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

Summer wine for summer outdoor grill dinner

Summer wine for summer outdoor grill dinner

A typical summer dinner, grilling hot dogs, served with sweet corn and potato salad. We opened a crisp summertime Benessere Napa Valley Rose’ wine as a refreshing accompaniment. 

I wrote about Rose’ and it’s popularity as a summer refreshment in a recent blogpost - Château d’Aqueria Tavel Southern Côtes du Rhône Rose’.

This is from Benessere Winery in north Napa Valley, just off Hwy 29 between St Helena and Calistoga. The historic property dates back to the 1920s and 30s when it was a cattle ranch, then a dairy farm, and then was converted into a thoroughbred horse ranch in the 1960s. 

In the mid-70s, new owners took over the property and planted the estate ‘Black Glass Vineyard’, named for fragments of obsidian found on the property. Historically, the local Native American tribe used obsidian found on the property to make arrowheads and tools.

The property was purchased in 1994 by John and Ellen Benish of nearby westcrn Chicago suburb of Hinsdale.

They created their “Italy in Napa” estate and named their winery ‘Benessere’ , an Italian word meaning “well-being” or “living the good life”, because it embodied everything they fell in love with on a trip to Italy in the late 1980s. It reflects their dedication to a wine country lifestyle combining wonderful wine with warm, welcoming hospitality.

They proceeded to restore the vineyards, winery, and residence. 

We visited the winery and vineyards during our Napa Valley Wine Experience trip back in 2018 -  (https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/07/napa-valley-wine-experience-2018.html.) 

In line with their inspiration and love of Italy and Italian wines, they planted the vineyards with classic Italian grape varietals including Sangiovese, Montepulciano, Pinot Grigio, Primitivo, Aglianico, and Sagrantino. They also planted non-Italian varietals traditional to Napa Valley such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, and Zinfandel. Additionally, they introduced varietals like Vermentino, Falanghina, Nero d’Avola, and Teroldego,

They produced their first vintage in 1995, a Sangiovese varietal wine. Since that inaugural vintage, they have continually added other Italian varietals to their portfolio – Pinot Grigio, Vermentino, Falanghina, Teroldego, Nero d’Avola, Primitivo, Montepulciano, Sagrantino and Aglianico. 

They also produce a “Super Tuscan” style blend called ‘Phenomenon’ as well as two American grape varietal Zinfandels – one from their ‘Black Glass Vineyard’, the other from the historic 100 year old ‘Collins Holystone Vineyard’ adjacent to the estate.

Benessere Napa Valley St Helena Aglianico Rosato di Aglianico 2023

This is composed of 100% Aglianico sourced from the Benessere Estate Vineyard in St. Helena

Winemaker’s Notes - “Vintners the valley over are raising a glass to the 2023 vintage as one of the best ever for both reds and whites. Winemakers believe that the abundance of rainfall and a lengthy growing season contributed to some truly incredible fruit being produced. Cheers and glasses clinking were heard earlier this season for the 2023 harvest, back when only a select few knew just how amazing it was going to be.”

“The strategy of creating our Aglianico Rosato is planning a 2–3-week early harvest for these grapes. This timing captures the vibrancy and liveliness that encapsulates our Rosato. Gentle pressing draws out the lovely juice that is the keystone of this wine. The fermentation is gradual, done at cool temperatures to ensure the wine's brilliant aromatics remain intact.”

Tasting notes - “Its austere and refreshingly dry profile, from the delicate aromas of nectarines, peaches, bubblegum, raspberries, and seashell to the vibrant acidity and explosive palate bursting with tart cherry and strawberry. the lingering presence of noticeable tannins—a rare characteristic in Rosato wines.” - Matt Reid, Winemaker

RM 90 points. 

2023 Aglianico Rosato

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5063903

https://www.benesserevineyards.com/

https://x.com/BenessereVyds

@BenessereVyds

Turnbull Oakville Cabernet with grilled beefsteaks

Turnbull Oakville Cabernet with grilled beefsteaks

Saturday night dinner, we grilled out steaks and served with grilled corn and baked potatoes. 

I pulled from the cellar an aged vintage Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for an accompaniment. 

This is from Turnbull Wine Cellars a small family run producer of primarily Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from four estate vineyards in Oakville and Calistoga, Napa Valley.

Turnbull Wine Cellars was founded in Oakville in 1979 by William Turnbull, a noted Bay Area architect, and Reverdy Johnson, a lawyer. The two had worked together on developing the famous Sea Ranch development on the coast north of San Francisco. The winery was then called Johnson Turnbull. 

