Tasting Notes (Oct. 23): 7 (Awsome) Varietals

I haven't been to a tasting in two weeks, but I suppose that's a good thing: no more of my notes have been piling up as my semester has spun wildly out of control in terms of workload. (In case you don't know and do care, for my day job I'm a professor, and this year I've had to jump over the many, high, work-multiplying hurdles that constitute the "third year review" for professors who--you guessed it--are in their third year). That's mostly over, I'm happy to say, and so, despite having many other irons in the proverbial fire, I should be able to find time to start catching up on my tasting notes.

And, for those of you who may have allowed yourselves to imagine that it is mere laziness on my part that has kept me from posting, you must also know that--my ego being what it is--I would never allow something as petty as being inhumanly busy keep me from bragging to the world that I nailed the last blind tasting, with a perfect 7 of 7 correct. But even that post is going to have to wait. It's not that I have any great reverence for putting my notes up in the order I took them, though that's been my M.O. It's just that, tonight, I'm at home, and the only set of tasting notes I have handy are the following ones.

But one last, quick word before I get to the notes. If you read this blog even remotely regularly, then you know two things about my notes. First, you know that, as a rule, I look for positive things to say about the wines I review. Second, you know that, on a rare occasion, saying something positive about a wine, or even offering an indifferent report of its qualities, is not possible. Why do I bring this up? Because this lineup was one of those amazing ones where every wine was at least good, with a few being real knockouts. I wouldn't want you to think my excessive praise of tonight's wines was feigned. It isn't. They're that good.

And now, the notes:

1. Zind Humbrecht Riesling Turckheim Heimbourg 2006 ($42.99/bottle)
The snappy acidity and taut minerality of this medium-bodied riesling hold fresh flavors of fuji apple and key lime in wonderfully poised, delicate suspension. The incredibly long, stony finish tastes like rain on limestone. Try this with boiled German-style sausages.

2. Hitchin Post "Highlighner" Pinot Noir 2005 ($44.99/bottle)
Good acidity bouoys the rich, dark notes of black cherry, earth, and black licorice that define the palate. Medium-bodied and beautifully silky, with a finish that hints at medicinal herb. Very good.

3. Olek-Mery Chinon Cuvee des Tireaux 2004 ($26.99/bottle)
This medium- to full-bodied, cab franc-based red from France's Loire Valley boasts flavors and aromas of cherry and dark berry, roasted poblano peppers, and a veritable cloud of dust. This is a mood wine--something to break out if you're feeling austere and Old World. Or if you're having roast pork tacos.

4. Novelty Hill Merlot Columbia Valley 2004 ($23.99/bottle)
This is a really nice merlot. Chocolatey, spicey, and even a bit leathery, it is rich and mouthfilling. The long finish is all blueberry until, at about 45 seconds, the mineral notes begin to come out.

5. Paraiso Syrah "Wedding Hill" 2001 (47.99/bottle)
With aromas of dark berries, smoke, leather, and animal, and full-bodied flavors of sweet berry fruit, pepper, leather, and grilled meat, this syrah is every bit as rugged and masculine as its French counterpart, Hermitage. For a food pairing, think spit-roasted boar. Or, if you're a normal human, grilled steak. A great wine.

6. Rosenblum Zinfandel "Snows Lake Vineyard" 2005 ($37.99/bottle)
Rich, but not over the top, with ripe, rich aromas and flavors of black and blue berries, chocolate, spice, and bramble. Nicely balanced for a big zin.

7. Soos Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Ciel du Cheval Vineyard 2002 ($34.99/bottle)
This cab is nice, spicy, and big, with a rich nose of currant, plum, choclate, and oak, and flavors of sweet currant, plum, spice, leather, and chocolate. Lush and tasty.