2001 Pierre Usseglio Cuvee Mon Aieul

This came highly recommended from Parker and it is quite a treat. Blackberry, vanilla, very silky and totally mature. Color is brick on the rim and light purple in the center. There is a bit of alcohol on the nose but not unpleasantly. Some wood sap, pine too, and maybe lavender. This is mostly grenache, and it is reminiscent of the big Aussie grenaches I like. With time more of a cherry aroma. A great balance of fruit, acid and very sweet silky tannin. 95-96 points.

Parker 97 points: The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul (85% Grenache and equal parts Syrah, Mourvedre, and Cinsault) tips the scales at a prodigious 15.8% alcohol. Half of the wine is aged in neutral wood foudres and the other half in tank prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. The sources for Mon Aieul are three vineyard parcels with vines averaging between 75 and 87 years of age. The 2001 is much more structured and backward than the 2000, 1999, or 1998. The color is a dense purple, and the bouquet offers sweet but reserved aromas of blackberries, raspberries, crushed rocks, and kirsch liqueur. It possesses superb texture, enormous body, and tremendous purity as well as overall symmetry. The tannin is high, but it is largely concealed by the wealth of fruit and extract. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 15-18. This fabulous 2001 will provide fascinating comparisons when tasted alongside the 2000, 1999, and 1998 over the next 10-15 years.

2005 Le Bon Pasteur

Per one of my very first entries in this blog series, I continue to love the '05 Bon Pasteur, a Pomerol made by Michel Rolland, a world-renowned winemaking consultant, from his home vineyard. What's notable on this tasting is the melting of the tannins. The wine is much more approachable esp on the palate than before. The aromatics are lovely: initially strawberry, then chocolate/cocoa, plum, cherry, and spicy vanilla in approximately that order of appearance. Mouthfeel continues to be notably silky soft. The finish is moderate and the acid appears esp prominent at that point, which is a good sign for longevity. I've put 2/3 of the bottle under gas for retesting tomorrow. Right now I'd give this a 93+.

1989 Beychevelle (St Julien)

Opened this bottle, almost exactly the age of Emily who was born 9/11/89. It was drinking very nicely, perhaps a bit of fade in the fruit but still round, fragrant, with enough acid and alcohol to balance. Tannins melted away. Aroma was classic St Julien cigar-box, with black cherry/kirsch, woodsy, toasted oak and a nice balanced finish. I'm sure the fruit will continue to fade but I'm guessing Parker is right to say it'll still be drinking well for another year or so. Not a celestial wine but a fine one. I'd say 90+ judging against other older Bordeaux.

Herman Story Nuts and Bolts 2008 Syrah

As usual, this is a very big and delicious wine. After a few minutes of airing, I especially enjoyed the spearmint or wintergreen element added onto the deep blackberry and huckleberry essence. The wine is very dark purple, highly extracted. Tannins are soft and actually barely noticeable given how ripe and sweet the fruit is. Alcohol is high according to label but goes down without much hotness, again due to fruit. I'm sure some would deride this as over-ripe fruit bomb, but not me. I stand with fruit. I agree with Parker's rave:

The compelling 2008 Syrah Nuts & Bolts falls short of being bombastic. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by a knock-out nose of graphite, incense, blackberries, acacia flowers, and tar. This multilayered, full-bodied effort is the most backward of any of the Herman Story wines, and the tannins, while prominent, are sweet and well-integrated. Layered, pure, and stunningly rich, it should drink well for a decade or more. Readers looking for super-concentrated, extroverted, exuberant, powerhouse wines from California's Central Coast need look no further than the Herman Story estate. 95 pts.

I think Parker's "incense" what what I interpreted as spearmint/wintergreen.

2008 Stonestreet Chardonnay Gravel Bench

Thanksgiving Day, 2011, while Max and Francie cook, Emily and I vegging on the couch, watching "Work of Art," which is actually a pretty good "reality" show pitting artists against each other. One of Em's favs.

So, re: the wine, on first opening, caramel, butterscotch with quite a bit of alcohol on nose, and also on palate-I found it hot. Decided to let it air for 30 minutes. After 20 minutes, even hotter and more one dimensional. So far quite a disappointment. WIll let it air some more. After total of an hour, did get better, smoother and more dimensional. Still not more than 90+ points for me.

