2005 Kistler Les Noisetiers

These UStream vids are fun. Here's me and Court talking about Kistler.

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More Quick Tweet Style Reviews

I have to say I really like the tweet style review of wines from my previous post this evening. I have some notes on some wines from other tastings, so instead of writing full posts, I am going to repeat my quick shot reviews.

Please comment if you like this style or dislike this style. I will not do it for every wine - after all this is a blog, not posterous, tumblr or twitter!

That being said, here are some quick shots. If you didn't know, this is a blog about drinking 365 Wines in 365 Days, so I better fulfill my promise!

2006 Mudhouse Pinot Noir: Screwtop bliss. BTG Pinot from New Zealand for BONDA. Nose: Bright cherry, moss, vibrant violet. Sauteed raspberry on the palate, zip in the finish. great fruit!

2006 Bastianich Tocai: great BTG for BONDA. refreshingly light, interestingly yeasty, with floral notes, light mushroom depth, high citrus notes in finish, perfect for fall!

2005 Betz Family Clos De Betz: sitting down after long night at BONDA with Betz and a filet. much softer than expected. super soft, super mild tannins, hints of oak, black fruit, simply divine.

2005 Betz Family La Serene Syrah: no one buys this at BONDA. cracked a bottle, it was off. Jamie called it!

Tweeted Wines

Man this blog sucks. You should really follow my twitter feed @365Wines to get an accurate picture of what I am drinking!

Onto the many wines I have to review. Here is a compilation of my wine tweets over the last two weeks or so. These are directly copied from my twitter feed.

If you do not understand Twitter, it is a micro-blogging, instant messaging, text message blast, service that limits your "tweets" to 140 characters.

Mostly people answer: "What Are You Doing?" but it has become a way to share information and to inform your network of followers about your passions of the moment.

I try to tweet about the wine I am drinking and what I am experiencing, as well to ask the question, "What are you drinking?"

2004 Cadence Coda: just cracked a bottle of 2004 Cadence Coda. What are you drinking

Coda is sweetish on the nose, with blackcurrant, tannic dark cherry deliciousness. Classic American Cab Franc. they do it so well in Wash.

chill from the cellar is warming up. developing mocha, rosemary, thyme, stewed tomatoes. really sings with the sausage I am cooking.

2005 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc: got home from a K Vintner's wine tasting and my wife was opening an '05 Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc /Viognier blend. oh well. might be dying

05 Pine Ridge Chenin much sweeter than I remember. lacks the sophistication it had in '07 - could be turning? i remember austerity

refreshing on the nose, with honeysuckle, thyme. almost reisling like on the palate: slight viscosity and touch of bitter finish

2004 Montenidoli Tradizionale: last night a had a 2004 montenidoli traditionale that was on the edge of turning. still have 4 bottles or so. maybe a BTG at BONDA

1998 Quintarelli Valpolicella: also drank a '98 Quintarelli Valpolicella. pure bliss. in-laws were over for spiral sausage and saffron risotto w/ spinach

2004 Drew Hearthstone Vineyard Syrah: cracked a bottle of '04 Drew Hearthstone Syrah. only 80 cases made. lots of cherry on the nose, robitussiny on the palate. will work.

2000 Manzoni Pinot Nero: just cracked a 2000 Manzoni Pinonero from the Langhe region. What are you drinking?

@winedrip Manzoni Pinonero 2000.at its peak.a little hot.hints of violets.sage.cinnamon.earth.medium tannins but dry.tasty but not fav

@winetweets Manzoni Pinonero 2000.at its peak.a little hot.hints of violets.sage.cinnamon.earth.medium tannins but dry.tasty but not fav

lots of stinky feet and mushrooms on this pinonero. not too much fruit and still a lot of heat. acidic on the tummy as well.

2005 Yves Cuileron Les Pierres Seches: just cracked a 2005 Yves Cuileron Les Pierres Seches from St. Joseph. What are you drinking?

stinky on the nose, violets, mud, rootstock, coffee beans. on the tongue, firm tannins, muted plum, green peppercorn, little bordeauxish

nose is opening up.although beginning to feel that this syrah needs food. not a luscious as new world, not entirely tannic but bone dry

2006 Ramey Carneros District Chardonnay: is drinking the 2006 Ramey Carneros District Chardonnay. charred oak.little effervecence. not as delicate as the 2005 Sonoma coast

anyone had the 2006 Ramey Carneros District Chardonnay? Any thoughts? Going to write blog about it after dinner.

i let the Ramey breathe a bit and warm up - much better. also needed a bit of food and fat on the palate

Wines I did not tweet about, but can wrap up in a tweet-style review:

2007 Cuilleron Marsanne: totally awesome! peach notes, with full mouth feel, hints of acidity, round finish - awesome for the price. maybe WBTG at BONDA.

