Shay A

9.3

I picked up a couple C-H wines last month and this is my second bottle to open following Jaboulet’s Thalbert.

Followed over two days. 91-92 initially, finished at 92-93. Still some room for upside, so scoring accordingly.

From start to finish this was undeniably a more enjoyable wine than the Jaboulet. Day one was a potpurri and floral overload aromatically before ripe dark fruits and green herbs shut it down hard with a wall of tannin at the finish (similar to the Jaboulet). Day two showed what this wine is evolving to be…a softer aromatic profile but so much depth on the mid-palate with lavender, charcoal and dark berries before a finish of black peppered meat. The wine feels well balanced by acid and tannin and the alcohol isn’t obtrusive. Not quite crunchy, but bright and powerful. Lovely C-H from the Chapoutier team. Could cruise another 5+yrs in this same drinking window. — 7 days ago

Shay A

I believe 1983 was the inaugural vintage for Forman. This was a bottle of a few miscellaneous cases that I acquired locally from an old cellar where temp was fine on one side and inconsistent on the other (this bottle came from the consistent side). Yes, the sticker at the top says $20.55 from who knows how long ago.

Opened for a buddy’s birthday as a birth year wine.

Mid-high shoulder fill. Cork was in great shape (soaked about 3/4 up). Alongside an ‘83 BV GdL, this undoubtedly stole the show. Deep red with minimal signs of age. Whereas the BV was stewed and soy-driven, this showed soft fig, tobacco, bay leaf and faint red and black fruits both aromatically and on the palate. The BV was more acidic and astringent but this showed good mid-palate weight and structure at the finish. Held up wonderfully for the hour I had it open.

Hard to score based on 42yrs, but it presented as a well-aged Bordeaux with no flaws. After a string of ‘83 Bordeaux late last year, this was most reminiscent of my bottles of ‘83 Cos D’Estrounel. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

I’m a bubbles nerd, and even with that in mind, the color profile here was crazy! I brought this to accompany some TX brisket (dynamite pairing).

100% Pinot noir; 72hrs on the skins; 1g/l dosage; disgorged March ‘22; back label says (in French) to open 20mins in advance

At first pour it reminded me of some Lambrusco's I’ve had…deep red/purple! While there is a powerful core of fruit here, it is packaged nicely and not too extreme (though the color wants to take you there). Had a small pour right at pop to calibrate and then (impatiently) waited 20mins…slightly more expressive and the fruit came to the front (cran-raspberry, underripe blueberries) with herbal and floral notes at the finish. The limited dosage seemed appropriate as the texture was nice with good length and nothing was austere or bracing. Definitely has a “crunchy” profile. If poured in a black glass, rosé bubbles would be the call but you would never guess the color would be what it is. Fun. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

Got for a steal locally. 15ys on an Aussie Grenache had me curious how it was holding up…

Followed over a few hours from bottle. It could have maybe been double decanted to get some quick air to it as it is still rocking quite the tannin, but it smoothed out quickly. Ripe purple and black fruits (roasted plum, blackberries, black currant) aromatically mixed with sweet tobacco. No menthol/eucalyptus but a distinct sweet note on the mid-palate. Dark, juicy, ripe fruits with old fig jam. Age starting to show itself at the finish. Alcohol started to poke out as it warmed. Drink up. — 7 days ago

Shay A

9.4

@Delectable Wine : This is the Madson little cloud vineyard Pinot Noir. I didn’t see it in the database.

Here I am a few days later still thinking about this wine…asking myself why I’ve never heard of this producer? Why aren’t these wines more common? Most importantly, when can I get more?

13.3%ABV; 100% whole cluster; 1 barrel (20 cases); 70% Little Cloud Vineyard, 30% Savaria Vineyard

It’s not common these days to have a domestic wine catch me off guard due to exposure across wine platforms, tasting groups, reading/research, etc, so I had no expectation of this wine. When I poured it in the glass, the translucent ruby color and the smell of whole cluster snapped me to attention real quick. Aromatics of cranberries, green herbs, violets, fresh potpurri fill the glass immediately. It drinks like the old Calera Jensen Pinots of 15+yrs ago…feral, crunchy, stemmy, bright, electric acidity but so much power carrying through to a wonderful finish of spiced rhubarb.

