Kenwood Jack London Sonoma Cabernet 2014

Kenwood Vineyards Jack London Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

One of the not-so-local wineshops picked up an allotment of this label and are offering it at extraordinary discounts so I picked up a six pack for everyday drinking. Some Cellartracker members cite obtaining this from as low as $10 but I picked this up at just less than $15 which represents a good value for every day drinking.

This fits the popular wine collector strategy of keeping on hand a selection of every day wines, weekend wines, once a month wines, once a year wines, and very special occasion wines in the mix for a broad cellar selection. We have known this wine going back to the eighties and hold a bottle of this label in our cellar going back to son Alec's birth year 1990.

Kenwood Vineyards Jack London Vineyard Sonoma Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Kenwood Vineyards is one of the historic Sonoma Valley producers with its winery tasting facility on the main Sonoma Highway running up the eastern edge of the valley just past Kunde and below the iconic Chateau St Jean.

Kenwood are the sole producer of wines from the historic lava-terraced vineyards of the famous Jack London Ranch on the western slope of the central Sonoma Valley in Glen Ellen. It is named for Jack London who was a pioneer farmer grower in Sonoma over 100 years ago. The unique red-lava soil vineyards produce Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Merlot and Syrah varietal grapes.

Kenwood has been sourcing grapes from the Jack London Ranch since 1976. Located midway up the Eastern foothills of the Sonoma Mountain appellation, it has a long mild growing season that creates fruit with complexity and balance. The influence of the vineyard’s red volcanic soil and the fruity characteristics of the grapes combine to produce a quality, distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon which tends to provide reliable good QPR - quality price ratio wines in typical vintages

The composition of this label varies by vintage from 100% Cabernet to a blend that might be composed of around 89% Cabernet Sauvignon and the remaining 11% Merlot.

Dark garnet colored and medium full bodied this presents bright tangy black cherry fruits accented by a predominant layer of smoke with hints of menthol, tar, pepper and cedar on a tangy tongue puckering straight tannin finish.

RM 87 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/barcode.asp?iWine=2752075

https://kenwoodvineyards.com/shop/cabernet-sauvignon 

Marquis Philips S2 South Australian McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

Marquis Philips 'S2' South Australian McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

This wine has improved since last tasted three years ago and three years before that. I noticed this as it evolved over the evening revealing smooth polished and complex fruits surpassing my recollections from earlier tastings. This sentiment is reflected in a few others' tasting notes on Cellartracker as well.

At twelve years of age there was absolutely no sign of diminution, rather it seems to be just entering its prime drinking window which should hold for several years. Regrettably, according to my cellar records, I think this is my last bottle of this vintage.

From the partnership of Australian winemaker Chris Ringland and US Importer Dan Philips - hence the creative Austral-American 'Roogle', part kangaroo-part eagle character logo.

The 2002 exhibited medium - full bodied - dark garnet color - full forward black and blue berry fruit flavors, a layer of anise and hint of mocha, cedar and black cherry on a full lingering flavorful finish of smooth polished tannins. There was no sense of being a bit hot with alcohol on opening before giving way to the full forward fruit, as indicated in earlier tasting notes.

This was a perfect complement to a grilled steak dinner.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=39087

Wine Tasting Flight - Aussie Shiraz's & Cabernet Sauvignon, St Emilion, and a Napa Merlot

Wine Tasting Flight - Aussie Shiraz's & Cabernet Sauvignon, St Emilion, and a Napa Merlot

Progressive wine tasting flight featuring:

• David Arthur Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007, 
• Three Aussie Shiraz';
• Flinders Run, Southern Flinders Ranges Shiraz 2005, 
• HazyBlur Adelaide Plains, South Australia Shiraz 2001,
• Marquis Philips McLaren Vale '9' Shiraz 2002, 
• Marquis Philips 'S2' Cabernet Saugivnon 2007, 
• Clos De L'Oratoire St Emilion Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2000, 
• Paloma Napa Valley Spring Mountain Merlot 2003.

