Martinelli "Terre Felice" Syrah, Russian River Valley 2003

Opaque purple.

Huge menthol/licorice nose. This could only be concentrated, northern CA, cool climate Syrah. Immediately brings to mind Pax Griffin's Lair. Killer. Meat and other stuff underneath.

Round and grainy from the get go. Huge volume in the mouth, with light tannic structure on the periphery. Not a great deal of complexity, but this gets brownie points for concentration and expressiveness. Tannin builds with air. I wonder what this would do with 4-5 more years in bottle? But this is my only one.

Day 3 - Still wildly expressive on the nose. Same killer action. Ditto in the mouth, but acidity seems more elevated, a bit more bite. This has personality. Extremely long menthol/wilted greens finish.

$30? Purchased at the winery. 14.2% alcohol.

Betz "La Cote Rousse" Syrah, Red Mountain (WA) 2003

Deep purple.

Suave, oaky nose - toasted hazelnut, savory meat and black raspberry. Refined.

Round, slightly confectionary, in the mouth.Tannin hits the front teeth incrementally. Serious stuff, impressively concentrated with a grainy impression of extract throughout. Missing the thrill factor, though. And in the wine world today - it is all about separation from the pack. This could come from anywhere (or anyone).

Day 3 - Pepper steak nose. Loaded. Deep, suave and creamy in the mouth. Grainy, still. Too tough on this wine on day 1.


$50

Linne Calodo "Contrarian" 2006 Paso Robles

Yellow.

This is fizzy initially, then gives up aromas of pineapple/aldehyde. Not promising.

Residual CO2 gives this a very constricted feel in the mouth. Generic, white grape flavor.

I enjoyed the 2005, but this is weird. I'd guess a slight sugar referment in the bottle.

68% Roussanne, 32% Viognier


$30

Kongsgaard, 63% Roussanne 37% Viognier, 2005 Napa Valley

Light yellow.

Deep, confectionary aroma of dried apricot and heavy toast Francois Freres barrels - subtlety here too.

Round and sweet (in a very positive sense) in the mouth. Really fresh and succulent, with nice framing acidity and a minty quality to keep things lively. Wonderful stuff - long, vibrant and sweetly textured. Not at all an easy thing to pull off. Fresh, perfectly ripe, apricot and caramel flavors. Hint of pepper too. Long? The fresh apricot flavor gets stuck in the gums, just keep chewing it.

Great, seductive wine.

$75

Copain, Roussanne, James Berry, Paso Robles 2004

Light yellow.

Light peach/pepper, almond, suave oak nose. Subtle, but deep.

Round, fresh and mouthfilling, with a phenolic edge that cuts through it all. I get very little impression of acidity, but loads of mineral/tannic spine. Deep peach/apricot/almond/mineral flavors motor through everything. Very long caramel, mineral finish.

Yes, this rips it up.

$40

Mibal, Ribero del Duero "Seleccion" 2004

Purple/red.

Confectionary, deep, nose - creme brulee, seared meat in a pool of black raspberry coulis. PFG.

Round, with a bit of textural sweetness, immediately impacted by significant acid/tannin synergy. Coconut flavor dominates from the mid-palate on. Good length, but really driven by oak at this point. There's a custard character here, too.

Day 3 - Nose now a bit too confectionary (for me) - macaroon/cotton candy. Custard/souffle in the mouth. Simpler today. I'd like to see this in 3-5 years.

$35

Allende, Rioja 2004

Deep red.

Nose of earth/potato/citrus/citrus blossom/cinnamon. Suave, multi-dimensional.

Leads off with citrus (grapefruit) in the mouth, lively, lean. Grapefruit, and corresponding lift, throughout. Pepper and earth weaving in and out.

Good action.

Day 3 - Fragrant wood (balsam) on the nose along with citrus and earth. Round, lean and citric, still. Great food wine.

$25