Labor Day Week Ribfest Wine Event

Scott rocking the ribs last night and a variety of wines at this one. Does show the power of properly prepping wines as the Insignia only got a two hour decant. Would recommend a 3 day examination on that one. Some really good wines but nothing mind blowing.

Results: CellarTracker! Amy & Scott’s Ribfest

Sparkling/Whites

By far better average than the reds. All showed well with the stars being the Faethm and Evening Land. Drink up on the Evening Land.

• N.V. Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Dundee Hills Brut – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
  Nice sparkling overall. Disgorgement 2020. Lemon, spices, grapefruit, dust, chalk and citrus. Medium finish and nice acidity. (92 pts.)

• N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 244 – France, Champagne
  Nice overall with spies, orange peel, dust, chalk, lemon and floral notes. Medium finish. (92 pts.)

• 2015 Evening Land Vineyards Chardonnay Summum Seven Springs Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
  Outstanding showing. Lemon, citrus, spices, orange peel, wood, dust and minerals. Complex and medium plus finish. Drink now to 2030. (94 pts.)

• 2021 Faethm / Fingers Crossed Unanswered Prayers White – USA, California
  White blend that shows well below its 15.4% alcohol. Very smooth offering with spices, wax white flowers, lemon, dust, tropical fruits and mango. Very smooth and drinkable. Like it a lot. 94+ (94 pts.)

Reds

Arrowood, Fox Creek were the stars of this red flight. Insignia was tight and opened up but a the price point try a different vintage. Another bust from Cameron Hughes and never understood the appeal of these wines.

• 1997 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale – USA, California, Sonoma County
  Very nice showing on this and still drinking well. Red currants, spices, floral, baking chocolate and minerals. What a nice showing. (93 pts.)

• 1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Excellent showing again. Menthol, spices, blueberries, raspberries, tar, earth and black pepper. Medium plus finish. Drink through 2030. (94 pts.)

• 2023 Ridge Lytton Springs – USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
  Find Ridge is just not something of interest anymore. Spices, bramble, boysenberries and dust. A bit hot. Just not a fan. (88 pts.)
• 2016 Gramercy Cellars Mourvèdre L’idiot du Village – USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
  Gramercy is ok at best. This wine at 10 years is not very good. HOT! Dust, dark currants, earth and spices. Very ordinary. (84 pts.)
• 2021 Bennett Lane Maximus – USA, California, Napa Valley
  Earth, spices, dark fruits, oak and vanilla. Not digging this overall. (85 pts.)

• 2011 Gallica Suzuri Series Shake Ridge Ranch – USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County
  Solid for an 11. Earth, funk, dust, spices, blueberries and floral notes. Medium finish. Drink up. (89 pts.)
• 2015 Joseph Phelps Insignia – USA, California, Napa Valley
  First taste was all oak. Hour and a half later a much better wine but way overpriced. Wood, plum, dust, spices, floral and earth. Medium finish. Lacks the fruit I would expect for this price point. (92 pts.)

• 2017 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Anderson Valley – USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
  Past peak. Cranberry, floral, dust, celery, sour cherry and earth. Last call on this. (87 pts.)

• 2017 Bergström Pinot Noir Silice – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains
  Liked this better than the Kosta Browne. Spices, pepper, violets, strawberries, floral and earth. Medium finish. Drink through 2030. (91 pts.)

• 2019 Cristom Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola – Amity Hills
  Very poor showing. Cherry, earth, spices and floral. Simple offering and way overpriced. (84 pts.)
• 2019 de Négoce Cabernet Sauvignon OG N.300 – USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
  Tasted blind and did not like this. Sweet currants, blackberries, spices, wood and earth. Medium finish and a bit hot. Not my style. (81 pts.)

• 2021 Craggy Range Syrah Single Vineyard – New Zealand, North Island, Hawke’s Bay
  Very unimpressed with this wine with grass, floral, light fruits and mild spice. Very boring overall. (80 pts.)

Dessert

Jason delivers again.

• 2005 Château Climens – France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
  Nice showing with marmalade, spices, orange peel, honey and floral notes. Nice Barsac for sure. (93 pts.)