In 1993 the estate was bought by publisher Patrick O’Dell, who updated the winery and bought additional property, bringing the total estate holdings to 148 acres. Their vineyards are planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 

Wine Advocate rated Turnbull’s 2010 Fortuna Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon at 100 pts and called it “perfection…A magnificent effort that should turn out to be one of the great modern classics of Napa Valley.

Turnbull Wine Cellars winemaker is Peter Heitz, a fourteen generation Vigneron hailing from Alsace,  and fourth generation Napa Valley Winemaker. Peter grew up in Napa Valley Carneros on one of the pioneering vineyards in the region. He gained his vineyard experience farming in the Calistoga Appellation property first planted to vines by his great grandparents in 1904. He has been winemaker at Turnbull Wine Cellars in Oakville since the 2007 vintage.

The four Turnbull estate vineyards four are: 

The Turnbull Oakville Estate Vineyard, covering fourteen acres on the eastern slope of the valley where the climate is generally warm and agreeable, resulting in year after year of favorable vintages. Summer days see a gentle moderation of the warmer inland air from cool air coming in from the San Pablo Bay to the south, creating an ideal environment to grow red varieties. Oakville's diverse soils, namely ancient sea bedrock, clay and gravel, are well-drained, and perfect for high-caliber viticulture.

The Lopoldina vineyard in the Oakville AVA covering 62 acres, situated high on the crest of the Oakville Bench, with an expansive Southwest view of the valley from Calistoga in the North to the San Francisco Bay in the South. The vineyard is an extreme growing environment, with scarce, volcanic rock soil that gives us spectacular and complex fruit that lends fine texture and structured tannins to the wines. This site is planted to predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon plantings, with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Syrah and Lagrein vines as well. It was previously known as the Weitz Vineyard but wines we crafted from the site today are designated Leopoldina Vineyard.

The Turnbull Fortunate Vineyard lying at the base of the sloping Oakville bench facing Southwest in the Fortuna Ranch covering 59 acres from pre-Prohibition and originally sourced by the venerable Christian Brothers winery. The vineyard features ancient red volcanic soils that produce darker fruit notes with an identifiable spice box component. The vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot and some Sauvignon Blanc. 

Finally, up in Calistoga lies the 101 acre Turnbull Amoenus vineyard. Situated in the remote Western rolling hills of northern Napa Valley at higher elevations and exposures it is influenced by the ocean air and fog, cooling the fruit at night. The temperate micro-climate and a variety of volcanic soils produces wines with good acidity, density of flesh, plush mid palate and a unique minerality, with dark cherry notes. It is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Turnbull wines are vinified in small lots from each vineyard block, vinified separately in small stainless steel tanks. The wine is barreled down into individual lots and aged in French Oak barrels for twenty months.

Turnbull produce a broad portfolio of labels including several single vineyard and single appellation designated bottlings, as well as several blends. They produce mostly Cabernet Sauvignons, but also a small production of Cabernet Franc and Merlots. 

This was a perfect accompaniment to the grilled beefsteak - the ideal food wine pairing amplifiying and enhancing the enjoyment of both. 

Despite the difficult 2011 vintage for many in Napa Valley, this label was an high achiever. 

At fourteen years, the label and foil, and most importantly the fill level and cork were in perfect condition. Packaged in a heavy, slightly oversized bottle with an extra deep bung (cavity in the bottom where sediment collects around the cavity), this was still at the apex of its drinking window and likely to hold for another couple of years. 

Winemaker notes of this release. “Aromatics of spicy red fruits, dusty raspberries, white pepper and hazelnuts. Red berries up front, with a rich, mid palate density and finishing with smooth black cherry and baking spices. A concentrated and spicy finish. the process From our Oakville estate vineyards, each with varying soil types bringing character and depth to the wine.” 

Dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, bright vibrant round and full flavored black berry and black current fruits were accented by spices and notes of anise, black tea and hints of cedar with tangy acidity and plush tannins on a lingering finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1391695

https://www.turnbullwines.com/

Conn Creek Anthology 2010

Conn Creek Anthology 2010 with meatloaf for an ideal pairing 

With left over meatloaf from Entourage dinner the night (Pirouette BYOB with Familiar Favorites at Entourage DG), I pulled from the cellar this Bordeaux Blend as an accompaniment.

Conn Creek Anthology 2010 

Conn Creek, located in the historic Rutherford district along the Silverado Trail, has been producing Napa Valley Bordeaux-styled red wines since 1973 when it was founded by Bill and Kathy Collins. 

