Lavender Crest Winery Tasting

Lavender Crest Winery Tasting Illinois and Midwest Wines 

Returning from our weekend get away to Iowa, we stopped enroute back to Chicago at Lavender Crest Winery in Colona, IL,  along our route, for a spontaneous casual Wine Tasting. 

What a pleasant surprise to find such a picturesque setting amidst the gardens and vineyard. And how delightful to discover some respectable wines produced locally, sourced from Illinois vineyards. 

The original Lavender Crest Winery first opened in 2004 by Wilbert and Martha Rittmueller pursuing their passion for wine and named based on fond memories of a memorable visit to a lavender field. 

The Rittmuellers lived their dream for 11 years, until it was cut short by Martha’s unexpected passing in 2015. Seeking retirement, Wilbert sold the winery to the Belshause family who owned and operated Backroad Vineyard and already supplied grapes for many Lavender Crest wines.

The acquisition of the winery in 2016 by the five Belshause siblings, Ron, Nancy, Gloria, Marty, and Henry, already partners in their vineyard, fulfilled their ambition to own and operate their own winery. 

Lavender Crest Winery features a vineyard and wine production facility. In addition there is a hospitality center with a wine tasting room, a café that serves lunch daily, a gift shop, and a banquet and special events center that seats 250 - 300 guests special occasions. 

Lunch in the café is served either inside or outside on a grape covered pergola over the patio overlooking the picturesque vineyard and gardens grounds. Guests are able to do a wine tour of the production facility or do a tasting of their choice of a flight of wines. 

Lavender Crest produces wines that showcase grapes grown in their own vineyards, and grower vineyards across Illinois and the Midwest, as well as incorporating some juice imported from California. 

We crafted a wine flight of reds and one of whites. The tasting flights are served in a wine glass tower/tree delineating from top to bottom the wine selections in order of tasting. 

Out Wine flights included:

White wines … 

Red wines … 

The Whites … 

“Colona” Backroad Vineyard La Crescent White NV

An Illinois State Fair Winner, Corona White is a semi- sweet white crafted from Lavender Crest’s own Illinois Grown LaCrescent grapes from Backroad Vineyard. This wine possesses a fruity, crisp flavor, with hints of tangerine, apricot and spice. Reminiscent of Riesling.

Their Colona Red and Colona White wines are named after the town, Colona, Illinois, located in Henry County in northwest Illinois on the Mississippi River bordering Iowa. Colona became an official town in 1855. 

No one really knows how the name came about. Legends support four theories; from discovering "coal on a bank", to the abundance of wild flowers creating "cologne" in the air, a traveler named Mr. Colona or a shortened version of the word "Colonial".

 

Over time, the city has embraced such visitors as Abraham Lincoln, Tom Mix and General Pershing and is called home by opera star, Tony Dillon, baseball player, Baby Doll Jackson, racing champion, Lou Fenno and last but not least, Lavender Crest Winery.

“Beaches” NV Niagara La Crecent Blend

Best known perhaps as a juice grape, Niagara is the white-skinned counterpart to Concord and is, in fact, a multi-use grape excellent for wine-making. Blended with LaCrescent, it makes a "heady, heavily-scented wine" with floral notes. This crowd pleaser is best served chilled.

“Faithful Friends” BackRoad Vineyards White Blend

A delicate, semi-sweet white blend of locally grown grapes from Backroad Vineyard in Orion, IL. This takes its name from the fact that this label is crafted especially for the Quad City Animal Welfare Center, as portion of the proceeds goes to support their causes.

“Sweet Temptation” Valvin Muscat NV

Fashioned from Valvin Muscat grapes, this aromatic wine is sure to please Moscato drinkers. It has a spicy, floral aroma with delicious citrus, peach, and passion fruit flavors. Served chilled as recommended. 

“Soirée” Marquette Rosé

A semi-sweet blush wine made with gently pressed, locally grown Marquette grapes. Sweet and tangy notes of strawberry and ripe red fruits create a celebratory dance of flavors. Served chilled as recommended. This was very nice, and in-line with many Rose’ from California or even the Languedoc in Provence. 

The Red Wine flights …

Lavender Crest “Miche Sepi” California Cabernet and Missouri Norton Red Blend NV

Named in honor of the Quad Cities' greatest natural resource, the Mississippi River, this subtly "oaked" Cabernet juice from California and Norton from Missouri is finished dry.

