23
Aug
2019
- Details
-
Category: Uncorked Tonight
(July 12, 2019) ... It's now ten years on and I'm once again opening a bottle of this (my last bottle) Rhone Valley red to see if this once vibrant Cairanne has stood the test of time: initial notes show leathery, smoky, peppery, and dried black fruits that are big on spice with a mineral / stony core, there's also lots of oak and tannin bite ... After the wine has been open an hour there's an addition on the palate of 90% cocoa with some coffee undertones plus the already present dried fruit notes finally get definition in the form of dried black raspberry and there's even a little licorice that sneaks in for additional complexity. Very dry and saliva sucking, but still a decent bottle.
13
Aug
2019
- Details
-
Category: Uncorked Tonight
(December 21, 2018) ... This is becoming my annual dinner with Dave at Christmas ... He pulls out some interesting stuff from the cellar and I fawn over what he brings top-side ... In truth, I don't think he has brought out all gems over 
the years, but his duds have been few and far between, this is the 2018 line-up of wines, you'll notice a very American theme about the wines this year and he hits four consecutive years ...
Frick 2015 Cinsaut (California) ... Plum and blackberry with hints of vanilla, and white pepper on the nose - the palate was not as expressive with its blueberry, new leather and some tannin bite backing that never seemed to let go.
Purple Hands 2014 Pinot Noir, Freedom Hill Vineyard (Oregon) ... lots of spice, pepper and red licorice on the nose while the palate was more subtle about things with its spiced cherry, cassis, red currant and smoke; but what really stood out here was that spice, tons of spice ... but all-in-all this wine was very drinkable.
Darioush 2012 Cabernet Franc (California) ... Straight Cab Franc is not what I expect from California wineries best known for their Sauvignon, and when alcohols get up above 14.5 it's not really what you expect from Franc either. This was a tasty little number, but that 14.8% alcohol gets into the nose so much you can feel its boots on your chin (so to speak), but there is also some cigar box, dark plum, and spiced-raspberry whiffs that become apparent once you get past the booze. It had a juicy start with a real peppery finish. This one if still just a baby and should age nicely - here's hoping it will integrate that alcohol.
Keplinger 2013 Sumo (California) ... it's a red blend dominated by Petite Sirah (76%) with Syrah and Viognier (4%) taking up the rest - it too had a big alcohol wollop (14.9%) and a big coffee nose that never relinquished its hold - but it also had some notes of barnyard, fresh hay and manure that not even aeration could shake from its stranglehold ... definitely not my favourite on this night.
