Another wine club meetup that was fun and the wines for the most part showed well. Always a few wines that show poorly or are not up to the price point of the event. Thanks to Gary for hosting!
My notes:
CellarTracker! Meritage Tasting
- 2016 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
This was heavy on the oak at 9 years but with these wines especially this vintage needs 2 to 3 days to still shine. Decanted 2 hours and needed 5. Oak, plum, vanilla, spice, tobacco and floral notes. Medium to long finish. Expect these to drink well through 2032. Did get better later in the night. (92 pts.)
- 2017 Alexander Valley Vineyards Cyrus – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Unlike the 2016 these are drink up in the next few years. Much lighter and ready to go with a 2 hour decant. Tobacco, earth, floral, spice, raspberries and plum. Medium finish and picked up a little funk which I like. Drink now to 2028. (92 pts.) - 2021 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon Salvation – USA, California, Napa Valley
Ok got this mixed up with the Quilt from memory and Faust makes some nice wines. This is a perfect wine to get people from stop drinking Caymus, Quilt, Austin Hope and Justin and the many other sweet wines on the market. Fruit forward with ripe cherries, plum and blueberries. A touch of spice and minor oak influence. This literary is a pop and pour and drink now wine. Crowd Pleaser. (90 pts.) - 2020 L’Ecole No. 41 Apogée Pepper Bridge Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
Well was able to teach a group of 12 about smoke taint last night. Most people think the wine is oaky or just in a dumb phase. No this wine is smoke tainted. How do you tell? When swishing it around in your mouth you get a real chalky sensation like a really bad tooth paste. Also no fruit was present in this wine. Anyway since they made it, it is not in the flawed category in my opinion hence a lower score than the community. Muted fruit, earth, ash and dried twigs. As one of my top 10 wineries in Washington I wish they did not make it. Shocking James Suckling gave this 94 points. (74 pts.) - 2016 L’Ecole No. 41 Perigee Estate Seven Hills Vineyard – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley
These are at the drink now stage. Maybe a few more years but don’t wait. Tobacco, floral, cherry, minerals, spice and earth. Fruit fading a bit but still enjoyable. (92 pts.) - 2023 Chappellet Mountain Cuvée – USA, California, Napa Valley
One of the more enjoyable wines at the tasting. Cherry, plum and blue currants. Very much a fruit forward wine but also offered mild spice and floral notes. A crowd pleaser that is actually good! (92 pts.) - 2020 Mount Peak Winery Gravity – USA, California, Sonoma County
Well let’s start off by saying this is not even close to 99 points. High alcohol on this one and getting some heat. Mild smoke taint as well. Dark fruits, hot spices and floral notes. Medium plus finish but a sloppy wine. (92 pts.) - 2018 Founder’s Ranch Red Wine – USA, California, Napa Valley
A very poorly made wine at a tasting where it was $45 and up and this clearly is not at that price point. Harsh in nature with very little fruit showing and also featured spice and earth. Other than the smoke tainted wine the worst one at the tasting. (77 pts.) - 2021 Sleight of Hand The Archimage Reserve – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
This wine was not doing it for me and at the winery last year much better so guessing they prepped it. I like Sleight of Hand wines but more Syrah for sure. Tight with oak, spice, earth and floral. Fruit is hiding at the moment. Advice cellar for 3 to 5 years. (87 pts.)
- 2019 LVE Red – USA, California, Napa Valley
In the middle of the pack at this tasting. Cherry, plum, spice, floral and dark chocolate. Medium finish and a crowd pleaser type wine. (88 pts.)
- 2018 Rodney Strong Symmetry – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Well the member that brought this waits until the 11th hour and had it delivered instead of going to the shop and purchasing it. Well it was 100 degrees in MN yesterday so guessing the delivery service did not have temp control. Can’t score this as clearly showing heat damage. Muted fruit, dirt and spice. Maybe it is just the wine as really not a bid fan of Rodney Strong. - 2020 deLorimier Artisan Meritage – USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley
Ok after an earlier 2020 smoke tainted wine had some concerns but this was the wine of the night by many. Outstanding offering with plum, cherry, blueberries, spice, rose petals and chocolate. Medium plus finish and drinking well now but will go 10 more years. Would love to try this over 3 days. 93+
50% Cab Sauv, 25% Malbec, 25% Petit Verdot
Appellation: A (93 pts.)