In 1979, they built what is now Conn Creek Winery in the Rutherford appellation, on the namesake Conn Creek, at the intersection of Silverado Trail and Conn Creek Road, across from the trailhead of Sage Canyon Road. 

The facility was perhaps one of the first “green” winery building in Napa Valley with 12”-thick walls made of Styrofoam, steel mesh, gunite and a total of 20,000 corks. 

Conn Creek were pioneers, among a small group leading Napa Valley’s emergence as a fine wine growing region on the world stage. That effort continues today, nearly 40 years later, as Conn Creek produces a portfolio of ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon and other Bordeaux varietal wines.

Conn Creek’s winemaker is Jean Hoefliger, born and raised in Switzerland, his winemaking background includes some of the leading vineyards from some of the world’s most esteemed wineries from Bordeaux to South Africa including Château Lynch-Bages, Château Carbonnieux, and Meerlust. 

After earning a degree in viticulture and enology from the prestigious Swiss Federal School of Changins, Jean set out for California, where he spent five years crafting quality wines as Winemaker at Newton Vineyard. 

Recognized for his visionary approach, Jean was tapped by Alpha Omega as both Winemaker and General Manager. His stature in the industry grew, and by 2005, he expanded his expertise as a Consulting Winemaker for renowned producers in Napa Valley, Switzerland, and Italy. His clients included Howell Mountain’s Clark Claudon, the ultra-premium Decades 5, Armanino Family Cellars, Yount Ridge, and Speratus, as well as Conn Creek.

Notably, both Newton and Clark Claudon feature prominently in our cellar collection. 

This label Anthology is the Conn Creek flagship label, named for a Greek word that refers to a collection of literary or artistic works akin to its Bordeaux blend crafted from a collection of Napa Valley’s notable vineyards and diverse AVAs. 

Anthology is sourced from nearly all of Napa Valley’s appellations. 

The 2010 Anthology is a blend of all the designated Bordeaux varietals: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot and 3% Malbec.

It is comprised of vineyard lots selected from the following appellations: Cabernet Sauvignon from Atlas Peak - Stagecoach Vineyard, Stags Leap District, Howell Mountain - Hughes Vineyards, St. Helena - Collins Vineyard, Oakville - Stanton Vineyard, Calistoga - Surber & Frediani Vineyards, Yountville - Herrick Vineyard, Carneros - Truchard Vineyard, and Mount Veeder: Cabernet Franc from St. Helena - Carpenter Vineyard, Atlas Peak - Stagecoach Vineyard, and Spring Mountain; Merlot from St. Helena - Collins Vineyard, and Atlas Peak - Stagecoach; Petit Verdot from Yountville - Tall Trees; and Malbec from Yountville - Herrick.

Winemaker’s tasting notes - “Anthology, is a testament to the layers of depth and complexity that can be achieved through the art of blending. Blackberries and plums nestle among cocoa, anise and wildflowers. On the palate a bright opening of black currants leads to a lingering finish of rich chocolaty tannins.

What a treat. This is what having a broad and deep wine cellar is all about! Finding a hidden gem bottle such as this for a wonderful pairing with some delicious food. As I’ve written numerous times in these pages - a great pairing of food and wine enhances and amplifies the enjoyment of both!

We had this release of this wine in a special event dinner back in 2014 - Conn Valley Anthology Highlights Capital Grill Board Room Dinner.

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/09/conn-valley-anthology-highlights.html

At seventeen years, the important fill level and cork were in ideal condition, as were the foil and label, as shown. This was likely at the apex of its drinking window, not expected to improve further, but able to continue to age for superb drinking for several more years.

Dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, complex but elegant and polished, nicely balanced and integrated blackberry and black currant fruits, accented by notes of mocha, anise and hints of floral and black tea, with silky tannins on a pleasant finish.

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1392790

http://www.conncreek.com/

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2014/09/conn-valley-anthology-highlights.html

https://conncreek.com/collections/library

Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc for refreshing summer sipper

Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc for refreshing summer sipper

A casual evening at home, continuing our viewing of the Netflix series, Blindspot, we opened this Cliff Lede Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc with a plate of artisan cheeses, biscuits and fresh berries. 

We hold a half dozen vintages of this label and pulled the oldest vintage in the cellar as part of effective cellar rotation and inventory management. 

Cliff Lede Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Cliff Lede is one of our favorite producers and a visit to the Napa Valley Stag's Leap District estate has been a highlight of several of Napa Valley excursions.