Back ground on the Mississippi River heritage and impact. “Jean Nicolet, under direction of La Salle, learned of a great river called Miche Sepi from the native Americans. For nearly 200 years since, agriculture has been the primary user of the basin lands. The value of the agricultural products and the huge agribusiness industry that has developed in the basin produces 92% of the nation's agricultural exports, 78% of the world's exports in feed grains and soybeans, and most of the livestock and hogs produced nationally. 

The Mississippi River and its floodplain are home to a diverse population of living things that include at least 260 species of fish and 145 species of amphibians and reptiles. Forty percent of the nation's migratory waterfowl use the river corridor during their Spring and Fall migration and 60% of all North American birds (326 species) use the Mississippi River Basin as their migratory flyway. To move goods up and down the Mississippi, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers maintains a 9-foot shipping channel from Baton Rouge, La. to Minneapolis, Minn. Over 18 million people up and down the river use the Mississippi River Watershed for water supply.”

“1836” Red Table Wine NV

A semi-dry red wine created from Marquette grapes from Backroad Vineyard and California Pinot Noir. Barrel-aged to give it a touch of oak complexity. 

Named 1836 in honor of our neighboring town Victorian Geneseo. 

“Geneseo, a name of American Indian Origin meaning "Pleasant Valley", was established in 1836 by eight families from Geneseo and Bergren in Genesee County, New York seeking religious freedom and financial opportunities. The original 40-acre town was recorded in Henry County on July 12, 1838 and the city was chartered by the state on February 16, 1865.

Today, Victorian homes still line the cozy neighborhoods and downtown is filled with quaint, unique shops.shops.

A semi-sweet red wine made from locally grown Marquette & Frontenac grapes from Backroad Vineyard, has a vibrant red color and dark berry fruit characteristics. Recommended serving with chocolate. 

“Red Velvet”

A semi-sweet red wine made from locally grown Marquette & Frontenac grapes from Backroad Vineyard, has a vibrant red color and dark berry fruit characteristics. Recommended serving with chocolate. 

“Odds & Ends” Red Blend NV

A semi-sweet wine blend based upon the winemaker's choice, this wine will be different with every bottling.



“Spice”

This exotic mixture of several spices transforms a blend of several of our fine wines into the perfect libation for fall and winter enjoyment. Served cold or warmed,

“Chocolate Love”

Blend of rich dark chocolate blended with Frontenac wine for a sensational taste that pairs well with many foods, especially raspberries and red cherries. Best served chilled.




To accompany the wine tasting we enjoyed their Baked Brie with fresh berries and nuts with crackers and apple slices, and fresh baked bread with olive oil, balsamic vinegar and cheese.

Readers of these pages know we tend to favor rather ‘sophisticated’ wines … especially when it comes to Reds. The Lavender Crest wines met our modest expectations for wines crafted from Illinois grapes. Taking into account the Midwestern “terroir” - all the elements that comprise conditions for growing vin-vinifera or wine grapes, soil, sun exposure, and most notably climate, there is a reason Illinois is known for corn and soybeans and California for wine grapes. 

That said, Lavender Crest are doing a commendable job crafting quality wines, meeting the ‘art of the possible’ from the fruit grown in the Midwest. The highest quality to our preference tending to the whites, generally those sweeter varietal wines. 

We thought enough of their wines that we purchased severable labels to take home for consumption and sharing with friends later. 

Most notably we purchased a mixed case of primarily Lavender Crest whites, “Beaches” NV Niagara La Crecent Blend and  “Faithful Friends” BackRoad Vineyards White Blend, and  “Soirée” Marquette Rosé, in line with our recent pursuit of Rose’ as a summer sipper. 

And of course, in light of our chocolate-mania, love of chocolate, we included some “Chocolate Love” for fun experimentation and sharing with friends. 

We will look forward to, and highly recommend at stop at Lavender Crest for a fun outing taking in their hospitality, wine and accompanying food, in their pretty picturesque setting. 

https://lavendercrest.com/

Ducru Beaucaillou & Bollinger La Grande Année at Joseph’s Steakhouse Iowa City

Ducru Beaucaillou & Bollinger La Grande Année at Joseph’s Steakhouse Iowa City 

We traveled with son Ryan and his family to Iowa City, IA to tour his alma mater, the University of Iowa. 

