Showing posts with label Joseph Carr. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph Carr. Show all posts

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Joseph Carr Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

Joseph Carr Josh Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

We've had several vintages of Joseph Carr Cabernet Sauvignon from the Carneros appellation down at the bottom of Napa Valley where it meets Sonoma, an area more known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. We found them to be moderate priced good value every day drinking wines.  Joseph Carr was an award winning Sommelier and international wine industry executive who set out on his own in 2005 and founded Joseph Carr Winery in Carneros, California. Carr are a family owned company dedicated to making quality handcrafted wines working with small growers, coopers and winemakers producing elegant, sophisticated, yet approachable wines from Napa Valley, Carneros, and the North Coast of California. The Josh label is named after Carr's father, and they strive to make wines that are "expressive, but unassuming and approachable – just like him".

This particular label comes from a single vineyard in the mountains of the Red Hills sitting at the highest section between the Vaca and Mayacamas mountain ranges. The Mayacamas range is the eastern facing slope that forms the western edge of Napa Valley, known for great Cabernet wines, due in part to ancient pyroclastic soils that contain volcanic glass. Josh Cellars North Coast Vineyards contain obsidian gravel that allows the soils to drain well, which is extremely important for growing Cabernet grapes. The high elevation sunlight combined with the rich volcanic red soils and obsidian fragments produce quality grapes that are extremely unique to the Red Hills. The vineyard itself sits on an East facing slope with varying altitude from 1200 to 2000 feet. The average daytime summer temperature is 84 degrees with an average nighttime temperature of 51 degrees. For the past 10 years, all grapes have been organically grown and sustainably farmed. 

This wine displays a dark garnet with a deep purple hue, is medium to full bodied; aromatic dark fruits and baking spices give way to blackberry fruit, dried fig, vanilla bean and nuts with a somewhat funky damp wood and earthy barnyard sense that detracts from the fruit, turning to lingering fine, firm tannins. The blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot.

RM 84 points.

This is a complex full wine that otherwise would be a great value at under $15 were it not for the offsetting aftertaste. Some folks may find it acceptable, certainly at this pricepoint. I was glad I only bought one bottle to try and will not buy more, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for follow on vintage releases and would not be surprised to find great QPR quality offerings.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1763930
http://josephcarrwine.com/


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Varied Red Tasting - Carr - Flinders - Northstar

Former co-coach Mike G invited me to tourney quarterfinals so he and Chris came over for an impromptu wine tasting afterwards. We pulled a selection of varied big reds and a desert wine to accompany an assortment of artisan cheeses, smoked salmon, mixed nuts, mixed fruit and hearty biscuits and breads.




Joseph Carr Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 

From the Carneros District down at the bottom of Napa Valley near where it meets Sonoma. Not as smooth or polished as the 2007 release but a great value none-the-less. A respectable Napa cab, with a great QPR (Quality Price Ratio) especially at a price point of about $17. The 2009 is a blend of Cabernet with small amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc aged for 16-18 months in a combination of one- and two-year-old French and American oak barrels. Medium bodied, dark garnet colored, aromas and flavors of cherry, blackberry and black currant fruits, a layer of smoke and leather scents open to a focused core of cassis, black cherry and plum fruit with hints of vanilla bean, clove and cocoa powder. Moderately firm tannins with supporting acidity gives the wine freshness not often seen in wines at this price.  

RM 87 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1174540

Flinders Run Southern Flinders Ranges Shiraz 2006

We love this wine and consider it a benchmark representation of Southern Australian Shiraz at its very best, and at a pricepoint between $25-30 it offers a relative great QPR (Quality to Price ratio).

Overall hit of this comparison tasting of varied big reds. Consistent with earlier notes, the 2006 Flinders is dark inky purple, full bodied, powerfully scented bouquet of dark berries, smoky minerals and fresh flowers bursting with flavors of thick chewy black raspberry, blueberry and cassis with layers of nut, vanilla and hints of mocha flavors on a tongue coating lingering finish. As much as we like this wine, the 2005 is even better.

RM 93 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=579974




Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot 2008

One of our perennial favorite Merlots is this blend from fruit sourced from over 14 separate vineyards and 18 different blocks  from vines averaging 15 years old yielding grapes with concentrated varietal flavors of cherry and plum with elegant tannins.

This 2008 is a bit tight and closed, not as smooth, polished and fruit filled as some earlier vintages of this wine that I remember - perhaps due to its age or period in its aging profile. This is medium to full bodied, with dark inky color, this is a bright, balanced wine with notes of black cherry, tobacco, spice box and nut leading to a long, smoky moderate tannin finish.

 RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1210721

http://www.northstarwinery.com/

Cavalchina Bianco Del Veneto Passito 2004

Full bodied and thick - the butter color has turned to an orange rust color already, the muted fruit flavors of apple, subtle tangerine, apricot and peach are overtaken by smoke, leather, nut and lemon peel on a moderate flavorful lingering finish.

RM 84 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=436980