Wines Tasted - January 24, 2010

 

J.L.Chave - St. Joseph - Offerus - 2007 - $30 - (Classic, Food Wine, Ager) - A dramatic young Norther Rhone Syrah, filled with aromas of roasted game, wood smoke, licorice, blackberries and black & white peppercorns.  On the palette it's layered but closed despite decanting.  It is classically Rhone in every way, but just so youthful it's a shame to open it in 2010 at all.  Full bodied, with moderate+ alcohol and tannin, acid was moderate to +, length was long but the finish dhed all its fruit but Earthyness lingered.

I recommend cellaring for 2 to 10 years additionally(not unlike all my 2007 Rhone Experiences thus far).

 

Araujo Estate - Eisele Vineyard - Napa Valley - Syrah - 2004 - (Modern Wine, Ager, Showpiece) - $135 - My first experience with this wine and it was quite an evening. OK, get ready for the most expensive Syrah in Napa (Colgin?). 

"My Lord, are you sure this isn't a young Howell Mountain Cabernet?"  That was my impression on this young, young, young Monster of a wine.  Black as night with a deep purple/garnet rim, opaque and of high concentration and viscosity.  A nose of licorice, ouzo, spice, pepper, blueberry liquor and berry jam.  On the palette it was: "Angry at us for opening it, hard to drink since it was so overwhelming with tannin, Mad at us, full of cinnamon stick, like liquid licorice, finished with blackberry liquor and mineral"

A wine that needed 10 more years in the cellar before we should revisit.