McClean Vineyards Estate Private Reserve Syrah. Vertical from 2/22/2012. Amazing differences between the 2003 and 2005. Of course the Swordfish steaks, Risotto, and veggies were also amazingly different. But the wine even trumped the fish!

Zaca Mesa Santa Ynez Valley Syrah 2007
Enjoyed with sparks nephew. Not much complexity but nice Dark fruit. Went well with summer BBQ.

Just too much, if that's possible.

Sashimi at my most favorite (Itamae has been feeding me for 27 years now) restaurant last night, with three drinking and one non-drinking.

Dusted two 1.8L issho-bin of sake. Started with a a couple masu of rather pedestrian and pre chilled
Kurosawa while the quite good
Onikoroshi Junmai Daiginjo was chilling. Alas, it went entirely too rapidly and we were forced back to the Kurosawa.

A couple of single malts were also passed around and shared by others, as this is a quite small and very interactive sushi bar.

Ready to be opened: 2009 Turley Pesenti Vineyard Zin

2004 Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino tastes like Tuscany

Would love to hear how that Turley is doing...ya baby killer

tytiger58 wrote:2004 Piancornello Brunello di Montalcino tastes like Tuscany

Would love to hear how that Turley is doing...ya baby killer

We didn't drink it. Too many people, too much beer. Back with his brothers he goes.

Hopefully an 09' Municipal Winemakers Dark Red.

And it was.
6/24/2012: Decanted in glass for an hour. Bottles notes this as 50% cab. & 50% Syrah and its made in an Aussie style
Color is a beautiful deep red with a black core. Nose and palate is dominated by black currant and plum, and the nose carries a slight green streak which does not come through on the tongue. What does come through is medium to high tannins which were unexpected but gave the wine a wonderful mouth feel. silky smooth with a lip licking dryness on the finish. All in all highly recommended.

It was also used in cooking. Braised Chicken with mushrooms and tomato's out of the William Sonoma Wine and food by Joshua Wesson which turned out wonderfully. Fed my pregnant wife and all were happy.

2011 Virage Rose

ThunderThighs wrote:2010 St. Julian Pinot Grigio.

Do tell, how is it? Have yet to pop a cork on mine.

2010 Stephan Ridge by L'Adventure. Really disappointed with this one. Tasted like grape gummy drops cleaned with dishwashing liquid.

2003 Coume del Mas Banyuls

This stuff would be much better to cook some hot baked cinnamon apples with

redwinefan wrote:Tasted like grape gummy drops cleaned with dishwashing liquid.

best description ever

'03 Wellington Cuvée R Syrah, with grilled pork chops dusted with Java Gourmet turkey and more seasoning, grilled asparagus, and a terrific salad with fresh local lettuce. I love summer!

Just opened the glass closure on the Used auto parts since it was back on the Woot off.

I had to find out if it was any good before I threw down for some more.

I need some elk or deer to go with this.

2010 Salvard Unique SB from the Loire (imported by Kermit Lynch)

Rocking tonight!

Had a 2006 Twisted Oak @$!@^ (the red one). Started off a little awkward, but came into excellentness.

Day 2 on the used auto parts. It is much better today. Maybe it could be the laid back mood.

Full sail limited edition recipe #4 lager.

2006 Tallulah Syrah Bald Mountain Ranch

Good stuff.

Winedavid39 wrote:had the Arcadian 05 Syrah last night while watching Wimbledon hightlights.

Intended to just have one glass. failed miserably.

Good to know. Not that you failed, lol. I was just given a bottle as a gift.

The surprise of the afternoon (yah, we've started early) is our own 2011 CyberPub Cellars Rogue Rhone Blend.

Last minute guests (many) stopped by, and I pulled out 6 racks of already cooked BBQ'd baby back ribs, salad, chips, dips, etc. I already had over-chilled 2 bottles of the wine, to about 48-50 degrees, and then put in each glass a healthy twist of lemon rind, no pith. It is well received. I decide to put out a bottle of the wine, properly chilled, no lemon, and everyone enjoyed that, too, but commented on how the lemon actually added a nice acidity.

Inspiration Vineyards 08' Carneros Pinot. Opened but resting. Will comeback later with notes.

