Neighborhood Wine Tasting and Small Bites Gathering

Neighborhood Wine Tasting and Small Bites Gathering 

Visiting, The Cove, our Destin (FL) vacation rental, we hosted our neighbors in what has become a rather regular gathering where we have great fun, food, wine and fellowship. 

Some of the revelers …

Linda prepared and set out an extensive selection of small plate offerings that included flank steak, potatoes, brussel sprouts, sourdough toast points, bacon-wrapped-figs, cheese and veggie plates, caprese pizza’s and homemade brownies and cheesecake.

Artisan cheese included aged gouda, havarti, honey infused goat cheese, and cinnamon cranberry infused goat cheese. 

We set out a selection of beverages, artisan and craft beers, popular mixed drinks, and a medley of wines, white, red and dessert …

For those that followed the ‘wine flight’, served in order, white to red to dessert, lightest to boldest and biggest we served in the following order …

The White wines flight - 

Schweiger Vineyards Sonoma Valley Uboldi Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Brewer Clifton Sta Rita Hills Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2023

Jermann "Where Dreams have no end ..." Bianca Venezia Giulia Chardonnay 2017

This is a fun label to serve. This whimsically named label was inspired and created by the song “Where the streets have no name” from the U2 rock group′s album “The Joshua Tree” produced in 1987. It is also the bottle that was featured in the movie “Parent Trap” during the romantic dinner at the opening scene. I wrote about this wine and producer in an earlier blogpost Jermann “Where Dreams have no end …”

This label is primarily Chardonnay with a small amount of blended white grapes from the local area of Dolegna del Collio

It was straw colored, medium bodied with what James Suckling writes eloquently about the wine .... "it offers charm and complexity, with aromas of rare elegance and refinement. Exotic hints of ripened fruit, melted butter, vanilla and pastry prevail. In the mouth it keeps all the promises made to the nose, follows through on them, and embellishes them with gentle flavours and aromatic nuances that are fresh and persistent." 

James Suckling gave the wine 95 points.

We found this straw colored, medium bodied, notes of creamy pear, apple and citrus with hints of pineapple, moderate acidity and toasty spice notes. 

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3350235

The Red wines flight … 

For the red flight, we started with a traditional French Burgundy (Bourgogne). This was gifted from neighbors Chuck and Debbie during an earlier gathering, and we never got around to opening it and saved it for tonight. 

Domaine Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir 2021

This is from prolific well known producer, Domaine Faiveley who produce a broad portfolio of Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noirs, from this basic label to the premium Grand Cru and ultra-premium Premiere Grand Cru.  

The largest family domaine in Burgundy dates back seven generations to 1825. The sixth generation  François Faiveley manages an estate of vineyards, fractured by French inheritance laws, that today covers 120 hectares across more appellations including Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise,in their entirety (monopoles) than any other domaine in Burgundy. 

Today, François has been joined by seventh generation offspring siblings, brother and sister, Ewan and Eve Faiveley. Born and bred in the Burgundian sub-appellation of Nuits-Saint-Georges, they both left the region to gain worldly experiences, then returned to work together managing the family business domaine.

Erwan Faiveley took over running the family wine domaine fifteen years ago after spending time in Dijon, then Paris, and traveling a great deal during his studies.

He is joined by his sister Eva who spent time in Barcelona, then the US, before returning to Paris where she worked in the luxury cosmetics industry, before returning to the Domaine in 2014, joining her brother Erwan.

Clive Coates M.W. (Master of Wine) writes, "Faiveley’s wines are... supremely clean and elegant: definitive examples of Pinot Noir... above all they have richness and breed, the thumbprint of a master winemaker."

This wine is vinified from grapes grown in the Domaine’s vineyards as well as selected grapes and musts from its partner grower/producers. The wines was aged 12 to 14 months in French oak barrels and stainless steel vats before bottling. 

Producer’s tasting notes - “Beautiful ruby color. This wine has pleasant, fresh, red-fruit aromas on the nose, which we also savor on the palate. It has rich and very ripe substance, with fine round tannins. It’s a very well structured and pleasant wine.”

The notable New York wine merchant Zachy’s writes: “A classic expression of Burgundy's Pinot Noir, Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2021 is a wine of exceptional quality. This wine boasts a harmonious blend of red fruit, spice, and earth, with a subtle minerality and a lingering finish.

Winemaker Notes - “Faiveley Bourgogne Pinot Noir is a beautiful ruby color. This wine has pleasant, fresh, red-fruit aromas on the nose, which we also savor on the palate. It has a rich and very ripe substance, with fine round tannins. It’s a very well structured and pleasant wine.”

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4519432

https://domaine-faiveley.com/en/#

Château La Clarière Côtes de Castillon Bordeaux 2022 

Château La Clarière 2022 is a highly awarded, rich, and full-bodied Merlot-based red blend from the Côtes de Castillon appellation in Bordeaux, created by British wine merchant and producer Tony Laithwaite. 

