Wine biz in NYC in 80s. Sucked at sales. Since 1990, a lawyer. But still love wine!
Nose has deep blackberry fruit and a bit of garrigue-y earthy notes, a little iodine. Deeply rich in the mouth. The fruit has a very slight pruny element but does not detract. In the finish, however, the peppery heat of the alcohol (only a stated 14.5%) makes a prominent appearance. Long. — 6 days ago
All Grenache (no Shiraz). And delicious. Really finds the sweet spot between ponderous, massive global-warming CDP and those people trying to do light picnic Grenache that should be chilled like fruit punch. Nose has kirsch and raspberry ooze, along with dank minerality. Nice flavor intensity in the mouth, but with little flab. Rich fruit quickly turns savory. Nice length and the balance between acids and tannins is well-struck. Should have gotten more. — 8 days ago
Popped, double-decanted, and poured. Engaging right out of the gate. Rich nose shows deep cassis and dark berries, underbrush, graphite, and low-toned minerality. Rich on the attack, with mouth-coating, clingy fruit that later shows persistent savory and dark mineral notes. The tannins are there but are overwhelmed by the fruit. Really nice concentration with zero jamminess and loads of elegance. Nice but subtle acids. Very impressed with this. — 2 days ago
Gorgeous green-flecked color. Nose has deep lemon-lime and apple fruit and tons of clean slatey minerals. Deep on the palate, with crisp, mouthwatering fruit competing with stony minerals. Persistent acids propelling it along. At 8 years old still seem very youthful — 5 days ago
Beautiful nose. Citrus pith, light green herbs mixed with few meadow flowers, loads of stony minerals. Round, rich, and minerally in the mouth, initially, then the sneaky acids come in. Lovely wine. — 6 days ago
@Delectable Wine - This is the 1er Cru Les Menetrieres. It’s a softer, gentler rendition. Really nice nose has lots of subtleties. Pear skin fruit, wet clay, butter, straw, bitter honey, meadow flowers. In the mouth, it’s very softly textured, and has flavors on the lower range of the spectrum, with clay and stone minerality leading the way. There is also some apple/ pear fruit. The acids are a little lower and less forceful than I expected for a ‘21. Very nice wine. Drink over the next year or two. — 3 days ago
Stunning. Nose has a little yeasty note over crushed slate and pure apricot/apple fruit. Absolutely full of life in the mouth, with zesty pure home-canned peach fruit (my mom used to do this, so I know) over some apple and slate. Such a lively mouthfeel. Beautifully pure finish. — 6 days ago
Delicious, pure, straightforward Grenache. Deep, pure, nice balance, soft-textured. Great value. — 6 days ago
Nose is classic Touriga National violets, cherry liqueur, and earthy crushed stone. Soft and mouthfilling, it’s intensely minerally on the palate, with enough dark cherry extract fruit to keep it from being too one-dimensional. Tannins are super-soft, and there is abundant acidity.
UPDATE. A few hours later interesting notes of cinnamon are emerging. — 13 days ago
Tom Casagrande
@Delectable Wine - This is the William Knuttel Biglieri Vineyard - Old Vines Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel. (Someone please click the 3 dots in the upper right and click “report incorrect wine”)
Such a classic Dry Creek Zin. Nose has beautifully pure, ripe spicy blackberry fruit, baking spice, sun-warmed gravel. In the mouth it’s got an initial whack of pure, linear fruit, but then clenches a bit and the tannins kick in. But they’re not intrusive, and the cling of the fruit and crushed stone flavors comes back and lingers. Good acids, and only 14.7% alc. Really nice wine. — 11 hours ago