Ryan gave us and the kids/grandkids a campus and town tour that included the spectacular sports facilities - Kinnick Football stadium, Carver-Hawkeye Basketball Arena and adjacent sports facilities, and the world class Medical School and Hospital Complexes. 

We then toured the academic campus, most notably the Tippe School of Business that Ryan attended, the Memorial Union and the historic campus, old state capital building and adjacent museum. 

We then toured the city center with its ped mall, shops, boutiques, restaurants and of course, campus bars. 

A highlight was dinner at Joseph’s Steakhouse downtown, a short walk from our hotel. 

For our dinner entrees, we ordered steaks, petit filet, ribeye and Waygu Beef sirloins. Each was served with whipped potatoes and asparagus spears with Demi-glaze au jus.  All were high quality delicious cuts of beef, superbly prepared and presented. 

Linda and Michelle both ordered one of the house specialities, Ribeye Filet & Fettuccine - house-made pasta, roasted mushrooms, sauteed kale, roasted garlic, demi-glace, with white truffle butter. This was delicious and perhaps the best choice, most likely my choice for next time if we have the opportunity to visit again. 

We ordered a side order of the Fresh Sourdough Bread and the Brussel Sprouts & Bacon. 

For the special outing festive dinner, I brought BYOB from our home cellar an aged birthyear vintage bottle of Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 1983 commemorating D-in-law Michelle’s birthyear. 

We also ordered from the extensive Joseph’s Wine List a bottle of vintage Bollinger La Grande Année Brut Champagne 2014. 

https://josephs-steak.com/wine/

Château Ducru Beaucaillou St Julien Bordeaux 1983 

Our visit to the magnificent historic Château Ducru Beaucaillou estate, vineyards, winery and cellars was one of the highlights of our trip to St Julien back in 2018 featured in these pages in this post - A visit to Château Ducru Beaucaillou - (https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/08/ducru-beaucaillou.html). 

We hold an extensive collection of Ducru dating back four decades. We served Château Ducru Beaucaillou at our kid’s, Erin and Ryan’s weddings, from large format Jeroboam and Double Magnum bottles. This bottle is one of the few last remaining in our cellar from this vintage. 

Robert Parker awarded this release 98+ points saying upon release, “this is a blockbuster, fabulous Ducru Beaucaillou that should be at its best a good decade from now and last 40-50 years. The proprietor is not alone in thinking this is the finest Ducru Beaucaillou since the 1961.” This is saying a lot given the 1982 vintage was considered one of the best of the century for the region. 

Julien Graves of Boutellier Wines awarded this release 95 points. This release was awarded 94 points by reviewer John Gilman and was considered one of the finest wines of the vintage on either bank of the Gironde and ‘still has several decades of fine drinking ahead of it, now entering its peak period”. 

Amazingly, at 42 years, the fill level was customary lower neck (shown left), the label and foil were pristine, and the cork, while intact and complete, was starting to soften and pulled apart at the bottom of the grip of my Ahso two pronged cork puller, as the extended length cork was longer than the prongs of the implement. 

Upon opening, we decanted this before serving. 

Had we allowed the server to extract the cork using typical means of a corkscrew, it wouldn’t most assuredly disintegrated, or at least pulled apart. She was happy and intrigued to watch me use my ahso, with which I was able to remove the cork gracefully, including the separated tip. She had never seen such a device, nor did the restaurant have one for such occasions. 

Drinking very nicely, still within its drinking window, but likely starting to diminish here forward. 

Slightly opaque garnet colored, medium full bodied, classic St Julien characteristics of structured, tannin laced backbone, yet, pure, elegant and polished, complex and nicely balanced, bright dark berry and black cherry and currant fruits with notes of tobacco, dried roses, wet rock and gravel with hints of creosote and cassis, turning to polished tannins on the smooth, soft, lingering finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2922

https://chateau-ducru-beaucaillou.com/en

Bollinger, La Grande Année, Brut, Champagne, FR, 2014

This is one of Ryan’s favorite producers/labels. Champagne Bollinger produce this special limited release La Grande Année label only in exceptional harvest years, made only from Grand and Premier cru grapes.

La Grande Année is “the embodiment of the carefully preserved traditional expertise of Champagne Bollinger, vinified in oak barrels, sealed with natural cork and riddled by hand, then aged patiently for 10 years in Bollinger’s chalky cellars”.

