Family birthday dinner at Son Ryan's features a flight of big red wines - Back-up
For
grand-daughter MacKenzie's birthday, son Ryan and D-inlaw Michelle
hosted a gala family celebration dinner. They grilled beef steaks and
chicken on Ryan's new outdoor kitchen grill with a range of
accompaniments. Before dinner they served shrimp, assorted veggies,
fruits and an medley of artisan cheeses. With the snacks and hor d'ovres
Ryan served vintage Roederer Champagne.
With dinner Ryan served from his cellar several vintage premium wines:
- Fantesca All Great Things - Freedom 2009
- Cliff Lede High Fidelity Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
- Lillian California Syrah 2017
Family friend Dustin R brought from his cellar this premium Argentinian Malbec by Viña Cobos.
Cliff Lede “High Fidelity” Red Wine, Napa Valley 2017
The 2017 'High Fidelity' is composed of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon
sourced from Cliff Lede's Twin Peaks estate vineyard, along with the Cabernet Franc from acclaimed viticulturist David Abreu’s
Madrona Ranch.
We've visited the Lede estate numerous times over the years and its alway a highlight of our Napa visits.
This was rated 94 points by Antonio Galloni of Vinous.
Dark inky purple garnet colored, medium-full bodied, smooth, polished and nicely balanced black berry and plum fruits with notes of graphite, mocha, expresso, anise, spice and black tea with earthy floral on an elegant soft tannin finish.
RM 92 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/notes.asp?iWine=3526988
http://www.cliffledevineyards.com/
Fantesca All Great Things - Freedom 2009
This is the handicraft of legendary veteran winemaker Heidi Peterson Barrett, whose Napa Valley resume includes winemaking stints at Screaming Eagle, Dalla Valle, and her own La Sirena. She signed on with Fantesca in early 2008.
RM 92 points.
Lillian California Syrah 2017
An
interesting wine I had never heard of or seen before Ryan brought this
premium artisan Syrah from his cellar when we were over last fall. That
night we tasted the 2016 release.
First released in 2004, she sources fruit for this small production artisan label from the prestigious White Hawk Vineyard in Santa Barbara County.
She produces this Lillian Syrah and a some other labels from vineyards sources such as the Bien Nacido Vineyard in Santa Maria Valley, and the Stolpman Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Lillian wines are crafted from Rhone varietals — Roussanne, Syrah and Grenache, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lillian shares a winemaker, winery, and tasting room with Antica Terra, in Dundee, OR. While Antica Terra is focused on Pinot Noir from OR, Lillian is dedicated exclusively to producing Rhone varieties, as noted on the label, the wine is designated California Syrah, attributing the vineyard sources of the fruit.
Dark purple, medium-full bodied, balanced savory dark fruit with hints of smoke and bacon fat on the nose and palate with a big lingering tangy finish.
RM 91 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3042313
https://www.lillianwinery.com/
Viña Cobos, Vineyard Designate Malbec, Marchiori Estate, Luján de Cuyo, Argentina, 2019
In addition to his global consulting career, Paul Hobbs has navigated producing wines globally, engaging annually in two harvests across nine countries. Today, Paul is the owner and winemaker for Sebastopol, California based wineries Paul Hobbs Winery and Crossbarn, as well as his international partnerships: Viña Cobos of Argentina, Crocus of Cahors, France, Yacoubian-Hobbs of Armenia and his two latest projects in development: Hillick & Hobbs, focusing on Finger Lakes riesling, and Alvaredos-Hobbs in Galicia, Spain.
Paul Hobbs visited Mendoza in Argentina in 1989 and started working with Malbec, exploring different terroirs of Mendoza, looking for the most distinguished regions in Luján de Cuyo and the Valle de Uco, to produce wines that uniquely express their origins.
He established Viña Cobos in 1998, After twenty years of experimenting, development, innovation and improvement, Viña Cobos has evolved to become internationally recognized for producing luxury-class wines and a world quality leader for Malbec based wines. Viña Cobos creates extraordinary wines of outstanding quality, highlighting Malbec as the emblematic variety of Mendoza.
With the inaugural vintage of Cobos Malbec in 1999, Viña Cobos marked a milestone in viticulture, defying existing standards and firmly positioned Malbec and Argentina on the international wine scene.
Viña Cobos, Vineyard Designate Malbec, Marchiori Estate, Luján de Cuyo, Argentina, 2019
Luján de Cuyo is the premier growing region of Mendoza, fed by the snow-melt of the Andes through the Mendoza River. High altitudes range from 945 - 1,100 m (2,624 - 3,608 ft). The soils are alluvial, with a subsoil of clay, sand, silt and rock.
Valle de Uco with proximity to the Andes Mountains characterizes this cool, high altitude region. Vineyards sites range from 900 - 1,400 m (2,950 - 4,600 ft) in elevation. The soils are alluvial, sandy and rocky, and in some areas, limestone.
In addition to Malbec, Viña Cobos grows and produces Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay.
The 2015 Cobos Marchiori Estate Malbec was awarded 98 points by JS.This is really dynamic and focused with blueberry, blackberry and mineral character. Hints of lavender and sandalwood. Full body, yet so tight and lifting. The palate just grows at the finish which goes on and on. Juicy, meaty and dried herb flavors at the end… – J.S.
The first release of this wine was 2018, under the 'Viña Cobos Vineyard Designate' label. The Viña Cobos Vineyard Designate line captures the richness and power of exceptional vineyards and estates within Valle de Uco and Luján de Cuyo.
This was dark inky purple colored, full bodied, rich, concentrated extracted black and blue fruits with notes of bacon, tobacco, black tea, spice and herbs with a full lingering finish.
RM 94 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4240423
https://www.paulhobbsselections.com/vinfata-cobos