Stuff from the last week, including Thanksgiving.
2010 Analemma Wines Pinot Noir Blanc de Noir atavus Columbia Gorge
My contribution: Yeasty nose with red apple skin, almond paste and a bit of toast. Long finish. A revelation about what Washington can produce in sparkling wine--impressive.
2006 Philipponnat Champagne Grand Blanc Chardonnay
Amber's. Loved this. Sweet cream butter and fresh baked white bread nose, concentrated fruit on the palate. Rich but bright, not at all cloying. Perfection for current drinking.
2004 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant Savennières-Coulée de Serrant Chenin Blanc
Amber's. Deep orange-y gold like Donald Trump's tan. Fascinating nose of canned apricot, raw rutabega and bitter almond pit, more of same on the palate with honey. Off dry, finish lasts forever.
NV La Vostra Italy Prosecco, Glera
Didn't find it sweet as noted by others. Notes of pear, white peach and Johnsons Baby Powder, but still dry just not bone dry. Easily the best thing called Prosecco (which I typically dislike) in the $10 range I've ever had.
2014 Eight Bells Pinot Noir, Oregon
This winery's new to me. Medium bodied with decent fruit and some fungal notes, but on the palate it lacks excitement and a sense of place. Too, it suffered for comparison with the far better Alysian and amazing Volnay on the table. (The bottle only indicates 'Oregon', no appellation specified so likely a blend of several.)
2006 Hospice de Beaune Remoissenet Volnay 1er Cru Cuvée Blondeau 1er Cru Pinot Noir
Amber's. Exuberant nose explodes with fruit, flowers and spice. More on the palate with some loamy earth notes. Full, grand cru level body; tannins and acidity show a deft hand. Secondary development in process but not yet fully realized, peak is many years away. Great showing now, though. Next bottle, if I owned them, 2022.
2007 Copain Syrah Garys' Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands
Also mine: Black olive, some tar, sage, and bacon. Not just full-bodied but slightly overweight, with too much fire pit char and too little acidity. Disappointing: recent notes on CT caused me to expect better.
2012 Ipsus Passito di Pantelleria
Amber's. Someone nailed it with, "It's like madeira and moscato had a baby." Indeed: clementine citrus, lemon, raisins and neat little note of spearmint comes in on the finish. Hand-carried back from Piedmont.
2011 Alysian Wines Pinot Noir Russian River Selection Russian River Valley
Also mine: Excellent cool vintage pinot, just on the upside of interesting secondary nuances. Raspberry fruit with herbs and mushrooms and a touch of secondary complexity. Drinks well now but should get even more interesting.
2008 Stony Hill Chardonnay Napa Valley
And also mine again: Superb! Different and better than a bottle just a few weeks ago though both came from the same source. Better fruit, more delineation, and no diesel: IOW, pristeen condition, dazzling. Much more life ahead.
From earlier in the week:
2010 Drew Family Cellars Pinot Noir Weir Vineyard Yorkville Highlands
This has aged well but it's at peak. Lots of interesting tertiary flavors like Earl Gray tea along with earthy notes. Might be more advanced than other bottles reviewed on CT because I bought it at a wine shop in California three years ago where all the wines are stocked standing up.
2007 Graham Beck Brut Rosé Western Cape Champagne Blend
Our last bottle of a sixpack purchased long ago. Still fresh and youthful with some enhancing secondary nuances, with room for more. Wouldn't hesitate to continue aging them.
2014 Domaine Matrot Meursault Chardonnay
The fat and ripeness noted back in July are not nearly as overt now; a passably good value for $18 at Costco.
2015 Verget Viré-Clessé Chardonnay
Compared to the magnificent '14, the first two bottles we opened disappointed, but in slightly different ways. I expected ripeness, of course, but the first seemed jammy-overripe. Two weeks later another was more balanced, and this third bottle was more like the latter. Whew--since I bought a case.
2008 Château La Croix Taillefer Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend
Good fruit, savory and quite dry with some secondary nuances. Got better over the evening and the last taste was the best, but an hour or three of decantation ahead of time would have been the ticket. Needs 2-3 more years.
2005 Red Rooster Winery Pinot Blanc Late Harvest Special Select Minus Thirteen Okanagan Valley VQA
Apricots and celery with a little Maldon Salt. Strikes me more of an afternoon aperitif wine than a dessert wine.