The Cliff Lede winery estate and vineyards with their picturesque sculpture gardens at Yountville Cross Road and Silverado Trail are one of our popular visits during our many trips to Napa Valley. We've had many memorable visits there with the most memorable, our private tour and tasting during our Napa Wine Experience 2009.

In certain vintages this is our favorite Sauvignon Blanc with its bright expressive fruits - pear, lychee, passion fruit and peach with hints of grapefruit and notes of lemon citrus. This 2017 is one of those vintages - butter colored, medium bodied, crisp clean, full flavorful fruits with nicely balanced acidity.

RM 91 points.

Fellow Pour Boy, wind buddy Bill C had posted - "Crisp, clean and refreshing. Pale straw color. Zesty grapefruit and lemon on the palate. Nicely balanced acidity. Always a favorite."

WCC - 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2942346

https://cliffledevineyards.com/

Beach view dinner at Beach Walk Cafe Destin

Beach view dinner at Beach Walk Cafe Destin (FL)

Hosting friends Bob & Gloria and Jose and JaJa, at our Destin, FL vacation home, we dined at scenic Beach Walk Café, Henderson Park Inn, Destin, with its picturesque views of the Gulf Coast beach and off-shore horizon, and the towers of Destin across Henderson State Beach Park in the distance, arguably one of the best views along the Emerald Coast.

I’ve written about Henderson Beachwalk Cafe Dinner with a view in this blogpost in many blogposts in these pages as it has become one of our favorite go-to dining destinations in the area which where we dine regularly when in town. 

While we love the atmosphere, ambiance and menu selections, although their wine list is limited, especially for pairing with coastal seafood. So, as is our usual practice, tonight we brought from our home cellar BYOB our own Napa Valley Carneros single vineyard designated label Chardonnay.

For starters, Linda and I ordered the Mixed Greens Salad with Strawberries, Pecans, Goat Cheese, and Maple Bacon Vinaigrette.

Jose ordered my favorite dish, from the menu fresh seafood local catches and one of their signature dishes, Grouper Vince with Pecan Crusted, Crispy Potato Cake, Haricot Verts, Honey Worcestershire Sauce.

Gloria and I each ordered the Snapper with Corn Truffle Risotto, Madeira Mushrooms, Matchstick Truffle Fries, Citrus Beurre Blanc sauce. 

Linda ordered the Beachwalk Cafe signature crab cases. 

Bob ordered the Sesame Crusted Yellowfin Tuna with Garlic and Ginger Black Bean Bok Choy with Ponzu Sauce (shown) while Ja Ja had the Shrimp.

We ordered from the limited wine list a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for pairing along with our BYOB Chardonnay, featured below:

Nickel & Nickel Napa Valley Carneros Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

This is from Nickel & Nickel, a subsidiary of the legendary ultra-premium producer Far Niente Winery and Vineyards. If you've visited Napa Valley, you passed their winery estate on St Helena Highway 29 in Oakville as you enter Napa Valley from the south.

Nickel & Nickel was established by the partners of Far Niente in 1997 focused on producing single-vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from the appellation's most significant growing regions. Dedicated exclusively to producing 100 percent varietal, single-vineyard wines that best express the distinct personality of each vineyard, they expanded their portfolio to also produce single-vineyard Chardonnay, Merlot, and Syrah wines.

Nickel & Nickel focus on 100% varietal, single-vineyard designated wines, sourced from as many as seventeen different vineyards, primarily in Napa Valley, but now extended to include some sites in the Sonoma County Russian River Valley appellation.

Their approach emphasizes selection of the very best vineyard locations and unique soil compositions required to make superior single-vineyard wines. Each Nickel & Nickel wine is a celebration of 'place' or terroir. It's amazing how such can reveal how vineyards only miles apart, but of the same grape varietal, yield wines of unique character and distinction.

This label release is 100% Chardonnay from the Truchard Vineyard located in the heart of Carneros AVA, prized for its rolling hills, sun exposure, and cool, breezy conditions that allow long, even ripening. 

Nickel & Nickel wines are produced from 14 select acres of this 270-acre vineyard, planted in 2007, composed of volcanic ash and rock with a southwestern exposure. The growing season tends to be long in this cooler area, allowing for fully mature fruit at harvest.

The Carneros region straddles the southernmost portions at the confluence of the Sonoma and Napa valleys, lying just north of the San Pablo Bay (an offshoot of the San Francisco Bay). There, the bay winds and fog, created when warm inland air meets cool sea air, keep temperatures relatively low, making this California wine region perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Indeed many of our favorite and many memorable wines are from Carneros vineyards from some of the most heralded producers.