La Grande Année 2014 is a blend  sourced from 19 crus (vineyards), mostly in Aÿ and Verzenay, for the 61% Pinot Noir, and Chouilly and Oiry for the 39% Chardonnay.

We toured the region and the Bollinger vineyards with son Alec during our Champagne Wine Experience back in 2006 - ((https://mcnees.org/travelsite/trips/champagne/champagne.htm), prior to publishing these pages).

To remove the sediment deposit that forms over the years of aging, they invented the very unique method of riddling: gently and gradually moving the bottle to progressively remove the sediment and guide it into the neck of the bottle, to be disgorged during the bottling process. 

This release was awarded 98 points by Antonio Galloni, 97 points by Alison Napjus and 96 points by Richard Juhlin. 

Winemaker’s tasting notes on this release - “Tinted with golden glints that reflect the wine’s maturity and Bollinger vinification.’ 

“A precise and fruity nose with a slight scent of sea-air. Aromas of cherry and lemon mingle with quince and bergamot. Then notes of hazelnut and almond, peach and mirabelle plum complete this wine’s range of aromas.’

“The initial sensation is a fine and intense effervescence, followed by a wonderful vinosity, and then balanced with delicate acidity. Its very fine texture and sea-air finish bring excellent length on the palate, accompanied by a delicate minerality and the complex flavours of orchard fruit and citrus. This wine unfurls gradually, revealing its full potential and intensity.”

RM 96 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4254330

https://www.champagne-bollinger.com/en/the-collection/grande-annee/

For dessert we enjoyed the Joseph’s CRÈME BRÛLÉE and BREAD PUDDING.

https://josephs-steak.com/

Clark Claudon Napa Cab with grilled beefsteaks

Clark Claudon Napa Cab with grilled beefsteaks 

Summer grilling continues with beefsteaks served with sweet corn on the cob and fresh pasta with tomatoes, onions, squash, corn and fresh homegrown herbs. Notably, I’ve written in the past that when we lived in California, years ago, early in my career, despite the culinary riches of that state, I missed and longed for good beefsteaks, succulent fresh sweet corn and tomatoes, which we enjoy so much, sourced  here in the midwest.  

To accompany the steaks I pulled from the cellar an aged vintage Napa Cabernet from one of our favorite and most deeply held producers. 

Clark Claudon Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 

We hold nearly two dozen vintages of this label and at twenty-three years this bottle was holding on, still hanging onto its drinking window, but the fruit may be starting to fade giving way to non-fruit earthy tones, but still has a few years remaining. 

The label, ‘capsule’, and most importantly, the fill level and cork were pristine, showing now signs of diminution whatsoever. I put capsule in quotes because their unique packaging features a wax ‘cap’ on the top of the cork, (shown left), rather than a traditional capsule, or the annoying dipped wax collar on the top of the entire neck of the bottle, which while looking dramatic is a pain to remove. 

We’ve featured many vintages of this label in these pages and have written about our collection and this producer often, encapsulated and excerpted here below. Following is an updated re-post of earlier posting about this wine and this producer - Clark-Claudon Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004.

The producer, Clark-Claudon estate is situated on the ‘backside’ of Howell Mountain in an area known as Pope Valley. We have fun with this label as fellow Pour Boy Bill and Beth C's maiden name is Pope. Clark-Claudon's 17 acres of vineyards are carved out of a 117 acre property located on the north east side of Howell Mountain between Ink Grade and Howell Mountain Road, from 800 ft to 1,200 ft elevation. It’s shallow, mountain soils, cool evening breezes and excellent sun exposure are ideal for a low yield of small, intense Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot grapes. 

Their 17 acres of Cabernet Sauvignon are planted with clone 7 which grows well in hillside rocky soil and produces small berries with concentrated flavors. A small vineyard block is planted to Petite Verdot. After completing their initial vineyard planting, Clark decided to leave the  remaining 100 acres of forests, creeks, meadows and ponds in their natural state which serves as a preserve for native birds and wildlife.

