We got together with some friendly bubble fans for some ABC--anything but champagne. The Camel Valley was the winner of the day be a long shot, and the Stolpman was the oddest by about the same degree.
2013 Camel Valley Brut Cornwall, England
Dang this is good. Pale yellow, great nose, persistent fine bubble, very fresh, great nose, minerality, acidity and structure. Actually seemed to put on weight the longer it was open, though that might have just been our palates getting tuned into it.
2016 Stolpman Trousseau Combe Pet'Nat Ballard Canyon, California
One of the most 'different' bubbles I've ever had. Almost clear in color, huge 3/4" mousse. Nose of roasting walnuts and white soy sauce with an unusual chocolate flavor on the palate. Huge 3/4" mousse. Bravo to Stolpman for thinking outside the box, but I'm not sure the world needs this.
And here are a few other things we've had lately:
2004 Podere Ruggeri Corsini Barolo Corsini Nebbiolo
Big and burly. Almost black color and good fruit, but the tannins are pretty stout and need more years in cellar to relax and integrate. 3-5 years I'd say, with the stuffing to mature thru 2030.
2010 Gordon Brothers Merlot Columbia Valley
Fruity and oaky, scant acidity, fairly sweet on the finish. Wasn't meant to be around this long.
2014 Maison L'Envoye Pinot Noir Two Messengers Willamette Valley
Earthy fruit, good spice, good balance. And more to the point, it's that rarest of things: a pleasing under $20 pinot noir ($16, Costco) that has real varietal typicity.
2016 Fernlands Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
A great little QPR sauv blanc in the typical New Zealand style: citrus fruit, kaffir lime leaf, a little green bell pepper.
2016 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Alie Ammiraglia Toscana IGT Rosé Blend
Liked the contents better than the annoying Pitt-Jolie bottle shape. Fleshy with supple fruit and decent acidity, dry finish. $16 at Costco.
2014 Hierogram Wines Cabernet Sauvignon Block No. 8 Napa Valley
A Day Two tasting of leftovers revealed that this wine is deepening with time and might evolve into something a bit better than the $25 Napa daily drinker I thought I purchased. At the very least, another three years in the cellar will reward patience.
2016 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Scaia Rosato Veneto IGT Rosé Blend
The palest pearl pink with a bit of gold tint. Very sophisticated overall impression: subtle flavors, great mouthfeel. Incredible QPR for $10. Will buy more.
2016 Ryan Patrick Vineyards Rosé Columbia Valley Rosé Blend
Attractive bright reddish pink color, tangy strawberries on the nose and palate. A happy, crowd pleaser than even the geeks will like. And laudably low alcohol, around 12%. A steal for $10.
2016 Chinook Wines Cabernet Franc Rosé Yakima Valley
Deeper pink than most with vivid fruit and an almost off-dry finish.
2016 Château d'Esclans Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé Blend
Disappointing compared to the '15. Lacks midpalate depth, short finish.
2013 Kelley Fox Wines Pinot Noir Mirabai McMinnville
Opened this bottle on 7/9, drank all but the last two inches in the bottle and stored it in the fridge under original screwcap. Forgot it until 7/25. It's worth noting that two weeks later this wine is better than when initially opened, less tomato and more berry with cool spices on the fringe, and absolutely no sign of decay. Did not really take this wine for a long-hauler, but it definitely proved itself. Impressive!
2012 Stemilt Creek A Day's Work Columbia Valley Red Bordeaux Blend
Stemilt Creek is a tiny winery located in Wenatchee with a tasting room in Leavenworth, Washington. I had never heard of it before walking into the tasting room. I kind of liked the wines, they're very traditional--they had '12 and '13 both available in nearly all the wines, and I deliberately chose the '12 even with the smokey tones from the severe fires that burned right up to the edge of the vineyard this fruit came from. I actually kind of liked that, and it has aged into the wine very nicely. Lots of secondary development too, warm cherry pie fruit, cedar and leather. Lingers beautifully on the palate. At peak now.
2013 Marcel Lapierre Morgon Gamay
Light red fruit, herbs and minerality. Notes in particular of cherry, rhubarb and celery. Fabulous summer drinking with some lightly spiced bangers and a cucumber salad.
2014 Domaine Matrot Meursault Chardonnay
A recent Costco purchase, $17. Did not seem as fat or toasted as a bottle two weeks ago, possibly because it followed a big California chardonnay. Also, this had some diesel notes I don't remember but liked a lot. Might buy more.
2012 Jean Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette Gamay
Same as March's bottle. Herbaceous, and very well paired with a zucchini/mushroom/pesto pizza.
2014 Domaine Chanzy Rully En Rosey Chardonnay
Good acidity and minerality, now showing less lemon and more apple.
Good on its own or with food.
2012 Soos Creek Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain Red Bordeaux Blend
Bottle variation: not as open as the previous two bottles, and lacks the beginning of secondary development that made those so luscious.
