I read back through my postings and I have to admonish myself. Some of the descriptions are too much spectacle and not enough substance. While wine is fun to taste and write about that is not the idea of this blog. I am not selling the stuff, just reporting on what I taste. I think I have been influenced by the vine rags and internet I have been reading. So with that in mind I will make a conscious effort to keep postings more straight forward.
Speaking of straight forward here is a straight up very good pinot noir.
Cameron 2001 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir - There were big bunches of ripe cherries in the nose of this wine. No subtlety here. Also corn chips? when freshly opened. (Another Cameron I have had of different vintage had similar aspect) The corn chips faded as it opened to a more warm alcohol and floral tone. Cherries, cherries, cherries mmmm, with a warm silky feeling in the mouth and solid body and alcohol balance. Then rose petals aroma in the empty glass and the end... To be certain what I post here is not at all what the Cameron website lists for the flavors. Regardless though I had this at a party recently and it was so enjoyable. I didn't even eat while I had my glass. Just imbibed and smelled. Good luck finding this wine to taste though I checked online the next day and have yet to find it. (Cost unknown)
2005 Bodegas Naia Naiades (Spain) - This is a complex multi-layered almost contrary wine! It had a lot for me to try to pick out and understand. It was recommended for me to try vs. the white burgundies I have come to approve of. This is a solid body well rounded white wine. Its aromas were of peaches, golden apples, pears, and golden grapes. Actually the color is a nice pale gold as well though more pale than I might have thought. It was a very loose wine in the mouth - to my meaning, it sort of seemed to roll around a lot with its own purpose in mind. Not thin but certainly not a thick feel either. The tastes were of pears, lemon citrus, and some grass for the body. However the finish was in stark contrast. Try licking a piece of limestone, basalt, and alum. Pure mineral! The finish was really strong too. It completely caught me off guard and I really enjoyed that. If you already like white burgundies of that mineral nature I definitely recommend you try to taste this more affordable version from Spain. I could imagine the limestone/basalt hill where the grapes grow and lemon trees dot the landscape. $$ (28/bottle)
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
We Three Kings
I'm taking off the gloves and pulling no punches with these 3 kings. They are not inexpensive at around $50 or more each but these are 3 of the best wines I have ever tasted.
Domaine Phillipe Faury 2005 Coindreu - already the king of Viogniers this Coindreau is like having perfume that you can imbibe. It is birds on the wing in the nose with warm air, honeysuckle, green fragrant leaves, and a myriad of citrus and other fruit tree blossoms. The taste well I was licking my teeth to get every drop. It has nice green honeysuckle flavor as well as what I can only describe as cherry blossom smell flavor. Not cherry but the pollen inside. No wonder bees get so happy. This is still a solidly dry wine as well and not sticky sweet as it may sound. If you have not had a Viogner I would recommend not buying a california next best thing and just scrimping the money to get a true Coindreu Viognier. Simply astounding is the only thing to say and if you had to have with food some mild seafood in my opinion could be stellar. Find it, try it, and then faint with a smile across your face. $$$
Radikon Oslavje 2001 - This is Prometheus unbound! If the Viognier is a delicate warm wind this is a mad scientist making his presence known to the world. Prepare to tremble! This is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, & Sauvignon Blanc. However, I don't think you will compare it to any of those or even wine period! The pour is a cloudy orange fire with golden highlights. No the bottle has not gone bad either. The wine is not casked in cork nor steel. What then? Clay pots! The nose starts out with intense orange blossom and orange zest aroma that as it opens changes to a mouthwatering mango. The wine is still moderately dry too, not sweet as you may feel from the nose. Somehow it feels dry with all the fruit forward flavors. Great hits of orange citrus and dried apricot linger long through the mouth. It has a great solid structure for a white too. Not willing to fade but trudge through your mouth as Prometheus may have through caves of old. This wine felt to me as though it could be a replicate of times of Greece or Rome's imperious past. And there we in the court of Caesar found the drink most compelling. Try it at your own risk and expand your perceptions. Hail Radikon. $$$
