I'm not sure what it means to apply a numerical score to the taste of a wine. Even my four-star deliciousness scale leaves something to be desired. But if there is one thing I've noticed recently about Robert Parker Jr. scoring 95 point wines, it's the fact that they taste almost purely, and almost identically, like blueberry, and not much else.
The following were easy drinking, nearly sweet wines that I had trouble putting down. Cynics and critics may take issue with a lack of secondary aromatics in these wines, but I'd challenge them to cellar the wines for a decade and then get back to me.
Pax Cellars Syrah Vine Hill Vineyard 2004 **** was dark purple, nearly opaque. 100% syrah from 80% new French Oak (15.55% alc/vol and a 3.85 pH) there's not very much pepper on the nose and both oak and alcohol are very well concealed by pure blue fruit notes. Velvety texture leads to pure blueberry compote on the mid note, with a long soft finish of dried herbs.
Ojai Vineyard's White Hawk Vineyard 2004 Syrah **** ditto above, but add a little spice to the mid palate.
And as posted earlier, the 2005 Switchback Ridge Peterson Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon **** was deep and brooding; virtually opaque, with stewed plums and black cherries on the nose, surprising acidity, a velvety texture, and mild blueberry jam notes.
Interesting perspective. I think You'd need a larger sample size to make that full evaluation. In my experience I've noticed that I tend to agree with Parker on some regions and not with others (his and my palate in Australian wine are greatly divergent, for example). But, while I haven't tasted the Pax or the Switchback, I think that the Ojai is over-rated. That syrah is somewhat sappy and thick and doesn't have the textural complexity or flavour profile I look for in Syrah. That said, I enjoy Ojai's pinots and chards.
ReplyDeleteBut yes, I think a little cellar time is a good experiment.