From the Cellar

Just because I started a website called OntarioWineReview.com doesn't mean it's All-Ontario-All-the-Time. When I kick back at night my mood (and sometimes my curiosity) decides my wine of choice. And the title should read, "Uncorked and Un-Screwed Tonight" ... but that just sounds wrong.

Henri Bourgeois 2003 Petit Bourgeois Rouge (France)

29 Sep 2016

(February 8, 2016) ... I'm a lover of Cabernet Franc and this bottle from the Loire should have been right up my alley, but in truth I like what Ontario (Canada) is doing with Franc, and the French version just seems green and weedy to me ... Here is a thirteen year old bottle that I was not sure what to expect from. It started off smoky with licorice, burnt toast, and some herbal / savoury notes ... An hour plus later smoky remains but now it contains green peppers and dried black raspberry seasoned with anise seed; I could do without the green pepper but certainly was thrilled with the rest and how this bottle has stood the test of time. That it's not completely dead is testament enough for me.

On this night I actually opened three bottles, but two of them were spoiled - not necessarily because the wines were old but they were never given a chance because of their plastic cork ... damn you plastic cork!  The offenders were two bottles of 2003 Laroche (as pictured below).

Scott Harvey 2005 Amador County Syrah, Mountain Selection (California)

29 Sep 2016

(February 5, 2016) ... So I'm sitting around and in the mood for a Syrah, I look through the cellar and see the bottle of Syrah from Amador County and Scott Harvey, whom I have met due to my good buddy Dave in Michigan. Now the question here is have I waited too long to drink it?

The nose is raisinated and oxidative, admittedly a bit on the old side, but it also shows anise seed, a mix of salty & smoky with some black licorice for sure (it takes a few sniffs to really determine what is going on here). The palate seems a little more forgiving because it hardly show any age at all, in fact it is very pleasant: white pepper, dried raspberry, balsamic-strawberry, and sour black cherry with an acidity that just explodes in the mouth. I wouldn't be holding this bottle any longer (if you've got any) so glad I got the drink it when I did.

 

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