Shea ‘Homer’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2004
The 2004 Shea ‘Homer’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is well within its drinking window, perhaps in the waning daylight of its splendor. Beautifully complex aromas of forest floor, damp leaves, truffles, mushroom, black cherries, and spice. On the palate, its medium-bodied with gorgeous concentration of fruit, and an energetic jolt of nervy acidity, making for […]
Abreu Madrona Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Yesterday I gave the 2002 Abreu Thorevilos five stars, if I could give the Madrona Ranch 5.5 stars, I would. Like the Thorevilos, Madrona Ranch Cabernet is limited production wine, only 500 cases were made, and it, too received a perfect 100 points from Parker. Thankfully, I tasted this before knowing anything about the producer. […]
Neiman Cellars Napa Valley Red 2005
The 2005 Neiman Cellars Napa Valley Red is a wine that I have mixed feelings about. While the nose emits a wonderful perfume of flowers, grated cinnamon, mulberries, forest floor, and cedar, it’s not perfectly balanced. Medium-bodied with monolithic tannins and hair-curling acidity, and astringency. I’m not convinced that aging will improve it, unfortunately, there […]
Musar Bekka Valley Red Blend 1999
As the winemaker stated during in a recent #VivinoTasteParty, Musar is Musar. There is a compelling quality to these wines that make them special, Musar has a unique thumbprint. Incredible complexity on the nose, it unfurls slowly revealing layers of ripe plums, figs, cigar box, dried rose petal, spice and marvelous top notes of mint […]
Raventós i Blanc Conca del Riu Anoia Barcelona de Nit 2011
One of the more serious Cava’s I’ve had the pleasure of tasting. In part, due to calcareous soils and a long, long tenure of the land. Raventós estate vineyards have been tended by the same family since the late 1400s. Aside from the gorgeous pink hue and lively bubbles, the nose is pure fruit. Wild […]