Shay A

9.3

Juan Mercado’s Paso project (formerly of Realm). With the new offering out, and having not opened a bottle to try the wines yet, I opted for this as a test. Followed over three days.

75 Tempranillo/ 20 petite sirah/ 5 Graciano

With any new wines I haven’t tried, I like to follow them from pop-and-pour and see how/if they evolve over a couple of days. Right upon opening this had a very Paso-profile to it…big fruit and florals aromatically, but not really Tempranillo-like. Dark blue and black berry fruit, dark cocoa and cassis. Very primary (unsurprisingly). The mid-palate shows great weight and texture but it falls off a cliff at the finish with not much else. Check back-in…

Days two and three showed enhanced profiles of a fleshed out and broad shouldered wine (which wasn’t there on day one). The fruit profile has shades of red, some black pepper spice is on the mid-palate and the finish matches the beautiful mid-palate profile. Structure is well framed. Finishes with a weightless richness that I find in high-end Paso wines. Very enjoyable. — 5 hours ago

Shay A

The oldest bottle in my collection, and acquired for a friend who had a ‘74 birthday celebration. The only Bordeaux on the table, next to ‘74 Mondavi and Mondavi Reserve, ‘74 Montelena, ‘74 Mayacamas (WOTD) and a few others.

At 50yrs, the color is shockingly still a gorgeous ruby color (albeit faded and bricking around the edges, as expected). Not a standout vintage, yet nothing about this was austere or extremely over the hill. Still sported notes of dusty red and black berry fruits, tobacco leaves, yet very clean (zero Brett). Even retains the structure you’d expect from a Latour wine. Mid-palate retains a punch with a bit of cassis and herbs. Not as complex as the ‘74 Napa wines, but as a “second wine”, the bones show this was well-made. — 11 days ago

Shay A

9.2

Bought at the KV tasting room outside of Seattle a few years ago. Fun visit as they have plenty of wine to meet your palate needs!

I opened this as part of a GSM blind taste. There were 12 wines, including an ‘07 Cayuse GOK, ‘12 No Girls Syrah, ‘21 Allbaer Syrah, ‘12 Torbreck Struie, etc.

Out of 12, this tied for second. This took the bigger profile of the ‘07 GOK, added a juicy fruit factor, removed a kiss of funk, and tada! Double decanted two hours before taste. Translucent ruby in the glass. Aromatics of black peppered rhubarb, green/herbal twang, and cured meat (not overly meaty though). Beautifully elegant profile (and appropriate for Grenache) showing great acidity, whole cluster, with spicy strawberry, sweet jerky and no trace of oak. Defining characteristic of this wine is juicy red fruit framed by black pepper spice. Good now with decant.

92+ — a month ago

Shay A

Part of a cellar acquisition where storage was perfect for 20+yrs before the cellar’s upkeep was disregarded and left to a non-climate controlled temp for a few years. All bottles look pristine (doesn’t mean the wine will be).

Color was a touch more faded red/orange than I expected, but the aromatics were astoundingly on point. Distinctly Syrah with some iron and iodine, and a whiff of herbal character (probably not doing whole cluster back then, but some similarities in profile…maybe just more underripe). Crunchy red and black smoked berry fruit, with the mid-palate being the star of the show…very commanding and great depth while being elegant. The iron and green character carries through to the finish which shows really nice. On the table with a ‘91 Chapoutier Hermitage, this showed the beauty (rusticity) of Cornas Syrah. Compared to the 1986 Beaucastel from last week, this showed strong the entire time open. Wish I had another! — 2 months ago

Shay A

My contribution to a special Bordeaux event. While I don’t own many first or second growth Bordeaux’s, it was a treat to enjoy this along an ‘89, ‘98, and ‘00 Haut Brion, ‘88 and ‘90 Latour, ‘03 LaMish, ‘85 Margaux, and many others (as well as ‘01 Rieussec and Suduiraut).

Zero experience with wines from this vintage, though obvious victims to the hype of ‘82. Low-neck fill. Decided against double decanting and simply removed the cork for 30mins to let it breathe, followed over a few hours.

Surprised at the minty/high-toned aromatic that jumped from the glass (ended up staying there the entire evening), with added red florals/potpourri, earth/herbs, leather (not Brett), and pipe tobacco. It still sports a classical Margaux profile on the palate with elegant red and black berry fruits accompanied by nice structure (at 41yrs!) as well as cassis, and mushroom. Still retaining acidity and tannin.