Since Tony Laithwaite first worked in Castillon in 1967, he has been a champion of the region. As Wine International wrote: “If it weren’t for the line dividing Castillon from Saint-Emilion, its wines would be twice the price. The hills are the same, the soil is the same, the exposure is the same.” 

“In 1980 Tony bought Château La Clarière and has been proving this point ever since, winning Golds and Trophies, and twice the coveted Paris’ Lauréat Prix d’Excellence. The team has led the field in innovation too and no expense is spared: low yields for intensity, rigorous sorting for quality, and ageing in the finest new French oak. This is the fine claret from Tony's family estate from a lovely ripe vintage.” 

It offers ripe plum, blackberry, and spice notes with 16 months of French oak aging.

With four Trophies and 80+ Golds, Château La Clarière is clear proof that Castillon wines can surpass those of next-door Grand Cru St-Émilion. From the 5-Star 2022 vintage, this is a silky claret, with bright fruit intensity and velvety depth..

This is a classic Right Bank Bordeaux Blend - 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec.

Wine Enthusiast rated this wine 90 points. 

This is from the lesser appellation Côtes de Castillon, neighbor to the more prestigious highly acclaimed St Emilion, and as written above, carried its weight, exceeding expectations, meeting high standards of its more prestigious neighbor. 

Garnet colored, medium full bodied, nicely structured and balanced black fruits are accented by lively clove spice, black tea and tobacco with soft polished acidity on the smooth finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5037569

The next wine served was a Bordeaux that we discovered, tasted and acquired during the Bordeaux wine dinner at the local Wine World back in January, 2024. 

Château Godard Bellevue L'Etoile du Château Godard Bellevue 2019

This Bordeaux red wine is from the small lesser appellation Côtes de Bordeaux, the youngest AOC appellation in Bordeaux, created in 2009, created from the merging of four previously recognized communes, Cotes de Blaye, Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Castillon, and Cotes de Francs. The appellation consists of 12,653 hectares cultivated with vines.

Amazingly, the Cotes de Bordeaux appellation produces close to 14% of all Bordeaux wine with more than 1,500 growers actively making wine. 

Over 95% of production is red wine, primarily comprised of Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and sometimes Malbec. A small amount of white wines are also produced.

The vineyards are located on the hillsides ("côtes") on the Right Bank of the Dordogne/Garonne rivers and along the Gironde Estuary. They are characterized by clay-limestone and gravelly soils.

The region produces user-friendly, value-driven, and often "ready to drink" compared to more prestigious, heavily tannic Bordeaux wines. They generally are high QPR - Quality Price Ratio wines, due to their lesser prestige compared to the higher profile neighbors St. Emilion or Pomerol appellations, which command higher prices. The best terroirs of Cotes de Bordeaux are similar to St. Emilion or Pomerol, especially at the top estates.

The Sub-Appellations are:
Blaye – Côtes de Bordeaux: The largest, located on the right bank of the Gironde Estuary.
Cadillac – Côtes de Bordeaux: Located on the right bank of the Garonne river.
Castillon – Côtes de Bordeaux: Situated east of Saint-Émilion.
Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux: The smallest and most easterly appellation.
Sainte-Foy – Côtes de Bordeaux: The newest addition to the group.
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This limited production wine is 100% Merlot with annual production of a mere 3000 bottles. It was aged 17 months in 100% new oak barrels. 

Despite its small production and moderate price, this wine is packaged in a heavier oversized bottle.

Dark garnet colored, blackberry and black currant fruits with earthy notes, moderate tannins and medium acidity on a complex finish.

RM 88 points 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4918118

Miner Family Winery "The Oracle" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2019 

This is another wine we have fun with since our son works for Oracle, the enterprise software giant. Also, Linda’s hometown, Delphi, Indiana high school mascot and sports teams were the Oracles. 

Miner Family Winery was founded by Dave Miner with their first vintage in 1996. Dave was born in Chicago and then lived in Southern California for a number of years, graduating from the University of California, San Diego with degree in English and American Literature. It was during this time that he became interested in wine. 

Dave was working for then upstart Oracle in software sales when his uncle Bob Miner, who happened to be one of the co-founders of Oracle, was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer and passed away prematurely in 1994 at age 52. In his final days, Bob asked Dave to help him manage the operations at the family vineyards and winery Oakville Ranch, (predecessor to Oracle Family Winery). Dave quit his sales job and joined Oakville Ranch which at the time owned the property that is now Miner Family Winery. At the time they made a limited amount of wine and operated a custom crush facility. Miner Family Wines was one of their clients. We still hold several vintage labels of Oakville Ranch in our home cellar which we have featured in this blogposts such as this one - Oakville Ranch Vineyard Napa Cabernet.

In 1999 Dave and his wife Emily (who worked at Oakville Ranch) purchased the winery and accompanying 18 acres. They were not able to plant vineyards on their steep hillsides due to the county ordinance prohibiting new vineyards on slopes greater then 20%, they opted to install solar cells instead – some 1,750 panels. Miner Family only owns 1/2 acre of vineyards; a tiny vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon planted in front of the winery. They source premium grapes for their wines from partner growers mainly in Napa Valley. 

