The ongoing party at WineStyles continues.
We started with the austere, minerally, crystalline 2007 Terlano Pinot Grigio Alto Adige. Bone crushingly dry, but I lover the sheer minerality of northeastern italian whites!
2003 Hill Family Origin. From a long-time Napa Valley farming family who, along with selling Frnech antiques in Yountville, now make wine. Actually quite nice wine. Very drinkable now, but this is a very structured Bordeaux-style blend with excellent acidity and all the cassis and tobacco and anise that I love in good Napa Cab Blends. Matured nicely and could have gone another three to five years, as I don't remember this being that good when purchased two or three years ago. Solid 88 points plus with upside potential. http://www.hillfamilyestate.com/
2001 Domaine La Milliere Chateauneuf du Pape. North Berkeley Imports "Cuvee Unique" "Vielles Vignes" Now THIS was a shocker. When I tried another bottle two or so years ago, I had basically alcoholic strawberry juice. THIS wine was redolant of everything I love about Southern Rhone wines, with that fantastic nose of herbs, a smooth palate with resolving tannins, licorice, strawberry fruit, earthyness from the Syrah and Mouvedre. That nose....I've not had the opportunity to try the real high end CdeP, but this simple North Berkeley Imports cuvee blew me away. Captivating wine-shows what a few years may do when compared to the delicious but much simpler and less evolved 2006 Clos de l'Oratoire earlier this week. 92 points. Bravo!