Monster Mash
Château de Beaucastel
Hommage à Jacques Perrin Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2001
An absolute monster of a wine. 4 hours in the decanter served perfectly to allow this 2001, perhaps one of the best Hommage vintages ever, to flaunt its incredibly complex aromatic array of black fruits, roasted Provençal herbs, licorice, campfire smoke and Christmas spices.
It’s still youthful with ripe tannins and a ton of muscle. Nowhere near its peak. But it’s entering its drinking window seamlessly, being incredibly giving and expressive with sufficient air. Similar to how VV Gonon differs from the regular bottling, Hommage just cranks everything up to 10 and it’s concentrated flavors come at you in waves. But it never gets heavy as there is just enough lift and precision to keep everything harmonious. A very special bottle from a very special vintage indeed. — 3 years ago
Michter's
Small Batch Sour Mash Whiskey 1753
Applewood, poached pear, maple syrup and pecans with black lime, ginger lemon-honey, orange bitters, rosemary, baked sweet potatoes oozing créme fraîche, brown sugar and caramel. It’s a noseful! Hot, herbaceous mouthful on the coat. Warm maduro-caramel turns noir in the slanted chiaroscuros of toffee and brittle, respectively. Big lemon citrus with orange zest, banana bread, sage, allspice, mace, cedar, pipe tobacco puff, black raisin, with a svelte acid streak running the length of a generous satin mouthfeel. Impossible value here. Complex notes from the mash make this sparkle with edgy notes of bottled lightning. #Michters #Michterssmallbatch #Michterssmallbatchsourmash #Michterssourmash #whiskey #Anericanwhiskey #KYwhiskey #ky #fermentedmash #upcycledmash #mash #louisvilleky #Michtersdistillery — 4 years ago
Weingut Pittnauer
Mash Pitt Grüner Veltliner Blend 2018
Hints of lemon,apricot, jasmine & banana. Light to medium bodied, not too acidic. Light fruit taste with a short finish. — 4 years ago
Château Pavie
Saint-Èmilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2003
Massive monster of a wine that will obviously polarise. The type of wine that you drink while being fed grapes and fanned with a giant palm leaf. Opulent and luxurious with blackberry, brambles and tar. Its going to be too much for a lot of people but if you like your wines full of flavour then this is for you! — 17 days ago
The Standish Wine Company
Single Vineyard Shiraz 2003
So, many of you have not had the pleasure of having Dan’s wines. It is largely due to the fact he doesn’t have a US importer. He sells all his mid production level wines through his mailing list. That makes importing from his mailing list as restrictive as the import fees. They are equal to the price of the wines you order. Not something you’ll do. I didn’t. You need to find his wines on the secondary market to be cost effective.
We had the privilege of visiting his Cellar Door in the Spring of 2017. What a fantastic visit and walk of his Estate with him. The age of his Estate vines are 100 plus years old and their yield is less than a ton per acre which, does not make for a lot of wine but, instead a very concentrated wine.
Dan traveled to and worked in many of the key wine regions before settling in as Torbreck’s Winemaker and then marching to his own drum doing his own thing as “The Standish”, his way. No compromises.
The first thing you need to know about Dan’s wines is you can drink them early but, that would be a huge mistake. This 03 is sensational now but, is worthy of more cellaring. It has 10-20 years of life ahead of it...proper storage of course.
This is a second night wine for us and it is still big.
The nose reveals smokey; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, mulberries/boysenberries, baked/poached strawberries & some raspberries, sweet tarriness, dark berry cola, black pepper, steeped tea, eucalyptus, mint, tree bark with sap, herbaceous, dry crushed rocks, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, moist, forest floor with dry leaves with withering; dark, red, purple flowers framed in violets & strong lavender.
The body is full, round, lush & ruby. The tannins are still big, round, tarry & meaty. The structure, tension, length & balance are just there & yet still not there. It is still a monster on day two. Smokey; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum skin, black cherries, blueberries, mulberries/boysenberries, baked/poached strawberries & some raspberries, sweet tarriness, grilled meats, dark berry cola, black pepper, steeped tea, eucalyptus, mint, tree bark with sap, herbaceous-sage & rosemary, used charcoal, graphite, dark spice with palate heat, burned ambers, incense, rubber toy, dry crushed rocks, moist clay & top soil, dry stone, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, vanilla, moist, forest floor with dry leaves with withering; dark, red, purple flowers framed in violets & strong lavender. The acidity is round and a rushing river. The extremely long finish is, big, round, elegant, floral, well balanced, runs juicy to dry with persistence for days falling onto earthiness & dark spice on the long set.
Photos of, a plaque that hangs above my kitchen sink that speaks to me always, Dan Standish, his Cellar Door and surrounding buildings. — 3 years ago
Caillez-Lemaire
Extra Dry Rosé Champagne Blend
Just concluded the annual Fall seclusion at our cabin in the Rangeley lakes region of Maine, mobile service up there is mostly non-existent, after several days I am posting again. Notes are somewhat brief, as my focus is relaxing and watching the Common Loons swimming and diving in the cove in front of our camp.
Solid producer, no new notes:
Nose has wet strawberry, orange peel, ripe stone fruits, pineapple core and light, fresh brioche notes.
Palate has strawberry-raspberry mash (light), orange/grapefruit pith, ripe peach (light) and wonderful limestone backbone. — 4 years ago
Kurt Hall
Delicious — 3 days ago