Shay A

This was fun. 40yr old Napa Pinot. 12.5%ABV!

Cork was in decent shape. Pours faded ruby with bricking around the rim. First smell was a ringer for old burg! There was some mushroom and red berry funk with an herbal profile while being both odd and enjoyable. After 20mins, the funk faded and showed more old potpurri, chewing tobacco, raspberry fig bar, and a red fruit tang character at the finish (tart, perception of sappiness but not sweet). Little balsamic too. Acidity was mostly gone but the wine had a decent frame to it.

This was more for the cerebral side than it was the enjoyable side. I enjoyed this right after pop when the funk made it intriguing. After an hour, the wine fell off and became dull. Fun experiment. — 5 hours ago

Shay A

9.5

One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). I was really hesitant to open this given the fanfare of this specific wine, but also how DrCrane can be an in-between wine for me (so explosive young, shut down at 5-10yrs, re-open 10+). Decanted two-three hours.

Classic deep purple-black DrCrane in the glass. Aromatics are immediate with ripe blue and black fruits, baking spices, mocha and graphite. Just a little bit of high-toned EA to make it pop, along with this roasted character I always get from DrCrane wines. Opulent and polished in every way on the palate, this is a tidal wave of flavor with no hard edges. It’s a towering wine in the sense of so much concentration and depth on the mid-palate, but it’s so incredibly polished at the finish…almost shockingly so. The ripe fruits and the dark chocolate linger longer than any Napa cab I can remember. Iron first in a velvet glove.

No need to worry, these are open for business. Plenty of structure to carry a while, but this window seems like it was made for how this wine is drinking now. — 6 hours ago

Shay A

9.3

My good buddy @Bryan Kesting introduced me to Agricola a few months ago, so I went on the hunt for a few bottles!

As a long time fan of SamiOdi, it’s been a treat watching a new style of Aussie Shiraz become more widely known…picking the fruit earlier, lower ABV, different aging vessels, etc. Agricola wines are made by Callum Powell (son of Torbreck founders).

Mix of 110yr old vines (Ringland Three Rivers) and 30yr old vines (Burley & Naimanya). 100% whole cluster and carbonic maceration. 13.2ABV

Deep purple color and intense heady aromas (a la SamiOdi). My memory bank takes me to some of the Pax Sonoma Hillsides that I’ve had…very Saint Joseph-esque but with a touch more richness. This shows more density than the Pax, but the flavor profile is very similar. So complex aromatically with layers of sweet and slightly savory Syrah fruit (underripe blackberries, smoked meat, iron, dark florals), and crunchy stems. There’s a steak of green down the middle that nods to more Syrah than Shiraz (maybe that’s the cooler Eden Valley coming through). Tasty. — 20 days ago

Shay A

9.3

A few bottles I opened with my buddy Joe Lucca when work brings him to town!

After having the 2021 rosé version last month, I’ve been itching to try the red. Sardinian Cannonau, which is their version of Grenache.

Followed over two days.

Deep ruby with a hint of purple. Initial aromatics show a little smoke, peppered black raspberries, black cherries and sweet florals. The warmth of the wine is noticeable on the palate…cherry jerky, kirsch, rhubarb, spice. Hibiscus tea. The fruit is bright and almost crunchy (not overly ripe). Good acidity. Structure is quite impressive…plenty of tannin on day two. There’s a faint herbal, almost medicinal, note that I find often in Italian reds like barbera and some merlot. The ABV pokes out a bit (15.5), but I suppose that matches their climate.

If poured blind, Grenache (or Grenache blend) would be the call…juicy, bright, peppery, elevated warmth. It comes across as a singular expression, not a big blend. However, there’s no way I’m taking this to Italy…or rather, Sardinia! Decant for an hour, or hold a few more years. — 6 hours ago

Shay A

9.4

One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time). The best score for this is “not ready”, but 94 represents where I felt this was in its evolution…long way to go.

On a table with a burgundy, Bordeaux and Napa cab, THIS won most expressive aromatics. Could smell this before I even sat down! Deep translucent ruby/purple in the glass. The whole cluster/stems dominate initially before giving way to dark potpourri, violets, red and black berries, and herbs. It’s got spiced-fruit and grip on the palate (kudos to the stems), with some blood orange and a little licorice showing up at the finish. Great acidity to help this cruise a while. I don’t have a lot of experience with Platt (I know AG gave this 100pts) so I’m not sure if this is Platt style vs RM style, but it’s the most expressive RM Pinot I’ve had in a while (if not ever).