Interesting, following my discussions in recent blogpost about the terroir and appellation specificity line of demarcation being at the 1200 foot elevation level to differentiate between Howell Mountain and Napa Valley designation, we have another such-situated Napa/Howell Mountain Cabernet. Similar to the Viader Napa Valley Cabernet Red Blend from earlier tastings, and the Blue Hall Vineyard Camiana Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that we drank the other night, this Clark Claudon Napa Cab vineyard is at 1000 foot elevation on the lower reaches of Howell Mountain. That terroir distinction doesn't apply here as the Clark Claudon property is on the backside of Howell Mountain which never sees the fog that is experienced on the Napa Valley side of the hill. 

We have been collecting this label since its introduction back in 1993 and hold two decades of vintages since. 

We first met Tom Clark and Laurie Claudon-Clark during our Napa Wine Experience 1999 when we hosted them at one of our wine producer dinners. That night, held at what was then Pinot Blanc Restaurant in St Helena (pictured left), we tasted Clark Claudon 1995-96 against ten year old BYOB 1989 Bordeaux. 

During our Napa Wine Experience visits of 1997 through 2000 we hosted gala tasting dinners with the "'Undisccovered Dozen', emerging new wine producers to watch", featured in an article in Wine Spectator Magazine. Many of these producers released their inaugural vintage releases in or about the 1994 vintage. Those producers and winery visits included Plumpjack, David Arthur, Clark-Claudon, Robert Craig, Del Dotto, Elan, Paradigm, Pride Vineyards, Snowden, Nils Venge and White Cottage. These producers represent a large portion of our collection cellar holdings to this day and are featured variously throughout these pages. 

A more complete index of my tasting notes of these wines over the years is on the site at this link to California Producers Index. These producers make up a foundation of our wine cellar collection even today. In many of these wines, we still have vertical selections, several dating back to those early release vintages.   

We love the distinctive unique Clark-Claudon packaging with the tall slender bottles and wax caps mentioned above, an interesting and trivial wine-geek's observation about the Clark-Claudon branding and packaging. We know of no other producer employing this packaging concept. 

As mentioned, we hold close to a score of vintages of this label. We’ve recently acquired several more labels from this producer to augment our vertical collection of this, their primary estate label.

Wine Enthusiast gave this release 91 points and a *Cellar Selection*.

Both Wine Enthusiast and Connoisseurs Guide both advised to hold this release for several years CG writing “this one promises to develop famously if allowed to rest in a quiet, dark spot for the next five to eight years or so.”

Wine Enthusiast wrote, “From lower Howell Mountain, this 100% Cab has bigtime tannins and tremendous authority. It's dry, shut down and slightly rustic now, with an edgy feel, but the core of ripe Cabernet fruit suggests that it will blossom and improve by 2008, and then hold until at least 2015. *Cellar Selection*”

This was dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, rich, full, concentrated, but nicely integrated and elegant black berry and black currant fruits with earthy accents and hints of black tea, cassis, creosote and notes of spicy oak and hints of black cherry on a lingering fine-grained silky tannin finish.

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=436562

https://www.clarkclaudon.com

@ClarkClaudon 

Something earlier tasting posts of this label  ...   

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/01/clark-claudon-howell-mountain-napa.html

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/12/festive-holiday-dinner-showcases.html

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2016/05/clark-claudon-napa-valley-cabernet.html

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2021/03/clark-claudon-napa-cabernet-2004.html

Pour Boys Summer Wine Dinner

Pour Boys Summer Wine Dinner 

Dr Dan and Linda hosted our Pour Boys Wine Group (sans Bill and Beth C who were traveling in St Julien, Bordeaux this week) for a gala summer dinner. 

As is customary, we each brought a couple bottles of wines to share and compare for pairing with the food. 

The ‘three amigos’ were reunited with Bob and Gloria flying in from Miami for the occasion. 

Besides Linda and I and Bob and Gloria, we were joined by Dan’s friends, Joe and Linda, and Linda S, as well as our Pour Boys Wine Group regulars, Ernie, Eric and Cathy and Lyle and Terry. 

Dan laid out his usual selection of artisan cheeses, nuts, chocolates, crackers and smoked salmon. 

The dinner feature theme this evening was ‘Sausage’ and there were five different sausages for the entree course, accompanied by corn on the cob, baked beans, potato salad, bean salad, quiche casserole and accoutrements. 

The sausages included Joe’s homemade Italian Sausage with cheese, Sheboygan Bratwurst, Polish Sausage, Chicken Sausage, and Dan’s legendary family favorite, Cavapcici. 

