Vision, Alban, Ridge, T-Creek, Alcina, Radio-Coteau, & Kosta Browne … Syrah!

We have a small tasting group that gets together … as often as possible … and the theme this time was American Rhone. Fun day and what should be a nice line up.

Mystery White: Grassy nose. Lots going on. Melon, tropical fruit (pineapple) and of course cat pee. Dietz surely knew this was sauvignon blanc. He was pretty much right. 2005 Vision White Wine (80% SB from Napa, 20% Pinot Gris from SLH). A decent wine. Nice acidity and a fair amount of complexity. (2 third place votes = 2 points)

2006 Alban Vineyards Viognier Central Coast: I was looking forward to this … sadly it did not deliver. You got to love Viognier aromatics but the palate was a fat flabby mess. Way too heavy and seemingly showing a lot of wood. I think the room was united that this was not good. I took it home…maybe a new environment … maybe a little more time … yep … it got worse. (NO VOTES)

2001 Ridge Syrah/Grenache (50/50): Opinions went back and forth on this one. At first the nose seemed oxidized. The palate seemed nice but simple. Complexity never seemed to increase but with the food this started to shine. I took this wine home. By the evening this wine became more flabby and oaky. Not sure what happened. I don’t think I would wait any longer on this one. (1 first place vote, 3 second place votes, 1 third place vote = 15 points … SECOND PLACE)

2003 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel: Not one of the favorites. Hard to figure out. Interesting aromatics but the palate was very sweet. Sweet and sour to be more accurate. No one was looking to take this home. I think it was outshined by its companions. (NO VOTES)

2004 Alcina Syrah Gabrielli (Mendocino County): Aromatics showing very ripe. Much heavier texture than the previous two wines. For me it was very tasty but just a little over ripe. The plums were close to prunes. Showed a more dark and unique character compared to the up coming RRV syrahs. Like so many of my 04 Cali wines … not sure I should hold or drink up. (1 first place vote, 1 second place vote = 8 points…THIRD PLACE)

2004 Radio-Coteau Syrah Timbervine (RRV): I thought this wine would clean up in this tasting. After loving the 03 I was waiting on this one. At first the nose was showing something (so2 or co2 any of the 02s) … sorry don’t know the correct descriptor … but it was there. That blew off quickly and the wine should nicely … but it was just unsure whether it should be a big bruiser or a kindly gentleman. With air time I thought the wine started to shut down. Nice structure but just not sure if it has the stuffing and acid to go the long haul. But a nice wine. I brought this one home and the wood seemed to become more prominent. (1 second place vote, 1 third place vote = 4 points)

2004 Kosta Browne Syrah Amber Ridge (RRV): I haven’t noticed this wine getting much attention. I loved it when I tried it last year when M. Browne came to a tasting down here and I made sure to get some. This is my first taste of it post release. It showed bigger and fuller than I remember it but it did not disappoint. Consistent from the aromatics to the palate. Broad and heavy but not overly dark. I wrote down “smooth sweet candy”. This is a sweet syrah with what seems to be a lot of oak but there is also big fruit. With the finish I would have liked some more acid to keep it going. As it was the mocha elements dominated. I really wanted to see Dietz use a “Red Vine” as a straw and take a few sips…but he was scared. Nice one to have in the mix. (3 first place votes, 1 third place vote = 18 points…FIRST PLACE)

Picture taken with phone camera ... notice the Red Vines
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Jason, I have heard so much about Kosta Browne here and lurking on that other forum! Thanks for the informative note.
I think the Alban Viognier has had quite a bit of criticism elsewhere.

I really think Alban should give up on the Viognier and stick with the reds, which are fabulous.. .. even the Estate Viognier is nothing to get excited about.. .I had an Ampelos Viognier the other night that was head and shoulders above the Alban we had at lunch....

I hated to like the KB, but I did... it was so inviting on that first taste.... rich and unctuous.. but.. it was not a wine that was easy to drink much of.... I still don't know why I voted it my WOTD, but it was worth it to see Jason fall out of his chair in hysterics when I did, after bitching for an hour about how gobby it was....

The Ridge was just hard to peg.. I liked it and I didn't.. as you noted, Jason, on the nose when opened it smelled oxidized, but not so much on the palate...it did change over the course of lunch, getting better or worse, depending on the taster and the moment.. but what it did have was something of that `old world' style that made it waaaay easier to have more than a few sips w/o experiencing palate fatigue....so.. in that sense, it had more elegance than any other wine out there.. with the others being linebackers roughing you up

I'm sorry, I just can't warm to Tablas Creek wines.. I know they have their vociferous supporters...

The Alcina was a wee pit pruney, but still nice... actually had a bit more acid than the others, which made it good with the food and lighter on the palate.

For me, I must say that most CA Syrahs are too big and homogeneous for my taste....not all.. but many....

For me, I must say that most CA Syrahs are too big and homogeneous for my taste....not all.. but many....

I have drank more Cali syrahs in the last 3 years than I had in the previous 10 ... and I hear you. There are some I really like but it is usually when they are young and primary. Central Cali in particular.

But I don't own much and I don't suspect the numbers will increase much.

Jason

Nice notes, Jason. I've heard really good things about the Radio Coteau, but haven't had it. Now I'm wondering, but in some ways more curious to try it for myself.

[Jenise]

I'm sorry, I just can't warm to Tablas Creek wines.. I know they have their vociferous supporters...

I'm really surprised to hear you say that. Not that I have extensive experience with them, but I remember how after three days tasting wine in Paso, arriving at TC on the last visit on the last day felt like salvation. Their white blends are particularly stunning--I have yet to have a well-aged red, so no particular opinion there.

Jenise.. I'm surprised AND chagrined. I love Rhone white varietals....maybe I have too much of a New World palate? But we opened a 2005 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau at a CdP tasting the other night, and I loved it... great balance between fruit and acidity. I just don't get that in the TC wines I have tried....

But that's ok....It's one less winery I need to be buying from....in a cellar that is already packed to the gills!!!

[Jenise]

Jenise.. I'm surprised AND chagrined. I love Rhone white varietals....maybe I have too much of a New World palate? But we opened a 2005 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau at a CdP tasting the other night, and I loved it... great balance between fruit and acidity. I just don't get that in the TC wines I have tried....

But that's ok....It's one less winery I need to be buying from....in a cellar that is already packed to the gills!!!

Ah, now we're getting somewhere. I've never had a California white as good as the best French whites I've had--name any appellation--so I am not suggesting that a white TC Esprit competes with its old country forefathers. But among other California whites it's a wine of distinction, and in the smaller pool that is Paso it has no competition whatsoever.