Big Reds Celebrate Big Red Win

Big Reds Celebrate Big Red Win

We gathered at son Alec’s to watch the B1G TEN Championship - IU, Indiana vs OSU, Ohio State. I took a special vintage Big Red wine for the occasion. Son Ryan brought another Big Red from one of our favorite, legendary producers, for a fabulous comparison tasting, and pairing with a selection of pizzas. 

I also took a Alec’s birthyear vintage label that has a legacy tied to Ryan’s employer for a special tasting celebrating our father-son family gathering for a special occasion. 

 We ordered a selection of pizza’s from nearby Freedom Brothers Pizza at Market Meadows, Naperville.

I wrote about this birth year vintage wine in earlier blogposts, Steak Night Red Wine Flight,  and about the Oakville Ranch property, its history and terroir in a previous, earlier detailed blogpost.

Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

This is from Oakville Ranch Vineyards and Winery, a hillside property in the foothills of the Vaca Mountains on the far eastern edge of the renowned Oakville AVA just above where Silverado Trail at Oakville Cross Road. 

This producer has some special significance due to its historic legacy.  The property was purchased by the late Bob Miner, co-founder or Oracle Corp, and his wife, Mary Miner, in 1989. the same year the Miner’s harvested and produced their first wine from the property. The original property was a rugged 370-acre estate, tucked into a rocky shelf 1000 feet above the Napa Valley floor consisting of primarily chaparral, woodlands made up of scrub oak, manzanita and other drought tolerant evergreens.  

Bob remained with Oracle until 1993, and after he succumbed to cancer at age 52 in 1994, Mary took over the management of the property. 

Since then, the principles increased vineyard plantings to 70 acres of predominantly Bordeaux varietals. In 2020 Oakville Ranch purchased the neighboring Saunder’s Vineyard and its approximately 10 acres of vines. The remainder of the ranch remains in its natural state, with indigenous grassy meadows, native woodlands and winding streams sustaining native flora and fauna. Today, they produce five wines and a total of 750 cases.

At 1,000 feet above the valley floor, the Oakville Ranch vineyards produce grapes that speak from the appellation’s signature red volcanic soil with a mountain accent. The property is among some of the most premium vineyard real estate in the valley – with several prestigious wineries as neighbors (including Ovid and Dalla Valle). 

The name Oakville Ranch predates the Miner family ownership, dating back to the early 1980s. The ranch was purchased in 1980 by five different ownership parties including John Scully and Don Kelleher, owner of Kelleher Family Vineyard and owners of Brix Restaurant just north of Yountville. For several years, the property was rented out as a retreat.

Prior to the 1980’s, the property was owned by lawyer William (Bill) McPherson of the Fairfield based firm, McPherson & Barnett and his wife Kim, who unsuccessfully ran for state senate in 1973. He maintained existing vineyards on the property. 

In the early 1940s the property was associated with Mert E. Robertson and a J.P. Twomey. According to an article from the Napa Journal in 1942, the U.S. Army raised horses on the property, intent on improving the quality and quantity of riding horses in the county.

The Miner’s also used to own the property that is now home to Miner Family Winery which is owned by Dave Miner, Bob’s nephew, who for some time managed the operations at Oakville Ranch. There is no physical winery on Oakville Ranch, the wines are produced at a facility in the Oak Knoll District. Farmer Phil Coturri has overseen the management of the Oakville Ranch vineyards since 2007.

The property ranged in elevation from about 600 feet to around 1,100 feet. Most of the property is in the Oakville sub appellation but a very small section is in Pritchard Hill. The shallow red, rocky soil is low in nutrients, ideal for producing small bunches of grapes with higher skin to juice ratios, with yields extremely low compared to valley floor grown fruit.

Oakville Ranch sources from specific vineyard blocks for their own wines. The remainder of the fruit produced on the property is sold under contracts to a select number of premium winery clients and noted winemakers including Rosemary Cakebread, Helen Keplinger and Andy Erickson. 

Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

This release was awarded 93 points by Wine Spectator and 92 points from Robert Parker. 

At thirty-five years of age it was still holding its body, color and fruit and was showing minor signs of diminution from aging. The cork was moist and saturated and was extracted in parts with and ahso two pronged cork puller. 

Dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, bright expressive concentrated but nicely balanced and integrated black currant, cherry and plum fruits with notes of cedar, cassis, spice and oak with moderate balanced tannins on the long finish. 

RM 90 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=83701

https://www.oakvilleranch.com/ 

https://twitter.com/OakvilleRanch

@OakvilleRanch 

I then opened another vintage aged Napa Cab from our cellar. 

Outpost Winery Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This Big Red is from Outpost Winery, located high atop Howell Mountain on Summit Lake Drive about 10 minutes outside of the small town of Angwin. At an elevation of 2200 feet the property is above the Napa Valley fog line at 1200 feet, the demarcation point between Napa Valley and Howell Mountain AVA designations. This elevation even experiences occasional light snowfall in the winter – in February 2022 up to 14 inches fell on Howell Mountain, blocking roads and causing a significant number of trees to fall. 

The property was originally part of Lamborn Family Vineyards, which sits across the road, started in 1971 when Bob and Mike Lamborn, father and son, purchased 40 acres on Howell Mountain. Eight of the acres were planted to vines. Grapes were planted here as far back as the 1880s. The first debut vintage release  in 1982, made by winemaker Randy Dunn, a friend and neighbor. The legendary acclaimed winemaker Heidi Barrett started making Lamborn wines in 1996. 

We visited the wonderful and hospitable Mike and Terry Lamborn at their estate high atop Howell Mountain during our Napa Valley Howell Mountain Wine Experience 2008 (shown below). 

In 1998 the Lamborns sold this property to Terry and Juli Pringle, who founded Outpost, built what is the current winery building, and produced their first wine that year. The first release was 400 cases of Zinfandel, produced by winemaker Ehren Jordan (of Failla Wines). It was produced at Turley Wine Cellars where Thomas Rivers Brown was assistant winemaker who became winemaker for Outpost in later vintages, including this one. 

Winemaker Thomas Brown continued to oversee production of the Outpost Wines, but he also made wine for a number of other premium labels and remains as consulting winemaker. 

Outpost is primarily known for their organically farmed Zinfandel and Cabernet Sauvignon on the 42-acre estate (28 acres are planted to grapevines). Nearly all their wines are 100% varietal. Howell Mountain is a noted Zinfandel growing region in Napa Valley and a number of small ‘neighboring’ wineries also produce wines from this variety. 

Contributing to concentrated and rich wines are the property’s high elevation with its rocky and iron-rich soils combined with gentle cooling breezes and sunny western exposure.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate says: "The Outpost wines have very distinct personalities, and stand quite apart from most of what is being made in Napa Valley today. The estate is located on Howell Mountain, in a very distinct microclimate that features a condensed growing season."

The Pringles sold the property in 2003 to Frank and Kathy and Dotzler, a native Chicagoan who ran a computer equipment company. They shared a passion for wine and honeymooned in Napa Valley in 199 which lead to their purchase of a twenty-acre site on Howell Mountain which they named True Vineyard. They planted nine acres planted to Bordeaux varieties and released their first vintage in 2008. Exploring building their own True Vineyard winery, they purchased the neighboring Outpost property with the existing winery. 

In July of 2018 the winery and the Outpost and True vineyards were sold to France based AXA Millésimes, owners of prestigious wineries across the globe, including Bordeaux's Château Pichon Baron, Château Pibran, and Château Suduiraut; Burgundy's Domaine de l'Arlot; Portugal's Quinta do Noval (Douro); Hungary's Disznókő (Tokaj); and in the U.S., besides Outpost Wines (Napa), Platt Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast.