The Minor winery is located just above the valley floor – high enough in elevation that one has panoramic views looking over the vines to the west and the Mayacamas mountain range. 

Emily died in 2011 at age 41 from lung cancer despite having never smoked. The winery now produces Emily’s Cuvée with a portion of the sales of this wine benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Miner produce a range of Burgundian wines, several Chardonnays and some Pinot Noirs. They also produce some Rhone style wines based on Rhone varietals, and some other varietal wines, not typically produced in Napa Valley.  These wines include Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Sangiovese and Tempranillo, as well as the traditional Napa Valley Bordeaux varietals.

This is the flagship Oracle label, a Bordeaux blend produced from select premium Bordeaux varietals sourced from Napa Valley. The 2019 release is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 14% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, sourced from the legendary Stagecoach Vineyard and Volker Eisele Vineyard. 

This released was rated 96 points by The Wine Independent. 93 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator, 92 points by James Suckling.

This ultra-premium label was the WOTN - Wine of the Night for several of the folks, with the overachieving Château La Clarière being second. 

Winemaker Notes - Miner Family's flagship wine, a full-bodied, red blend, grants a nod toward elegance. This Bordeaux-style blend is silky, reserved and supremely balanced. Lush aromatics of raspberry and dark cherry with a hint of eucalyptus, The Oracle is decadent, but with finesse. Earthiness and layers of dried flowers and cocoa integrate harmoniously into a finely balanced marriage between tannin and acid, providing the structure that ensures, like all impeccable beauties, this wine is sure to age gracefully.

Deep garnet-purple colored, full bodied, complex and concentrated, tightly structure yet elegant, nicely balanced and polished, black raspberry, blackberry and blueberry fruits accented by notes of cassis, dark chocolate, black tea and hints of leather and lavender, with firm, fine-grained tannins, on the long fragrant finish.

RM 93 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4255911

We finished with a couple dessert wines, a fun comparison of contrasting varietals and styles, from Austria and a French Sauterne. 

Kracher Auslese Cuvee 2009

Alois Kracher Cuvee Auslese is a sweet dessert wine from the Burgenland, Austria region, from their 50-acre estate in the town of Illmitz, Austria, in the eastern lake region along the border of Hungary. 

Alois Kracher studied chemistry and took over the property developed decades earlier by his father, in 1981. Alois became known as Austria’s premier winemaker and the European wine industry’s unofficial ambassador of sweet white wines. He died at age 49 in 2007 from cancer.  

Today the estate is run by Alois’ son Gerhard. 

Kracher produces a range of wines, all dessert style, based on Chardonnay, Welschriesling, Scheurebe, Traminer and Muskat-Ottonel grapes, all made in the sweet “trockenbeerenauslee” (TBA) style. 

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The wines are a product of the unique microclimate near Lake Neusiedl, which encourages ‘noble rot’ (botrytis cinerea) which allows the creation of the ultrasweet grapes used in producing dessert wines. Leaving the grapes to age on the vines, they become infected with Botrytis cinerea, causing them to shrivel on the vine, into raisin like berries resulting in concentrated sugars and acids.

This 2009 release is a ‘Cuvee’ or blend, composed primarily of Chardonnay, 60%, with the Austrian varietal Welschriesling, 40%. The union between Chardonnay and Welschriesling grapes, which are picked as late as possible, later than the other varietals allowing the grapes to ripen completely and take on the noble rot which results in the maximum sweetness in the grapes. 

Tea colored, full bodied, lush, complex concentrated unctuous balanced notes of sweet pear, apricot, hints of honey, and citrus.

RM 89 points

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/1106031

Château Cantegril Barsac Bordeaux 2019

This is a highly-regarded, unclassified sweet dessert wine produced by the Dubourdieu family, owners of the winery since 1924. The Dubourdieu family also owns Chateau Doisy Daene a producer of Classified Sauternes.

Chateau Cantegril has a 22 hectare plot on the chalky plateau of the Haut Barsac. It is located where once a fortified castle of the same name stood back in the Middle Ages.

Barsac dessert wines tend to provide high QPR - quality price ratios, as more modest variations of the neighboring Sauternes, which tend to be slightly sweeter and richer, and far more expensive, due to the very small yield of the late harvested grapes ‘Botrytisized’ grapes. 

It is a blend of primarily Sémillon, 65%, and Sauvignon Blanc, 35%, grapes grown in limestone-rich soils.

Fermentation takes place in barrels having separated each sorted pick of each individual plot. It is aged 12 months in french oak barrels.

Annual Production is 30 000 bottles

Golden colored, full bodied, thick unctuous, rich, sweet nutty caramel fruits, with notes of pear, white flowers, ginger and passionfruit, citrus, honey, and spice with balanced acidity.

