willi loth appellations

L'Ancienne Mercerie Les Petites Mains Faugeres bright purple in the glass.. good fruit.. a touch earthy on the finish. maybe heading past its prime.

Le Mas des Flauzieres Cotes du Ventoux 2007  a bit green, young vines, fruit is good.

Le Mas des Flauzieres Cotes du Ventoux 2007  iron, iodine, band aid.. raspberry.. soft.

Celeste Cotes du Rhone Village Visan 2005.. same flavors of iron and iodine... but a little red apple undertones. 

Stephen Vincent WInery with Golden Barrel

Image of Stephen Vincent via SnoothStephen Vincent had not been available to me because it was a berbiglia exclusive through the defunct premier cru distributors. I will now carry all the varietals they distribute to Missouri and got a chance to taste 3 . All of them have California designations. I  believe Stephen Vincent is a negotiant buyer who owns no actual vineyard sites.

Chardonnay 2008  soft and lightly oaked. a little dull on the finish which would go away when slightly chilled.

Pinot Noir 2009 light garnet color.. briary tight nose, cranberry and rhubarb fruit.. earth...

Zinfandel 2007  briary nose, good fruit, mid palate fruit.. best of the bunch for me.

Bethel Heights and Penner Ash

Image of Bethel Heights Vineyard via SnoothJosepha  from Northwest Wine Alliance or somesuch,... her last week with them. and also Craig from Pinnacle

Bethel Heights one of the better longer lived wineries from Oregon. When I went to Pinot Camp two years ago they had my favorite wine of the tasting. Pinot Blanc... yummy

2009 Gruner Veltliner.. normally found in Austria a new varietal for the Oregon, may be a little creamier and rounder than the Austrian version but tasty non the less. nice minerality and just enough acidity...

2008 Estate Chardonnay soft and easy.. a light touch of creaminess and oak.. almost a little too creamy.. maybe a little more acidity..

2008 Bethel Estate Pinot Noir.. dark color, dense and concentrated.. a little cool so not as much coming on the palate... also very young.

2007 Casteel Reserve Pinot Noir... dried fruits and a little candy... lighter in color than the 2008 and missing some middle ground.  pretty nose though of roses and dried fruit.


2008 Penner-Ash Pinot Noir Willamette Valley  tight tight tight.. either from the cold or from being young.. I think with some time in bottle or glass it may open up ... light tannins that really didnt show off any.. and some pretty fruit but too cool to be complex...

willi loth appellations

Image of Château Mourgues du Gres via SnoothTasting through some french today.. usually enjoy the regions but the wines today didnt show well.. may be the cold weather has stunted their growth?

Domaine Plouzeau Savignon Touraine 2008... loire white, mostly sauv  blanc.. lots of minerality but not much fruit on the finish.. a little tang.. not a winner

Domaine de Poulvarel Red Rhone 2007  grenache/syrah blend that I really like.. the cold seems to make the Iodine more pronounced. some black fruits but not enough to really shine through

Domaine de Poulvarel Costieres de Nimes Les Perrottes.. sweet fruit nose and juicy red fruit on the palate but blunted somewhat.. not rich... a little coffee on the finish but overall disappointing for the vintage.

Chateau Mourgues du gres Capitelles des Mourgues 2007... dark color and the chill made the fruit seem overripe,, almost like a port without the richness that usually is associated with this wine.. again a great producer, we have had rose from this before and I think I will need to retaste once it gets warmer..

First post of the new year

Happy New Year.

2010 Isabel Sauvignon Blanc , good varietal flavors.. not grapefruity and full bodied. round.

2008 Vega Sindoa El Chapparal Garnacha... very rustic some dark berry fruit but definitely more about the earth.. not as happy with it as before.. maybe too young

2007 Cartlidge and Brown Merlot California... tart and quickk.. not too exciting

2007 Castillo di Meleto Rosso Toscana.. mostly sangiovese with some bing cherry fruit... but lean and linear and not as inviting as others in this price.

2008 Turn 4 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa... turn 4 is the finishing turn on a racetrack... to me it seems like how do you know the front or the back of the bottle or an egg? anyway.. pretty ruby color and LOTS of cassis both in the palate and nose.. may smooth out over time...

jonata with matt

The Pairing White 2007 California Santa Ynez SB, Semillon  a touch smoky, sweetness and minerality. Full bodied for a white wine. tamed Sauv Blanc

Jonata La Flor 2008  Santa Ynez  light yellow color.. straw and grass.. good acidity long finish.

The Pairing Pinot Noir 2008 Santa Ynez  dark ruby in glass.. fruit and earth.smoky dried fruits..

The Pairing Red 2006 classic bordeaux blend  dark in glass. rich cherry on palate.. acidity behind it. Lots of high notes...could use some more depth.

Jonata El Alma Cabernet Franc 2007 beautiful nose, herbal coolness and striking tannins.. ripe... long finish.

Jonata El Desafio Cabernet Sauv 2007 full bodied.. rich.. soft tannins..supple...firm but giving tannin..very tasty.

MollyDooker wine tasting with cellarmasters

Image of Mollydooker Wines via SnoothTasted through 6 Mollydooker wines from older vintages bought before they were in this market. The thing that struck me was how super( to the point of obscene) concentrated these wines were. Not for the faint of heart with high alcohol and extractions. Summed up by the gentleman sitting on my right that these wines were too much... relentless, and unforgiving.. take no prisoners.

2006 Maitre d Cabernet , dark color, thick and juicy... dark fruit and lush... which becomes overbearing..

2006 The Boxer Shiraz dark color, a little dried meat or bacon fat on the back of the nose which was a pleasant surprise. Roasted meats and dark berry on the finish.. some acidity..not much

2006 Gigglepot Caberent dark berry full bodied dark berry... not interesting at all

2006 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz dark berry full...

2006 Enchanted Path Shiraz/Cabernet Dark full good weight... a little more interesting

2006 Carnival of Love Shiraz given a 97 point rating by parker.. and every bit a parker darling.. full bodied light acidity.lush and dark berry fruits.. tongue and palate coating lushness...