After the sale of the vineyard to AXA Millésimes grapes from the 2021 vintage were produced and then the vineyard was completely replanted by mid 2022, overseen by Matt Hardin and Josh Clark of Hardin Clark Vineyard Management. The site was replanted to primarily Cabernet Sauvignon but also with smaller blocks of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

Outpost Winery Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This was a mini comparison toasting to Lamborn Howell Mtn Cabernet, from the adjoining vineyard and near vintage that we tasted a couple days later and featured in this blogpost - Oakville Grill and Cellar, Fulton Market, Chicago.

At twenty years of age, the foil and most importantly, the fill level and cork were pristine, as shown, and the painted glass overweight bottle had no paper label.

International Wine Cellar rated this 91 points and noted it was blended with 5% Cabernet Franc. 

This was aged on seventy-five percent new French Oak.  

Dark inky purple, a hint of bricking starting to show at the edge, full bodied, concentrated, expressive, complex, full round blackberry and black plum fruits with notes of cassis, dark mocha chocolate, spice, tobacco and leather with subtle note of graphite with firm round tannins on the long finish. 

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?219944

https://www.outpostwines.com/

Ryan then opened from his cellar this ultra-premium Napa Cabernet from one of our favorite producers. 

Melka "Metisse - Jumping Goat Vineyard" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

We’re huge fans of Phillip Melka and his wines which we have featured and written about often in these pages - such as these blogposts: 

Melka CJ Napa Valley Cabernet BYOB at Carnivore & Queen

Pirouette Red Blend at Sullivan’s Steakhouse Naperville

Château Boswell Napa Valley Estate Reserve Red Wine 2016

This is from the Melka Estate St. Helena Jumping Goat Vineyard, located on the eastern side of Saint Helena, at the base of the Mayacamas mountain range that forms that eastern wall of Napa Valley. On the valley floor, the old river bench site is mostly large gravelly sediments and a small portion of thinner clay and is protected from the northern and western winds. The 3 1/2 acre estate was planted in 1999, and is said to be reminiscent of the Graves area of Bordeaux.

The 2014 Métisse Jumping Goat is 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot and 3% Merlot. It was aged in 70% new French oak for 18 months, just 385 cases were produced. 

This blockbuster, limited production, highly allocated wine was rated 96 points by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 94 points by Vinous.

Winemaker notes - “This wine has our most loyal following and it is no surprise as to why. Similar to the Graves region in Bordeaux, the wine is perfumey, with a velvety texture so signature of the Jumping Goat. Aromatics of dark fruit, graphite, tar and creosote are complimented in a wine that exhibits opulence and softness harmoniously. The finish on this fabulous 2014 is bigger than previous years and we suggest decanting a good three hours prior to serving.”

Dark inky garnet colored, full-bodied, dense, concentrated and complex yet silky smooth elegant and polished, ripe blackberry and dark plum fruits with aromatic floral perfume, notes of creosote, leather, smoke, bittersweet chocolate, licorice and spice with hints of camphor and graphite, finishing with moderately sweet, refined tannins. 

RM 94 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?2459646

https://www.melkaestates.com/

Oakville Ranch Vineyard Napa Cabernet

Oakville Ranch Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Following the tasting of a non-estate Oakville Ranch Vineyard sourced Napa Cabernet the other day, by Sojourn Cellars, I pulled this label from our cellar to compare, on the chance the fruit is sourced from the same vineyard site. I drank this with my left-over filet of beef from our dine-site dinner at Carnivore and the Queen the other evening. It was there we drank the Sojourn Cabernet which I wrote about in an earlier blogpost regarding that evening. 