After dinner there was a dessert sundae bar with ice cream and toppings, and a broad selection of Linda M’s home baked cookies, brownies, pierogis and assorted artisan chocolates, nuts, fresh berries, melon and pineapple with yogurt.

The collective group brought a wide selection of white and red wines as well as sparkling wine and champagne before dinner, and after dinner ‘sticky’ dessert wines and a vintage port. 

The White Wine flight included  …

Domaine Wachau Ried Traunthal Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 

Dr Loosen Erdenner Treppchen Mosel Riesling Ausliese 2019 

Darioush Napa Valley Viognier 2010 

Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020   

Sea Smoke Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2018

The Red Wine flight included …

Le Fonti Poggino Gran Selzione Chianti Classico 2018

Nino Negri Valtelina Superiore Inferno Ca’ Guicciardi (Nebbiolo) 2020

Sea Smoke Southing Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018

Peter Michel “Les Pavots” Knights Valley Red Wine 2012 

Chateau Magdeleine St Emilion Premiere Grand Cru Classe 2011 

Hickinbotham “Brook’s Road”  McLaren Vale Clarendon Shiraz 2020 

After Dinner dessert wines … 

Chateau d’Yquem 2013 

Far Niente Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest 2014

Graham’s Vintage Port 1991 

Unlike our typical wine dinners, that most often feature red meats and customary pairings of sophisticated Red Wines, tonight’s entree theme offered the chance to showcase and focus on White Wines as select food/wine pairings. 

The White Wines … 

Domaine Wachau Ried Traunthal Gruner Veltliner Federspiel 

Eric brought this classic Austrian Gruner Veltliner that he and Cathy tasted and acquired at the winery during their trip to the region last summer. 

Dr. Loosen Erdenner Mosel River Valley Treppchen Riesling Auslese 2019 

I brought from our cellar this highly rated premium Mosel Treppchen Riesling Auslese from a classic legendary producer.  Only the finest most select grapes are used in the “Auslese” (outstanding) bottling. This release was rated 95 points by both Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and James Suckling. 

Darioush Napa Valley Viognier 2010 

I also brought this interesting Viognier from ultra-premium Napa Valley producer Darioush, tasted and acquired at the winery during our Pour Boy’s Napa Valley Wine Experience 2017 - Darioush Napa Valley Estate Winery Visit & Tasting. 

This was the favorite wine of Dan’s daughter, Lauren, who accompanied us on that trip, which was also Linda A’s first Napa Valley wine experience. Darioush was also the featured producer at the first wine dinner we had with Bill and Beth C, which was the beginnings of what became our Pour Boys Wine Group. 

Also, Dan was our guest at a special Darioush Winemaker dinner at Everest Restaurant in Chicago hosted by owner producer Darioush and Shaptar Khaledi celebrating their collaboration with Olivier Bernard and Domaine de Chevalier in Pesaac Leognan Bordeaux. This was held back in 2004.shortly after Linda and I visited the winery and did a barrel tasting with winemaker Steve McDevitt during the construction of their magnificent hospitality center.

We had two wonderful ultra/premium Chardonnay’s …. Both offered great pairings with the sausage selections.

Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2020   

Joe brought this classic, legendary Napa Valley crowd pleaser from Chateau Montelena. Of course, this was the label that put American wine on the map having won the historic blind tasting “Judgement of Paris”, chronicled and recreated in the wonderful entertaining wine movie, “Bottle Shock” - (Trailer).

 

Sea Smoke Sta Rita Hills Chardonnay 2018

Dan opened from his cellar collection, wine club allocation, Sea Smoke, a great comparison tasting to the Montelena. 

The Red Wines … 

Le Fonti Poggino Gran Selzione Chianti Classico 2018

Eric brought this Italian Sangiovese blend, acquired by one of his partners at the producer during a visit to the Chianti region in Northern Italy. 

https://www.lefontipoggibonsi.it/

Nino Negri Valtelina Superiore Inferno Ca’ Guicciardi (Nebbiolo) 2020

We tasted and Dan acquired this premium Nebbiolo at one of the Italian Village featured producer wine dinners. We’ve dined together at several Italian Village producer wine dinners, the most notably arguably being the memorable Sassicaia Owner Dinner and Vivere Vertical Tasting.

