[wine] California at Odfellows Tasting Notes

Last of three. Note that Russ was considerably more timely about getting these out than I was in posting them to the list. Cheers, Jim Californians at Oddfellow's . 5/20/2004 Theme: California, non-Napa, non-cabernet. A small but select group gathered to enjoy, among other treats, some awesome venison chops with grilled veggies. W1 . light color, fresh and attractive smoky nose, sweet and tasty mouthfeel, very long on the finish, doesn't taste of any particular grape (at least not to my inadequately experienced palate) but this is delicious, very good quality. 2000 Foxen Chenin Blanc . Santa Barbara County. W2 . very sharp nose, excess SO2 and/or ketone? Not tasted. 1999 Lorca Pinot Gris . Monterey County. W3 . big, attractive chardonnay, lots of acid structure for California, indeed could use a little time in bottle to integrate the acid, tasty wine with power and length. Very good quality, and may well be better a year or two from now. 2001 Foley Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard . Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara). W4 . brown-looking, oxidized smelling, not tasted. Consensus was that this bottle was catastrophically corked, rather than having gone over the hill in its youth. A previous bottle, perhaps 12-14 months ago, was fine. 2000 Foley Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Vineyard . Santa Maria Valley (Santa Barbara). R1 . purple color suggests Beaujolais, reluctant nose, light body, not much fruit, tannin and alcohol in evidence, touch of chocolate, finish OK at first, then trace of some artificial flavor late, overall impression is thin. 1999 Chateau Souverain Merlot . Alexander Valley. R2 . medium purple, very crystalline; attractive nose, slightly tannic aroma suggests Bordeaux grapes, then on second nosing it smells more like syrah, touch of smoked meat and blacker fruits; medium weight mouth entry, good structure, red fruits increasing in aromatic force as one holds the wine in the mouth; quite smooth and fruit-driven on the finish, an extremely well balanced light to midweight, very good indeed. 1993 Geyser Peak Reserve Shiraz . Alexander Valley. With air, the wine got maplier and more tannic, the wood becoming more obvious, but retained its excellent balance. R3 . medium purple, possibly a touch of spritz? Young pinot color, vegetal nose in balance with adequate fruit; considerable fruit on midpalate, retaining the vegetal characteristic, very good with olives, touch of funky flavors (in a good way), could this be pinot noir? Considerable power, high-toned fruit and chocolatey oak on the finish, quite good with Oddfellow's excellent food. 1999 Abundance Vineyards Syrah, French Camp Vineyard . Paso Robles. Opened with air; a nice complex, food-friendly Syrah without excess weight. -- ------------------------------ * * Dr. James Lee Ellingson, Adjunct Professor jellings(a)me.umn.edu * * University of Minnesota, tel: 651/645-0753 fax 651 XXX XXXX * * Great Lakes Brewing News, 1569 Laurel Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 *