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!

07.11.08 / 2003 Drew Syrah Rodney and Lardner Vineyard

As I have mentioned before, Drew is one of my all time favorite Syrah producers. I have been eying this 2003 for awhile, and decided to crack it a few weeks ago, jotting down some notes and stuffing them in the back pocket of a pair of pants. I put on said pants last night and found a crinkled washed envelope, with some notes scribbled on the back.

Totally awesome. Buttered blackberry. Pepper leather on the nose. Hints of allspice and clove.

If you can find any of this wine, I would recommend buying it, and drinking it. It will probably last for another 5 to 8 years, but is really good now. Oh yeah, only 80 cases were made.

2003 Drew Syrah Rodney and Larner Vineyard

I love Drew's wines, almost everyone of them from Buellton, CA. We always try to feature on of their Syrah's on our list at BONDA. In 2003, only 150 cases of wine from the R & L Vineyard was made. That is only 1800 bottles. Let's say each bottle is shared by four people, that is only 7,200 people who will have the pleasure of drinking this exact wine. Sure there are smaller productions, sure there are people hoarding bottles of wine that may never get drunk, but I like to think that I am sharing in an experience that very few will experience. And I have two bottles.

This bottle is from Rob Makin's legendary porch sale, I would have bought more if he had more to sell. As I have mentioned, I love Syrah and Pinot Noir. Two grapes that really reveal terrior and the winemaker in my book. I mean look at all the tiny producers in Burgundy and the Rhone who produce wines that are so markedly different - same with California, Oregon and Washington - same grapes, totally different climates, conditions, soil, vine age, style etc..... Ah my faves.

Tonight is one of those nights where Court is out with her girlfriends and I am spending some QT with my main man Cooper. We were going to go to BONDA, but it is snowing and the roads could be troublesome. I was going to have a steak and drink the 2003 Oracle from Miner Family with Jamie. There is always tomorrow. Coop and I made a mildly spicy chili, for which I usually favor a Pinot, but I have been looking at this bottle of Drew for the last two weeks with a longing.

Rodney's and Larner Vineyard is in the Santa Ynez Valley, near where my college friend Brian Denner makes Rhone style wines - his best being Denner Syrah. R & L smells like funky Syrah, which is good, then mellows a bit. The colour is dark blueberry/blackberry. Lots of tar, acetone, mangoish rotting tropical fruit on the nose, with whafts of prune. And I mean this in a good way! On the palate, paint with notes of dark broiled fruit and hints of pine, candied baby powder and tight tannins with a real depth - classic Syrah. I love it!