WTN's from OTBP: Robertson, Flowers, 5H

Robertson Pinotage 2006, S Africa
Thin candied apple red color. Fruity nose. Sweet, wet, ripe strawberries coat your mouth with a tasty, light flavor. Subtle tannins to finish. Soft, well-integrated tannins. Like biting into a fresh strawberry you just picked at a berry farm still damp from recent sprinkler action. Ready to drink now and is perfect without food. $7.99. Definitely a QPR. B.


Flowers Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2004
This pinot is losing some of it's youthfulness but hasn't fully blossomed into the wine it is striving to become. There are delicious notes of rhubarb pie and cedar. Plus a few hints of sandlewood and smoked meats coming through on day two. But it hasn't really reached it's pinnacle of smoothness, just a bit too young right now. B+.

5H Washington White Riesling 2006
A Washington white riesling that might be a surprise or even a shock to German riesling drinkers as there is little to no sweetness to this wine. If tasted blindly, would be mistaken for a sauvignon blanc. Tart flavors of pink grapefruit and dash of limejuice. Decent acidity a somewhat crisp tannins to finish. Certainly a departure from my riesling profile, but enjoyable none the less. B.

Accronyms: OTBP--Off the beaten path; QPR--Quality priced right

Regards,

Ardeis in Seminole
Whatever you do will be insignificant, but it is very important that you do it
— Mahatma Gandhi

Very nice notes, Ardeis. I haven't seen you post here before, so let me say "welcome." Hope you'll enjoy this group as much as I do.

[Jenise]

Ardeis, what a good descriptor 'rhubarb' is. Some of struggle when trying to describe pinot flavors on the red end of the scale, and rhubarb would fit nicely sometimes when cherry is not enough and strawberry too pink, cranberry too tart. Thanks for reminding us it exists. Btw, I really like the Flowers style. They're a real class act winery, too. I remember a few years ago they were so unhappy with how one early vintage of pinot turned out, they returned the money paid to buyers unasked. I was floored. And the wine was well worth drinking, too, just a bit lighter and more delicate than typical, but certainly not dilute or nasty.

Replies to all et al......I was a member of the old format of split screens but most of my time has been w/WCWN's group and I have been renovating a home for over a year complete now with walkin cellar, and producing my own "vintage", a new-born daughter Sureya this past May. So I accept your "welcome back" warmly!

And you are right, I am surprised how many people are unfamiliar with rhubarb. Such unusual descriptors show up some time on TN's it seem people have experienced far more exotic food/spices than I. But rhubarb pie was a regular treat of my grandmother's at special occasion family gatherings since I was a tot that it is an ingrained taste. Whenever I see a shelf-talker mention rhubarb, I grab a bottle of whatever it is, knowing it probably will appeal to me. But many of my friends in wine don't really identify with rhubarb well so I consider it to be a benefit of my upbringing. Perhaps rhubarb should be equated with "old money"!!

Okay, I can't stand it .....here she is!!

[img]http://momentoffame.com/photopost/data/515/medium/Sureya_smiling.jpg[/img]

Regards and hope I can be a valuable contributer. We have a regular wineclub meeting here in the Clearwater area every couple of months so I hope to have many labels to sample in the coming months. Our theme for August is German rieslings.

Ardeis [/img]

Very nice notes, Ardeis. I haven't seen you post here before, so let me say "welcome." Hope you'll enjoy this group as much as I do.

Me too welcome!! Notes like that...keep `em coming!!!

Doris.

Welcome back, Ardeis, and congratulations on the arrival of your beautiful little girl!


Mike