cortona. Vinified to be accessible with fruit from younger vines fermented in concrete, red berries and cherries, straightforward fruit-driven wine, lively and fresh. (AO)
D'Alessandro 2007 “Il Bosco” Syrah, Cortona. Co-fermented with some Viognier, from the same vineyards as the Cortona, from older vines with a longer maceration, dark berries and plums, deeper and more powerful, some bacon, tar, some noticeable oak, significant fine tannins hiding under the big fruit. (AO)
Comments: A well-made line-up of wines in a somewhat international style.
Tensley Wines
Tensley 2010 Blanc, Camp 4 Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Tensley 2009 Syrah, Turner Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Tensley 2009 Syrah, Tierra Alta Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Tensley 2009 Syrah, Colson Canyon Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Tensley 2009 “OGT” Syrah, Santa Barbara County. (see seminar TN on this wine)
Comments: These wines were poured at the Friday morning seminar – see the separate linked report.
Tercero Wines
Tercero 2010 Viognier, White Hawk Vineyard, Santa Barbara County (barrel sample). Aged in 3-4 year old barrels, will be bottled in a few months. Light color, with stone fruit, lees, and a nutty note on the nose. Creamy texture with good acidity and a lively finish.
Tercero 2010 “The Outlier,” Santa Ynez Valley. 100% Gewürztraminer, bottled a couple of weeks earlier. Very light color, aromatics of ripe lychee and spice. Very vibrant mouthfeel, with a clean, refreshing finish.
Tercero 2010 Rosé, Santa Barbara County. From Mourvèdre. Very light pink color, showing watermelon and earth aromas, with a touch of spice. Medium acidity with nice texture and just a touch of tannic bite on the finish.
Tercero 2008 Grenache, Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. From 362 clone, this is Tercero’s first Grenache from Larner Vineyard. Medium purple color, featuring intense plum and black cherry, plus an assortment of baking spices. Medium-bodied with substantial tannins, some cellar time should smooth this out nicely.
Tercero 2009 Grenache, Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley (barrel sample). From 362 clone, 100% whole-cluster fermentation – this will a separate “whole-cluster” bottling. A bit lighter in color than the bottled ’08 wine, with red fruits, spice, a slight floral note, and a surprising lack of stemmy aromas. Big and structured, with a chewy tannic finish – should make quite an interesting bottling on its own.
Tercero 2008 “Cuvée Christie,” Santa Barbara County. 75% Syrah, 12.5% Grenache, 12.5% Mourvèdre, from Watch Hill, Camp 4, and Thompson vineyards. Medium color, with ripe plum, grilled meat, and spice on the nose. Rich mouthfeel with moderately big tannins.
Tercero 2008 “Cuvée Loco,” Larner Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley. 50% Grenache, 50% Syrah. Medium-dark color, showing savory, earthy dark fruits, with a touch of black pepper. Medium-full bodied with grippy tannins, nice.
Tercero 2009 Syrah, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley (barrel sample). 100% whole-cluster fermentation – all the ’09 Thompson Syrah was whole-cluster fermented. Dark color, displaying blackberry, earth, some moderately stemmy notes, and loads of spice. Big, somewhat tight, and very tannic right now, this will need plenty of time to develop once it’s bottled.
Comments: A strong showing for Larry Schaffer’s Tercero wines, including a couple of very intriguing barrel samples.
Torbreck Wines
Torbreck 2007 “The Steading,” Barossa Valley. 60% Grenache, 20% Shiraz, 20% Mataro. Medium garnet-purple color, showing high-toned and ripe red fruits, spice, dried herbs, and vanilla/oak. Fairly lively mouthfeel, with moderately tannic finish.
Torbreck 2007 “The Factor” Shiraz, Barossa Valley. Darker color, with ripe blackberry, mocha, and spice. Rich and smooth on the palate, with medium tannins on the finish.
VIE Winery
VIE 2008 “L’Intruse” Mourvèdre, Santa Barbara County. Medium-dark color, with earthy plum and black cherry fruit, spice, minerals, and some leesy notes. Fairly big and structured in the mouth, with moderate tannins.
VIE 2008 Syrah, Las Madres Vineyard, Carneros, Sonoma County. Dark color, showing dark berry fruits, black pepper, touches of herbs and olives, and a dash of oak. Medium-full bodied, with a grippy tannic finish.
VIE 2008 Syrah, Thompson Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. Medium-dark color, with earthy plum and darker fruits and spice. Big, structured, and rather tight right now, it finished with firm tannins.
VIE 2008 Syrah, White Hawk Vineyard, Santa Barbara County. All from Clone 1. Dark color, more fruit-forward than the Thompson bottling, with blackberry, anise, and pepper on the nose. Rich but vibrant mouthfeel, with a big, tannic finish.
VIE 2008 “Les Amours”, Santa Barbara County. Mostly Syrah from Thompson and White Hawk vineyards with some Grenache and Mourvèdre from Alta Mesa Vineyard. Dark color, aromas of plum, blueberry, earth, spice, and minerals. Nicely structured and fairly full-bodied, the tannins were sizable but not harsh, nice.
Comments: Bryan Kane’s ‘08 wines were bottled shortly before the event, so they should open up more given a few months in bottle. (Disclosure – I do some occasional work for VIE).
Villa Creek Cellars
Villa Creek 2008 Garnacha, Denner Vineyard, Paso Robles. 100% Grenache. Medium color, with ripe red fruits and lots of spice on the nose. Medium-bodied and lively on the palate, with a moderately tannic finish.
Villa Creek 2008 “The High Road,” James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles. 50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 20% Mourvèdre. Very dark color, showing ripe plum, blueberry, earth, minerals, and some sweet oak on the nose. Very nice texture on the palate, and finishing with big, chewy tannins, nice.
Westerhold Family Vineyards
Westerhold 2008 Syrah, Bennett Valley. Dark color, with aromas of ripe blackberry, spice, black pepper, and a touch of vanilla/oak. Full-bodied and rich mouthfeel, with fairly big but refined tannins on the finish, nice.
Comments: Made by Russell Bevan, this is the second straight vintage of Westerhold Syrah to win the Thursday afternoon Syrah Shoot-out. |
