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by Tom Hill

A self-admitted wine geek, Tom lives in Northern New Mexico and works as a computational physicist at Los Alamos National Laboratory doing numerical neutron transport & large scale code development. He has been tasting wines since 1971, participates locally with a couple of large tasting groups in his area, and is practically a fixture at most California wine festivals, such as the Hospice du Rhône, Rhône Rangers, and ZAP. Other interests: Tom is heavily into competitive sport fencing (foil & epee), biking, cooking, basketball, skiing, backpacking, mountain climbing.

Some New Reds - January 14, 2015

We tried tonight (1/14/15) Some New Reds:

  1. Harrington Grenache SilettoVnyd/CienegaVlly (14.2%; Old vine; 31 cs) 2013: Med.color; very attractive bright/strawberry/Grenache/spicy slight dusty/OV/earthy/slight Rhonish/meaty nose; fairly tart bright/strawberry/Grenache/cherry bit dusty/OV/Rhonish very tangy flavor w/ some angular tannins; very long bright/strawberry/cherry/Grenache bit dusty/OV finish w/ light/tangy tannins; not a big wine but a very pretty/bright/zippy Grenache. $30.00
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  2. CowanCllrs PinotNoir AndersonVlly (13.6%; 270 cs) 2012: Med.dark color; deep some toasty/oak/ pencilly/smokey strong black cherry/cherry cola/Pinot some dusty/earthy lovely nose; quite tart/tangy rather smokey/pencilly/Fr.oak some dusty/earthy bright/cherry/black cherry cola/Pinot flavor w/ some hard tannins; very long/lingering bright/zippy/cherry/black cherry cola/Pinot some smokey/pencilly/Fr.oak slight earthy/dusty rather tart finish w/ some hard tannins; needs 2-6 yrs of age; lots of bright AV Pinot fruit w/ some deep RRV/earthy character; quite a lovely Pinot at a great price. $28.00
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  3. Harrington Carignane Lover'sLaneVnyd/MendoCnty (14.2%; Planted in 1930's; 31 cs) 2013: Very dark color; quite dusty/OV bit pungent/licorice some black cherry/boysenberry/Carig very light pencilly/ toasty/oak quite attractive nose (for Carignane); fairly tart/tangy quite dusty/OV bit earthy/tomatoey strong black cherry/Carig/boysenberry/licorice some pencilly/toasty/oak flavor w/ some hard/bitey tannins; very long black cherry/Carig light pencilly/toasty/oak bit earthy/tomatoey rather dusty/OV finish w/ hard/rough tannins; a bit rough/rustic but pretty attractive (for a Carignane); maybe you can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear; very good red for the price. $25.00
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  4. Forlorn-Hope Merlot Ghanima LostVnyd/NapaVlly (43 cs; 13.97%) Fairfiled 2012: Med.dark color; quite spicy/herbal/weedy/black cherry/Merlot some pencilly/smokey/oak very unusual Merlot nose; rather tart quite weedy/herbal/Merlot/cherry some pencilly/smokey/oak flavor w/ ample/hard tannins; long quite tart/tangy very herbal/weedy/rosemary/thyme/pungent some Merlot/cherry/underripe strong smokey/pencilly/Fr.oak finish w/ some hard/rough tannins; needs 4-8 yrs but hard to tell where this will go; not your usual Calif Merlot for sure. $33.75
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  5. Idlewild Barbera FoxHillVnyd/MendoCnty (14.4%) 2013: Dark color; classic Barbera/spicy/Italian sausage/fennel rather earthy/dusty/mineral/graphite very spicy light oak lovely nose; fairly tart/tangy very spicy/Italian sausage/fennel bit dusty/earthy light oak flavor w/ modest/structured tannins; very long quite tart/tangy very spicy/calssic Barbera/Italian sausage some dusty/earthy light toasty/oak finish w/ strong/firm tannins; needs several yrs; quite a good Calif rendition of Barbera. $32.00
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  6. CowanCllrs Syrah MoaveniVnyd/BennettVlly/SonomaCnty (14.1%; 45 cs) 2012: Very dark color; lovely strong blackberry/boysenberry/Syrah rather peppery/cold-climate/black olive light toasty/oak quite strong/fragrant nose; fairly tart strong blackberry/blueberry/Syrah/licorice some cold-climate/peppery/black olive/pungent some toasty/oak flavor w/ modest smooth/ripe tannins; very long very peppery/black olive/cold-climate strong blueberry/blackberry/spicy/Syrah finish w/ some smooth/ripe tannins; quite a good expression of cold-climate Syrah at a great price. $26.00
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  7. Forlorn-Hope Ost-Intrigen StLaurent RicciVnyd/Carneros (Whole cluster frmtd; 237 cs; 11.45%) 2013: Med.dark color; some toasty/charred/smokey/oak rather earthy/dusty menthol/DrPepper/black cherry cola slight licorice/pungent quite exotic/perfumed nose; very tart/tangy/citric some earthy/dusty strong black cherry cola/DrPepper/spicy some charred/toasty/oak quite exotic flavor w/ light/tangy tannins; very long rather tart/tangy/grapefruity black cherry cola/licorice/DrPepper/spicy light earthy/dusty/loamy some charred/oak finish w/ modest/sharp tannins; a beautiful/exotic red at a great price. $26.00
