Half Bottle Mania offers twice the tasting options
For a gala tasting with friends TRR and Don K to discuss wine collecting and cellar management planning, and purchasing strategies, I chose half bottles for a more extensive tasting. While the fun of big bottles is evident, its not as widely known or practiced that opening half size bottles offers twice the number of tasting experience options in the same setting.
Opening small format bottles this evening allowed us to taste seven different wines instead of perhaps three had we opened regular or standard size bottles. This allowed a Napa Cabernet tasting as well as a comparison against a similar vintage Bordeaux and a Australian Shiraz, and a Ice Wine too. It also allowed a comparison of a selection of Napa Valley appellations' terrior and style - Oakville, Mt.Veeder, Howell Mtn, against a blend of those locations, and a Bordeaux blend.
As we most often do, we enjoyed these wines BYOB over dinner at our local neighborhood bistro Angeli's Italian. The big reds were spectacular with their Butternut Squash Gnochi in rich sweet brown sugar and vanilla sauce, and my favorite dish, and off-menu preparation of veal in a rich blue cheese brown sauce on angel hair pasta.
Prior to the red tasting we did an initial tasting at home of artisan cheeses with Cliff Lede Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007, then a small grilled flank steak taster against the Clark-Claudon and Larmande reds .
Anti pasta course flight:
Cliff Lede Napa Valley Stags Leap District Sauvignon Blanc 2007
This may be my favorite Sauvignon Blanc. A staple to keep for any wine tasting as a tasty starter, transition wine between courses, or by itself with salad, fruit and cheese or a seafood, light pasta or veggie dish.
While a bit more pricey than average, it stands up against classic Sauvignons costing twice as much. We visited Cliff Lede and did a magnificent tasting there during our Napa Wine Experience 2009.
Lemon colored, medium bodied, nicely balanced acidity, subtle oak, citrus and remarkable peach fruit flavor that turns to lemon with hints of mango, passion fruit and tangerine on the finish. Fabulous complement to lobster with a dash of lemon butter. starter. First tasted at the winery - got some at home - a staple white for the cellar.
RM 90 points.
The flight:
Clark Claudon Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
We've been collecting this Howell Mtn classic since our Napa Valley Wine Experience 1999. We have a vertical collection back to their inaugural 1993 vintage and have tasted this in Napa Cab wine flights with the same outcome as earlier Big Cab tastings - the concensus favorite of the group ...
Deep dark purple - full bodied - explosive aromas of ripe dark berry fruits, big mouth-full of forward complex but polished spicy black and edge of red berry fruits, violets, layers of mocha and oak with a long lingering tannin finish.
The 2004 Napa growing season was condensed with early bud break, warm days, cool nights and one challenging heat spike. The result was a small harvest of intense, flavor packed fruit from an unusual, but exceptional year that is showing and drinking well and should last another decade.
RM 93 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=229261
Yates Family Vineyards, Napa Redwood Estates, Aldon Perry Reserve, Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
This was discovered and acquired during our Napa Valley Mt Veeder Appellaton Experience 2011.
A bit of acid heat initially that soon wears off to a pleasant smooth drinking wine. Deep garnet color - full bodied bursting with complex layers of rich forward black currant, blackberry, ripe sweet black raspberry fruits, tones of cinnamon spice, anise and hints of floral, sweet oak, white pepper and tobacco leaf, finishing with moderate smooth tannins on a rich full finish.
RM 92 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1012016
Paradigm Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995
This wine was tasted and acquired during the same Napa Valley Wine Experience 1999 as the Clark Claudon above.
Fragrant, soft supple tannin, medium body, the layers of cherry and black currant fruit are being overtaken by earthy leather, licorice, and herbs, with under-currants of spice and cedar.
RM 89 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5875
Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Robert Craig produces this blend of Napa Valley Cabernets from
his various vineyard sources on Mt Veeder, Howell Mtn and Napa Valley.
He also sources fruit from Mt George and Spring Mtn distict for his
wines. He calls Affinity 'three mountains and a valley cabernet'. Its
produced for early enjoyment but we continue to find it ages well too.
We continue to hold a vertical of this wine dating back to the inaugural
1993 vintage. This wine was a highlight of the evening and was a
perfect pairing with the grilled rib-eye steaks, and also went
especially well with the the pre-dinner double Gloucester cheese.
Consistent with earlier tasting notes, deep dark purple inky color, huge ripe berry fruit aromatics, full body, ripe berry fruit, accented by a undercurrent of caramel with a hint of anise, tobacco and firm full tannins on the long fruit filled finish.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=323482
Château Larmande St Emilion Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2005
RM 90 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=351693
www.chateau-larmande.com
D'Arenberg Dead Arm McLaren Vale Valley Shiraz 2002
Dead Arm refers to the (one armed) vines that when afflicted in
the early days of the last century were spared from being turned under
and emerged to produce highly concentrated fruit from the single
remaining arm that survived after the loss of the other side of the
vine.
Typically a big fruit forward complex wine, the 2002 was a bit more subdued and muted than its normal big forwardness but what was an off-tone of minerality. Lacking that uber ripe almost raisin-fig with a layer of cedar predominating, this still held that complex black berry fruits with tones of pepper, spice, and cassis and hint of vanilla with a big long bold finish that has a slight tone of tangy cherry.
Linda likes this ripe boldness but its a bit too much to my liking it needs to be tasted with hearty meats, even bar-b-que, or artisan cheeses, such as tonight when it complemented the beef tenderloin, marinated pork tenderloin and then the course of dark chocolate deserts.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=27221
Inniskillin Niagara Peninsula VQA Oak Aged Vidal Eiswein 2004
We visited this classic Ice Wine producer during our visit to the Niagara-on-the-Lake isthmus nestled between Buffalo, NY and Toronto.
