This is one of the best sub-$30 pinots I’ve tried. Jill agrees. Pretty translucent ruby. Tart red berry aromas, with some pine and earth. Palate is on the light, silky side with delicious depth and a long finish. We drank this immediately on opening. My brother Gary opened a bottle last night and let it [...]
Archive for February, 2011
2007 Rhys Alpine Vineyard Pinot Noir
Lighter, translucent ruby. Smells like a Chambolle Musigny, with ash and spice. Absolutely captivating. I’d guess burgundy, not California blind. Then subtle, medium body, but with deceptive depth. Incredibly charming. Flavors range from tiny tart cranberry, raspberry and plum to pepper and black tea. For such a lithe wine, there’s an incredibly long and delicious [...]
2006 T-Vine Napa Valley Petite Sirah
Very dark. Decadent aromas with roasted dark fruits and freshly ground dark roasted coffee. Rich palate, quite dense and oaky. This is delicious. All-around an excellent, special occasion wine. The only minor deduction is because I don’t get a strong sense of place. Drank with messy delicious take-out from Joe’s stone crab in [...]
NV Paul Dethune Brut Grand Cru
Pale golden. Jill says rose gold. It smells like yeasty hay and brioche. Jill says brioche with an orange glaze. Refreshing palate of pink grapefruit, kiwi and kumquats. Jill says tangy, yummy splashes of formed bubbles. Jill would like to try it with caviar. For all its yeasty acidity it rounds out on the long [...]
2004 Francois Raveneau Chablis Valmur Grand Cru
Fantastic. Amazing aromatics. Pineapple and peach. Salty and briny palate. Singular and amazing sense of place. Rocking right now. Brian Orlando, a friend of mine since kindergarten! says more flavors and personality than any chablis he’s tried. Exaggerated long finish. 100 Euros at Willie’s Wine Bar in Paris. Trading for $160 at auction. A+
2005 Francis Ford Coppola Claret
This is a decent glass of juice. Dark purple. Smells nice, like decadent plums and figs. Compels me to sip. Then simple, and medium bodied, with some lighter red fruits and a soft, somewhat shallow finish. This is at about the good house wine level, but it is priced too high for its quality. [...]