2007 Drouhin Saint-Veran: present from friend. wife did not like so much. palate flat, notes of oak, crisp and steely but no bite, a little flabby.

2006 Kingston Vineyard Alazan Pinot Noir: Killer Pinot for the price. Soft oak, medium tanins, nice fruit with that Kingston edge of charred vinestock. on list at BONDA.

So, part of me thinks this is a half-assed post, but I covered a lot of wines and in a very condensed format. You don't have to read me prattling on about every sip, and get a succinct review of each bottle.

I promise I will not get behind so far again. Two kids. Corporate gig, co-owner of BONDA, social responsibilities. I love my blog and I love writing about wine, so sorry to keep you waiting for new posts!

2005 Westry Oracle Vineyard Pinot Noir

From Oregon, we had the 2006 in Nantucket, and I found this bottle in my cellar tonight, so I thought I would try it. I am thoroughly disappointed and am not enjoying it. First off, this Pinot is a little acidic and is making my tummy hurt. On the nose, it is hot, and has an aroma of wet green leaves, dirty soil, and shitake?

On the tongue, no fruit, with hints of wet cigar and cedar, more than firm tannins, and an unpleasant finish. It is a pity because I really love their Willamette Valley bottling and could drink it all day.

2005 Ch. Miraval Coteaux Varois en Provence

From the Rolle grape, this wine could be passing its prime. Fading citrus hints with round floral notes. Much better last summer, but not a big seller at BONDA. I think there are two bottles left, which I will mostly take off the list.

2005 Ken Wright Pinot Blanc

I've been sitting on the last bottle of this Oregon Pinot Blanc for awhile, thinking it would fatten up and enrich. It has, however, turned very interestingly different than I imagined. Overwhelming taste of alcoholic dry cold sake, with big flavors of cucumber, honeydew melon with a crisp pineapple-y finish.

The nose hints of something richer with notes of butterscotch and hyacinth that the palate just does not deliver. I liked it much better as a really young wine with potential than a 3 year old that tastes like a sake. It could keep changing. I honestly think I hid a bottle somewhere that I look forward to finding some day.

2005 Denner Vineyard Syrah

My college friend, Brian Denner, makes this Syrah for his family vineyard in Paso Robles. I have had the 2002, which was made by a different winemaker, but never one that Brian has crafted (2003 and beyond). They started growing and selling grapes, then built a state of the art winemaking facility and tasting room (only seen the pics). Brian came on after stints at Kingston Vineyards, Peachy Canyon, Williams Seylem and others.

I had this wine with Sam Kingston a few months back during a GSM Central Coast wine tasting, but wanted to write about it with a fresh palate. Jim, my father-in-law was in town two weeks ago and we cracked a bottle at BONDA. Unfortunately no Denner wine is sold in CT, but sometimes the Wine Library has it for sale.

On the nose, sweet rubber plant, windex and wild blackberry. "Definitely wild" was one of Jim's comments as he looked at the color and viscosity in the light. "Really good. Can we get any of this?" was his next comment. I have always thought Denner is a great American Syrah, with a nod to the French. New Worldish in style with big jammy fruit but more complexity than 95% of American wines.

Flavors of roasted plum, hints of fig intermingled with bitterness, mellow tannins, and an edge of baby powder. I have 1 bottle left of the 2005, and two of 2002, which I am reserving for Connecticut College graduates.

2005 Ramey Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

New vintage of the Ramey Chard we sell at BONDA. I couldn't find a post of the 2004, but it is one of the few Cali Chards that I really like, and one of Court's favorite all time wines that is under $50.

Sweet like candy corn on the nose, with a slight alcoholic edge. On the palate, definite oak, but mellow, and not the first taste. Soft floral notes with hints of blanched almonds. An easy wine, but not as good as the 2004. Perhaps it is too young? Or an off bottle?

06.02.08 /2005 Two Hands Harry and Edward's Garden Shiraz

Jamie and I have tried a few of the Two Hands' wines for the restaurant. This was our favorite and from Langehorn Creek which is my favorite appelation in Australia for Shiraz.

Although very expensive ($120 on the list), it is pretty delish. I couldn't find my tasting notes, but I remember it needed time to open up, and maybe more time in the bottle. Big juicy blackberry and cassis flavors - not too big on the alcohol - with medium tannins.