The fruit was a bit more muted and subdued than earlier tastings with it giving way to a layer of smoke and wood. Aromas of apple blossoms, apricot with hint of cinnamon-raison bread. On the palate, this beautifully rich dessert wine follows through nicely with mix of apricot, mango and a strong honeyed fig component. The overall finish has good length with tantalizing flashes of exotic fruit and spice.
RM 91 points.
http://www.inniskillin.com/en/ice/searchWines.asp?AppellationID=3&TypeID=Vidal
 |
| Half Bottle Mania - Twice the tasting options - Napa Cabs, Shiraz, Bordeaux, IceWine Flight |
Opening small format bottles this evening allowed us to taste seven different wines instead of perhaps three had we opened regular or standard size bottles. This allowed a Napa Cabernet tasting as well as a comparison against a similar vintage Bordeaux and a Australian Shiraz, and a Ice Wine too. It also allowed a comparison of a selection of Napa Valley appellations' terrior and style - Oakville, Mt.Veeder, Howell Mtn, against a blend of those locations, and a Bordeaux blend.
As we most often do, we enjoyed these wines BYOB over dinner at our local neighborhood bistro Angeli's Italian. The big reds were spectacular with their Butternut Squash Gnochi in rich sweet brown sugar and vanilla sauce, and my favorite dish, and off-menu preparation of veal in a rich blue cheese brown sauce on angel hair pasta.
Prior to the red tasting we did an initial tasting at home of artisan cheeses with Cliff Lede Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007, then a small grilled flank steak taster against the Clark-Claudon and Larmande reds .
Anti pasta course flight:
Cliff Lede Napa Valley Stags Leap District Sauvignon Blanc 2007
While a bit more pricey than average, it stands up against classic Sauvignons costing twice as much. We visited Cliff Lede and did a magnificent tasting there during our Napa Wine Experience 2009.
Lemon colored, medium bodied, nicely balanced acidity, subtle oak, citrus and remarkable peach fruit flavor that turns to lemon with hints of mango, passion fruit and tangerine on the finish. Fabulous complement to lobster with a dash of lemon butter. starter. First tasted at the winery - got some at home - a staple white for the cellar.
RM 90 points.
The flight:
Clark Claudon Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Deep dark purple - full bodied - explosive aromas of ripe dark berry fruits, big mouth-full of forward complex but polished spicy black and edge of red berry fruits, violets, layers of mocha and oak with a long lingering tannin finish.
The 2004 Napa growing season was condensed with early bud break, warm days, cool nights and one challenging heat spike. The result was a small harvest of intense, flavor packed fruit from an unusual, but exceptional year that is showing and drinking well and should last another decade.
RM 93 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=229261
Yates Family Vineyards, Napa Redwood Estates, Aldon Perry Reserve, Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
A bit of acid heat initially that soon wears off to a pleasant smooth drinking wine. Deep garnet color - full bodied bursting with complex layers of rich forward black currant, blackberry, ripe sweet black raspberry fruits, tones of cinnamon spice, anise and hints of floral, sweet oak, white pepper and tobacco leaf, finishing with moderate smooth tannins on a rich full finish.
RM 92 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1012016
Paradigm Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995
Fragrant, soft supple tannin, medium body, the layers of cherry and black currant fruit are being overtaken by earthy leather, licorice, and herbs, with under-currants of spice and cedar.
RM 89 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5875
Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Consistent with earlier tasting notes, deep dark purple inky color, huge ripe berry fruit aromatics, full body, ripe berry fruit, accented by a undercurrent of caramel with a hint of anise, tobacco and firm full tannins on the long fruit filled finish.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=323482
Château Larmande St Emilion Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2005
Château Larmande produces about
9000 cases per year and is known for consistent quality and generally a good
value. The estate is planted predominantly in Merlot covering 60% of the
vineyard, with 30% Cabernet Franc and just 5% Cabernet Sauvignon making up the
balance.
The 2005 vintage was above average and produced a wine that is already
approachable but should last another ten to fifteen years. Bottles are
recognizable by the unique lavender colored foil.
Medium bodied, full aromas of floral
perfume, moderately complex flavors of red berry and plum fruits accented by
subtle spice and hints of cherry-cranberry, nice texture and smooth moderate
tannins round out the finish.
RM 90 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=351693
www.chateau-larmande.com
D'Arenberg Dead Arm McLaren Vale Valley Shiraz 2002
 |
Typically a big fruit forward complex wine, the 2002 was a bit more subdued and muted than its normal big forwardness but what was an off-tone of minerality. Lacking that uber ripe almost raisin-fig with a layer of cedar predominating, this still held that complex black berry fruits with tones of pepper, spice, and cassis and hint of vanilla with a big long bold finish that has a slight tone of tangy cherry.
Linda likes this ripe boldness but its a bit too much to my liking it needs to be tasted with hearty meats, even bar-b-que, or artisan cheeses, such as tonight when it complemented the beef tenderloin, marinated pork tenderloin and then the course of dark chocolate deserts.
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=27221
Inniskillin Niagara Peninsula VQA Oak Aged Vidal Eiswein 2004
The fruit was a bit more muted and subdued than earlier tastings with it giving way to a layer of smoke and wood. Aromas of apple blossoms, apricot with hint of cinnamon-raison bread. On the palate, this beautifully rich dessert wine follows through nicely with mix of apricot, mango and a strong honeyed fig component. The overall finish has good length with tantalizing flashes of exotic fruit and spice.
RM 91 points.
http://www.inniskillin.com/en/ice/searchWines.asp?AppellationID=3&TypeID=Vidal
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