Tyler M's profile

2007 Windy Oaks - Pinot Noir Diane's Block
Salted strawberry, sweet oak, red licorice. Still plenty of gusto, with good acid. Drinking now wouldn't be a sin, but this has plenty more left to give.

2007 Josef Hogl - Gruner Veltliner Schon Smaragd
Spicy & mineral-driven. Aromas of poached pears, savory herbs and hemp. Full-bodied and persistent, medium-plus acid, with flavors of pear, yellow apple, grilled pineapple, gunflint, and finishing bone dry with a lingering saline, herbal note. Drink in the near term.

2009 Lioco - Chardonnay Demuth Vineyard
Still just as lean and acid-driven as I remember from 2 years ago, but with added weight. Flavors of lemon rind, quince, juniper berry, quinine, and jasmine--I cannot help but be reminded of a good gin and tonic. Good rich, slightly creamy middle that keeps it well-balanced. Probably still has years to go. A great effort, and definitely a very distinctive CA chard.

2009 Macphail - Chardonnay Gap's Crown Vineyard
Spicy asian pear, quince & lemon rind. Mouthfilling and with ample acidity to carry the lush, fat fruit. No signs of fading, although there's no reason to hold off on these either.

2009 Kuenhof - Sylvaner Eisacktaler
I love the texture and acidity--a real sense of weight without any cumbersome feeling. The flavors took some coaxing and warming up to get to. Mango, lime, and sorrel flavors, with chestnut and mineral scents. Decanting is definitely in order. A bit of alcohol mars the long, bone dry finish. 14.5% ABV. I'd like to see how a little time affects these.