Tasting Notes - USA, Red

1995 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir, Hirsch Vineyard

A good wine, plenty of life left in it. the fruit is evolving to a more Burgundian style of sour cherries, mixed with a touch of trademark Californian fruit too - an excellent combination. There is still a fine acidic backbone keeping it going, with barely perceptible tannins. The only downside is the fact that it drops off a bit on the mid-palate. It has a very good entry, and the finish picks up too, but the mid is lacking, and the finish would be longer if this wasn't the case. Overall, though, a very good wine, lean, savoury and delicious. Drink now and for next couple of years. (11/10)

1997 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon, Kronos Vineyard

A pleasant drink; a strong blackcurrant, cassis, minty nose that doesn't betray the wine's overall elegance at first sniff, but as you progress through to consumption you realise that this isn't just another big, rich, sweet Napa Cabernet, but rather a more refined example of what can be done in California. Cathy Corison picks her grapes earlier to achieve full ripeness (in my opinion) without the overpowering alcohol (a very pleasant 13.6%) and residual suger that is prevalent in so many Napa wines. It is balanced and elegant, with trademark Napa fruit power that is integrated beautifully into a velvety-textured mouthful that is delightful. The only real downside is the length of the finish that is not quite what I expected of a wine like this. Overall a pleasing drink for my Francophile palate. Incidently we visited this winery last October, and while the woman operating the tasting (not Cathy) was pretty snotty, the place as beautiful, the wines were good, and the tasting was done in the barrel room- a nice touch. (08/10)

1968 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon

A medium ruby/garnet core which faded to a dusty red brick rim with only a very slight hint of brown. The nose was unexpectedly intense and surprisingly fruit-driven; a good amount of red fruit - currants, berries and cherries - plus a little smoke, cedar and leather, with just a touch of oxidation, but nothing unpleasant at all. The palate was dominated by sour red cherries and redcurrants, with the cedar and leather coming through on the medium+ length finish. Quite light in body with a very soft texture and fully resolved tannins, it isn't a wine of huge depth or intensity, but it has impeccable balance, good complexity and lovely flavours, and for its age it has a refreshingly vibrancy. In addition, after 3 hours of being open there were no signs that it was falling over at all. It is without doubt one of the most interesting wines I have tasted recently, and is certainly holding up far better than I had anticipated.

2003 Jarvis Cabernet Franc

It was made by Dimitri Tchelistcheff, a winemaker for over 50 years, and son of the legendary Andre Tchelistcheff, and and the experience clearly shows in this wine. I have had a good number US Cab Francs that have just been over-extracted fruit bombs, but this one was stunning in its elegance and balance. It was aged for 19 months in 100% new French oak, but Tchelistcheff has managed it skillfully, keeping it from being an overpowering element, and has balanced it beautifully with the black cherry and plum fruit. There is also a hint of greenness to it that I find somewhat refreshing. It is smooth and rich in the mouth, medium/full-bodied, has velvety tannins and a lingering complex finish. This is what all US Cab Francs should aspire to (though I haven't tasted any from Washington recently), easily the best I have tasted in a long while. One HUGE negative, though, is its prohibitive price at around $55-60 a bottle!! (04/10)

2005 Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon

Coming from the cooler Alexander Valley, this wine is considerably leaner than its Napa counterparts. A pretty raw nose of blackberries, oak, with a palate of black and red cherries, a pleasant (IMHO) green edge, some tobacco and earth, and the prerequisite oak. It had a slightly grainy texture, and decent acidity with quite raw tannins. A bit disjointed and messy at the moment, but it could come together in a few years. I have tasted older vintages in the past and they have usually been better integrated with a much softer texture, so I definitely have hope for this one, but the price is a little disconcerting, especially if you buy it in a restaurant as we did. (03/10)

2005 Joseph Swan Vineyards Cotes du Rosa

100% Carignan - Russian River Valley Sonoma

Very expressive soft redcurrent plum nose with a subtle savoury meaty element with a lovely fresh nettle leaf touch - elegant medium bodied palette well balanced generous fruit nicely structured and only 12.5% - typically low alcohol for this producer - very nice

1995 Fess Parker, Syrah

The 1995 Fess Parker Syrah was a very well-balanced wine, it had a huge nose of sweet black fruit, a little game and marzipan(?), which was dense and rich on the palate, with excellent acidity and big tannins. A very good wine indeed if you like this style.(02/10)

1987 Dominus

Had a dark ruby core with a red-brick rim, a very refined nose, floral, earthy, black cherry, currants and tobacco. Dark fruit, leather, cedar and lots of earthy minerality on the palate, with balanced tannins and acidity. Splendid indeed. (02/10)

1970 Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon

Showing extremely well, still had a pretty intense nose of game, black fruit and earth, and a complex and evolving palate, rich yet refined, with fine tannins and clear acidity that balanced the other strong flavours very well. An excellent wine (02/10)