Nickel & Nickel Napa Valley Carneros Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Winemaker Notes - "Nickel & Nickel Truchard Chardonnay 2022 is a wine that stands out for its full-bodied and flavorful taste, thanks to its carefully selected grapes from the famous Truchard Vineyard in Napa Valley, California. Upon opening the bottle, the wine releases an enticing aroma of citrus blossom and melon, which will leave your senses longing for more. This is followed by a silky and creamy texture on the palate, which is perfectly balanced by the wine's vibrant acidity.'

"The flavors of pear, melon, and green apple dominate the palate, and the wine is complemented by subtle hints of toasted oak that add a unique touch to the wine. The wine finishes with a long and mouthwatering taste, which leaves a lasting impression. Whether you are an experienced wine enthusiast or just starting your journey, Nickel & Nickel Truchard Vineyard Chardonnay 2022 is a wine that can be appreciated by anyone who values quality and craftsmanship.'

"This golden-hued vintage strikes the most beautiful balance between freshness and tropical lushness. Aromas of lemon peel and melon captivate the nose, while silky pear, peach blossom, and melon flavors cascade across a palate that is at once creamy and lifted. The finish is lively and bright, with juicy acidity, whispers of lightly toasted oak, and a refreshing minerality."

At initial review time, this vintage release has not yet been rated but the previous two vintage years it was rated 93 points and 95 points in 2019.

Golden straw colored, medium bodied, full round concentrated pear and apple notes with expressive sprites of mineral and roasted nut with hints of toasted oak on a full lingering bright acidic finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4763512

https://nickelandnickel.farniente.com/

https://twitter.com/NickelandNickel

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2023/10/nickel-nickel-truchard-vineyard.html

Aged vintage wines for family birthday dinner

Aged vintage wines for family birthday dinner 

The family gathered at our house for a gala celebration dinner for my upcoming birthday. 

We grilled out cowboy tomahawk ribeye steaks and bbq baby back ribs, and scallops, accompanied by salad, baked beans, mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus and Mac-n-cheese (for the kids). 

The cooks, (above) Linda, master chef, and Ryan, griller and carver - naturally absent, missing from the family photo above, (as is Reid who was playing ball out in the yard with friends). 

Grilled scallops on herb buttered toast points 

For a wine accompaniment I pulled from the cellar a Sauvignon Blanc and a Chardonnay for the whites and two aged vintage big reds wines for the beef and ribs, and an aged vintage dessert wine (also a birthyear vintage). 

I also selected several younger Right Bank Bordeaux varietal wines, in the event we went through the open bottles, or needed a back-up if the first choice wines were not up to par, due to age or other conditions.  Almost regrettably, we didn’t open those wines which I was looking forward to trying, hence they’ll be available for another day. 

LaJota Napa Valley Howell Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

La Jota Vineyards in Napa Valley date back to 1888 when winemaking pioneer W.S. Keyes planted some of the first vines on Howell Mountain. Ten years later his contemporary, Fredrick Hess, built a stone winery and established La Jota Vineyard Co., named for its location on the Mexican parcel Rancho La Jota. 

Both men won medals for their Howell Mountain wines in the Paris Exposition of 1900.

La Jota Vineyard Co. continues today as a boutique producer crafting small-production mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Chardonnay, sourced from the winery’s estate and from nearby W.S. Keyes Vineyard.

Today, Howell Mountain is known for Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa’s rugged northeastern hills with its volcanic ash soils deposited millenia ago by Mount Konocti. Howell Mountain itself is a weathered volcanic "knob" with two distinct soils: crumbly white decomposed volcanic ash known as rhyolitic tuff and red, iron-laden soils of clay and volcanic rock.

La Jota estate vines develop good root systems in these well-draining, porous, nutrient-lean soils, allowing them to self-regulate the amount of water they take in. And the nutrient lean soils force the vines to struggle to survive, forcing their energy to the fruit. The result is tiny berries and clusters with very high flavor concentration.

Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon was made famous by legendary wine maker Randy Dunn, who gained fame at Caymus in the 1970s and 1980s. Turning his attention to Howell Mountain, it became officially recognized as the first sub-region of Napa Valley in 1983. We visited the Dunn Vineyards estate up at Angwin on Howell Mountain during our Napa Valley Howell Mountain Wine Experience back in 2008. We were hosted by Kristina Dunn that day but we had the privilege to meet winemaker, producer, patriarch and Napa Valley pioneer Randy Dunn.