Below is map of the vineyard area, obviously quite mountainous. Above is a beautiful photo of the area, and it is a spectacular site. Not sure where exactly the gravel bench is.



This is how Stonestreet describes the site:

High above California's Alexander Valley stand the towering Mayacamas Mountains, home to Stonestreet's rugged Alexander Mountain Estate. This epic, untamed landscape is both challenging and rewarding when it comes to growing grapes. Here, we are truly a guest of nature, subject to both its bounty and its whims, which serve as a constant reminder that we are merely custodians to this remarkable place.

With less than 800 of our 5,100 acres planted to vine, this extreme expanse doesn't take kindly to direct orders. Comprised of 400 separate vineyard blocks aligned with the contours of the mountain, the Estate is an intricate puzzle of peaks, valleys and ridges that create a broad spectrum of aspects and facings. The story of Stonestreet is the story of our commitment to uncovering the true potential of this special land.


Parker 95 points:
As hard as it is to believe, the 2008 Chardonnay Gravel Bench is even better. A prodigious effort, it tastes like liquid rocks intermixed with tropical fruits, shortbread, subtle butterscotch, caramelized oranges, and candied apples. This beautifully textured, stunningly pure, loaded, long Chardonnay can be enjoyed over the next 6-10 years (till 2020!).

Notes from Visit to Stonestreet visit in 2010--Various wines

Chardonnay Grandstone 2007

50% oak. Honey prominent on nose, some tea, peach hazelnut. Classic chard from CA. 93.
peach/pear.
Upper Barn Chard2007
Also 50% aged in oak, also honey, very harmonious opening on the palate for many grapey nuances on a very long finish, a bit of heat and moderately low acid. More restrainted nose than Grandstone. An oily component with peach/pear/vanilla. 93+.

Gold Run Chard 2007
100% new oak aging. Very long finish with peach/pear. Acid is smoother. Honeysuckle, tea. Vineyard at 1400' soil district. Deeply complex nose. Some lime and sweet citrus. Actually more subtle than Upper Barn! 94 points.

Black Cougar Ridge Cab 2005
100% cab., 64% new oak. Licorice, black cherry, a bit of cheese and pine Very complex indeed with the licorice, blackberry and a bit of plum and prune and camphor.

Christopher's Cab 2005 (9% Syrah)

Piney/woodsy. Oh boy! Like L'Aventura. Soft tannins. The fruit and acid nicely balanced. Has a touch of green vegetable w/o too much of the vegetal quality i don't like--this does have even cabbage and broccoli. 96 from Parker!

Christopher's Cab 2006

Absolutely first-rate. Blackberry, huckleberry. Unbelievably complex berry compote with very long ripe finish.

Legacy 2006 Cab

Very juicy, soft tannin and low acid. Blackberry and blueberry, strawberry. Very fruit forward, plum, prune with a hint of eucalyptus. Aboslutely lovely nose with a touch of spice. 91+.

Lost Pine Merlot 2007

This is a serious merlot. It's black cherry with a strong wine--a serious merlot. Parker 89+.

Rockfall 2007 cab from the Bear Point vineyard. Fabulous. Everything in perfect balance. Plum, black cherry, blackberry, currant, huckleberry. Ripe and no sharp edges. A bit of woodsy pines--close to a Harlan. Got a 95 point from Parker.

2008 Salanques (Mas Doix Priorat)

A reliable good performer at the less expensive end of the Priorat spectrum this one featured chocolate and thyme, a most unusual nose and palate. Silky, sweet tannins. 90+ is what I'd give it. Extremely pleasant and it went very well with sparerib dinner.

Parker says The entry level is Salanques with an annual production ranging from 18-25,000 bottles. The 2008 Salanques is made up of 65% Garnacha, 20% Carinena, and the balance Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The owners consider 2008 to be one of the top 3 vintages of the decade, “a great vintage with low yields and vibrant acidity”. Its older vines were aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak while the younger vines were aged in second year barrels. Medium purple in color with a fragrant nose of cedar, mineral, spice box, lavender, black cherry, and blueberry, on the palate it is smooth-textured, intense, and concentrated with 2-3 years of aging potential. It will perform optimally from 2014 to 2023.