Tasted at home w/ L, Eric & Cathy, Bill & Beth, and Dan and Linda, with mini Beef Tenderloin on toast points and artisan cheeses, then at Bob & Gloria's gala end of summer dinner party w/ roast beef dinner.

David Arthur Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2007 -

Very light yellow very weak tea color, bright and crisp, aromas and smooth notes of lime and honeydew with hint of  grapefruit, turning to subtle tropical notes of guava, kiwi and hint of peach on a moderate acidic finish. Nice complement to soft mild cheeses, red raspberrry and strawberry fruits.

RM 88 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=594108 

HazyBlur Adelaide Plains, South Australia Shiraz 2001 -

Deep dark purple color - full bodied, forward fruit - layer of leather with hint of anise and tar predominate, then give way to smooth black currant, black cherry, hint of ripe plum and black raspberry turning to classic subtle creme' brulee burnt sugar with a long soft vanilla nut finish.

RM 91 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4996


Flinders Run, Southern Flinders Ranges, Baroota, Australia Shiraz 2005

Elegant rich thick chewy symphony of flavors of blueberry, sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, a hint of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' burnt sugar and cedar on the soft finish. 

RM 92 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=421985








Marquis Philips '9' South Australia, McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003

Dark inky purple color, full bodied, chewy, intense complex concentrated flavors of smoke, roasted pepper, and hint of leather flavors predominate diminishing the black berry fruits, with a layer of anise on a lingering full tannin finish. Less fruit focused than other releases of this wine, one of our perennial favorites.

RM 89 points. 
93 points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate October 2004
89 points, Stephen Tanzer's IWC

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=17771 

Marquis Phillips McLaren Vale 'S2' Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 

Another Marquis Philips release, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon shows slight initial tartness upon opening but soon gives way to full bodied forward fruit of black currant, blackberry, layer of cedar and tones of oak and mocha on a lingering finish.

RM 90 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/list.asp?fInStock=0&Table=List&szSearch=marquis+philips+s2


See Index of Australian Wines posted on Rick's Wine Journal. 

Clos De L'Oratoire St Emilion Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2000 -
Great example of 'all ships rise with the tide'... in that so many wines such as this one are exceptionally good in a great vintage. Medium-full bodied, smooth polished, complex but pleasant easy drining with its nicely integrated flavors of blackberry, black cherry, red berry, a layer of anise, kirsch and a hint of spice with a soft tannin lingering finish.

RM 92 points.

Blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon shows very well and is just coming of age at eleven years old.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=6340

Paloma Napa Valley Spring Mountain Merlot 2003.
Medium-full bodied , full forward rich, intense vibrant harmonious fruit flavors of black currant, black raspberry and blackberry turning to nutmeg spice, hint of cedar, and sweet oak on a long lingering flavorful tannin finish.

RM 92 points, 90 points Wine Spectator:


http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=109466

Marquis Philips 'S2' McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 & 2007

Marquis Philips 'S2' South Australian McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 & 2007

From the partnership of Australian winemaker Chris Ringland and US Importer Dan Philips - hence the creative Austal-American 'Roogle' part (kanga) roo-part eagle character logo.

The vintages have similar profiles and characteristtics. The 2002 exhibited medium - full bodied - dark garnet color - full forward black and blue berry fruit flavors, a layer of anise and hint of mocha, cedar and black cherry on a full lingering flavorful finish. A bit hot with alcohol on opening but soon gave way to the full forward fruit.

Second South Australian 2002 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon in a row, clearly showing a trend of full flavorful well balanced fruits - still vibrant after nine years. See the Flemings Langhorne Creek 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon review from earlier in the week.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

 

The 2007 shows initial tartness upon opening but soon gives way to full bodied forward fruit of black currant, blackberry, layer of cedar and tones of oak and mocha on a lingering finish.

I rated both RM 90 points.