Peter Michel “Les Pavots” Knights Valley Red Wine 2012

Ernie brought from his home cellar one of my favorites, this vintage aged highly allocated ultra-premium Alexander Valley Bordeaux Blend from Peter Michel.

Chateau Magdeleine St Emilion Premiere Grand Cru Classe 2011

Dan contributed from his cellar this vintage aged Bordeaux.  

Hickinbotham “Brook’s Road”  McLaren Vale Clarendon Shiraz 2020 

Lyle brought from his home cellar this highly rated allocated limited release Aussie Shiraz. It received 95 points by Wine enthusiast. 

After 40 years of Hickinbotham family ownership, the property was purchased by the Jackson family in 2012. The pedigree of the Hickinbotham Vineyards was long established in that prior to the change of ownership, grapes from the 85-hectare vineyard were only sold to an esteemed list of winemakers including including Penfolds, Clarendon Hills and Hardys. Hickinbotham grapes were credited to legendary flagship wines like Penfolds Grange and Eileen Hardy Shiraz. Only Clarendon Hills released vineyard-designate wines bearing the “Hickinbotham” name.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4365339

https://www.hickinbothamwines.com/wines/brooks-road-shiraz

Sea Smoke Southing Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir 2018

Dan opened his cellar to share this wine club acquisition ultra-premium Sta Rita Hills Pinot. 

After dinner there was a dessert sundae bar with ice cream and toppings, and a broad selection of Linda M’s home baked cookies, brownies, pierogis and assorted artisan chocolates, nuts, fresh berries, melon and pineapple with yogurt. 

The dessert wine flight …

Chateau d’Yquem 2013 

Far Niente Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest 2014

Graham’s Vintage Port 1991

Lyle brought from his cellar collection this premium Vintage Port. This is one of the last remaining bottles of the four cases he acquired of this label upon release. We’ve enjoyed tasting this wine over the last three decades as it has aged gracefully. 

At 30 plus years, the label, foil and most importantly the fill level were ideal for the age. Lyle was able to extract the cork using an ahso two pronged cork puller, necessary as the aged cork was starting to crumble and would’ve most likely disintegrated using a customary corkscrew. 

Vintage Port is only produced in ‘declared’ vintages, those of sufficient quality to warrant the designation.The 1991 vintage was the first ‘Declared Vintage’ for six years – the longest gap between declarations for decades. (The previous declared vintage, 1985 was son Sean’s birthyear, in which we acquired and still hold a broad horizontal collection of labels commemorating such.) 

At thirty-four years, this is entering another stage of its tasting profile, perhaps, some would argue, now reaching the apex, but, the last stage of its optimal tasting window.

Chateau d’Yquem 2013 

Ernie brought from his home cellar, multi-decade vertical collection, this ultra-premium classic Sauternes Chateau D’Yquem, considered a ‘first growth’ by many, always a special treat! We’ve enjoyed this label in several of our wine dinners including D'Yquem, Quintessa, Saxum Highlight OTBN 2016 - Three tastings flights.

Far Niente Dolce Napa Valley Late Harvest 2014

Linda S brought this imaginative, rare, ‘new world’ late harvest Sauternes style ‘botritized’ dessert wine, Dolce - a wonderful comparison to the classic ‘old world’ legend Chateau d’YQuem. Ironically, I pulled from our cellar and considered bringing this same label, albeit a different (older) vintage. It was great that Linda brought this for a special comparison and pairing. It also allowed me the opportunity to witness the aging of my vintage bottle (s). 

This is from ultra-premium Napa Valley producer Far Niente who boast being “America’s only winery to specialize in a single, exquisite dessert wine crafted in the cherished Sauternes style”. 

They have fun with this wine they call Dolce, which derives it’s name from “Dolce far niente", an Italian phrase that translates to "the sweetness of doing nothing".

This is a 90-10 blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc, sourced from the 20-acre Dolce Vineyard situated east of Napa in Coombsville at the foot of the Vaca Mountains. This was aged 30 months in 100% new French oak. 

We enjoyed this wine together with Dan and Linda, Bob and Gloria, and Bill and Beth, at our festive Pour Boys Wine Dinner at Del Ray Beach Wine Kitchen.

Photo (left) taken from that dinner. 

https://farniente.com/wineries/dolce

Thanks and kudos to Linda and Dan for hosting another festive gala dinner.