Iceberg Alley

Mayer

Dr. Mayer Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2023

Shay A
9.4

I’ve been on the lookout for Mayer wines here in the US and happened to find a bottle in a retail shop while out of state visiting some family. I’m shocked much makes it to the states with roughly 160 cases of this wine produced.

100% whole cluster; 13.5%ABV

My immediate thought after popping and pouring was that if Cayuse made a Pinot, it would smell like this. So much stemmy/herbal/savory aromatics with peppered rhubarb and red berries. Translucent ruby in the glass (closer to darker-style rosé’s in color). The funk continues on the palate (in a delicious way) with more stemmy and savory spice, cranberries, and black tea. The stems give this nice tannin structure while the acidity here is vibrant…keeps you going back for another sip. I followed over two days and it stayed pretty consistent.

This is 100% up my alley and a wine I’d love to acquire more of. Very curious how these age (because it seems like they would hold wonderfully).
— a day ago

Somm, Tom and 13 others liked this
Tom Casagrande

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Very interesting!
Bob McDonald

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@Shay A I always smile at Mayer’s Label….a complete knockoff of the Rousseau Chambertin label
Pinotman /// Andreas

Pinotman /// Andreas

Agreed pretty cool 😎 at some point have to visit

Long Shadows Vintners

Poet's Leap Columbia Valley Riesling 2017

Shay A
9.1

I’ve come to really enjoy the entire portfolio of wines from Long Shadows, and while the reds are a bit more up my alley, this is really difficult to beat for the price. I think I enjoyed the 2016 a bit more, but I think this will hold longer.

Made in an off-dry style, there is a tinge of sweetness that reminds me more of German Riesling than Alsatian Riesling. At pop, there was a slight note of petrol on the nose but it dissipated by day two. Honeyed stone fruits, apricot and crushed limestone also show up aromatically. On the palate, it’s mineral/slate driven with some lemon-lime, lychee and zippy acidity. Touch of sweetness doesn’t arrive until the very back end of the palate. Best enjoyed around cellar temp, in my experience.
— 6 years ago

Ira, Ron and 40 others liked this
Somm David T

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@Shay A Where’s the Pork Chop? 😋 Good anytime. Especially, for under $20.
Martin Sher

Martin Sher

I’ve been putting these down with frightening ease this spring. Also love the Sequel and Pirouette.
Shay A

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@David T : That is still on the schedule! Trust me, I haven’t forgot!

@Martin Sher : Understandably so! The Sequel is my favorite from the lineup!

Broadside

Printer's Alley Proprietary Red Blend 2016

Sour cherries giving way to bitter tea leaves. Imbalanced. Good, not great. — a year ago

Tom, Ron and 2 others liked this

Andrea Occhipinti

Alea Viva Lazio Rosso Aleatico

Delightful, natural funk, light bodied, orange zest, cherry, floral, dries out the tongue, right up my alley — 2 years ago

Longoria

Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay 2018

This is right up my alley. Very Burgundian in style. Noticeable new oak without taking center stage. Perfectly balanced between the sweet vanilla and the tropical acidic notes. A+ new world Chard! — 4 years ago

Raina Fraley
with Raina

The Standish Wine Company

Single Vineyard Shiraz 2002

Shay A
9.5

This was my contribution. As I have really gotten in to Aussie wines the last year or two, I’ve always wanted to try this wine (of any vintage), and couldn’t believe my luck when a local acquaintance who is wanting to downsize his cellar offered me two bottles at an amazing price. Upon opening, I was hit with smoked brisket, touch of bacon fat, and ripe blackberries. Not quite gamey or funky, but definitely savory in style. As it opened, the meat/savory notes came and went ever so often, allowing purity of the blackberries, boysenberries, and black cherries to shine. Charcoal smoke with baked fig arrive at the finish. A complex, delicious wine, and right up my alley for the style of wine I enjoy. @David T , you were correct in thinking I’d love this! — 7 years ago

joe leatherwoodDan FitzgeraldMark Flesher
with joe, Dan and 1 other
James, Rob and 46 others liked this
Bob McDonald

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@Shay A What a find re the vintage. Didn’t know they were producing back then.
Fraser McKinley

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Always loved that ‘02 @Shay A, I think along with the inaugural ‘99 and the ‘12 it’s one of Dans finest!
Shay A

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@Bob McDonald : My thoughts exactly. Only the 4th vintage, as this began in ‘99. I’ll be holding my last bottle another year or two!

@Fraser McKinley : That means I need to get to finding some ‘12!

Lenz Moser

Niederösterreich Grüner Veltliner

Love these simple dry German / Austrian wines. Pairs well with everything in my mind, and cheap as hell in Germany. Not as cheap here but cheap enough to remind me the bargain they are overseas. Weisswein schorle forever. Oh yeah, stone fruit notes, maybe a bit peppery, but dry, so up my alley for a daily wine. — 2 years ago

Amy Tree Kilpatrick
with Amy and Tree
Douglas and ESF liked this
Tree Kilpatrick

Tree Kilpatrick

Nice classic GV. Hint of green apples and just a touch of pear. Grassy aroma.
8.7

Dassai Sake Brewery

Dassai 23 Junmai Daiginjo Yamadanishiki Sake

After a line-up featuring the likes of Aramasa, Yamamoto, Tatenokawa, and Ohmine, the Dassai 23 Centrifuge came off a little boring. As JT puts it, “It’s what I’d expect saké to taste like.” Then chef Alex added the darnest comment, “Doesn’t it remind you of soju.” Hahahaha.

Rich, round and heavy, with an almost sterile quality to the finish, it definitely wasn’t up my alley but I got to commend how lovely the silky textures were. Solid though - Dassai is Dassai, like how Dom is Dom. Reliability at scale.
— 3 years ago

Nicolas, Aravind and 5 others liked this

Château Féret-Lambert

Red Bordeaux Blend 2015

Expected purple-black without variance. Ripe plums and rich prunes dance the dance of dawn and dusk. Dried blackberry and red currant trace their steps. Clean waters flow and blueberry and elderberry emerge. Even bacon fat. This is plump Bordeaux. Graphite washes thinly, revealing black currant and lingonberry fleetingly before settling on dried lavender and dried mallow blossom and briny violet. True to the rue. Tart cherries peek through windows in the rain-slicked, cobbled alley. Cranberry skin. #Bordeaux #chateauFéretLambert #Grézillac #BordeauxRouge #FrenchWine #wine #redwine #bordeauxsupérieur #merlotblend — 6 years ago

Dawn, David and 4 others liked this