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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12266
 | | 09/24/2003 11:07 PM |
| I attended an offline last night in Pasadena with several of the SoCal forum members. I didn't bother to keep detailed notes since I really wanted to just kick back and enjoy the wonderful company I was keeping. However, I thought I'd share my general impressions of each of the wines I had in case it might help somebody out.
Here are my general impressions of the wines in the order of rank I assigned them for the night:
2001 Pride Cabernet Franc (93-95)
Very nice wine. Still extremely youthful. Very firm tannins but good nose, fruit and acidity. If drinking soon needs at least an hour in decanter. Would probably be great the next day as leftovers. My wine of the night.
1999 Merryvale Profile (93-95)
Very nice wine. Still youthful but more finesse than the Reserve bottling. Firm tannins, good fruit and acidity. Nose similar to the Reserve. Hard for me to discern the difference. Needs more time in bottle or serious decanting prior to serving. It was really difficult for me to put this wine behind the Pride as WOTN but I gave the Pride the nod as I believe it has more upside potential.
1999 Pine Ridge Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (92-93)
A tannic beast. This wine is no where near ready to drink yet. Tannins are strong but the fruit and acidity are right there along for the ride. I would sit on this for another year or two before trying again. Could be a really good 10 year wine.
1999 Merryvale Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (92-93)
Great wine and a reasonable price point based on previous shopping expeditions. Very similar nose to the Profile but a more “in your face” nose. Not as supple and refined as the Profile but a nice wine nonetheless. Sit on it for another year and try again.
2000 Martinelli Three Sisters Vineyard Pinot Noir (92)
This is everything I look for in a California Pinot Noir. Simply a great wine. Tannins are still firm but there is ample fruit and acidity for more aging. I’d let this one sit for another year before trying again as well.
1997 Pahlmeyer Merlot (90-91)
This was an excellent Merlot. Soft, supple and getting really close to go. If opening now I would either decant for 30 minutes prior to serving or maybe decant in glass for 15-20 minutes prior to drinking. This sucker should really be hitting its’ prime in another year.
2000 Ojai Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir (90-91)
I really like this Pinot. It was difficult to put it below the Martinelli Three Sisters Vineyard. This wine was drinking really well other than tannins that were still running a little firm. Decanting a short time would really make this wine rock. Maybe wait another 6 months and re-evaluate.
2001 Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Pinot Noir (90-91)
A very solid Pinot Noir. Came across as just a little hot. This thing hasn’t been in bottle very long. You can sense it. I bet this will improve by a point or two after it sits in the bottle for another year or two.
1999 Fisher RCF Vineyard Merlot (89-91)
A very enjoyable wine. I think this wine is just about ready to go. I’d give it another 6 months or so and re-evaluate at that time.
1995 Chateau Corbin Michotte (89-90)
A solid QPR wine. Nose speaks “Right Bank Bordeaux” to me. This wine is just starting to enter its’ drinking window. Should be at its’ peak within 3 years. Probably won’t go longer than 8 years.
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Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
| Jeremy Matthew
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2067
| | 09/25/2003 3:09 AM |
| | Nice line up of scores!! Impressive selection. | | | |
| Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10802
| | 09/25/2003 8:16 PM |
| Glad to hear the Merryvale Profile is coming along. I have a few of them but haven't tried one recently.
Good notes! | | | |
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