Good evening all. Been a while since I posted and I just loaded a bunch of TNs to print, so enjoy if they help. Lotsa neat stuff including some hot items on the market, so hope they will be of use.
Tom.
2003-121987 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon
rich deep red color, brilliant cassis and cedar nose, slightly meaty, at first slippery, ripe, needs time to open, oak still strong, cassis, 15- opens more,
30- closing back up, warm, sweet, buttery, not a big impact but could gently age further, 2 hours- sweet, gentle, ready, oak a tad strong for me but balance good overall.***, drink.
2003-131988 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon
more brick in color, more mature nose, secondary tones, minerals, a bit more berry to this one compared to the 1987, on the palate still tannic, a bit of a chutney tone, cinnamon, builds with time, a strong wine with a licorice tone to the cassis fruit, still needs 2-3 years to settle more but I think the tannic edge will always be there on this one.
**(*)?, now to 2005.2003-14
1995 Catena Cabernet Sauvignondeep color, brick, nose muted, slightly sweet, licorice, on the palate herbal tones, a very St. Emilion feel to it overall, over time fades gently.
**, drink up.2003-15
2000 Yacochuya Malbec (Argentina)black purple color, huge nose of black fruits, chalk and peppery herbs, on palate rich and dramatic, chocolate tones countered by a strong youthful tannic hardness, strong finish, best Malbec I have ever tasted.
****+?, hard to know when to drink this really but I think it will be fascinating to follow.2003-16
1999 Nicolas Catena Zapata95% Cabernet and 5% Malbec, bright deep red color, buttery cassis nose, Malbec influence evident, reminds me of Dominus!, on the palate a bit slippery yet ripe and full, this will need some time, good oak balance, very fine wine, opulent, very refined.
***(**), now to 2015.2003-17
1999 Quicelda Creek Cabernet Sauvignongood deep red, classy nose, cassis, buttery tones, herbs, on palate ripe with strong vegetal note, harsh finish with oak, yet full bodied on the fruit, plums and black cherries, very fine with racy edge to it, should age although the structure strikes me as unusual, very sweet, interesting wine, needs time.
**(**), now to 2010+?.2003-18
NV Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Muscat
This is an Australian solera Muscat! Purchased at the winery and apparently not an easy bottle to obtain, base wine said to be 70+ years of age, excellent depth of flavor, rich Port nose, good depth and subtlety of age, brown color, very fine tones on the nose, sweet and streamlined, a certain grace, interesting drink.
Not rated. Impossible to really rate this as there is nothing with which to compare it. But I would drink it anytime!
2003-191971 Chateau La Tour Blanche
good rich gold color, creme brulee nose but also a bit aged, on the palate genteel, acid strong but sweet fruit holds well, 10- harsh tail end with strong herbal component, it looks like this was good in its day but I think it is well past best now.
*, drink up!2003-20
2002 La Cruz de Comal Malbec- barrel samplegood bright raspberry color, slight oak sting on the nose, buttery, berries, a bit St. Emilion, on the palate still a fermented tone, beer-like on the tail end, cassis fruit, long finish, good penetration, pure, very nice, this spent its first 5 months in new French oak, it is now resting in old French oak.
JR as this is my first barrel sample ever. Promising Texas wine. Very promising.
2003-212001 La Cruz de Comal Merlot
good rich purple color, deep earthy tone, clay, pungent herbs, on the palate good tannin and oak, full finish, plums, a great purity here, very fine, a slight raspberry tone on the palate and nose, minerals.
****, now to 2008.2003-22
2000 Turley Zinfandel Old Vinesdeep purple black color, intense spicy berry nose, buttery slippery palate, strong oak, the balance a bit heavy on structure for my taste but this is good wine right now, good length, cherry tone, strong oak.
***, now to 2005.2003-23
2000 Turley Zinfandel Dogtownblack reddish color, heavenly nose, very buttery, smooth, cassis, some cherry, on the palate very fine, rich depth of cassis and blackberry fruit, yet also a bit green and hard on the edges, finish a bit dry, opens well with time and gets well rounded, oak still a bit strong but well rounded overall.
**(**), 2005-2008.2003-24
2000 Turley Zinfandel Tofanellibright purple red color, lighter nose than the other Turleys tonight, more herbal, butter tones, light, finessed, on the palate very burgundian in tone, a good ripeness on the midpalate, very elegant, good finish, very good balance but the oak is a bit strong for my taste, that said this is very much my style among the Turley portfolio.
****, now to 2008.2003-25
2000 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranchdeep black red color, sweet nose, very strong chocolate and oak nose, on the palate very strong, almost Port-like, cassis and cherry with strong fortified sweet tone, dry on the finish but with strong fruit to match.
***, now to 2005.2003-26
2000 Turley Zinfandel Duartemedium deep red color, close nose, strong oak and spice, on the palate very full and strong, also Port-like but with more fruit to it than the Mead Ranch, better rounded, not my style but the biggest Turley of the night.
***(*), now to 2006.2003-28
1980 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyragueybright yellow color, nose faint and herbal, on the palate firm and not yet open, has a good base to it, strong aged tone, opens nicely with time, well balanced, genteel, not rich but very relaxed and approachable, subtle complexity.
***, ready to drink.2003-29
2001 Novy Chardonnayfrom the Santa Lucia Highlands of California, fat nose, buttery, on the palate strong and assertive, good buttery impact, a certain firmness, oak, very nice drink, good balance.
***, ready to drink.2003-30
1983 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Papemature color, brick, lightening color, great aged nose, berry, herbs, very Beaucastel, on the palate genteel and a bit drying on the finish, good plumpness, a bit of a plum/cherry tone, quite refined, not rough and tumble at all, I suspect some slight heat tainting here but the wine is still showing some good things, slight cinnamon tone.