Eyrie Reserve 2002 Pinot Noir - The majestrate of Pinot Noir has made her entrance. She is delicate, young, but with a grace and poise of old that suffers no fools. Okay I lied, no King here but a Queen to be. This wine could not be described as masculine. Simply put it is the best Pinot Noir I have Ever tasted. Still it needs time to develop too. This vintage could be one talked about by those who still have bottles in 20-30 years. This is a old world Burgundy done in Oregon. Its pale red, almost a pink color. Velvety cherries easily arise in the nose but with a dense moss forest floor smell that is hidden and should expand throughout the years. The kirsch flavor is silky smooth and I didn't want to swallow its that good; late cranberries lifted off the tongue in an ethereal dance as the alcohol/acid evaporated from my mouth. I stood around smelling my glass in a stupor and awe after the tastes were gone. Its the sexiest woman in the room and in her red silk dress she is on your arm complimenting you with her grace. I could go on and on about this wine but perhaps the best description I can end with, like the ethereal finish of this wine, is that night I literally dreamt of it. Ah to the woman er wine of my dreams... $$$
Domaine Phillipe Faury 2005 Coindreu - already the king of Viogniers this Coindreau is like having perfume that you can imbibe. It is birds on the wing in the nose with warm air, honeysuckle, green fragrant leaves, and a myriad of citrus and other fruit tree blossoms. The taste well I was licking my teeth to get every drop. It has nice green honeysuckle flavor as well as what I can only describe as cherry blossom smell flavor. Not cherry but the pollen inside. No wonder bees get so happy. This is still a solidly dry wine as well and not sticky sweet as it may sound. If you have not had a Viogner I would recommend not buying a california next best thing and just scrimping the money to get a true Coindreu Viognier. Simply astounding is the only thing to say and if you had to have with food some mild seafood in my opinion could be stellar. Find it, try it, and then faint with a smile across your face. $$$
Radikon Oslavje 2001 - This is Prometheus unbound! If the Viognier is a delicate warm wind this is a mad scientist making his presence known to the world. Prepare to tremble! This is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, & Sauvignon Blanc. However, I don't think you will compare it to any of those or even wine period! The pour is a cloudy orange fire with golden highlights. No the bottle has not gone bad either. The wine is not casked in cork nor steel. What then? Clay pots! The nose starts out with intense orange blossom and orange zest aroma that as it opens changes to a mouthwatering mango. The wine is still moderately dry too, not sweet as you may feel from the nose. Somehow it feels dry with all the fruit forward flavors. Great hits of orange citrus and dried apricot linger long through the mouth. It has a great solid structure for a white too. Not willing to fade but trudge through your mouth as Prometheus may have through caves of old. This wine felt to me as though it could be a replicate of times of Greece or Rome's imperious past. And there we in the court of Caesar found the drink most compelling. Try it at your own risk and expand your perceptions. Hail Radikon. $$$
Eyrie Reserve 2002 Pinot Noir - The majestrate of Pinot Noir has made her entrance. She is delicate, young, but with a grace and poise of old that suffers no fools. Okay I lied, no King here but a Queen to be. This wine could not be described as masculine. Simply put it is the best Pinot Noir I have Ever tasted. Still it needs time to develop too. This vintage could be one talked about by those who still have bottles in 20-30 years. This is a old world Burgundy done in Oregon. Its pale red, almost a pink color. Velvety cherries easily arise in the nose but with a dense moss forest floor smell that is hidden and should expand throughout the years. The kirsch flavor is silky smooth and I didn't want to swallow its that good; late cranberries lifted off the tongue in an ethereal dance as the alcohol/acid evaporated from my mouth. I stood around smelling my glass in a stupor and awe after the tastes were gone. Its the sexiest woman in the room and in her red silk dress she is on your arm complimenting you with her grace. I could go on and on about this wine but perhaps the best description I can end with, like the ethereal finish of this wine, is that night I literally dreamt of it. Ah to the woman er wine of my dreams... $$$
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