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  8. Glatzer St.Laurent Carnuntum (13.0%; www.WeingutGlatzer.At) 2011: Very dark color; very earthy/dusty/loamy/mushroomy/Kansas root cellar somewhat smoked hot dog/meaty bit used fireworks/cough syrup rather strange/exotic nose; soft bit flabby/porky quite dusty/loamy/earthy/ mushroomy somewhat pungent/smoked hot dog little fruit flavor w/ light/coarse tannins; med.long earthy/loamy/mushroomy some pungent/smoked hot dog flavor w/ light/rustic tannins; dominated by the earthy/loamy character of StLaurent; a rather interesting nose but doesn't deliver much on the palate; a tasty/rustic red for the price. $23.00 (AV)
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  9. Harrington Lagrein BerardoVnyd/PasoRobles (14.1%; 31 cs) 2013: Very dark color; rather earthy/dusty very strong licorice/plummy/boysenberry/framboise/spicy/cinammon light toasty/oak very perfumed intense/bit jammy beautiful nose; slightly soft very intense plummy/black cherry cola/boysenberry/huge fruit bit jammy very spicy light toasty/oak flavor w/ ample soft/ripe/round tannins; very long/lingering huge fruit/boysenberry/plummy/black cherry cola/licorice bit soft/jammy strong toasty/oak finish w/ soft/ripe tannins; speaks strongly of Paso and strongly of Lagrein; a beautiful expression of Lagrein that would be the envy of the AltoAdige; very fairly priced at $30.00
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  10. St.Michael-Eppan Lagrein DOC: AltoAdige (13.5%; L13052A) Appiano 2011: Dark color; very reduced/stinky/sewer gas rather earthy/loamy bit menthol/ozone/pungent rather odd-ball nose; bit soft/lush some buttery/oak quite earthy/loamy slight tangy some black cherry/licorice/root beer/pungent interesting flavor w/ light/soft tannins; med. soft/ripe/lush fairly earthy/loamy slight black cherry/root beer somewhat coarse/rustic flavor; lacks the zingy minerality of most AltoAdige reds; an interesting Lagrein but just that. $27.00 (AV)
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  11. Amphora Teroldego HeringerVnyd/Clarksburg (15.1%; U; www.AmphoraWines.com) HutchinsonWines/Healdsburg 2010: Very dark color; slight earthy/dusty/loamy strong plummy/ blackberry/mushroomy strong Am.oak rather grapey nose; soft/fat bit sour plummy/blackberry/black cherry/ Teroldego/juicy/soupy rather earthy/loamy flavor w/light tannins; med.short juicy/blackberry/ plummy/ripe some Am.oak rather earthy/loamy finish w/ light tannins; speaks mostly of Delta terroir and only whispers of Teroldego; pleasant enough red but just that; lacks the brightness of a good Teroldego. $32.00
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  12. SellaRonda Rosso Teroldego IGT: Vigneti delle Dolomiti (13%; www.CorsaWine.org) Lavis 2011: Very dark color; very strong black cherry/black cherry cola/plummy/licorice bit earthy/mineray/stony/ granatic slight herbal/ozone/pungent rather fragrant/perfumed nose; soft/rich/lush plummy/black cherry bit earthy/licorice/mineral rather spicy flavor w/ light/bitey tannins; very long strong black cherry/black cherry cola/plummy bit licorice/pungent some earthy/mineral finish w/ light/bitey tannins; speaks strongly of Teroldego and the Dolomites; quite an attractive/interesting Teroldego of the basic Foradori level at a great price. $19.00 (DiV)
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  13. R.Zeni DOC: Teroldego Rotaliano Lealbere (13.5%; ViniferaImports) Grumo/Trentino 2011: Very dark color; very strong plummy/black cherry cola/boysenberry/ripe bit mushroomy/earthy slightly funky/unclean nose; soft/fat ripe plummy/black cherry cola/boysenberry slight earthy/dusty/mushroomy flavor w/ light/gentle tannins; rather soft/fat/ripe some plummy/black cherry cola/licorice bit earthy/mushroomy finish w/ light/soft tannins; a very nice nose but doesn't quite deliver on the palate. $20.00 (BB)
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  14. Novy Syrah SapphireHillVnyd/RRV (14.1%) 2006: Dark color w/ some bricking; very strong sweet oak/toasty/smokey exotic mace/cloves/cinammon/pungent/nutmed rather toasted coconut/ZagNutBar some peppery/blackberry/Syrah very complex/exotic nose; soft very peppery/blackberry/Syrah nutmeg/mace/toasted coconut/oak very exotic flavor w/some drying tannins; very long exotic/mace/ cinammon/nutmeg/toasted coconut/oak some peppery/blackberry/Syrah finish w/ some astringent tannins; this Syrah has evolved into a very bizarre/exotic Syrah but showing signs of drying out; quite an interesting Syrah. Costigan mystery wine.


