2000 Chateau L'Hermitage 2nd of 7

L'Hermitage is a Merlot Cabernet Franc blend. The nose on this wine is very nice. It comes right up with pleasing cherry/berry aromas. Quite enjoyable. The wine itself is a bit more dense and heavier, with a shift to a more raspberry flavor (perhaps that was the nose and I just missed it, but cherry was more predominant to me) solid tannin's but a somewhat short finish.

It simply dies in the mouth which given the flavors was a bit of a disappointment. Overall a sold wine. RP 91 WS 84 Not sure what wine WS was tasting from the bottle it does not seem to bear any resemblance to what I had. Their barrel note is pretty close.

WR

2000 Leoville-Las Cases Redux

So, two nights after opening this I went back to the bottle that had sat room temperature on my counter, with a simple stopper in the bottle.

My original note is here.

About 70% of the time I do this, I take a taste and pour out the glass and the bottle. 30% of the time, funny things have happened. Some just odd, others very enjoyable.

This was more than enjoyable. The wine had evolved wonderfully, developing some complexity, continuing to give the fruit with both strong and subtle flavors that it showed originally and the tannins had smoothed down beautifully. The finish was long and delightful.

It is so great when the 30% happens like this. It confirms for me that this wine will drink remarkably well for many many years to come.



WR

2000 Leoville-Las Cases

"A tour de force in winemaking" no less authority than Robert Parker.

I opened this tonight on a whim. It is a very nice bottle of wine, but I felt like something special, I have a few of these and have not tried one in well more than a year. It is still a long way from being a special wine. But all the elements are there. The fruit is full, with great subtle flavors. I sniff spice and licorice and cherry, and taste the berry coming through still somewhat strong tannins. I am sure that these tannins will mellow over the next few years and I will probably wait at least another year if not longer to break out another one of these.

I have no doubt this will be a great wine, but unlike many much more reasonably priced wines I have been drinking lately, it is not really for drinking now. It requires more time to fully achieve what the winemaker was aiming to deliver.

The winery does not seem to have an online presence, but here is a wikipedia entry.

WR

2000 Sausal Zinfandel Alexander Valley Private Reserve

I drink almost no Zin anymore. I went through a phase where I drank quite a bit, all the Amador county zins, the finer Napa zins, even got my hands on a Turly or two. When I do drink it, I always wonder why it ends up being second choice whenever I am standing in the isle trying to decide what to pick out. It just does. I like it, but it does not give the wow! feeling that you get with other varietals. At least, that is me.

The Sausal, was picked up at the winery awhile ago. It was good in the tasting at the winery and so I bought a bottle to go with a couple of cabs. Drinking it now was fun. It went well with the BBQ ribs and potato salad. Strong taste of plum, almost port like. It was ready to drink, but not over the hill at all.

All in all a pretty good evening of wine. Not too much, but nice variety and most importantly pleasant company.

Back in awhile.

leh