WTN: Copain, Talley, Hansel

[Jenise]

2003 Walter Hansel chardonnay, Cahill Vineyard
Deep gold in the glass, fat California butterscotch nose and flavor with vanilla bean and tarte tatin. A cocktail of a chardonnay and very good at being that, but this wine will not improve with further aging.

2000 Copain Hacienda Secoya Pinot Noir, Anderson Valley, California
This was a lovely wine about a year ago, but show's over, the fruit's gone now and what's left is green and unsatisfactory. I am going to immediately schedule my 02's for near term consumption.

[David M. Bueker]

I've had some older Copain & found that the initial lush fruit did not last.

The Talley seems rather thin and insubstantial.

[Jenise]

The Talley seems rather thin and insubstantial.

Okay, you got me. It was corked--$68 buckaroos down the drain. I decided after writing the title, apparently, that there was no real information in saying so.

[David M. Bueker]

Sorry you had to divulge that, but if we don't talk about it why will the producers feel any incentive to change? Sierra Carche is one wine. TCA is ruining many, many more.

I have been drinking Talley Pinots since 1997 vintage. For me, they are my favorite California Pinot of them all. What I like best is how the really age. I am guessing that your bottle would have been Rincon or Rosemary. Which vintage was it ?