Not a wine to drink everyday, or in the summer, but it will be awesome in the fall.

06.02.08 /2005 Baileyana Chardonnay Firebreak Vineyard

So we had this Cali Chard at the Cooper's the other night. I love Edna Valley wines, and wanted to try a Chard from the Firebreak Vineyard, but I did not really like it.

Here are my notes that I typed on my iPhone: touches of oak with mellow mild vanilla. Hints of Kraft caramels, ocean breeze on the nose. Could be better, sweet like a Carneros chard.

Here is Jamie and Jim enjoying a glass waiting for the steaks to cook. Jim liked the wine a lot, and chided me for my snobery, while Jamie went back and forth, but eventually sided with me that it was too over blown without the structure needed to support that faux vanilla /carmel flavors.

2005 Radio Coteau Pinot Noir Savoy

Wow, this wine is really delish. Jamie bought me a few bottles of different vineyard designates for Xmas. This is is the second one I have opened. RC only makes about 400 cases of the Savoy, so I was pretty jazzed to try it.

It was a little hot at first, all alcohol, but after a bit fine tannins gripped the rip roaring roasted plum, fig, and earthy flavors. I usually blast California Pinots for being one dimensional, but this has soul. Not overly fruity or oaky, with a nice depth of dried quince, blackberry jam, and red currant. From the Anderson Valley, but with the heart in Ribbon Ridge.

04.25.08 /2005 Cantina Tramin Blauburgunder Pinot Nero

Thank you Mateo from Pasta Nostra for turning me onto this wine! We went out with the Russells and I had chosen a wine with our main course, but didn't know where to start. Matt recommended this Italian Pinot from Alto Adige, and he knows what I like. Produced from a coop of local growers in Northern Italy, close to Germany, this wine is garnet in color, with a nice concentration of woodland berry fruits, but not really fruity - think ripe roasted plum with notes of soft cherry – with firm tannins, an elegant body and great finish. Easy to drink on its own; a great summer red with all types of food.

Matt was kind enough to tell me the importer and recommended I buy a case ASAP. He bought 14, and there was only one left for BONDA. They make a slamming Gerwurztraminer as well, which I think will be our summer house white.

The coolest aspect of this wine is that it has a glass enclosure!

03.18.09 /RGWD 2006 Albarino Ca Del Sol

Albarino in California? Randall bought the Soledad Vineyard near Solinas, and realized the climate and salt air really mirrored the micro climate of Galicia. He planted the vines 7 years ago, and the '06 is his first bottling. I bought a case for the spring.

On the nose, notes of plasticy goodness. Randall called it an "acoustic version" of Albarino, a little milder than what you would find from Spain, with hints of saline and citrus in the finish. A nice, dry wine, luscious in the mid-palate.

To pair, Seared Day Boat Scallops (I don't know how local these could have been this time of year) with beets, pomello segments, micro arugula and mustard oil. The arugula and mustard oil really jazzed up the perfectly cooked scallops - one of the best dishes I have had at the Dressing Room. The pomello didn't really add anything, and the beet added nice earth tones.

03.27.08 /Chapallet Mountain Cuvee 2005

The 2004 vintage of this wine is one of my go to house wines, so I was excited to try the '05. A bit of a disappointment, but should get better over time. I can taste a wine and imagine how it will grow, or dissipate - how the tannins will mellow, alcohol will burn off, sweetness relax. But that is not always the case. That is, I cannot always imagine where it will go and if I do, it is not always a correct assessment!

57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot - but the Merlot seems to dominate as it is much sweeter than the previous vintage (which I think had Petit Verdot or Cab Franc). Also it is pretty hot with 14.6% alcohol. It smells a little generic with big black fruit and tons of oak. The Parkerization of wine. This could settle. Not an oak bomb, but very new oaky.

I was at BONDA, so I had the Lamb Tenderloin with Eggplant and Tomato Timbale. The lamb complemented the wine and tamed it a bit. I bought four bottles, hoping to order more (as we went through about 10 cases of the last vintage) but I do not think there will be another order for a few months.

I wasn't floored, and that is how I need to be to put a wine on the list at BONDA.

03.22.08 /Radio-Coteau Pinot Noir 2005

Unfortunately, I did not take very accurate notes, nor a picture when I tried this wine. It is the entry level single vineyard Radio Coteau, of which they make 1740 cases - I did not write down the site, and do not have any more of this wine :(. Jamie gave me a handful of single vineyard Pinots for Xmas, and this was the first I tried, eventhough I should have waited. A Cali Pinot like this needs a little more time in bottle to calm the sweetness, alcohol and oak.

