From the Cellar
Two From California - Seven Years Apart (California)
15 Nov 2014- Details
- Category: Uncorked Tonight
(August 29, 2014) ... As stated a few times before, I bring a number of interesting wines over to my brother's house to try. Tonight was no different as I popped two California wines into the mix (along with the Baco Noir from this recent post); the wines were at opposite ends of their life cycle, but both were very interesting. I kicked things off with a 9 year old Francis Ford Coppola 2005 Zinfandel (Dry Creek Valley). Now I am not sure how many people age Zinfandel but let me tell you, it can be a very rewarding grape with or without age, but with age the right bottle can be fascinating (and sometimes sublime); this one fell into the fascinating camp: the aromas were full of alcohol soaked dried cherry notes; but it was not a turn off, just an interesting footnote to the wine. Palate showed nice fruit, both red and black, with nice tannins and hints of sweet oak - but the real surprise was just how much better this wine got the longer it was allowed to sit in glass. By the time the last sip had been consumed everyone was wishing there was more.
I also brought a young bruiser along called Seven Sinners 2012 Old Vines Petite Sirah "The Ransom" ... My brother likes his wines big and I figured he'd dig on this one, and I was right. Nose was rich and inviting with its powerful plum, black cherry, and vanilla aromas. Palate also showed a hedonistic richness that almost came off as creamy, plenty of white pepper, plum, and black cherry; this was just an incredibly tasty wine. I know it went well with dinner but for the life of me I can't remember what was on the menu - not the first time the wines have over-shadowed the dinner I have had ... I guess I just pay more attention to them, my apologies to any and all chefs I encounter.