The Howell Mountain AVA includes 1,000 acres of vineyards interspersed by forestlands at the north end of the Vaca Mountain range that forms the eastern wall or Napa Valley. With vineyards at 1,400 to 2,000 feet in elevation, they sit above the fog line. The days on Howell Mountain remain cooler than those in the heart of the valley, giving the grapes a bit more time on the vine.

The soils, shallow and infertile with good drainage, are volcanic ash and red clay and produce highly concentrated berries with thick skins. The resulting wines are full of structure and potential to age.

We tasted the recent release of La Jota Howel Mtn Cabernet at the SoWal (Southwest Walton Beaches) Wine Festival in Destin, (FL) last year was one of the highlights of that event and we acquired their current release of this label at that time - Pour Boys gather for SoWal Wine Festival weekend in Destin.

Notably, LaJota was acquired by and is now part of the vast portfolio of Jackson Family Wines, who amassed a vast Billion dollar wine empire that now comprises some of the most storied labels, such as this. It was being presented by Jackson Wines at the SoWal festival. 

I wrote about Jess Jackson and the building of the family wine empire in earlier blogposts in these pages - most recently last month - La Crema Coastal Chardonnay with Homemade Chicken Piccata, and earlier, Kendall-Jackson Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2018.

And, we’ve featured other vintages of this label in other notable tastings -Boy's Night Out Cellar Tours Wine Tasting, and Dad's Day Father Son Tasting Birthyear Wines.

Today, La Jota’s winemaker is Chris Carpenter, a graduate from the University of Illinois with a BS in biology, who also earned an MBA in Chicago before working various roles in the food and beverages industry. During those years in Chicago he developed a love of food and wine, and a network of colleagues in the business.

After a visit to Napa Valley in 1993, he decided to pursue a career in wine and went on to earn a Masters in Viticulture and Enology from the University of California, Davis. 

In 1998 he found himself working as the Assistant Winemaker at Cardinale where he learned making wines from mountain terroir. In 2005 he became the Winemaker for La Jota.

Tonight we opened this vintage 1990 release,  a birthyear vintage wine of son Alec, celebrating my birthday, and he and wife Vivianna expecting (grand) baby number three. 

This release was rated 92 points by Robert Parker back in 1993, when he wrote, this wine should “reach its apogee by the turn of the century and last 20 or more years”. 

At 35 years, it has held up remarkably well, despite the tattered label, the fill level and cork were still in great condition, considering their age. 

The wine showed no signs of diminution from aging and still well within its drinking window, albeit not likely to continue aging beyond a few more years. 

Winemaker Notes - “Where rivers, creeks and property lines usually define an AVA, the Howell Mountain boundaries are defined by a 1,400 foot elevation contour line as the lowest point and the highest vineyards at 2,400 feet above sea level. The vines share the mountain with pines, oaks, madrone and the easternmost stand of the coastal redwoods.”

Opaque garnet/purple colored, medium to full bodied, rich, round concentrated black berry and black currant fruits with notes of minerals, cassis, and classic Howell Mtn spices, with firm but approachable tannins on the lingering, what Wine Spectator calls “fleshy” finish.  

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?771991

https://www.lajotavineyardco.com/

Château du Domaine de l'Eglise Pomerol 1989

Château du Domaine de l'Eglise is a renowned producer of Right Bank Bordeaux wine, located in the commune of Pomerol, in the shadow of the church tower, and less than two kilometres, within walking distance, of notable producers Château Clinet (300m) and Château Petrus (900m). 

The Pomerol AOC (Appellation Originale Controllee) is located in the Libourne region on the Right Bank of the Dordogne River, just upstream from its confluence with the Isle. The town of Libourne, has a port that was used for exporting wines as far back as 1269. 

In the 1900s, winegrowers got together and made joint purchases. Working together, they set up a winegrowers’ and farmers’ union to improve their wine and protect the Pomerol appellation. The AOC area was defined in 1928, recognised in 1936 and revised in 2011.

Today, the Pomerol AOC is renowned for its great wines such as Pétrus, Trotanoy, Clinet, Petit Village and Gazin. The Pomerol appellation comprises around 800 hectares with 140 producers with an average of 6 hectares, producing 31,000 hectolitres of red wine a year.

The origins of the Château du Domaine de l’Église vineyard can be traced back to 1589, at the beginning of the reign of the Good King Henri (Henri IV). The estate was seized by authorities during the French Revolution and in 1793 it was sold to the Bertin family though a national property sale.

