Divine invited, I showed up and tasted this beauties.
NV Brut Esprit Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs, Michel Genet
From a half bottle it shows some evolvement and nice notes of lemon cream, warm grass and summer flowers. Very fine.
The taste is fresh and creamy with a fine acidity and a long, seedy finish with lots of ripe yellow fruit and crushed rocks. Its even so that I today like this more than the regular bottle size, some maturity in a wine does that for me.
90p (tasted 2016/05
2014 Kick On Ranch Riesling, Ojai
A new acquaintance for me (the wine, not the producer) and a very nice one at that. The nose is young and floral with notes of peaches, grapefruit and crushed minerals. A fine balance.
The taste is cool, structured and pure with notes of yellow apples, grapefruit and some gun powder. A very fine acidity. Very, very good.
91p (tasted 2016/05)
2014 Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir, Brewer-Clifton
Two Sta. Rita Hills Pinot wines followed. The one fron Brewer-Clifton shows of a deep, dark nose witn notes of smoke, dried raspberries and moist earth. Good but a bit subdued today.
The taste is tight and darkly fruity with notes of ripe raspberries, liquorice and damp earth. Some stemmy notes. A bit locked up, give it time.
87p (tasted 2016/05)
2014 Sta. Rita Hills Block M Pinot Noir, Melville
The Melville is definitely better on this day. The nose is young, spicy and detailed with notes of ripe raspberries, cherries, liquorice and leather. A very fine depth. I really like the spicy elements. Very, very good.
The taste is structured yet refined with lovely notes of red cherries, cranberries and forest floor. A long, sandy finish. This is good. I tasted some of the parts of what would become this wine last year when Greg Brewer was here and held a very interesting tasting.
92p (tasted 2016/05)
2013 Obelin Pinot Noir, Antica Terra
Being the first of its kind, the 2013 Obelin is a work of art. Its hard to describe the components that meet you when you put the nose in the glass, but safe to say, this is a world class Pinot. Truly magnificent.
The taste is the same as the nose, a wonderful thing of beauty. The depth, focus and purity must be tasted to be believed. It carries quite a tarif, but this is a easy buy. Perfection in the making.
97p (tasted 2016/05)
2013 Los Topos Garnacha, Ledge
Eased in between the Pinot´s and the Syrah´s is this blend of 82% Grenache, 8% Syrah, 4% Mourvedre and 4% Counoise, that makes a nice showing of its self, with a nose that is rich and plummy with some hot spices. Very good.
The taste is big (compared with the previous Pinot´s but light in comparison with the upcoming wines...) and round with generous black fruit and notes of fried spices, fir and damsons. Should work wonders with a grilled steak.
89p (tasted 2016/05)
2013 Syrah, Lilian
The 13 Lilian Syrah sports a deep, big nose with notes of crushed black peppers, seared meat, violets and veal stock. Very fine. Deep and intoxicating.
The taste is ripe and upfront with peppery notes and some asphalt and violets. A long, sturdy finish with a fine warmth and structured tannins. Not on pair with the 2012 but along the line of the 2011. Really fine stuff.
93p (tasted 2016/05)
2013 Syrah No 2, Andremily
This is a new player for me, and this is apparently only the second wine made, hence the name. But it seems they got it right from the start, for this is impressive. The nose is very deep and very floral, with a lovely balance between sweet fruit and high, refined notes. Some tapenade and dark chocolate among other things. Great wine.
The taste is massive yet refined and almost airy, with gorgeous notes of blackberries, violets, bacon fat and minerals. The finish is counted in minutes. This is just stunning and will probably get even better after 5+ years in the cellar.
95p (tasted 2016/05)
2013 Old Bastard, Kaesler
In comparison with the two previous Syrah´s, this comes of as heavier and not as light on its feet. But there is a fine, sweet, dense fruit here, and notes of bloody meat, mint and scorched earth.
The taste is big and broading with lots of everything - fruit, tannins, alcohol and structure. Very, very good but I prefer the American versions.
90p (tasted 2016/05)
2013 Male Syrah, SQN
And now this. Sometimes words are so inadequate and this is one of those moments. The balance is perfect, its momentum is perfect, the framework is perfect, the fruit must have been polished by angels before being fermented. Enough said, the only thing it lacks is a bit of maturity. But hey, in 10+ years time this is an easy 100p wine, and that´s only because the scale stops there.
98p (tasted 2016/05)
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