First, a couple of Saturday tastings at Whole Foods in Napa (boy...they have some great stuff. Intriguing wine manager, too...100% nose...he doesn't drink wine any more! Boy, he loves to SMELL wine.)
2004 Dominus (Napa Valley-French(of Petrus fame)) On the nose-Very lifted, red raspberry, almost sweet, even confected fruit. On the palate, interestingly enough, the confected red fruit is there as a minor overlay, but the wine is dominated by a very nice earthy, black fruit, savory core. I think this wine will be delicious in ten years. Good potential.
Amuse Bouche 2004 (Napa Valley) Mostly Merlot Bordeaux blend-Heidi Barrett's prize project. Intriguingly enough, this wine shared, almost spot on, the nose of the Dominus. On the palate, however, the candied red fruit of the nose was much more dominant, lacking the earthy "floor" of the Dominus. 86 points given the $$$$ price?
SUNDAY NIGHT. My friends Joe and Donna prepared an amazing meal, highlighted by perfectly cooked lamb, roast potatoes, and great cheese and tapenade which I supplied!
Nice Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc which showed better when chilled below wine cooler temperature. Only 12.7% alcohol. I need to bring a card with me to write down what other people supply! 87 points.
2001 Dessilani Fara Caramino Riserva (Piedmont)
very reticent on the nose at first-not much showing. The berry elements probably come from the 10% bonardo mixed in the wine! Some high toned red berry and floral elements on the palate, with a fine grained fuzzy tannic structure that I enjoy. This needed time, it became richer and more floral as it opened over the evening. Still not a big, bold wine, but it went very well with the food. I would say 89 points with excellent upside potential. If you like Nebbiolo, this is a nice, affordable appellation.
2006 Bobinet Amateus (Saumur) (Loire Valley Cab Franc). I know that 2006 was a problematical year for the Loire, but this wine shows zero green-ness or under-ripeness. The Amateus is an organic, natural wine pruchased at Terroir Wine Bar in SF. We all loved this wine tonight, and it was an intriguing exemplar of how a wine can change with air and time open.
When first poured into the decanted, there was a good blast of brett. Happily, it blew off 95% withiun five minutes. Definitely a lot of red raspberry notes. Very smooth on the palate-I'm not sure it needs to be cellared. Not a lot of acidity, but the flavors and fuzzy tannic structure were very enjoyable.
So...after switching back and forth between the two reds, we repaired to the television room for the Sunday Night Millenium showing! Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions is an amazingly eery episode! Anyway,it is now 2 1/2 hours since the Amateus has been opened (and the Nebbiolo) they are both showing even better. The last glass of the Amateus is the best glass, showing more black fuit, with a delicious ripe tobacco flavor. Yum! 91-94 points.