To my surprise, the profile above held strong all evening. While the ‘85 Margaux was better in taste, I’m happy that this was still showing well, and checked off the “exactly what it should be” box. — 4 days ago

Shay A

9.2

I don’t have much experience with the Bin 407 from Penfolds compared to others in the portfolio, but I was curious to see how this was drinking at 20yrs after recently getting locally for a steal.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Even knowing this is cab, I still expected a Penfolds Shiraz type aromatic, and while I didn’t exactly get that, the American Oak in the background alongside the ripe fruit do help bring Penfolds semi in to focus. This needed about 90mins in bottle to wake up…initially I was concerned I had missed a window as it was very stewed and fig dominant (not much fruit). The American Oak notes started appearing (faint coconut and dill) and then high toned red fruits. After 90mins, the palate bulked up and showed some black fruits, cassis, espresso, and even some Andes mint at the finish. Plenty of tannin too.

I’d open soon if you have any left, but give it some time to wake up. (Yes, the ‘94 Monte Bello was insanely good, as was the still young ‘06 Unico). — 24 days ago

Shay A

9.3

After having the 2018 Manchester Ridge Blanc de Blancs from them a couple weeks ago, I opted to open the rosé to have the styles fresh on my mind.

Disgorged Jan 2023; 100% Pinot noir; 4% still Pinot noir added; 40 months on lees; 2.5g/l dosage

If I’m looking for a champagne comparison, on the rosé spectrum of fresh to older, this reminds me of Henriot’s rosé minus the yeast/brioche. Already channeling an aged character, this shows notes of orange marmalade, strawberry shortbread cookie, and a kiss of ginger aromatically. Crisp on the palate, more of the rich orange citrus fruit carries over with sea salt and red berry fruit. Tangy and persistent finish (in a good way).

In the comparison of Cali domestic sparklers, this isn’t too dissimilar from Ultramarine but isn’t as fresh in style, not as tropical as Haliotide or as yeasty as Schramsberg. I enjoyed this a touch more than the Blancs de Blanc, but I don’t see much reason to hold based on the character of the wine as is. Pop and enjoy! — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Brought out to Napa during our annual trip. While at Charter Oak, I saw another bottle of SamiOdi on a table and when I went to introduce myself to the gentlemen enjoying the wine, it ended up being Tegan Passalacqua! Small world.

An unvintaged assemblage composed of casks from 2022 (49%), 2021 (23%), 2020 (11%), 2019 (8%), 2018 (1%), 2017 (4%), 2016 (2%) & 2015 (2%).

Followed over a few days. Aromatics remained unchanged (still one of, if not my favorite wine to smell) with intoxicating dark florals, high-toned blue and black berries, cassis, plum and sweet espresso. Good bit of tannin the first day but beautifully smooth on the last day. A bit more compact core of dark rich fruits here than previous editions with menthol as well. As usual for Fraser’s SamiOdi wines, these sport Aussie fruit without going too hot or the punch from oak. Fresh and bright, yet powerful. Love it, as always. — 9 days ago

Shay A

9.3

Color me shocked. Up there with one of the more surprising bottles of the year (alongside an old Carlisle Cardiac Syrah). Had very little hope, but was completely and pleasantly surprised.

Cork split in two coming out. Trusty Durand saved the day. First small pour was not encouraging…lots of funk. After leaving alone for 30mins, the faded ruby with tinge of black in the glass had aromatics of sous bois, black tea, and dirty red and black berries. On the palate, this was elegant showing more herbal/earthy notes, dark berry fruit in the background, sweet pipe tobacco and a still-tart finish with both acidity and tannin. I have to admit that if someone said this was older burgundy, I could see it in the realm of possibilities. No sappy, rich, cola type notes here. Open and enjoy! — 23 days ago

Shay A

9.3

I’m fortunate to have had a lot of Kobayashi wines, both with and without Travis, but his “regular” Syrah is a wine I’ve probably had the least amount of times. I brought this as a part of a massive Syrah lineup (‘83 Voge Cornas, ‘91 Chapoutier Hermitage, ‘18 SamiOdi HD, ‘13 and ‘20 Lillian, etc) and it showed very well.

Compared to Travis’s other wines, this showed very primary/fruit forward. Deep purple in the glass and the aromatics were, astoundingly, similar to the ‘18 SamiOdi HD next to it (sweet perfume/potpurri)…so deeply floral and intoxicatingly intriguing. The palate is commanding with an interplay of ripe and juicy black berry fruit and savory/smoky notes toward the finish with just a kiss of sweet blue fruit. The finish is massively structured (even after following this for a few days). Wish I had an older vintage to see how these evolve, but it’s undeniably balanced and a tasty expression of WA state Syrah. — a month ago