RM 89 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wineFamily/1407573

Shiraz with BBQ Ribs at Pour Boys dinner

Flight of Shiraz with BBQ Ribs as Pour Boys gather for SoWal Wine Festival weekend in Destin 

Our Pour Boys wine group gathered at The Cove, our vacation rental in Destin, FL for a festive wine weekend centered on the SoWal (South Walton Beaches) Wine and Food Festival. 

On our guests’ arrival night, Linda prepared baby-back ribs with baked potatoes, baked beans, cole slaw and fresh vegetables. Afterwards, for dessert we had Tira Miso and Tuxedo chocolate cake. 

For a wine accompaniment with dinner I brought from our home cellar a flight of Shiraz/Syrahs, one of our favorite pairings - BBQ and Syrah, including a comparison tasting of  three rare single-vineyard designated labels - two from from the legendary Napa Valley Stagecoach Vineyard and one from the Napa Valley Caldwell Vineyard. 

Stagecoach Vineyard sources fruit in several varieties to top labels from some of Napa Valley’s most storied producers. 

https://www.stagecoachvineyard.com/critics_choice/

Venge Napa Valley Stagecoach Vineyard Block 1-3 Syrah 2015

This is from one of our favorite producers, Venge Vineyards. We’ve been collecting Venge wines for three decades and hold a deep and broad collection of their wines. 

We’ve visited Venge several times over the years and are delighted they’re thriving under next generation Kirk Venge who has expanded the portfolio significantly.  

Today, two of our favorite wines in the Chardonnay and Syrah varietal are Venge labels. 

This is a big tongue puckering rich forward style we love and consider it a perfect pairing with BBQ such as tonight. 

This is a distinctive, unique single vineyard designated label from the Stagecoach Vineyard, which the producer proclaims “continues to produce Syrah of unparalleled quality. The Syrahs from that mountain vineyard really shine from the steep, rocky terroir of the location”. 

Stagecoach is one of the Napa Valley’s largest and leading mountain vineyards located near the Atlas Peak AVA at an elevation of around 1,700 feet above sea level. The soil is very rocky and topography very steep. Temperatures are warm in the midday and cold at night. This diurnal effect makes for a balance of vibrant acidity and fruit structure that is concentrated and focuessed. “Block I-4” is referenced in this bottling because of its very high elevation relative to the rest of the Stagecoach Vineyard.

Venge Vineyards Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah Block I-4 2013 was awarded 96 points by The Wine Advocate, 94 points by Wine Enthusiast and 92 points by Wine Spectator. 

Dark inky black garnet/purple colored, full bodied, complex, powerful deep concentrated savory blackberry and black plum fruits accented by notes of anise, black pepper, hints of bacon fat, clove spice creosote, camphor, vanilla and graphite with a long tongue coating finish. 

RM 94 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?3223878

Winemaker notes - The body is full with soft, dark, tarry, slightly sticky tannins. Delicious wire to wire. Fresh, juicy and ripe. Blackberries, black plum, an array of purple fruits, black licorice to the core of anise, deep sweet tarriness, light pepper, dark spice, limestone minerals, big vanilla, cinnamon, clove, some nutmeg, cigar, tobacco, leather, crushed rocks, sandstone style minerals, underbrush with lavender & violets. Lovely round acidy. The long, rich, lush, ripe, well balanced finish is persistent and absolutely delicious.

https://www.vengevineyards.com/

Another Syrah from Stagecoach Vineyard. 

Miner “La Diligence” Napa Valley Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah 2009

This is from Miner, another producer we have enjoyed for more than two decades. Miner was originally founded by Dave Minor, descendent of software pioneer who was part of the founding braintrust and major contributor to Oracle Software. We have fun with this label since we’ve partnered with Oracle for years and our son still works there as an industry executive.   

Following a number of years spent working in the software industry, Dave Miner got his start in wine in 1993 as President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards, owned by his late uncle, Robert Miner. Having spent years as an enthusiastic wine consumer and collector, Dave had a natural affinity for the business.

Dave met his future bride Emily Miner, a Minnesota transplant and graduate of Santa Clara University, when they she joined Oakville Ranch as the Tasting Room Manager back in 1993. There she met Dave where they subsequently fell in love.

The Miner Family Winery brand was born in 1996 when Dave, working as President of Oakville Ranch, decided to become a custom crush client and start his own wine label.

In 1997, Gary Brookman joined as winemaker for Oakville Ranch and to establish Dave’s own label, Miner Family. A former Joseph Phelps alum, Gary was the perfect candidate to develop the wine portfolio and expand their custom crush client business. In 1999, Dave and Emily Miner married, purchased the winery building and released the first Miner Family wines.

In 2001, The Oracle label was released, Miner’s inaugural vintage of our flagship, Bordeaux-style blend.
Miner Family Winery named “Top Five” All-American wines of 2004, Bon Appetite Magazine

In 2012, after years of offering varietally correct Riedel glassware in our tasting room, Miner and Riedel announce their partnership. Since 2012, Riedel Wine Glass Company exclusively uses Miner Family wines at its proprietary comparative glassware tasting events and at select events officially endorsed by the Riedel name in the United States.