About the Oakville Ranch Vineyard source for that release, Sojourn writes, that blend of 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is predominantly Oakville Ranch Vineyard fruit from the site located 1,000 to 1,400 elevation above Oakville, facing west over Napa Valley. The site is surrounded by a “who’s who” of neighbors, producers of premium labels, including Dalla Valle, Joseph Phelps’ Bacchus Vineyard, Pedregal, and Maybach. In that post I wrote

Oakville Ranch Vineyards write about this site, Oakville Ranch is the original mountain vineyard of the Oakville sub-appellation, a tiny district that produces some of Napa Valley’s most celebrated Cabernets. At 1,000 feet above the valley floor, Oakville Ranch produces fruit that speaks from the appellation's signature red volcanic soil with a mountain accent. 

I've written previously in these pages, "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. In the two decades since Bob and Mary Miner purchased the 330-acre ranch, plantings have slowly increased from the original 55 acres to approximately 68 acres of primarily Bordeaux varietals. Today there are 75 acres planted to vineyards at Oakville Ranch, occupying less than a quarter of the mountainside estate. Oakville Ranch produce five wines for a total of 750 cases, which leaves a lot of fruit available for other producer and labels.

We hold several vintages of this label dating back to those earliest releases, which I have written about in earlier blogposts in these pages. I write about the Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 in this blogpost - April 4, 2021.

Tonight the tasting profile of this wine was remarkably similar to that of the Sojourn, consistent with an earlier tasting of this wine back in January of this year. "At fifteen years of age, (the fill level, label, foil and most importantly, the cork, were all in perfect condition), 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/

https://twitter.com/OakvilleRanch

@OakvilleRanch 

 

Sojourn Napa Oakville Cab for Steak Dinner

Sojourn Napa Valley Oakville Ranch Vineyard Cabernet for Carnivore and Queen Restaurant Steak Dinner

Friday night dinner out with friends and neighbors Mark and Shirley, we dined at Carnivore and the Queen, local Bohemian styled supper club in adjacent Downers Grove. While their wine list is very limited, they had a couple of interesting offerings from which I picked this label. I had brought a bottle just in case but was happy to try one of their features. 

C & Q have an imaginative menu for fine dining and our service from server Jordan was excellent. I had the filet of beef in my customary 'Pittsburgh medium' style and it was prepared perfectly. Linda had the scallops and Shirley had the ribeye steak, all were delectable and also prepared perfectly. Mark had their spectacular signature Walleye fish and chips with their delicious onion rings. 

Carnivore and Queen Walleye fish & chips

Carnivore and Queen scallops

Carnivore and Queen grilled ribeye steak

Carnivore and Queen grilled filet of beef

With his Walleye, Mark drank Schlitz beer, an artifact from my youth as I remember that was my Dad's beer of choice back in the sixties. 

Brewed in the USA since 1849, I remember Schlitz as "the beer that made Milwaukee famous" although the famous branding and tagline were not to be found on the packaging, although its is buried in the text on its website. They state the brew is 'finished with a prime blend of Cascade, Mt. Hood and Williamette (sic) hops. This refreshing icon is for those who appreciate heritage and premium craftsmanship.'

As if lost in the sixties, or not yet caught up to the modern era, their webpages recounting their History were blank .... 

 

Interesting that when you clicked on the Careers tab it took you to Pabst Brewing website. It proudly posted:

"We’re proud. Proud to be one of the few companies that is wholly defined by our audience. Our mission has always been this: make a good beer at a fair price. That’s there when you need a cold 12 ounces at the end of a hard day.'

"America looks wildly different than it did 175 years ago. But beneath it, the same values still ring. We’re still the people who believe we can, and then do. We’re rule breakers and bridge builders. Some of us get up early, some stay up late. But we’re united across race, religion, and whatever the hell else, by a shared set of values: Inclusivity. Freedom. Integrity. Passion. And being true to ourselves."

They're hiring, many sales positions scattered around the US. All the staff or HQ positions are for San Antonio, Texas.  But they made Milwaukee famous. Never-the-less, Schlitz has a Twitter profile, professing to be based in Milwaukee. 

On the dinner and wine ... 

Sojourn Oakville NapaValley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

I admit I had never seen or even heard of this label before. Not surprising as only 800 cases were produced by a producer sourcing grapes from contract growers, albeit well known high profile vineyards. 

