Solvang, California - Periodically when we in the wine industry have accumulated too much wine, and our significant others begin to howl about the excess wine cases inhabiting the living room and dining room floors, we declare a winEmergency, and gather together, and thin down the herd.
Tonight at winEmergency II, the primary categories were Chardonnay, Grenache, Syrah, and Rhone Blends. We tasted 30 wines total. All the wines were put in brown bags to insure wine anonymity, and all 12 tasters tasted every wine and provided feedback. Below are my scores and comments:
The hi-lighted wines were voted the winners in their respective classes.
2nd Place Overall: 2005 ZEPALTAS - Rosella's Vineyard - Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah
Below are all my scores and notes.
| YEAR | WINE | COMMENTS | SCORE |
| 2009 | THE PARING “The Point” Chardonnay | Steely, sharp, crisp, citrus, refreshing | 90 |
| 2009 | DIATOM Drum Canyon Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay | Highly acidic, light fruit. | 88 |
| 2008 | THE PARING “The Hilt” Chardonnay | Oaked, plush, long finish | 93 |
| 2006 | CHATEAU MONTELENA Napa Valley Chardonnay | Classic chardonnay, light buttered popcorn, toasty oak but not heavy | 92 |
| 2008 | BREWER CLIFTON Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay | Nice but somewhat un-focused, good fruit & oak | 90 |
| 2009 | BADGE “Blue Steel” Chardonnay – Sierra Madre Vineyard | Light and thin – slightly acidic | 85 |
| 2008 | FOXEN Steel Cut Chardonnay – Bien Nacido Vineyard – Santa Maria Valley | Out of balance – slightly bitter – too much citrus. | 85 |
| 2007 | STOLPMAN Grenache – Santa Ynez Valley | Stinky nose – ok balance. | 85 |
| 2007 | TRE ANELLI Grenache – Santa Barbara County | Vegetal nose – weird chemical finish - harsh | 82 |
| 2007 | BECKMEN VINEYARDS Purisima Mountain Vineyard Grenache | Good wine – balanced, nice fruit and a long finish. | 89 |
| 2007 | FOXEN Grenache – Williamson-Dore Vineyard | Stanky nose, but good fruit and a long, strong finish. | 92 |
| 2006 | REY Grenache – Central Coast | Medicinal nose – balanced and very fruity. | 89 |
| 2004 | BECKMEN VINEYARDS – Estate Grenache – Santa Ynez Valley | Very pleasant – the extra age mellowed the wine nicely – great balance | 93 |
| 2008 | BRANDER Syrah – Clover Creek Vineyard – Santa Ynez Valley | Bacon on the nose, light spice, big fruit | 87 |
| 2008 | LO STIVALE – Syrah – Santa Barbara County | Balanced, peppery, big wine -pleasant but needs much more time. | 85 |
| 2006 | QUPE – Syrah – Purisima Mountain Vineyard | Pomegranate on the palate, balanced, a good wine | 87 |
| 2006 | JADA – Jersey Girl Syrah | Nice syrah with pepper and good fruit | 88 |
| 2005 | BRIDLEWOOD – Syrah – Santa Ynez Valley | Toasted Coconut on the nose and palate – interesting wine. | 88 |
| 2005 | ZEPALTAS – Rosella’s Vineyard – Santa Lucia Highlands | Very full-bodied, with rhubarb on the nose and a great full mouth-feel | 92 |
| 2004 | BECKMEN VINEYARDS – Syrah – Estate – Santa Ynez Valley | Pleasant, nicely aged, the wine has an old-world feel. | 87 |
| 2005 | AMPELOS “Epsilon” Syrah – Alisos Vineyards – Santa Barbara County | Gamy nose, oaky, currant on the nose – a bright fruit wine. | 91 |
| 2006 | SNOSRAP – Cyrano – Monterey County | Rubber tire nose – balanced & peppery. | 90 |
| 2006 | CARINA CELLARS – Sibylline – Central Coast | Pleasant but lacking. Not terribly robust. | 86 |
| 2005 | DOMAINE de MURCHON – Grande Reserve – Cotes Du Rhone Villages | Big stinky nose, but very nice on the palate – good density. | 89 |
| 2006 | SAINT-ESPRIT – Cotes Du Rhone – Delas | Very old world nose – barnyard and stinky – excellent on the palate – very long finish, really nice weight! | 94 |
| 2005 | CLOS SAINT MICHELLE – Chateauneuf de Pape | Very barnyardy on the nose – nice old world wine with a toasty finish. | 90 |
| 2006 | AMPELOS – Syrache – Santa Barbara County | Very fruit forward wine – nice! | 89 |
| 2008 | SAINT ESPRIT – Cotes Du Rhone - Delas | Sweet tart nose with a woody attack and a big cherry mid/finish. | 89 |