Edit: 6/29/2012: Because the wine is unfined and unfiltered I stood it up for a week prior to opening. I could see the sediment neatly sitting at the bottom and we were ready to go. The nose upon first opening is of fresh cut strawberries and cherries. As it opened up I got a little smoke as well. The palate is very tart and very zippy and the flavors match the nose.

At first it seemed like a very light Pinot but as I looked at it under bright lights it was very concentrated at its core which makes sense since it really packs a punch. This is very well made wine but not in a style that I really enjoyed. This is on the lighter side of Cali pinots but the flavors are very strong. Nothing subtle here.

Solid if not excellent wine Jon.

My CT notes on the Tallulah I noted above:

Aired in the bottle for about 30-45 minutes while dinner was cooking. Still a little muted and hot upon pouring but after another 20 minutes or so in the glass it quickly began to come together.

Color: If I only had color to go by I would of said this was a petite sirah. Very dark beautiful color.
Nose of blueberries and blackberries with a hint of baking spice; mostly cloves and nutmeg.
Taste: Nice fruit flavor with spices and hints of tobacco. Nice luscious, silky, mouthfeel, fairly short but pleasant finish with a bit of tartness.

Really enjoyable stuff and good QPR. Went very well with a Cajun rubbed rib-eye

Need something to go with my rack of lamb tonight. After finishing off last night's '07 Noceto Sangiovese Normale. Maybe an old Syrah or a Brunello or Barolo. Too bad I don't have any old CdP or proper Rhone.

Having a bottle of Hunt Cellars 2001 Reserve Cabernet, first with some Tallegio and peasant bread. Dinner is grass-fed ribeye, green beans (from the garden) and sweet potatoes topped w/ beau cheese. Surprisingly remarkable for a Paso wine (which I'm usually not a huge fan), 13.6%. Wonderful aged Cab characteristics of leather and spice. Fruit and tannin are still evident, but probably not too much life left in this one. I wish it had a bit more acidity, the finish has great potential, but then ends on a slightly sweet note (which I don't care for). It may lack the nuance and complexity of a nice aged Corison or Bordeaux, but this is a very good wine.

Just a tiny bit of the Jana Angel Eis, Riesling Ice Style Wine before I head out.

Domaine Du Pavillon Mercurol Crozes Hermitage

Earthy delicious black fruits low abv 12.5% perfect for a hot summer evening.

klezman wrote:Need something to go with my rack of lamb tonight. After finishing off last night's '07 Noceto Sangiovese Normale. Maybe an old Syrah or a Brunello or Barolo. Too bad I don't have any old CdP or proper Rhone.

Went with a 2005 Terre da Vino Barolo. Evolved nicely in the decanter and has many years left in it.

09 Ty red blend is decanting. Glass now to sample. Not too bad right out of the bottle. Great QPR on the red blend

Wellington's Duke tonight. I swear every bottle of this tastes different to me, must be my mood

EDIT: What's up with the white space at the top????

jhkey wrote:Wellington's Duke tonight. I swear every bottle of this tastes different to me, must be my mood

EDIT: What's up with the white space at the top????

I do like my Dukes. About a third thru my case and a half. What an absolutely great easy drinker with a QPR off the charts.

Triacipedis & Minotaur's Chalice with Thai panang curry. I'm just not a huge fan of that wine...I haven't found the interesting bits after 3 bottles.

2008 C. Donatiello Floodgate Vineyard Pinot with grilled pizza.

Tonight with blue cheese covered filet and sweet potato fries, I have planned:

2005 Fontes da Cunha Dão Munda

kylemittskus wrote:Tonight with blue cheese covered filet and sweet potato fries, I have planned:

2005 Fontes da Cunha Dão Munda

I found that to be delicious! Not the filet the wine

tytiger58 wrote:I found that to be delicious! Not the filet the wine

Oh, s***. It's going to suck.

kylemittskus wrote:Oh, s***. It's going to suck.

Please pack up any remaining bottles and send to me!

Tallulah Shake Ridge Vineyards Les Trois Voix

Tastes straight out of the S. Rhone. My palate is a' changin', though.