This is the project/product of Erich Bradley, a founder and Director of Winemaking for Sojourn Cellars. Erich works with exceptional growers to produce distinctive wines that express vineyard and vintage in the bottle. As written in these pages before, so long as these contract sources are stable and long-term, this is a label to pay attention to, otherwise, their sources may change over time and hence there is no concept of terroir or comparative styles from various vintages over time. Notably, this label has been continuously produced since the 2011 vintage.

Sojourn Cellars produce Pinot noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon wines, all sourced from grower vineyards in high profile, renowned appellations of Sonoma and Napa counties. They produce four different Cabernets, this being their standard base label. The others are all premium priced labels are sourced from high profile named vineyards: Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford, Home Ranch Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley, and Oakville Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, all rated 95 points or higher. This label was rated 94 points by Wine Enthusiast and 92 points by International Wine Report. 

 

The Sojourn website profile cites, "Bradley is a native of Palo Alto, California, Erich became interested in wine while helping his family develop their vineyard on a small ranch in Sonoma Valley. Erich studied Bio-chemistry at the University of Chicago and Philosophy and Modern European Intellectual History at Cal-Irvine.' Following an initial career as high school teacher and tennis coach, he moved to Sonoma in 1998 and studied winemaking at U Cal-Davis and viticulture at Santa Rosa College. He was also 'mentored' by winemakers Richard Arrowood and David Ramey. He is on the board of directors of the Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Association. 

Randy Bennett is listed as Winemaker. He started at Sojourn as Assistant Winemaker in 2008. He is responsible for making all the Sojourn wines and overseeing cellar operations and vineyard management activities. As General Manager, he run day-to-day operations of production, marketing, and business operations.

Randy’s winemaking education was under the tutelage of Thomas Brown and Mike Smith while working in the wine caves of Nicholson Ranch in Sonoma where Thomas and Mike produced wines for Schrader Cellars, Rivers-Marie, Myriad Cellars, Tamber Bey, and Nicholson Ranch.

Before entering the wine business, Randy worked 13 years at Accenture, leading business transformation projects for financial services firms. 

Sojourn have a tasting Salon located just off the Square in downtown Sonoma on Napa Street.

This blend of 2018 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is predominantly Oakville Ranch Vineyard fruit from the site located 1,000 to 1,400 elevation above Oakville, facing west over Napa Valley. The site is surrounded by a “who’s who” of neighbors, producers of premium labels, including Dalla Valle, Joseph Phelps’ Bacchus Vineyard, Pedregal, and Maybach. 

Also included in the blend is fruit from two other vineyards along Skellenger Lane. This is 98% berry-sorted Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot. The final blend was aged 20 months in Darnajou, Bel Air, Jarnac and Taransaud barrels.

Packaged in a premium oversize heavy bottle, this was dark garnet colored, medium full bodied, rich and vibrant blackberry and raspberry fruits accented by tangy acid and flavors of cassis and hints of mocha with lingering moderate tannins. 

 

RM 91 points. 

 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3956030

 

https://www.sojourncellars.com/

 

https://twitter.com/sojourncellars

 

 @sojourncellars  

 

http://schlitzbrewing.com/

 

https://carnivoreandthequeen.com/

 

https://twitter.com/QueenCarnivore  

@QueenCarnivore

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/

Steak Night Red Wine Flight

Steak Night Flight ranges from Right Bank Bordeaux to Napa Valley and Mountain to Central Coast

For a summer late night grilled steak dinner poolside with Mark and Shirley, we selected a flight of wines starting with floral elegance of a right bank Bordeaux St Emilion Grand Cru Classe, a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon followed by a big bold Napa Howell Mountain mountain fruit Petite Sirah, and closing with a bold spicy Central California Cabernet Franc.