In 1893, the Bertin family produced ten barrels of wine, rising to twenty barrels by 1949. Simon Landard, Laure Bertin’s nephew, ran the estate a few years later. The estate was acquired in 1973 by Émile Castéja, 

Château du Domaine de l’Eglise was owned by Philippe Castéja and his sister, Chantal Castéja Prében-Hansen. Philippe ran the estate and improved the quality of the wine over the years. The wine from Château du Domaine de l’Eglise is considered a Grand Vin. Today the estate is run by the firm of Borie-Manoux.

The 7-hectare vineyard of Château du Domaine de l’Église is mainly planted with Merlot (95%), with a touch of Cabernet Franc (5%). The vines have an average age of 40 years.  The vineyard is situated on a plateau with classic Pomerol terroir, characterized by gravelly soil and clay subsoil, which imparts a distinct minerality to the wine. 

At thirty six years, this wine was holding up remarkably well and still very much in its drinking window, but certainly not likely to improve with any further aging, and best to be consumed in the next couple years. The label and foil and most importantly the fill level was top of neck and the cork was still intact despite being partly saturated, it was holding its integrity. It was carefully extracted using an ‘Ahso’ two pronged cork puller (shown). It likely would have collapsed in the bottle if pressed by a traditional cork screw. I always use this method, especially with older wines (except for synthetic corks).  

This release was awarded 90 points by Wine Advocate in 1993. 

This was even better the following day, being more balanced and settled, after decades of aging in the cellar.

Dark blackish garnet colored, medium to full bodied, deep rich round ripe balanced blackberry, cherry and plum fruits with herbs and vibrant spice notes with soft fine tannins on a long sensuous finish. 

RM 90 points, better, 91 points the following day. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?186048

https://www.domainedeleglise.com/en/

We also opened a birthyear vintage aged sweet dessert wine which paired perfectly with the scallops as well as the salad and later, the dessert. I wrote about this in a follow on blogpost - Clos Fontindoule Monbazillac Dessert Wine.

 https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2025/05/clos-fontindoule-monbazillac-1982-as.html

Exec Team (Reunion) Dinner At Entourage DG

Exec Team (Reunion) Dinner At Entourage DG

Former SMD and COO (Ret’d) Tom O of our former company, came to town to assist with this weekend’s Wright Plus annual architectural house walk, and to meet up with our former executive management team for a (reunion) dinner. We broke tradition of our regular meetings at Italian Village, Chicago (Team Dinner and Go-to CasalFerro Wines at Italian Village Chicago), and Angeli’s Italian in Naperville to introduce them to Entourage Restaurant in Downers Grove, our new go-to eatery, despite the fact we had just dined there a few days earlier, last weekend - Mother’s Day Eve Dinner - BYOB @ Entourage DG.

Ironically, we attended a Wine Dinner at Italian Village just the night before and I mentioned our regular team meetings there as part of my blogpost feature of the event - Vino Viaggio Wine Dinner at Vivere’ Italian Village Chicago.

And, when not downtown at our (former) office, we would typically meet at Angelis’ Italian, our favorite neighborhood trattoria - as also featured in many of these pages, such as Team dinner at Angeli's Italian.

When I suggested we try this new spot, there was unanimous consent. I think I can safely say everyone found Entourage a hit, giving high marks to the cuisine, service, atmosphere, beverages, sides, and convenience. 

As I am so often heard to say, “I’m not selling, just sharing”, in light of my reportage of previous dinners, both Rick K and Stacy selected the popular Seabass entree.

Stacy enjoyed a white wine blend Domaine de Pouy, Côtes de Gascogne, France 2021 from the WBTG - Wine By The Glass offerings on the limited but carefully selected wine list. 

This is from the Côtes de Gascogne appellation in the Gascony subregion in southwest France. This little known region sits about 100 miles south of Bordeaux, midway between the city of Toulouse and the Atlantic Coast. There, 250 wineries produce 3000 modest Vin de Pays wines from the primary grapes Sauvignon Blanc, Columbard and the unique varietal Gros Manseng. 

Some fellow CellarTracker notes on this label can be found at -  https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4311754.

For our entrees, both Tom O and I tried the daily special, a Long Island Cut Strip Steak, after Tom inquired about the Long Island reference in the name, being a native from there. The name refers to the butcher’s cut. Entourage delivered again with a delicious piece of meet, prefectly prepared to my ‘Pittsburgh style’  preference, accompanied by Parmesan Potatoes. 

The perfect dinner was complete with a limited production Napa Cabernet that I brought BYOB from the home cellar which proved to be an outstanding pairing with our grilled beefsteaks. 

