1997 WRQ Wine Tastings
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Waterbrook 1995 (About $20)
- Velvety, light but smooth with a nice follow-through.
- Very nice! Refined? Balanced, with nice lingering aftertaste.
- Very smooth, good fruit. My #1.
- Big fruity start with nice finish. My favorite.
- 85.
Canoe Ridge 1995 (About $19)
- Viscous.
- Real strong oak jumps out of the glass like a Mexican jumping bean.
- Peppery! Not as smooth as Waterbrook. Licorice?
- Strong oak, pepper. Oak is overwhelming; berry never comes out.
- Maybe Anise and/or Licorice.
- Still peppery after an hour.
- 78.
Leonetti 1993 (Gift; figure over $40)
- European charm of an old shoe.
- Medicinal smell and taste. Jammy.
- Plum finish with mystery start: Oak? Acid? Not sure.
- It's like Nyquil. Okay if you get the first taste down.
- Oily aroma, alcohol, some jam flavor.
- 93.
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Tasting Notes
Secret House, Lange, Torii Mor, and Cristom. The house favorite
was Cristom, but our own preference was split between the Cristom and
the Torii Mor. The general feeling, however, was that Pinots are not
a big hit with the Winers. We all seem to prefer fuller bodied
wines with more complexity.
Actually, some of these Pinots were quite complex, but very soft
with subtle flavors (as opposed to the smells, which in some cases were
downright stinky!).
Secret House
- Strong; mineral. Last choice.
- Significant variation between bottles [we had two bottles of each
ed.]. Better second time around. Sharper than the others; better
with cheese.
- Only moderately capricious
- Best wine on second tasting.
- Sweet tarts on the tip of my tongue. Ready to have my cavities filled
at the dentist.
Lange
- Very drinkable, but really dependant on food tastes. First round
very
nice, complex, but later was not as involving. Coffee bouquet.
Third choice. Raspberry.
- At first taste, like sauvignon blanc with strawberry Kool-Aid.
More complexity later. Picked up some orange.
- Really, quite capricious.
- Best on first tasting.
- Hey! Kool-Aid!
Cristom
- Very nice. Complex. Light. Cranberry. First choice. Oak?
- My favorite. Flavor hangs on.
- Best one. Light and very enjoyable.
- Subtle, but balanced. Soft; even better later.
- Second choice. More refined than the Torii Mor, but not as intense.
- Not capricious.
- Good enough to eat.
- Mellow. Reminds me of oranges.
Torii Mor
- Not too complex at first, but later very nice. Oak? Second choice.
- Coffee scent. Light.
- What's with the smell?
- She's good looking, but the music is glaring.
- Like Bourbon Street after a summer rain.
- Smells like wet cow on a hot day. Tastes like damp cow on a warm day.
- I *like* damp cow. Especially on warm days.
- Like the sexy girlfriend you know is bad for you. You keep coming
back to it because it's more interesting than the rest, but you
aren't sure if you really like it or not.
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Clos du Bois 1993 Briarcrest Alexander Vally ($23 at Larry's)
- Tart. Didn't impress me. (Glenn)
- Lots of fruit. Is that Currant? And Cherries. Nice. (Alan)
- Well balanced, but not much body. 81. (Walter)
- Tart. (Marta)
- Drinkable, but could use a few more years. (Gus)
Grgich Hills 1993 Napa Valley ($36 at Thriftway on Queen Anne)
- Excellent. Expensive for me, but would love it for a holiday. Complex! (Alan)
- Needs more age. A lot of potential but not well integrated yet. 88. (Walter)
- Very nice. I'd love to taste this again in a few years. (Glenn)
- Nice when first opened, broke up later. (Marta)
- Good dose of fruit and tannins. Nice wine. (Gus)
Beringer 1994 Knights Valley ($18 at Larry's)
- Silky; nice flavors; cherry aromas, but not very complex. Doesn't
seem "thick" enough to last over time. (Glenn)
- Silky, cherry but a little flat. Little pepper and tannin, still nice. (Alan)
- 85. (Walter)
- Opened up later. Good fruit. (Marta)
- Good fruit. Light tannin. Light finish. (Gus)
Robert Mondavi 1993 Napa Valley ($18 at Larry's)
- Very impressed. Excellent. Pepper. Complex. Balance between pepper
and fruit. First chioce when include price. (Alan)
- First choice for drinking now. 87. (Walter)
- The best for drinking now (of the bunch). Nice blend of spicy
fruit flavors. (Glenn)
- Nice, good pepper and cassia. (Marta)
- Terrific wine. (Gus)
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Markham Petite Sirah 1993 ($11 at Pete's)
- Bouquet of Everclear. Flat finish, but fair overall. (Alan)
- Nice, opening up after one hour, quite a bit of tannins. Great value.