Super fruit forward with hint of rich cedar oak. Full bodied, with cherry notes on the nose. Berrylicious flavors with dark alcohol, but a little hot. Good fruit with a long finish.

The next one I open (which will be in the fall) I will take more detailed notes!

03.23.08 /Soter Pinot Noir Beacon Hill 2005

We have been holding on to this wine for BONDA for a year or so, waiting to try it. I would hope that producers release their wine when it is meant to be drunk, but this Pinot was nowhere near being ready for the list.

Surprisingly tannic, and extremely juvenile. Nose of brackish swamp and charcoal, following on the tongue with a backbone of sweet fruit.

After a time, it developed darker fruit, but not very approachable. Very austere Oregon Pinot - like the J. Christopher Charlie's Vineyard. You could say burgundian, with a little acid and a high alcohol notes.

This will wait in the cellar for awhile longer.

03.19.08 /2005 J. Christopher Sandra Adele Vineyard

I kind of knew that Jamie was going to come over once I told him Bill was joining me while our wives were in their book club. He made it for a taste of the Skewis (he has two bottles left), and brought an Oregon Pinot that we are going to put on the list at BONDA.

J. Christopher is one of my favorite producers of Pacific Northwest juice, both whites and reds. I usually feel the Pinots need some time in the bottle, but Mike told Jamie that is was ready to drink, so we did.

On the nose, burnt oak and wet cardboard - classic J. Christopher. On the tongue following with bran, raisin, light tannins supporting dark berries with a bit of a floral undertone. Not fruity at all, with a bunch of funk on the nose and hints of white pepper.

Bill called it "derelict" while Jamie preferred "a pretty chick in a Laura Ashley dress and a black leather jacket". Whatever that means, the wine is awesome and is going on the list next week.

03.19.08 /2005 Skewis Pinot Noir Cuvee 115

It is always fun to try wine with an amigo, a cohort, a drinking buddy. Courtenay went to a book club meeting at the Russells, so Bill came over while I was watching Cooper to talk about a possible wine auction to benefit the Pequot Library. I opened a bottle of Skewis Pinot while we discussed the fact that people like to tell a story when they bring out a bottle of wine to open for guests.

Case in point, I told him my Skewis story. Jamie, Kevin and I plus our ladies went to Per Se last year. The guys had the tasting menu paired with a wine for each course. Each pairing was exquisite, and I feverishly wrote down each wine to see if we could get some for BONDA. Alas, none of them are sold in CT. We loved the Skewis particularly. Jamie called the winemaker to get some, but their production is so limited, that they really don't sell to that many restaurants. On a second call, Jamie convinced them to sell him a couple of bottles and he gave me two. This is my Skewis story.

Opening the wine felt a little guilty. I had been saving it for a bit, but really wanted to open it - it might have been too young, but delish all the same. It was sweet on the front end, but developed deep red fruit flavors in short order. There was a herbacious quality on the nose that smelled like marijuana. "High toned alcohol mixed with potting soil" is in my notes. That was a first impression. It was a touch hot, but turned totally awesome!

2005 Ridge Geyserville

This is the 40th vintage of Geyserville and we found it to be very zinny. I cannot remember the percentages, but it was a lot more Zin than previous years, with some Carignane (17%) and Petite Syrah or Alicante (6%) . Lots of raisin. Surprisingly this wine needs some time in the bottle to settle.

03.12.08 /2005 Soos Creek Sundance

Jamie brown bagged this one and asked everyone what they thought. I didn't really like it - it was much too sweet - not riesling sweet, but an icky candied cherry, brandyish kirshy. I repeatedly made my disgust known, then ate a little bit of food. The pork chop, which toned down the wine a little.

Everyone else seemed to like it, with Jamie saying, "You really don't like it? I think it is good." He decanted it and continued his disbelief.

I opened a Ridge and decided to go back to the brown bagger after awhile.

Jamie revealed it to be the Soos Creek, which we have heard is really highly rated and hard to find. Not that ratings matter, but a hard to find wine that is considered cultish is always fun and interesting to try. He just ordered it off the website at $23 or so. I love Washington State wines, especially from the Columbia Valley, but this was not a fave.

Primarily Merlot (74%?), with some Cab Sav, Cab Franc and Petit Verdot (I believe). After it mellowed a bit, I returned to enjoy medium tannins, with rich blackberry flavors, with notes of earth - but it was too damn Merlot sweet for me!