WTN: Pomerol, CA Cab, Shiraz

Last night we went to some nearby friends' home for dinner. One of those evenings where I am the only non-musician (though this was mostly jazz folks), but conversation didn't elude me too much. A really incredible avocado/orange/beet salad, then porterhouses, sweet potatoes, snow peas, and mushrooms. Several reds were opened:

2005 Rosemount "Diamond Label" Shiraz
I approached this with trepidation. I thought this was a good entry level Shiraz 10+ years ago, but hadn't liked the last few vintages. This was actually drinkable. Lighter style of Syrah, not-too-sweet blackberry fruit, a little hint of smoke. Nothing to seek out, but nothing to run away from. B-

Then Ron says "try this Zinfandel." Hmmm, one oaky Zin. Lots of vanilla, with ripe black plum fruit. Not getting much sense of Zinfandel here. Wait, it's the 2005 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon. Ron thought he grabbed the Gott Zin, opened wrong bottle. This is a wine that I'm sure many would find a good value, but stylistically it crosses the line into jammy/overdone for my tastes. B-/C+

I had brought along the 1998 BV Georges de LaTour Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve. I've probably had about a dozen bottles of BV premium reds from the "problem period", about a 1/3 seemed off. Let's add one more to the list (I emailed BV last night, as Diaego said at time they stood behind bottles- we'll see).

I had brought a backup bottle, and it showed beautifully for its level. The 2000 Ch. Mazeyres (Pomerol) isn't a huge wine, but it has pretty ripe red plum fruit, a lovely lush Pomerol texture, mostly resolved tannins. This was about $18 a year or two after release, and a fine effort for that pricepoint. Sturdy, with air there is some cedar, earth, and a hint of spice (star anise?). You're not going to mistake this for Trotanoy or L"Evangile, but a nice smaller Pomerol. B+

Fun night, fun people.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

2005 Rosemount "Diamond Label" Shiraz
I approached this with trepidation. I thought this was a good entry level Shiraz 10+ years ago, but hadn't liked the last few vintages. This was actually drinkable. Lighter style of Syrah, not-too-sweet blackberry fruit, a little hint of smoke. Nothing to seek out, but nothing to run away from. B-

Thanks for the WTN: "Back in the day", when we were starting out, my wife and I drank quite a bit of the Diamond Label series, Shiraz, Cabernet, and a few whites, I think. I still see it on the shelves (it is quite popular still in Ontario) and every now and again I think that I should pick up some just to see what I would think of it today.

[Jenise]

Let's add one more to the list (I emailed BV last night, as Diaego said at time they stood behind bottles- we'll see).

Let us know if you hear from them. My success rate with email complaints about flawed bottles is about zero. And two who actually answered only answered to take umbrage that I even asked (including Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent, even though I was a long-standing customer. Jeesh!)

Let's add one more to the list (I emailed BV last night, as Diaego said at time they stood behind bottles- we'll see).

Let us know if you hear from them. My success rate with email complaints about flawed bottles is about zero. And two who actually answered only answered to take umbrage that I even asked (including Mark Vlossak of St. Innocent, even though I was a long-standing customer. Jeesh!)

I have only had one issue with a BV bottle and it was the 98 GdL. It was one of only two leakers we had shipped home from our trip to Napa/Somoma. We called BV immediately and they offered to replace it free and let us keep the leaker (we offered to take it to the nearest store that carried BV). Only catch was since we live in Maryland they would not send it out so we had to arrange for a third party shipper to pick it up at the winery and ship it. The free replacement bottle cost us a bit but still more than replacing locally. Call me satisfied with BV customer service.

I would probably not normally contacr a winery about a corked bottle (I hate it,but chalk my 4% or so to bad luck). But after the WS article BV/Diaego admitted there was a systemic TCA infection in an aging room, but minimized it, saying that most levels would be below perception levels, and that they would stand behind every bottle. It's possible this was caused by the cork, but odds are on winery. We'll see.

I would probably not normally contacr a winery about a corked bottle (I hate it,but chalk my 4% or so to bad luck). But after the WS article BV/Diaego admitted there was a systemic TCA infection in an aging room, but minimized it, saying that most levels would be below perception levels, and that they would stand behind every bottle. It's possible this was caused by the cork, but odds are on winery. We'll see.

I had good response from them on a bottle of Tapestry that I questioned. It tasted more medicine-like than musty, but based on my description the person at the winery decided it was corked and sent me a check to cover the bottle, plus enough to buy another(couldn't ship to AZ at the time). The 2nd bottle was fine. I can't recall if this was a 98 or 99.

Credit where credit is due: talked to David Chu from Diageo, he assured me they stand by every bottle, and sent me a '04 BV GdL as a replacement- and a bottle of Tapestry (I did promise to let them know how the '60 has held up when I try in 2 years). Excellent response!

Then Ron says "try this Zinfandel." Hmmm, one oaky Zin. Lots of vanilla, with ripe black plum fruit. Not getting much sense of Zinfandel here. Wait, it's the 2005 Joel Gott Cabernet Sauvignon. Ron thought he grabbed the Gott Zin, opened wrong bottle. This is a wine that I'm sure many would find a good value, but stylistically it crosses the line into jammy/overdone for my tastes. B-/C+

I'd be curious to see what you'd say about the Joel Gott Zin. I took a bottle on vacation with me - we were going to an island for a week with friends and bringing all our own wine, spirits, and food with us - and I found it undrinkable. No one liked it. I stashed it in the 'frige for the next night, tried it again, and then threw it away. Horribly over the top with excess syrupy fruity jammy candy. And I am one who enjoys new world style wines.