Miner Family's "La Diligence" series is a small-production collaboration between Miner Family winemaker Gary Brookman and Northern Rhone producer Francois Villard, with the objective to produce wine from Rhone varietals grown in the Napa Valley using traditional French techniques. 

Only 336 cases the 08 "La Diligence" Syrah were produced. It is 100% Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah, aged for fifteen months in a 40% new French oak. 

Winemaker notes - “Cracked pepper, smokey spice, and meaty aromas and flavors accent the dark-fruited, chocolately layers of this rich and full-bodied Syrah.”

The fruit for this Syrah comes exclusively from the Stagecoach Vineyard, which inspired the name “La Diligence” meaning “The Stagecoach” in French. This Syrah displays classic northern Rhône structure and flavors with ripe, dark fruit characteristics and just the right amount of smoky spice.

Fellow CellarTracker Sheldon wrote in 2018 - “This wine was tryluly exceptional and one of the best Syrahs I have ever had. It was drinking solid and probably will continue to drink well for at least a couple more years, perhaps longer. Big and full-boddied (sic)but balanced and round with a long beautiful finish. It may lack the French elegance but this hit the bullseye ….” He gave it 95 points. 

Dark garnet colored, full bodied, concentrated complex blackberry fruits with black pepper accents, notes of earthy, black tea, tobacco and savory spices with a long finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?1148848

https://minerwines.com/


Neiman Napa Valley Caldwell Vineyard Block 18 Syrah 2003

Neiman Cellars is the artwork of Drew Neiman who was introduced to wine through his cousins Eli and Mildred Neiman who operated Regency Wine Sellers back in Ohio. Through that relationship, exposed to wines in their store, he began to consider a career centered around wine. 

Some of the wines that initially captivated him were made by winemaker John Kongsgaard while Kongsgaard was the winemaker at Newton Vineyards. John is one of Napa Valley’s great wine minds; not only is he a winemaker, but perhaps he could be referred to as a ‘wine poet’, someone who has acutely combined the art and science of winemaking. In addition, he has been a notable mentor to numerous now accomplished winemakers in Napa Valley.

Wanting to work with Kongsgaard, Drew reached out to Kongsgaard asking him if he could spend some time mentoring from him. Drew’s persistence paid off and John offered him a cellar position at Newton Vineyards during the fall of 1994. Drew spent 11 years working with Kongsgaard rising through the ranks from harvest help to assistant winemaker by way of UC Davis.

My interest stems from my love for Kongsgaard Syrah, perhaps the best I have ever tasted! 

In 1997 Kongsgaard approached Drew about starting his own brand. Kongsgaard had extra grapes from a contract with Caldwell Vineyards and wondered if Drew would be interested in taking over the contract. Drew did so and in subsequent years was able to source additional varieties from some of the best parts of Caldwell Vineyard. 

Drew produced Neiman Caldwell Vineyard Syrah and other varietal labels from the iconic vineyard which contained forward to this day when he also produces extremely limited quantities of Cabernet and Chardonnay.  

Caldwell is one of the most diverse and influential vineyards in America with 28 grape varieties, and a portfolio of 23 estate wines.

The 123 acre estate sits six hundred feet above the Napa Valley floor in Napa’s southern-most appellation, with steep hillsides, rolling oak meadows, and rows of grapevines framed by mountain ranges on either side. 

It is an exceptional place to grow grapes with proximity to San Pablo Bay, and geographic situation in the bowl of an ancient volcanic caldera, the cool temperatures and longest growing season in Napa Valley. The volcanic soils, where our roots grow deep, impart distinctive minerality and undeniable character in our wines. 

The Caldwell Vineyard estate is planted with 62 acres planted to 27 different grapevine clone and varietal combinations, a significant portion are original certified clones from France. The vineyard has been the source for some of Napa’s most revered Cabernet for other wineries and winemakers, including many of our cellar collection labels Moone Tsai (Philippe Melka), Merus and Brion (Mark Herold), Pahlmeyer (Helen Turley), Patz and Hall, Joseph Phelps’s Insignia, Stéphane Derenoncourt and others

Neiman Cellars’ core wines are Chardonnay, Syrah, a Red Wine blend and Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Drew has also served as winemaker at Chateau Boswell from 2003 - 2007. He has also served as 

winemaker at Bridesmaid Wines.

Neiman wines are produced at a winery in Coombsville.  Drew handles everything from grower contracts, and winemaking to sales, personally hosting tastings with clients. 

Total production for Neiman Cellars is under 1,000 cases per year with nearly all of the wines sold direct to consumer and have included on the wine list at the French Laundry in Yountville.

Wine critic Robert Parker has called Drew Naiman “brilliant”. He’s been mentioned in FOOD & WINE, Wine Spectator, InStyle, and has poured his wine at the James Beard House in New York City. 