I wrote about this producer and this wine an earlier blogpost.- Steady State & Walls Curiositas, excerpted below. 

That night we drank the Josh Phelps Grounded Steady State with grilled tomahawk ribeye beefsteak dinner. 

Ground Wine Company Steady State Napa Valley Red Wine 2015

This is from boutique garagiste Winemaker Chris Phelps and his son Josh who work from their Napa Valley work space adjacent to a coffee store in the town of St. Helena. They meld contrasting styles and approaches to synergistically punctuate their emerging, growing presence in the California and West Coast wine scene.

Chris Phelps is a well known winemaker, terroir-driven producer of super premium Cabernet Sauvignon wines from specific and illustrious plots of grapes across Napa Valley. 

Son Josh Phelps, who grew in the wine culture of Napa Valley, is a millennial winemaker who launched his own new brand called Grounded Wine Co. in 2015. Josh has developed the ability to produce high QPR - (quality price ratio) affordable every day drinking wines ($15 to $25) from grapes sourced from distinctive growers and locations across California and the northwest states. Both father and son each own their own companies, but work together to enhance their mutual capabilities.

As a relatively new name among the category's leading wines Winemaker Josh Phelps and hisGrounded Wine Co. produce a diversified portfolio of whimsically named wines from across the western states, "Grounded in heritage, grounded in soil, grounded in simplicity". Josh Phelps' Grounded wines are a testament to Josh’s connections with growers throughout his home state and the broader west coast. Phelps new releases from growing regions in Washington State, Oregon, Napa and Paso Robles.

While he strives to produce wines priced to be accessible to younger wine drinkers, don’t discount low priced wines from a young winemaker. If he continues to release wines as good as Phelps’ early releases, this is a winemaker and label you’ll want to follow.

The Grounded collection consists of: 

• "Grounded" branded California Cabernet Sauvignon and a California Sauvignon Blanc, "Grounded in heritage, grounded in soil, grounded in simplicity." Grounded wines by Josh Phelps are a testament to Josh’s connections with growers throughout his home state and the broader west coast; 
• "Land Form", a Pinot Noir from Oregon Willamette Valley, Landform is a reaffirmation of Josh's commitment to creating wines that evoke a sense of place;
• "Collusion" Washington State Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, his Washington-based project, focused on prohibition and the rich history of West Cost vintners; a tribute to those who kept the wine industry alive by any means;
• "Space Age" California Central Coast Rosé; and, 
• "Public Radio" a Grenache based Red Blend, a tribute to the call sign on the front label was that of Josh’s late grandfather who was an avid amateur radio enthusiast;
• And this, his 'premium' label,"Steady State".

Grounded Wine Company Steady State Red Wine 2015 

This is the initial inaugural release of this Bordeaux blend, from Grounded Wine Co. an extraordinary Red Blend that might be considered his flagship label. 

Josh explains the name of this wine this way: "If a system is in a steady state, then the recently observed behavior of the system will continue into the future. 

The concept for this Cabernet Sauvignon pays homage to growing up in the Napa Valley and learning from its traditions." 

Phelps fermented this Cabernet in steel, and left the juice on the skin for three weeks before aging it in French oak barrels, 40 percent of which were new. 

The result is a lively Cabernet with red and dark fruit flavors underscored by a bramble note.

This is sourced from several of Napa Valley’s well known growers and vineyard sites.

I found this at a local merchant with its simple label but expensive ultra-premium packaging with extra heavy glass, deep bung, and quality capsule, and grabbed every bottle available. I wish I could go back and get more. Watch for it and get some if you can. This shows much higher than its pricepoint and provides significant QPR - quality price ratio.

This is a blend Bordeaux varietals, 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Malbec, 7% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. It is sourced from vineyards in Rutherford, Oakville, Saint Helena, and Yountville.

This was rated 93 points by Wine Spectrum, and 91 points by Wine Enthusiast.

Tonight, at ten years of age, this remains at the apex of its drinking window, but will not likely improve further with aging, but should hold on for several more years. Fortunately I still have three more bottles. 

This was consistent with earlier tasting which I repeat here.

Deep ruby garnet colored, medium-full bodied, full, round, forward bright expressive but nicely balanced and integrated aromatic black and red fruits highlighted by notes of cola, dark mocha chocolate, tobacco and hints of graphite and expresso with bright acidity and lush gripping but approachable tannins on a long finish.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2871211

https://www.groundedwineco.com/

https://entouragerestaurant.com/downers-grove/