Thanksgiving wines De Lisio Grenache 2004, Mitolo Shiraz GAM 2004, Clos l'Obac 2001, 2004 D'Arenberg Ironstone Pressings

The DeLisio was wonderful as usual. Everything in order: big fruit, with sufficient acid and soft tannin for a great nose and palate. I'm sad today was the last one I'll drink.

The Mitolo Shiraz GAM was actually the equal of the De Lisio today. Big and only slightly herbaceous, more sweet raspberry fruit than many shiraz wine i've had. Looks like the thing to do is find the expensive Shiraz wines and make sure they have a few years age and they'll lose the herb/pepper component that isn't too my liking. This one was silky and long finishing, though certainly not as complex as a bordeaux blend or even a GSM.

Clos l'Obac was very restrained relative to the first two. It is a blend of the grenache with syrah and i expected it to be more flamboyant and thus up to the first two. It was fine -- perhaps elegant is the word, subtle--but i'd say closed and not ready. Also seemed to have cabernet currant element. WS gives it 91 (as does Parker). Here's WS:

Powerful, rich with extract and tannins, offering ripe fruit flavors of plum and dried cherry that mingle with spicy oak and notes of wild herb. More muscular than expressive, but should open with food. Best after 2004. 200 cases imported. –TM

And indeed I was right it does have a good dose of Cab: Blend of 35% Garnacha, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 10% Merlot and 10% Cariñena.

As to Ironstone Pressings, loved this before, this time also seemed somewhat closed. Didn't have much time to expand in glass and will be drinking some more tomorrow from a pumped bottle.