My #2. (Robert)
- Good tannins. Not very complex or interesting, but good for what it
offers. (Surain)
- Liked it on first tasting; spicy and fruity; after a while it seemed
light. (Gus)
- I liked this a lot. Very smooth. Good buy for an immediate drink.
(Marta)
- This was my favorite. (Anita)
- My fave, probably, because of the alcohol. (Walter)
Foppiano Petite Sirah 1994 ($13 at Larry's)
- A bit soft at opening, after a while not very interesting. (Robert)
- Good taste, but narrow and uninteresting. (Surain)
- Nice tannin but little fruit. (Gus)
- Too flat. (Walter)
- Currant flavors, pepper, and tannin. Fleshy as Ridge. For the price,
this is the one. (Alan)
Stag's Leap Petite Syrah 1994 ($24 at Larry's)
- Nice bloom of fruit in the aftertaste, but not much else. (Walter)
- Fennel bouquet, black cherry. Very nice and long lasting on upper
palette. Very nice. Favorite. (Alan)
- A bit tart, but tannins at first. Developing very nicely, heavy lots
of tannins. My #1. (Robert)
- Nice and complex, smooth. (Surain)
- Real burst of flavors when first on palette. No finish. (Gus)
- Spicy, complex. some chocolate. (Marta)
- Smooth, nice. (Anita)
Ridge York Creek Petite Sirah 1994 ($19 at Larry's)
- Definitely deep fruit, fleshy, but shallow at the top. Cherries. Long
lasting aftertaste on tongue. Great with dinner. (Alan)
- Tough tannins and some spice, a disappointment for me. (Robert)
- Tannins and not much more. (Surain)
- Lots-o-tannins. Give it more time. (Gus)
- Lots of fruit, cherry, smooth. Needs to breathe. (Marta)
- My favorite. A bit tannic, but good dark fruit (black cherry)
underneath. Probably even better in a few years. (Glenn)
Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Duriff ($23 at La Cantina)
- Very different from the petite Sirah' with spicy complex bouquet.
Yes! (Alan)
- Intense fruit, big, bold, spicy, really nice. (Gus)
- Fruity and some tannin. Nice but not my style. (Robert)
- Spicy and complex flavors. Lingering with fruity zingers. #1 (Surain)
- Nice and stinky at first, then too sweet; but at the end a nice,
big, zin-ish fruit. (Walter)
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Columbia David Lake Signature Series Otis Vineyard 1993 $20
- Nice but thin. It lingers with a bit of a bite that titillates one to
try
again. Later, much fuller and fruity, but still lacks tannins. (Surain)
- A little thin, tannic. (Marta)
- A bit rough at opening, getting better but not as good as the others.
Still nice, though. (Robert)
- Soft, smooth, fruity at first. Light on tannins. Later still displays
good fruit, but little tannins. (Gus)
Columbia David Lake Sagemoor Vineyard 1987 (From Robert's cellar)
- Great wine! Nice, deep red color. Possibly past its prime, but still
great with lots of tannins. My favorite. (Robert)
- Deep & vibrant. A bit "raw" maybe? (Surain)
- Good flavor, some leathery overtones from the aging. (Marta)
- Bit of a bite at first, more tannins than fruit. (Gus)
Andrew Will 1993 $20+
- Nice caress over the tongue with flavor to eachtaste bub. Heavy without
being thick. Pleasant lingering reminders of fruit. (Surain)
- My favorite, fruity, good balance. (Marta)
- Great wine, getting better. Close second to the '87 David Lake.
(Robert)
- Cherry flavors at first, great tannins, lots of fruit flavor over time.
This is a really nice wine. (Gus)
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Chateau Raspail (Gigondas) 1995 $19.99
- Good fruit, cherry comes through. Mouthful feel, smooth, clean finish.
(Gus)
- Deep throat! Cheery, smooth and lingering. (Surain)
- Good, interesting feeling which is not quite tannin. Not real complex -
later...great, opening up wonderfully. (Robert)
- Good flavors, started soft, but got much more complex later with a good
balance of tannins. Spicier later. (Marta)
- Fruit, sharp (good) good with fish. (Bhushan)
Vieux Mas des Papes (Chateauneuf du Pape) 1995 $20.99
- Nice tannins, nice fruit, nice finish. (Gus)
- Full & flavorful. Smooth. Grows! Great full broad immense flavors
(Surain)
- Good full of flavors, lingering (Robert)
- Started tannic, but soften slightly. Not as much pepper and berry.