Some More Deep and Profound Thoughts from TheBloodyPulpit:

1. IdlewildBarbera: This was a replacement btl that Sam sent for a corked one we had a month ago. One of the better Calif Barberas I've had of late.
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2. Teroldego: A variety that evolved in the Trentino area. No known parents but it is known to be an Aunt/Uncle of Syrah. Teroldego X ?? --> Marzemino, another of my favorite grapes. The Teroldegos of ElisabettaForadori are easily the greatest expression of Teroldego. It's a variety that should be given more interest in Calif. The Harrington Teroldego is easily the best I've had from Calif.
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3. Merlot: This F-H Merlot was a pretty unusual beast. It reminded me some of the Cabernets that came out of the SalinasVlly back in the '70's, before they learned to grow Cabernet down there. Except this F-H had a tannic structure that those never had. It has a strong underripe/herbal character but has the structure to (maybe) age into something pretty interesting I think. I kinda liked the wine for its eccentricity, but I was widely hooted down by most of the other tasters. Alas, I have no more btls to prove them wrong.
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4. StLaurent: MattRorick has the only StLaurent produced in Calif, from a friend's vnyd in theCarneros, RicciVnyd. There is a Tre-Ricci Wnry in Healdsburg but don't believe they're related. This is about Matt's 4'th vintage of StLaurent and may be his best one yet. It shows that earthy/dusty/loamy character of Austrian StLaurent, plus loads of exotic Calif fruit. Better than any Austrian StLaurents I've tried. Superb wine.
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5. Quite an interesting selection of eclectic red wines. Forlorn-Hope/Harrington/CowanCllrs are really making some interesting wines. Some of my no-brainer buys every year.

TomHill

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