11 Apr
2007
11 Apr
'07
6:26 p.m.
Twenty three point five percent corked wines. All those ready for
screw caps on everything, raise your hands, please.
W1 ? terrific fresh fruit and herbs nose, sauv blanc? Round and
sweet, with good acid snap, no longer sure of the sauv blanc
identification, flavor and finishing aromatics quite floral for that
grape. Interesting, delicious wine. 2005 Kaesler Old Vine Semillon,
Barossa Valley.
W2 ? very shy nose of licorice, mineral spirits and herbs; weighty and
attractive in the mouth, very licorishy flavor, enough acid structure,
good length, honey hints, seems well past its primary fruit stage
although I don't taste oxidation. 2002 Beckmen Marsanne, Purisima
Mountain Vineyard, Santa Ynez Valley.
W3 ? corked.
W4 - amylic nose evolving to stinky, musty, moldy. Not tasted.
Hopefully not a representative bottle. 2003 Hawley Viognier, Placer
County (California). (Label says "Barrel Fermented" and "24%
Sonoma.")
1.1 ? dark young purple; nose attractively meaty, smoke and herbs;
light body, high alcohol, lacks fruit in the mouth compared to the
nose, light finish, midpalate and finish flavor profile similar to
nose, just OK. 2005 Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz, Barossa Valley.
1.2 ? medium color; smells thin and alcoholic; midpalate flabby,
chocolate, coconut, some fruit; decent length. 2001 Hogue Syrah,
Columbia Valley.
1.3 ? corked.
1.4 - medium color; nose of pepper, oak and berries; general flavor
profile similar to the nose but is there some faint weird sour tone?
OK length. 2003 Elemental Cellars Syrah, Deux Vert Vineyard,
Willamette Valley.
1.5 ? medium to dark; nice depth of fruit on nose, subtle hints of
smoked meat; midweight in the mouth, red fruits prominently featured,
pepper, plenty of acid structure; just a trace of an unclean flavor at
transition, then decent length. Could wish for more fruit overall.
Are these quick whiffs of inappropriate flavors coming from the wines,
or is there something in the Minneapolis water tonight? 1999
Eaglepoint Ranch Syrah, Mendocino.
2.1 ? medium to dark purple; nose of blackberry primary fruit, touch
of pepper; midpalate explosive fruit, very Australian, noticeably but
not offensively oaky; nice transition, warm fruity finish, carries its
alcohol gracefully, a fruit bomb but very hard to dislike. 2005
Archetype Vineyard Shiraz, Barossa.
2.2 ? medium to dark purple; nose of cotton candy oak and alcohol, not
my style, not tasted. 2004 Coteaux de Languedoc, Les Hauts de la Brune.
2.3 ? quite dark purple; nose of smoke, pepper, alcohol, lacks fruit
on nose; smooth mouthfeel, tastes off, pretty sure this is corked.
2003 Benegas Syrah, Mendoza.
2.4 ? corked.
3.1 ? medium purple; aristocratic nose of some depth, smoked meat,
pepper, dark fruits, herbs; medium body, medium intensity, still a bit
youthfully closed? True, full finish reinforces the impression that
the wine still needs time. Grew noticeably oakier with air. 2001
Paradise Ridge Syrah, Honselaars Vineyard Upper Block, Sonoma.
3.2 ? ketone nose, bretty? Not tasted. 2002 Delheim Shiraz,
Simonsberg ? Stellenbosch (South Africa).
3.3 ? shoe polish and leather on nose; rough rustic wine of medium
size, medium plus intensity, good length but mineral spirits on
finish, licorice flavor, probably would have been better younger.
1999 Ferrari-Carano Tre Monte Syrah, Sonoma.
3.4 ? medium color; attractive Aussie nose, dark fruit with spirits
and shoe polish tones; attractive red fruits flavors in the mouth,
midweight, finesse transition, excellent length, herbal tones, fine
wine! Black pepper aromas and flavors more pronounced with air,
although well balanced with other elements. 1996 Riddoch Estate
Shiraz, Coonawarra.