Served as part of a high end blind flight, this was perhaps my "worst" guess of the night. Blind, I called a 2018 Solaia or Sassicaia.
Served blind, I got lucky and guessed 2017 Scarecrow. This was more open and ready than I might have expected for 2012, which is why I guessed 2017. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, cedar and clay. Full bodied. Firm tannins. great energy and balance. On the palate, this is seamless. So smooth. Cassis with wet rocks/light earthiness. Long finish. This may still improve and will undoubtedly age more. Drink over the next fifteen to twenty years. Great on its own, this is a classic steak house wine.
Tasted blind, I guessed 2004 Bordeaux (St.
This is from the good if not great, 2014 vintage. It is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Light golden in color with a nice mousse of tiny bubbles. Clear and bright. The nose is smoky with lanolin, toast, slight ginger and a bit of chalk. Full bodied. Great balance. On the palate, this is showing young-ish with notes of oranges, toast and an interesting chalk note especially on the finish. Ripe. Long finish. This is drinking well now and should continue if well stored for another ten years. Very food friendly, it would be very nice with lobster.
An excellent vintage for this wine, it is in a great place right now. The wine is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. Light golden in color with a fine bead of tiny bubbles.
Made from Tinta del Pais, this offers a lovely combination of huckleberry, green tea, blueberry, plum, light vanilla and charred wood notes. It was aged for a year in both French and some American oak. There is a lovely integration with the oak (vanilla) and the black fruit compote. The tannins support the structure of the wine and the acidity, though mild, reinforces the overall harmony. This is a very lovely wine, nothing dominates, but is seamlessly balanced. ORIGIN: Ribera del Duero, Spain. ALCOHOL: 14.5%
Earthy tannins leads to blackberry, blueberry, plum, and violets. Made from mainly Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon, there are small amounts of Syrah, Petite Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the mix. This has always been a solid wine for a very reasonable price. It deviates from much oak treatment and instead promotes the raw, earthy flavors of its organic vineyards. The aging consisted of 66% of the wine placed in French oak for 18 months, therefore the oak is supporting and not dominate. Nicely balanced this is a great go-to everyday drinking wine. ORIGIN: Apalta, Chile. ALCOHOL: 13.5%
Not quite as good as the 2007, but still excellent. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, char, black pepper and roasted meats. Full bodied. Medium tannins. On the palate, juicy acidity. Black raspberries, black pepper and char. Long finish. This seems about at peak. Drinking great on its own, it would also work well with roasted vegetables or meats. Drink over the next five to ten years.
This is the basic Cabernet in Myriad's lineup. A stunning wine if not at the level of the single vineyard offerings. Purple in color, ruby at the rim, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, slight tobacco, leather, spice and char. Full bodied. Firm tannins. On the palate, great balance. Lots of cassis with black pepper and underlying char. Long finish. This is not a fruit monster but it is a bigger wine. At age 5, it is barely showing much development, but is still enjoyable. Ideally, cellar for five more and then drink for fifteen to twenty after that.
James Berry Vineyard is one of the great Syrah vineyards in the world. It is the home vineyard for Saxum. Carlisle's version is a bit less blousy perhaps but really a wonderful wine. Inky purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, slight bacon fat, slight gamey meat with some white pepper. Wonderful, almost seamless, texture. Great energy and balance. On the palate, this is delicious. Complex and just about at maturity. Notes of black raspberries, black pepper and char. Long finish. Drink over the next ten to fifteen years.