Antipasta featured Shirley's bruschetta with prosciutto, pancetta, and roasted red peppers (below), artisan cheeses with fresh bread and fruits. The main dinner course featured Allen Brothers aged steaks, sweet corn on the cob, baked potatoes and grilled asparagus. 

Shirley prepared a fruit compote with fresh whipped cream for desert.



The wines:

• Château Larmande St Emilion Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe 2005 
• Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
• Opolo Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2005
• Outpost "The Other" Howell Mountain Petite Sirah 2005

 Château Larmande St Emilion Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe 2005

Château Larmande produces about 9000 cases per year and is known for consistent quality and generally a good value. The estate is planted predominantly in Merlot covering 60% of the vineyard, with 30% Cabernet Franc and just 5% Cabernet Sauvignon making up the balance. The 2005 vintage was above average and produced a wine that is already approachable but should last another ten to fifteen years. Bottles are recognizable by the unique lavender colored foil

Medium bodied, full aromas of floral perfume, moderately complex flavors of red berry and plum fruits accented by subtle spice and hints of cherry-cranberry, nice texture and smooth moderate tannins round out the finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=351693

www.chateau-larmande.com


Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Heaven on earth - the garden at TraVigne

We first discovered this wine during our Napa Wine Experiences in the mid-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. This is our first tasting of the '04 release.

Oakville Ranch located is 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. The 350-acre ranch is 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

The 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 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/


Outpost "The Other" Howell Mountain Petite Sirah 2005

We discovered Outpost wines when we visited their mountaintop vineyards high atop Howell Mountain 2,200 feet above upper Napa Valley, beyond the town of Angwin, across from Lamborn and midway up the dead end road to Robert Craig's mountaintop winery. The volcanic, rocky red soil, high altitude, gentle cooling breezes and sunny western exposure produce fruit of incredible complexity and richness. Outpost creates world-class Zinfandel, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah from their hand-cultivated, organically farmed 42 acre estate vineyards. The Other is named for this 'second' or 'Other' label, made  from Petite Sirah "H" clone grown on Outpost Wines' Howell Mountain estate.

Big, bold, full bodied, dark inky purple with a garnet colored rim, a nose of mineral, this wine packs dense concentrated sweet fruit of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry with hints of mineral, dark chocolate and nuances of molasses.Bright acidity is brought into focus with fine-grained tannins and a hint of toasty oak on the lingering finish.

100% Petite Sirah, estate grown, 50% new French oak barrels, 50% 1 year-old French oak barrels.

RM 90 points.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=438620

http://www.outpostwines.com/

Opolo Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2005

Still work in progress - stay tuned.... 

Shirley's Bruschetta

 

Oakville Ranch Vineyards, Oakville, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

 Oakville Ranch Vineyards, Oakville, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 

Dark garnet color, medium-full bodied, subdued nose but complex, concentrated, chewy wine, with black cherry fruits, intense, forward dense chocolate and cassis flavors, hint of smoke with lingering smoky black berry fruits on a long lingering black cherry finish.

While not an easy drinking wine, it was a great complement to grilled steak and caprese cheese with tomato on toast points. Amazingly, still life left in this fifteen year old showing no signs of aging diminution.

Oakville Ranch vineyards owners Bob and Mary Miner purchased the 350-acre ranch in 1989, slowly increasing plantings from an initial 55 acres to today's 75 acres of predominantly Bordeaux varietals. They produce wines that represent the finest of the Oakville Appellation (click to see map) at a great value. The winemaker today is Anne Vawter from Walla Walla, Washington who studied Viticulture and Enology at UC Davis. 

Another wine discovered during our Napa Wine Experience trips in the late 90's, we purchased and drank this wine at the Cantina and drank it at Tra Vigne (below) in St. Helena. 

RM 90 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=592449

 Lunch in the garden terrace at Tra Vigne in St Helena with the Cantina in the background where one could order BYOB carry-out wines. Pictured at left, Rick, Linda, Yolanda and Dave Del Dotto with Liat and Andy M.