Decanted two hours. I’d recommend at least that if opening now or holding 5-7yrs for the real fireworks. My only 2018, but have a few newer ones that I’ll forget about for a while. — 6 hours ago

Shay A

9.2

While not on the same level as the 2010 Left Bank I opened a few months ago, the profile of this 2011 Right Bank was squarely on the bridge between Sonoma and right bank Bordeaux.

About 60 merlot/ 40 CabFranc. 13.9ABV

Pours a slightly fading red-black. The entire time this was open, the aromatics sported a distinct funk that I’m struggling to describe…whatever comes before brett, that’s what this was. A mix of earth/forest, mineral, fig and a small hint of leather (I’ve come across a similar profile in older warm vintage right bank Bordeaux…but this is cooler vintage Sonoma). The palate is structured but in a nicely balanced phase…red and black fruits, more fig, and espresso at the finish.

Followed over the course of 4hrs from bottle, and while the last glass seemed to be a bit more integrated, I think these are in “drink now” phase. — 25 days ago

Shay A

9.2

My first time with Doyard’s Vendemiaire after previously having enjoyed their other cuvées.

100% Chardonnay; 2017 base vintage; 48 months on lees; 4g/l dosage

I normally trend toward BdN champagnes as some BdB can be overly lean/sharp when young, but the time on lees here (and use of some barrel) gives this a beautiful frame while accentuating the bright Chardonnay fruit. Honeysuckle, sea salt and lemon on the nose with faint roasted cashews. Beautifully energetic on the palate with some powdered lemon bar, white peach, salted popcorn kernel with a little bit of vanilla and toast coming through kudos to the gentle barrel use. Delicious BdB at a nice price.

Not a surprise, but I recommend enjoying this cool but not ice cold…it was less aggressive and more expressive after warming up a bit from the ice bucket. — 6 hours ago

Shay A

9.2

I picked up a couple ‘88s recently as I’m always looking for birth year wines and opted to open this one first. Rough label, but provenance was great.

Consumed from bottle over the course of two hours. After 10-20mins of blowing off so 30+yr funk, this became a total surprise! Faded ruby with bricking but that’s the only sign that this had age. Aromatics sported sweet cherry tobacco, older floral/potpurri, and a mix of red and black berry fruits. Juicy and vibrant on the palate! Shocked. Core of red and black fruits carry the profile with fig, herbs and a little bit of leather. Good spine of acidity here. Not much tannin at the finish, but it’s classically old Napa merlot. Drink up and enjoy! — 6 hours ago

Shay A

9.4

*pic of the white wines* One of the wines I supplied for an annual lunch hosting (co-host this time), along with the 2018 Morlet LpD. 2009 was the last year Hugel used “Jubilee” before moving to “Grossi Laüe”. This is Hugel’s “Grand Cru” selection from their Schoenenbourg vineyard.

Undeniably Alsatian Riesling in the glass from first whiff…floral, minerals, and only slightly TDN (petrol) aromatic driven, but noticeable power. Vintage (and age) has helped this reach a fantastic drinking window where acidity and flavor profile are in balance and not fighting each other. Ripe herb-crusted yellow fruits alongside limestone/mineral in a powerful profile. There is warmth to this vintage and it makes an appearance in how fleshy the wine is (which is great). At almost 16yrs, there is no rush, but this drinking window is exceptional. — 6 hours ago

Shay A

9.4

Since I sadly can’t buy a bunch of TAllemand Chaillot (or even more unfortunately, Reynard), this producer’s expression is one I’ve been waiting to try. Only recently found out he is Noël Verset’s nephew (which certainly helped in getting those old vines from Chaillot!)

Double decanted for an hour before consuming the first half from the bottle the following few hours. Gorgeous translucent red-purple in the glass. Aromatics are bright and expressive…potpurri, black pepper, dark berry fruits, and whole cluster/stems. The palate is crunchy and energetic with peppered blackberries, herbaceous whole-cluster spice, and savory minerals. Lingering finish with big grip. It presents as a “big” cool climate Syrah (if that makes sense), not a burly rustic Cornas. Absolutely delicious.

Second half was consumed the following day and the finish was a bit more finesse driven with all the flavors in balance. Drink now with a couple hours of air or hold a few more years. Now to try the Sans Soufre… — a month ago