I don’t seek out many Pinot producers (especially Cali ones) but I’m going down the rabbit hole with this one. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.4

Anytime an older Heitz Martha’s is open, it’s a treat. I’ve tried to acquire a few random bottles over the years and they have consistently impressed (‘78 and ‘01, specifically). My first early ‘90s vintage.

Quick double decant to simply get the wine off sediment as it wouldn’t be consumed from a decanter at the location I would be at.

In my experience, the distinct and typical eucalyptus notes jump right at pop, but this bottle was a little subdued early on. After an hour with the cork out, the eucalyptus, herbs, cedar and red fruit made their entrance. Compared to the ‘91 Hartwell I opened a few months ago, this was more elegant and less dense on the mid-palate. If not for the eucalyptus, I could see this being called left bank Bordeaux with 30yrs on it. Gained some darker red/underripe black fruit notes the longer it was open. Beautiful length at the finish. Bright acidity and tannin. Not getting better, but a wonderful drinking window to enjoy now. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.3

Knowing Platt and VV’s reputation, I wanted to give this a spin.

My expectation for a VV white was along the lines of their reds (polished, suave, opulent), but this came across in a different style. Bright yellow in the glass with fresh citrus and honeysuckle aromatics. On the palate this trends more pretty/elegant vs powerful/opulent…if trying blind, I think I’d place this in Oregon. Lemon cream, lemon-lime and a small presence of tangerine with sea salt. Oak is there to frame it but not obtrusive. Good vein of acidity down the middle with a crisp mineral finish. Well made.

I’d like to try another vintage since the notes are so strong, but at the $125+ range, not sure I’m there on a QPR basis. — a month ago

Shay A

9.2

I initially expected more based on vintage + producer, but also have to keep context in focus that this is Crozes-hermitage.

Followed over two days and very little changed.

I’m surprised at saying that after 48hrs for a C-H…I think this is in a weird phase/shut down. Powerful/heady aromatics (black fruits, olive, espresso). ABV pokes out a bit up front. Good mid-palate weight with peppered dark fruits, herbs and some iron before a curtain of tannin shuts this down hard. Undeniably Syrah at the finish with a rusticity I normally find in Cornas…dark florals, spice, graphite and some charcoal. A serious and structured C-H. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

My last of a 3-pack purchased from a winery visit in 2021. While the prices of their wines have gone beyond my personal threshold (and Julie is no longer there), it remains one of my favorite winery experiences after 10+ visits to the valley.

I don’t often drink Sauvignon Blanc, but this has consistently been a favorite (though Mowe’s SB now holds that title). Structure and profile wise, this 2019 is still quite fresh. While acidity has always been there, my favorite quality of this wine on release was the more ripe/rounded profile (which is still prevalent today). Citrus, honeysuckle and mineral aromatics with a fresh vein of acidity. Herb crusted underripe tropical fruits with a nice waxy profile. Powerful. Enjoy now or in the semi-near future. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.3

Another tasty JSchram. While the prices keep climbing, these are very consistent US sparklers with a big house feel (vs the grower profile sparkling wines like Westborn, Haliotide, older Ultramarine, etc).

81% Pinot noir, 19% Chardonnay; 8g/l dosage

I’ve been enjoying the JSchram wines for a long time and a character I always get from them is a distinct cheesy/leesy aromatic. Roasted honey nut cashews, spiced apple, pear, and toasty vanilla. Richly balanced on the palate with honeyed tropical fruit, sea salt, and finishes slightly yeasty with a truffle note. The dosage, while on the high side for what I enjoy, brings out nice texture and length. Well made and ready to go.

I enjoy the JSchram Noir (formerly Schramsberg Reserve) on the younger side and the JSchram Blanc with a little age. — 3 months ago