Neiman Cellars has been featured on the wine lists of fancy restaurants including the French Laundry, Per Se, Gary Danko, and The Beverly Hills Hotel.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?301988

Back as early as 2011 I tasted this wine and wrote, “Dark inky color - full bodied - full forward fruits - blackberry, black currants, raspberry fruits with a long well balanced tannin finish. RM 91 points.

Tonight at two decades this wine is nearing the end of its drinking window and it’s time to drink. The foil, label, fill level and importantly the cork were still in ideal condition. 

Dark garnet colored, full bodied, tightly wound, structured, complex blackberry and plum fruits with notes of black tea, tobacco, anise and hints of dark spices and bitter dark chocolate persist on the lingering finish. 

RM 90 points.   

http://neimancellars.com/

https://www.caldwellvineyard.com/


Torbreck “Woodcutter’s” Barossa Valley Shiraz 2021

Torbreck is the name of a forest near Inverness, Scotland, ancestral home to the producer. This label  is a nod to the Celts in our wine naming conventions including this tribute to the foresters of this rugged high country.

This producer says that this is sourced from the ‘up and coming Shiraz vineyards of the Barossa, rather than the battle hardened old vines that make up the core of our other cuvee’s.’  This is 100% Shiraz sourced from vineyards in  Marananga, Greenock, Seppeltsfield, Gomersal, Moppa, Lyndoch and Ebenezer sub-districts in the South Central Australia Barossa Valley.

“2021’s signature is wines of high aromatic lift with densely coloured tints and exceptional balance. Lifted red, black and blue fruits of red cherry, raspberry coulis, blueberry conserve and wild blackberry and blackcurrant. There is a spicy edge showing cardamom, star anise and Chinese five spice. Soft caressing tannins and voluptuous mouthfeel from plump Shiraz berries gives this wine a posture that belies its pedigree. The poise and piquancy of the fruit sitting on top of the structured mouthfeel provides confidence to cellar for 5-10 years.”

It was age 12 months in well-seasoned French oak hogsheads and Foudre.

2021 Torbreck "Woodcutter's" Shiraz Barossa Valley South Australia

This label is known for delivering great QPR - Quality Price Ratio. The producer says, “Although this wine is constantly praised for its succulence and richness, there is also a complexity and texture which is rarely found at this price.”

This release was awarded 96 points by James Suckling.

Winemaker Notes: Full of freshness and bright youthful fruits, the 2020 vintage possesses no small amount of exuberance and personality. Aromatic plum and black cherry with dark chocolate and intensity, yet refined. The balanced palated has a round central core of black and blue fruit that gives way to a complex mid-palate. While offering immense pleasure in its youth, the 2020 Woodcutter's Shiraz will certainly develop into an impressive wine with a few more years in the cellar. A fantastic introduction to the Torbreck range.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Ever the reliable wine in the Torbreck lineup (challenged only by the beauty of the Steading, but nevertheless), the Woodcutters has tightened up over time. My first introduction to it almost 10 years ago recalls a plush, full-bodied wine that delivered all the Barossa feels and flavors that one could possibly hope for. These days, and today specifically, the 2021 Woodcutter's Shiraz is tight and tense, with black brooding fruit set to a rigging of firm, savory tannins. The oak is subliminal in this wine, leaving only the tannins to shape the fruit. Really handled well. Impressive."

Dark ruby colored, medium full bodied, tightly wound, dark plum and blackberry fruits with cassis, dark cherry, spice and anise with moderate smooth tannins and textured finish. 

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4320883

https://torbreck.com/products/woodcutters-shiraz

Following the big bold Shiraz and BBQ pairings, after dinner we opened some other special wines for sipping and tasting. 

Lyle brought from his cellar in Chicago this Brunello, and Bill brought from his cellar in Charleston this Freemark Abbey Cabernet.

Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino 2012

Lyle has been diving into Brunello’s recently and brought from his home cellar this highly rated Brunello from Camigliano. 

Winemaker Notes - :A great wine with an intense bouquet and balanced tannins that express all the characteristics of the "terroir" in terms of its quality and type, both in the selection of clones and in the selection of the best-situated and sunniest terrain. A high-class wine that evolves in interesting ways over time. It is recommended for important events – to honor a loved one or a special guest.”

This release was rated  93 points by Wine Spectator, 92 points by James Suckling and 91by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, and 90 points by Wine Enthusiast.

This was ideal for more delightful casual after dinner sipping as it was a bit lighter than the full throttle Syrahs we tasted with the BBQ. 

Ruby colored and medium to full bodied, this was complex but elegant and nicely balanced and polished with ripe red berry and currant and black cherry fruits with notes of  currant, licorice, leather and spice with silky polished tannins on a long finish. 

RM 91 points. 

Bill brought from his home cellar one of his and our perennial favorites from his deep collection from this producer.  This was spectacular closing out the evening with its full round concentrated flavor profile. 