(Marta)
- Very creamy and smooth. (Bhushan)
Qupe Syrah (Central Coast) 1988
- Complex, broad. Great robust flavors. (Surain)
- Smooth, great taste, not real heavy. (Robert)
- Tart, puckering. Nice combination with the smoked gouda (Gus)
- Tart, carmel overtones, not as much fruit. (Marta)
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Fin del Duero 1990 Reserva $12.99
- On opening, a bit musty. Good body, friuty, good finish. - Gus
- Good fruit, but a bit corky & musty. Good tannins. - Marta
- Musty, tangy. Like my grandmother's apartment in the Bronx. - Glenn
- Initially musty, cleans up nicely. - Barbara
- Tannins are coming through after being opened a while - Gus
Finca y Vinedos Condado de Haza 1994 $14.99
- On opening, smooth, fruity, good finish. - Gus
- Earthy, bold. Lots of machismo. - Glenn
- Tannic, oak flavor, not a lot of fruit. Fruit comes out with certain
foods like cheese. - Marta
- Spicy aftertaste - Barbara
- A bit spicy after being opened for a while. - Gus
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LaVergona (MASI) 1987 $17.00
- Port Wine Qualities (Gus)
- Nice, old color. Too old, not bad but a bit disappointing
and overpriced. (Robert)
- Past it's prime (Henne)
- Too far along the road to vinegar (Jim)
- Brandyish, but not smooth. (Marta)
- I will drink no wine past its time. (Glenn)
Beni di Batasiolo Barolo 1992 $18.00
- Tart, little fruit (Gus)
- Italian, a bit tart nice, but overpriced. Fairly heavy. (Robert)
- Nice, dry (Jim)
- Too much alcohol, no fruit. (Marta)
- Nice, simple. Not worth the price. (Glenn)
Ruffino Riversa Ducale 1991 $18.00
- Dry, fruity, light finish (Gus)
- Good fruit (Marta)
- Best of the selection. Complex, fruity, but light with no finish.
Still not worth the price, though. (Glenn)
Travaglini Gattinara 1992 ($18.49 on sale)
- Smooth, good fruit. Best of this bunch. (Gus)
- Nice balance, of fruit and tannins - very nice
- Nice fruit, expensive but worth it.
- Good, pretty strong tannin (Robert)
- Very good. Complex. A little tart. Might be better in a couple
of years. (Glenn)
Punset 1994 $9.99
- Off after taste - medicinal
- Nice, heavy, but aftertaste a bit rough. (Robert)
- Heavy, a bit young, best value for price of this bunch (Gus)
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Chateau Greysac '93
- Pungent - Joan
- Good, lost a bit after open, a bit tart, 2nd favorite - Robert
- Astringent, tannic
- Capricious. It couldn't decide what it wanted to be.
- Good Tannins - Gus
- Stilted.
- Still very good. Becomes very tannic with opening.
Les Jamelles Merlot '95
- Fruity, young - Gus
La Cardonne '93
- Fruity, but a tad thin. 2nd best - Joan
- Smooth - Gus
- Nice, smooth, but a bit light - Robert
- Airy, shimmery.
- Excellent, the first tasted.
La Cardonne '94
- Heavier than '93, more complex, but needs more time - Robert
- Licorice flavor, smooth - Marta
- Low, heavy, weighty.
- Plainer than its older sister.
Chateau Plagnac '90
- Superior - Joan
- Smooth, superb - Gus
- Great, complex - Robert
- Very smooth, prune yummy flavor.
- Excellent, well balanced, complex, delicioso.
- Focused.
- Sweet, slightly oaky.
Chateau Plagnac '94
- Tart - Robert
- Tannic
- More tannins than the others, taste of raspberries, nice browish color - Gus
- Young, warm and rich with a short aftertaste. Not woody.
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1990 Clos de L'Eglise, Madiran, $12.99
- Good tannins, very smooth. (Gus)
- Medium tannins, somewhat harsh finish. (Robert)
- It's yummy. (Glenn)
- Sharp with searing afterburn...like tequila on a sunburned larynx...(Joan)
- Good. (Alpa)
- Too harsh for me. (Bryce)
1993 Fonsalade, Saint Chinian, Languedoc, $12.99
- Rhone-like, smooth, some tannin, OK finish, and some earthtones. (Robert)
- Spicy and fruit flavors. (Gus)
- Haunting. (Joan)
- OK. Lighter and less interesting than the other two. A little spicy, not
much finish. (Glenn)
1992 Chateau d'Armailhac, Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac $17.99 (Note: outlier)
- Soothing as a rocking chair, with a sassy kick to send one tumbling backwards
in delight. (Joan)
- It's OK, well, pretty good. (Bryce)
- A somber, sophisticated wine, with strong Proust overtones and hints of
comtemplative angst. (Glenn)
- Lots of Oak, good tannins. (Gus)
- Nice, good, good finish. Not real heavy. (Robert)
- Very smooth. Yum!! (Alpa)
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