From notes taken Febuary, 2007:
Wine of Merit: ***++Fritz Haag Riesling Braunberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese, 2005: Killer wine from a dynamite vintage. White flowers, lichee, lemon curd. Sweeet! Very primal still, will add complexity and nuance with age. But who could possibly wait?
**++Beringer Bancroft Ranch, Merlot, 1992: A true tragedy. This wine was nothing short of magnificent 2 years ago. It has now slipped over the peak. The nose offers up lush red fruit, maybe a bit stewed, not much else. The palate is still lively but a shadow of its former self. I have one more bottle and I will open it with low expectations.
***++Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock, shiraz, 1995: I have had inconsistent notes on this wine. This last bottle was nothing short of spectacular. Perfect, mature syrah fruit, it has added weight and complexity to go beyond the syrupy, blackberry fruit that often drives these aussie wines. I gave it lots of air and it did seriously well.
***White Cottage Ranch, Sangiovese, 1996: This, on the other hand, is still a ton o fun. Ripe red and blackberry fruit, saddle leather, spice and black pepper. Not youthful, but yummy. Amy digs it.
***Chasseur, Dutton Ranch Shop Block, chardonnay, 1998: Funny wine. At first this wine seemed oxidized to me. The color had an almost sauterne golden hue. The wine had a bit of a funky, muted nose to start off with. Later, it opened up to show top flight Riesling-like white flowers and Anjou pear, some tobacco and slate. Excellent minerality, this was a crowd favorite. Go figure.
***Blackford, Sonoma Coast chardonnay, 1998: Made by Dave Cronin, the winemaker over at Beuhler. Really nice, handcrafted chard. Corton notes of linseed, buttered popcorn, lemon custard. Zesty palate with lively acids. Integrated vanilla oak and spice. Still pretty form for the age and vintage. Nice.
Wine of Merit: ***++Fritz Haag Riesling Braunberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese, 2005: Killer wine from a dynamite vintage. White flowers, lichee, lemon curd. Sweeet! Very primal still, will add complexity and nuance with age. But who could possibly wait?
**++Beringer Bancroft Ranch, Merlot, 1992: A true tragedy. This wine was nothing short of magnificent 2 years ago. It has now slipped over the peak. The nose offers up lush red fruit, maybe a bit stewed, not much else. The palate is still lively but a shadow of its former self. I have one more bottle and I will open it with low expectations.
***++Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock, shiraz, 1995: I have had inconsistent notes on this wine. This last bottle was nothing short of spectacular. Perfect, mature syrah fruit, it has added weight and complexity to go beyond the syrupy, blackberry fruit that often drives these aussie wines. I gave it lots of air and it did seriously well.
***White Cottage Ranch, Sangiovese, 1996: This, on the other hand, is still a ton o fun. Ripe red and blackberry fruit, saddle leather, spice and black pepper. Not youthful, but yummy. Amy digs it.
***Chasseur, Dutton Ranch Shop Block, chardonnay, 1998: Funny wine. At first this wine seemed oxidized to me. The color had an almost sauterne golden hue. The wine had a bit of a funky, muted nose to start off with. Later, it opened up to show top flight Riesling-like white flowers and Anjou pear, some tobacco and slate. Excellent minerality, this was a crowd favorite. Go figure.
***Blackford, Sonoma Coast chardonnay, 1998: Made by Dave Cronin, the winemaker over at Beuhler. Really nice, handcrafted chard. Corton notes of linseed, buttered popcorn, lemon custard. Zesty palate with lively acids. Integrated vanilla oak and spice. Still pretty form for the age and vintage. Nice.
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