***?, ready to drink, better read would come from a pristine bottle.2003-31
2000 Les Cailloux cuvee Centenairegood medium red color, ruby, on the palate very spicy, outstanding ripeness, cherry, cassis, red raspberries, a certain meatiness, oak powerful but this wine will come to balance with age, viscous, shuts down over time, a slight sweetness, very fine Rhone and pretty stunning in my book, perhaps the finest Rhone I have ever tasted, will age well but this seems destined to drink beautifully over a very broad window, even at this young age it's greatness is evident and enjoyable.
(*****), 2008-2018.
2003-321989 Heitz Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard
dark brick color, spiny nose, oak, spice, a bit of aged cassis, on the palate sweet and wide, slight chalk tone but has very little of the harshness of this vintage, finish dry and acidic, tiring, pleasant and mellow drink, at this price range perhaps a bit disappointing but it is showing better than many of it's peers in what is a pretty tough vintage for California.
**, now.2003-33
1994 Etude Cabernet Sauvignondeep bright purple color, starting to age a bit, on the nose herbs, very California, cassis, "sunny" in style, on the palate slippery, strong yet gentle oak, subtle spice, easygoing and nice but no fruit to speak of, it may come around and show fine in the end, but I am not sure, looking back I might have been a bit tough on this wine but after enough experience this much worry warrants heeding.
- at the time, now I would say ***? if more fruit emerges. It drinks nicely, but just lacks any personality right now.
2003-34
2000 Chateau Montrosegood deep red color, nose tight, thick, blueberries, oak, on the palate slippery and tight, nowhere near open, strong impact on the palate yet the fruit is completely closed, clearly quite massive, meaty, potent, brooding, slowly showing strong herbal Lafleur-like character over time, punch tone, monstrous and showing nothing tonight.
The next evening the last quarter bottle tasted at home with Dad- tannic, still deep in color, intense cassis and raspberry nose, oak, on the palate massive yet tight, classic structure and giant fruit to match- yet very tight right now, minerals, tannic, long finish, intensely fragrant for several minutes on the tail end, taste never leaves your mouth, uncanny resemblance to Chateau Lafleur still noticeable.
(*****), 2020-2050++, this is the first time I can confidently state a wine will outlive me!
2003-352001 Carlisle Zinfandel Russian River Gumtree Ranch in May 2003
bright red color, exuberant, ripe Zin, strong herbal notes, chutney tone, alcohol, nice wine, not my style but a nice limited production wine with some hand crafted style to it.
***, now to 2005.2003-37
1993 Chateau Latourbright reddish brick color, maturing, cedar nose, cassis, game, secondary tones, on palate opening and maturing to start, cassis, oak, tannin starting to fade, generous mid-palate, good concentration, strong finish showing signs of maturity, over time closes a little but this is about ready to drink, quite good, better than Lafite this vintage- in part due to how the styles of both chateaux complement this vintage- but not quite up to the level of the 1978 and
1994 Latours, plum notes over time, shuts down a bit more, really nice wine and if purchased at release price a wine to be happy to own now.***, 2005-2015.
2003-381990 F.E. Trimbach Riesling Clos St. Hune
color pale golden green, maturing, nose of citrus and some sweet earth tones, lime peel, coconut, on the palate rich yet still a bit restrained, finish strong and dry yet also with an inherent sweetness, fragrant and long, seems almost a tad flat at this point, as it opens a great depth is becoming apparent, borders on jammy but with a strong firm acid to counter that, 20- more opulent, racy, better balance emerging, floral tones more pronounced, finish lasts forever, seems to be back in hiding at 30 minutes- opulent, deep, yet dumb.
24 hours---**(**)+?, 2010-2020.
2003-391999 Chateau Margaux
deep red purple color, ripe cassis nose, herbs, a touch of spice, on the palate pretty tannic, blueberries, good ripe midpalate, strong oak, over time a very fresh nose emerges, evens out over time, cassis, herbs, full palate, really well put-together and incredibly harmonious, 30- buttery, excellent classic wine, 40- raspberries, lead, rich, this is destined to be a stunningly gorgeous mid-term drinker and I prefer it to Lafite and Palmer in 1999, my kind of wine, the sort of wine one wants to observe and revel in on a regular basis, this will go down in history as a great Margaux.
(****)+, 2010-2020, but I think it will always drink well.
2003-401986 Chateau Montrose
good deep color, very deep, maturing rim, on the palate ferociously tight, spicy plum nose, peppery and more open with time, I suspect some heat damage here- probably in the early years before purchase- and the yellowed label seems to bolster that concern, plums, spice, slight medicinal tone, needs more time and fresher bottles would surely be more exuberant.
**(**), 2005-2015.2003-41
2000 Quicelda Creek Cabernet Sauvignondeep black red color, nose very medicinal (not in a bad way), cherry, herbs, on the palate super-rich, tannic yet balanced, Cab-Franc chalk tones, outstanding, a clear step up from the 1999 recently tasted, buttery and lush despite the strong tannin, closes up quickly, solid, I will be eager to see where this goes and now consider me a believer in the hype surrounding this estate.
*(****), possibly 5 stars with time, 2008-2015.2003-42
1998 Penfold's Grange Hermitageblack color, on the nose blueberry, cassis, racy, gamey, rich, on the palate enormous impact, pepper stings the tongue, savage wine, a great depth to it, intense intoxicating fragrant blueberry and raspberry finish, mineral tones, gamey, meaty, wild, very long finish, grass tones over time, a complete wine, it will be fascinating to someday see what comes of this beauty.
(*****), 2010-2030.