Ironically, later this week, the producer was serving this label at the SoWal Wine Festival VIP Tasting and offering this vintage release from their library collection in OWC (Original Wood Cases) and Magnums, which Bill snapped up for his collection.

Freemark Abbey Mount Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Bill and I discussed doing Mount Veeder appellation wines this week and he brought this from his cellar. I have to admit this is the first experience I have had from this limited release appellation select label, available only through the wine club. This was amazing, one of the best Freemark Abbey Cabernets I have had! 

Winemaker notes - “This wine is dark, very dark, in fact it is opaque garnet with ruby edges. With massive depth, the aroma opens to ripe blackcurrant, blackberry, black olive, black pepper, tobacco, and mushroom with very well integrated oak spices. The spicy oak has subtle nuances of cinnamon, clove, aromatic cedar, and the overall impression is of a dark chocolate truffle dusted with cocoa powder. The entry is full and promising with dark fruit flavors like blackberry and currant, while the tannins are soft on entry they build to be more firm on the mid to back palate. With lots of depth, great acid balance, this wine is juicy and rich; a great example of a refined mountain cabernet that begs to be paired with a perfectly marbled, grilled ribeye steak! “

This was a spectacular vintage and what a great experience as the producer was pouring this same vintage of one of their single vineyard select labels - Sycamore Vineyard, at the Wine Festival tasting. 

The standard bottle for this vintage release was spectacular. Winemaker Notes  for the standard label release. “Opaque, dark ruby color introduces this wine that expresses dark fruit aroma and flavors. With spicy sweet oak complexity, the wine exudes dark fruit such as blackberry, black currant, blueberry and dark cherry. There are nuances of dark chocolate, chocolate berry truffle dusted with cocoa powder, cola, aromatic cedar, cinnamon, clove, graham crackers and a hint of tobacco. The body is very full with a soft entry, coupled with dark cherry/berry flavors that develop from start to finish. With great texture and mouth feel, this cabernet is full bodied, rich and opulent. In one word….delicious.”

This release was rated  92 points by Robert Parker's Wine Advocate and James Suckling. 

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Freemark Abbey’s standard bottling from Napa, is one of their best representations of this label and a great value with is large production and availability with nearly 24k cases produced. Parker calls it “one of their larger cuvées”. 

This release was a blend of 75.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.9% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. It was aged nearly 26 months in oak. 

I have to admit I was amazed by the Mount Veeder label and found it to be one of the best vintages of this label I can recall, and we’ve had more than a dozen over the years. 

Following this weekend I ran home to see if we had the standard label of this vintage release in the cellar and thankfully we do, and will look forward to opening this again in the future. Although, this wine has a long time to go still at the peak of its drinking window and should last another decade or more.  

Amazingly, they poured this vintage of their premium single vineyard designated release and Bill was right to pick up more at the retail tent at the wine festival and in retrospect I wish I had grabbed some more as well. 

For this label, Dark inky purple and garnet in color, full bodied, full round complex, structured and concentrated blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with notes of black tea, mocha chocolate, allspice, leather and tobacco leaf with full but approachable tannins on the long finish. 

RM 92 points. 

 

Tallgrass Lockport Fine Dining

Tallgrass Fine Dining in Lockport IL

Friday date night out, we dined at Tallgrass Restaurant in nearby Lockport (IL). A fixture in town since 1981, it is situated downtown in the picturesque river town on the banks of the Des Plaines river valley. 

The town straddles the valley that contains the working navigable Illinois Michigan Sanitary Canal and the historic Illinois Michigan (I&M) Ship Canal, and the Des Plaines River. The section of the canal that runs through Lockport, includes the remains of the canal's Lock No. 1 from which the town received its name.

The waterways flow from the City of Chicago, meeting with the Des Plaines and continue south past Joliet to meet the Kankakee River to form the Illinois River. 

Following the waterways are the Illinois and Michigan Canal Gaylord and Donnelly Trail along the canal right-of-way that is now the Illinois and Michigan National Heritage Corridor. 

Tallgrass is in a restored turn of the (last) century 1895 red stone and brick Victorian building, in a small narrow single storefront on busy State Street opposite the Roxy Theatre.

The small dining room has rustic dark wainscot paneled walls, authentic ceramic mosaic tile floors, tin ceilings, original gas chandeliers and artglass windows, with a mere eight dining tables adjacent a small bar in the corner, allowing for intimate dining and attentive service.

 

Tallgrass is the work of acclaimed Chef Robert Burcenski and local native Tom Alves. Tom studied oenology in France in the Rhone, Burgundy, Champagne and Bordeaux wine regions, and worked with winemakers in Oregon, Washington and California, and curates the Tallgrass wine program. 

The dining offerings are solely price fixe with diners selecting three, four, five or seven courses from the menu selections that range from seafood, poultry, beef, pork, lamb, vegetable dishes, salads and desserts, plus a couple of specials for the evening. Diners choose combinations with each offered as an entree or an starter. 

Dinners include a broad selection of fresh baked breads. 

