Tasting Notes From September 2001

1806

Folie a Deux
1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Napa Valley

Full bodied, concentrated with ripe black currants and cigar box flavors. Some cedar too. Has enough acidity to age to my palate as well. Already throwing nice amounts of sediment. Too bad it is our last bottle. $40.00

1807

Chateau Clos Chaumont
1998 Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux

Dense color, but closed and a bit austere initially. Medium-Full bodied with just a bit of fruit but good presence. After sitting a day, more red fruit has emerged. Along with herbs, spice and candy in the nose. Really opens up well. The palate doesn't quite keep up with the nose, the finish is a bit short. Nice value in Bordeaux. $16.00

1808

Jade Mountain
1997 Syrah Napa Valley

Wonderful floral nose. Slightly apricot-like. Dense black in the glass. Touch of anise. Wow great nose! Ripe, full bodied. Strange finish? Somewhat hard on the palate. $16.00

1809

Beringer
1997 Alluvium Knight's Valley

I thought it lacked the special qualities of the 1996. No Chocolate. Mostly just straightforward fruit. Rather tight. Restaurant tasting, so my impression was limited. Maybe it needs time in bottle or more air exposure to shine. $30.00

1810

Chateau Plince
1995 Pomerol

Light colored, mostly red, slightly translucent. Earthy mineral nose. Not much going on. Medium acids on the palate. Nothing special. $25.00

1811

David Coffaro Winery
1999 Cabernet Franc Dry Creek Valley

Not much varietal character initially. It seemed more like a nondescript, if decent, Zinfandel and petite sirah blend. Given a couple hours it showed some Bordeaux pencil lead and smoke. I'm guessing this one needs time or aeration to really show its best. $16.00

Wines 1812-1821 are from a "BYO" Tasting hosted by a generous Dallas wine-geek couple. Prices are mostly estimates.

1812

Clos de Tart
1998 Clos de Tart Wet earthy red fruit nose with dense color. Long with rather high acidity. Tight, medium bodied, maybe showing some oak. I find the acids just too overwhelming. $100.00

1813

Bouchard Pere et Fils
1996 Clos Vougeot

Cigar smoke and zesty tomatoes and cherries in the nose. Oak. Low to moderate acid. Decent. $80.00

1814

Domaine Bruno Clair
1998 Chambertin Clos de Beze

My favorite from the Pinot Flight. Big, fruity, low acidity for a Pinot. Pretty nose and silky tannins. Maybe a bit monolithic but give it some time. $100.00

1815

Champy
1996 Chambolle Musigny Les Charmes

Mineral chalk nose, moderately acidic. Second fave from the Pinot flight.

1816

Pegau
1998 Chateaneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve

Mushroom and leather funk nose initially. Full bodied with moderate acidity leather, black fruit. Nice. $40.00

1817

Chateau de Beaucastel
1998 Chateaneuf du Pape

Dense, sweet licorice. Acids in the finish but really big and really nice. Meaty and peppery finish. $60.00

1818

Andrew Murray
1999 Syrah Roasted Slope Santa Barbara

Impressive. Wow! Nose, dense, inky sweet with ripe fruit. Tannic Very nice. Best of flight. But in good company. $35.00

1819

St. Cosme
1999 Cote Rotie

Smoky charcoal nose just showing its Viognier addition. Tight, big, nice wine but needs time. $60.00

1820

Joseph Phelps
1984 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Napa Valley

Not much presence but still has some fruit. Balanced. Fading rapidly. $100.00

1822

Tua Rita
1998 Giusto di Notri Rosso Toscano

Still kicking but on the downward trend after several days open. Balsa wood, cherries, chocolate. Nice. $60.00

1823

Domaine Raspail-Ay
1998 Gigondas

Ripe floral nose. Medium-full bodied, not plump but flavorful and juicy. Scents of balsa wood. Nice wine. $25.00

1824

Pride Mountain
1999 Cabernet Franc Napa Valley

Wow…youthful, but has all the stuffing. Chocolate milk oak, cherry fruit? Big, concentrated. Has both tannin and acids to last a while, but is drinking better than the 1998 in my opinion. Multi-dimensional with hints of herbs and other stuff intermixed in the palate. Still somewhat oaky tasting. $52.00

1825

Sebastiani
1996 Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County

Ripe nose of cedar, cigar box, raked leaves, and olives. Rich, with good concentration and lots of interest. Somewhat acidic and short but quite tasty for the money. $12.00

1826

David Coffaro
2000 Sauvignon Blanc Dry Creek Valley

Off bottle maybe. Also served rather cold. Seemed to show a little oak? $12.00

1827

Chateau Grande Cassagne
2000 Costieres de Nimes G.S. La Civette Grenache Syrah

Ripe, fruity, somewhat simple wine with aromas of velvet and pepper. Primary. Decent, juice but a bit warm and unremarkable. $8.00

1828

Havens
1998 Merlot Napa Valley

Has a rich leathery aspect to the fruit and spicy oak profile. Decent, but far from exceptional. Benefits from some air. Modestly rich, decent fruit. Some additional interest from the oak and leather. Medium length. $20.00

1829

Luna
1997 Sangiovese Napa Valley

Started off with cherry fruit, reasonably bright acidity, medium-full body and good concentration. Showing some balsa wood overtone. With air more strawberry fruit flavors emerged. Nice QPR $12.00

1830

Mason
2000 Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley

This bottle comes across very soft. Some apple and pear fruit along with just a touch of limey zest. Hmm? $15.00

1831

Briceland Vineyards
1998 Pinot Noir Humboldt County California

Light bodied, fruity Pinot with a touch of effervescence. Pleasant, but thin. $14.00

1832

Phoenix
1997 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Juicy sweet with decent length. 13% Cab Franc adds lots of interest to the nose. Nice. $35.00

1833

Smith Madrone
1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

The tannins have receded nicely in this wine. Fruity with anise and earth nuances. Ripe, still somewhat acidic. Nice. Medium-full bodied, maybe medium-straight bodied, particularly next to the Phoenix Cabernet. Not bad. $25.00

1834

Chateau de la Gardine
1998 Chateauneuf du Pape

Very nice with lots of complexity. Smoky, meaty, anise, leaves, minerals. Medium-full bodied. Ripe, sweet, with great concentration and flavor all the way across the palate. More of a new world style I suppose. $30.00

1835

Pride Mountain
2000 Viognier Sonoma County

Balanced, concentrated Viognier that stays more restrained than flamboyant. $38.00

1836

Ravenswood
1997 Zinfandel Monte Rosso Sonoma Valley

Spicy, primary nose with nice weight and fruit. After air it seemed to take on an off putting sour flavor. Strange. Initial impressions were very high though. There was good complexity. Acidity was .73 g/100ml which is on the high side. Works well with food, I think. $24.00

1837

David Coffaro Winery
1998 Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley

Ripe with lots of dense red blue fruit and lots of american oak that lend a vanilla and chocolate overtone to the wine. Pleasant and fun, but a little oaky. Not a very serious wine. $16

Cheers!
James

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