Sea Smoke... To the Rescue!
Late but not forgotten. My allocation of Sea Smoke arrived about a month before Thanksgiving. Being a neophyte, I did not know what to expect. I undesired the kind of over-extracted Pinots- all too trendy nowadays- that merit their ultimately false often binnings as "Syrah-fortified." Yet, I am always drawn to Pinots in the 14%+ ABV range.
The Verdict?
Give it three hours, and you've got yourself a really versatile drinker! 91-92 pt. wine in my book. Balanced is the single word that comes to mind. Not overoaked nor overfruited. Some mineral but not abundant loads. A touch of funk and a touch of floral. Lengthy finish but not decadent.
I know the price is high and the availability is low, but if you're in the same boat I was- doubting Sea Smoke and prepared for an "SLH-like" disappointment- let it rip. Just don't pop and pour. 3hr wait minimum.
On to Christmas wines...
posted by
PV
on
Wednesday November 30, 2011 12:00 AM
Add a comment '07 Napa Cabs... So far, SO GOOD!
It has been
AWHILE since I've posted. Several new ventures have gotten "in the way," but that's no excuse for not sharing WTB's learnings along the way. And, we continue to learn... because we continue to experience wine.
This posts topic: '07 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Very good stuff. Very, very good stuff. My observations:
- Out with the "NEW WORLD"... there's plenty of finesse, earth, and older world nuances to this vintage. I've tasted Margaux, Pauillac, and some funky, hot Super Tuscans without leaving California!
- Deep, rich fruit but lots of balance. These wines evolve with radiating concentration.
- Talented craftsmen. Maybe the grapes were barely handled and the wines made themselves. Or maybe the vintage was a vintner's labor of love filled with joy and pain. I don't know. I do know that these wines taste like deft hands played meticulously into the process.
- It doesn't taste like 1997. Darker fruit, sweeter tannins. More restrained or integrated. The wines are not as explosive as 1997 was after three years, yet they are still complex.
- Lots of great bottles at every price for every budget- no excuse not to buy!
Drink! Responsibly!
posted by
TBS
on
Friday January 21, 2011 12:00 AM
1 comments ... Wine on a Budget
Interesting chart (ignore the obviously incorrect images):
Might be helpful to finding a strategy for great value wines. Generally, I agree that undiscovered regions, those that border "great wine" appellations, strong vintages across the board in a particular region, and "second wines" (wineries that make more expensive wines as well as cheaper) are all pieces of putting together a great strategy for and library of value wines.
What's your strategy?
posted by
FRFTF
on
Wednesday March 31, 2010 02:32 PM
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