Spent Shabos with Elchonon, who helped me finish the bottles I could only taste. I won't bother with TN's, as the medication I'm on (that prevents my consuming alcohol) totally messes with my ability to taste anything, so I'll just post general impressions:
'09 Ventura Merlot: C/* After their spectacular CF and very good CS, this was a huge disappointment. The wine has no focus whatsoever. The nose is dominated by oak. Midpalate runs off in different directions. Volatle acidity doesn't help the situation. Giving it time to breathe in a decanter only made things worse. The only saving grace is the nice, graphite-laden finish, with sikly tannins. Although the bottle doesn't mention it, the finish leads me to believe there's some CS lurking here (perhaps 15%). Anyhow, the $40 price tag is simply highway robbery.
'09 Tishbi Malbec: A-/*** WOW!!! What a wine. The nose bursts with animal notes--like a horse stable. Close your eyes and you'll hear hoofbeats all around you. Behind that is smoked meat and black fruit. Wonderfully bracing acidity. This is the first Malbec I've ever loved.
'07 Willm Riesling: A-/***