There is a carefully selected winelist of a dozen WBTG - Wine-by-the-glass selections, and range of two hundred labels by the bottle to accompany each entree selection, primarily American. The wines are good values with a 1.5 to 2x multiple of retail prices. Note that while the actual winelist selection was greater than shown on the website, the prices as listed and shown on the website are woefully understated.

Linda selected the onion soup, the mixed green salad and a seafood medley entree selection. 

For my main course I selected one of the day's specials - Beef Tenderloin with foie gras mousse in a dark brown sauce with scalloped potatoes. For my starter I selected a Lump Crab, Lobster and Shrimp cake with Prawn in a lobster creme fraiche sauce. My vegetable course was an imaginative spinach ravioli with truffle and regianno cheese. 

Due to their fair and reasonable wine prices, we did not bring BYOB, which is our usual practice given our extensive personal cellar. We selected from the wine list Miner Napa Valley Chardonnay. 

Miner Family Napa Valley Chardonnay 2018

Miner is a family-owned winery sited up against the eastern hills of the Oakville appellation in the heart of Napa Valley. Founded in 1998 by former Oracle software executive Dave and Emily Miner, Miner Family Winery crafts wines sourced from fruit from estate and select grower's vineyards. This release was sourced from the Napa Valley Holman, Hyde and Genny’s Vineyards.

Winemaker Notes: "Sourced from low-yielding vineyards in Napa Valley, this Chardonnay is characterized by crisp apple, ripe melon and citrus flavors gently balanced with toasty French oak."

This was rated 92 points by James Suckling, 90 points by Wine & Spirits and 87 points by Wine Enthusiast.

Straw colored, medium bodied, rich forward green apple, pear and tangy citrus fruits with notes of mango and mineral on a creamy finish. 

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3448852

https://minerwines.com/ 

With my entree beef tenderloin I ordered from the WBTG selection this Raymond "R" California Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Raymond "R" Collection California Cabernet Lot No. 1 2018

This is the budget value collection of Raymond Family wines. The Lot No. 1 refers to the first grape varietal produced by the winery, Cabernet Sauvignon. 

 

The Raymond family arrived in Napa Valley in 1933 and became connected to the Beringer family via marriage in 1936. Roy Raymond worked as winemaker for Beringer from 1933-1970. 

In 1970, Ray and his two sons set out on their own with the 90-acre estate property in Rutherford just south of St. Helena off St Helena highway at Zinfandel Lane where the winery is located. The first Raymond Vineyards label was released in 1974.

Today Raymond is affiliated with the French Burgundy Boisset Collection of global properties.  

This was basic easy casual sipping as a nice accompaniment to the beef tenderloin and dark brown sauce.

RM 87 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3451525

https://raymondvineyards.com/

For the dessert course Linda selected Raspberry Creme Brulee and I the Chocolate souffle.  This turned into a bit of a kurfuffle as they served us the wrong entree's from another table and never really were able to recover in correcting the situation. 

https://www.tallgrassrestaurant.com/

Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Heaven on earth - with Dave and Yolanda Del Dotto
in the garden at TraVigne

We opened this vintage Napa Valley Cabernet with fresh fruit and selection of cheeses and chocolates during a midweek evening at home.

We first discovered this wine during our Napa Wine Experiences in the late-nineties, sitting out in the garden of TraVinge (left) in St Helena, selecting bottles from the Cantina wine shop on the premises.

We have a half dozen of Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintages from that era through to this one. We still hold several bottles of the 2004 release which we last tasted  back in 2012.

Oakville Ranch is/was located located above the Silverado Trail up on the eastern slope overlooking Napa Valley.

The Oakville Ranch property was purchased in 1989 by Bob and Mary Miner. Bob was a co-founder and early key developer of Oracle corporation and the database management system. His wife Mary founded Oakville Ranch Vineyards and managed it following Bob's death at age 52 in 1994.

Bob Miner's nephew, Dave Miner took the helm as President of Oakville Ranch Vineyards in 1993. In 1996, Dave decided to become a custom crush client and start his own wine label and the now popular Miner Family Winery brand was born.

The 350-acre Oakville Ranch was planted in 55 acres of vineyards of Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietals − Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The vines have been tended in small vineyards and managed to produce small yields of few bunches per vine to maximize the quality of the fruit to be derived from the shallow red volcanic soil on the rocky mountain slopes.

The 2004 Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Estate's vineyards - 100% Oakville Ranch: 84% Vista, 9% Terrace and 7% Plateau blocks.

The juice was aged 18 months in 100% french oak barrels, 67% new.

725 cases, plus 8 cases of magnums were produced

At fifteen years of age, this is still showing and drinking consistent with earlier tasting notes, this wine is medium to full bodied, dark ruby in color. Aromas of floral, red raspberry and cherry fruits give way to soft oak. Dense full flavors of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry fruits are accented by a layer of pipe tobacco, tones of spice, cassis and soft sweet oak and a hint of black pepper on a long lingering silky tannin finish. 

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=495121

http://www.oakvilleranch.com/