Vintage Napa Reds vs Bold Barolo

Vintage Napa Reds vs Bold Barolo

For a spontaneous dinner on the patio at our neighborhood trattoria Angeli's Italian with friends Bill and Beth, I took BYOB two vintage 1996 Napa reds - Paradigm Oakville Cabernet and Liparita Howell Mountain Merlot. Bill brought a bruising Barolo that showed its muscle as a complement to the Italian sausage and pasta. This was an interesting contrast in new world and old world varietals as well as a nine year old vs eighteen year olds that one might think are nearing the end of their years.

We still hold almost a case of Paradigm Cabernet from several mid-nineties vintages so I am tracking their aging and drinkability with interest.

We visited Paradigm during our Napa Wine Experience back in 1999. I recall tasting the Liparita from barrel at the Oakville custom crush facility with then winemkaer Gove Celia during our Napa visit back in 1998. Both of these wines are showing their age, probably beyond their apex, or any chance for improvement, but still within their drinking window. Both show some diminution of fruit, giving way to non-fruit charcoal and earth tones. Yet, each revealed some of its native fruit character at some point during the evening.


Liparita Napa Valley Howell Mountain Merlot 1996

We know that to bear the Howell Mountain appellation that the fruit for this wine had to be sourced from vineyards above 1200 foot elevation, the level of the normal fog line. I don't recall, or perhaps never knew the source. This '96 surprisingly showed bright and vibrant red berry fruit after being open for about an hour.  As written in this blog, we tasted this wine from a magnum from our cellar last year and those notes indicated more stable and complexity in the fruit - another indicator of the enhanced aging of wine in a larger format bottle such as a magnum.

Notes from magnum tasting - Dark garnet colored - medium-full bodied - black cherry, black berry fruits still holding for this seventeen year old - perhaps aided by larger format magnum, tones of cedar, spicy oak, subtle leather and earth - moderate smooth well integrated tannins on a lingering finish. $66 at Dean & Deluca in Napa (upon release)

(Then) RM 89 points. Tonight this wine rated 88 points due to the slight diminution of fruit as noted above.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=219362

The current Liparita label is under different ownership from the label around the milenium. 

Paradigm Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Despite having a case of this wine in various vintages from this era, my only record of tasting this wine was during our Napa visit back in 1999. This was our last bottle from 1996, the remaining bottles are from 1994, 1995, and 2001-02. Ren & Marilyn Harris have owned the property since the eighties, producing wine under the Paradigm label since 1991. Today the winemaker for Paradigm is the legendary Heidi Barrett.

I opened, decanted and then rebottled and recorked this wine an hour before setting out for the restaurant. Upon decanting it released huge aroma's of berry fruits and some floral. After opening for serving the fruit was a bit muted for almost an hour before revealing black berry, black cherry and hints of sweet black raspberry, giving way to a layer of charcoal, anise and spice. Tannins were moderate on the lingering finish. This wine is still showing okay but should be consumed over the next few years.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5876

http://www.paradigmwinery.com


Franco Molino Barolo Villero Riserva Nebbiolo 2005

From a country with a mind-boggling 600 different grape varietals, one of the better known and more popular is Nebbiolo which produces lightly-colored red wines which can be highly tannic in youth with scents of tar and roses, that soften and become more approachable with some age. Nebbiolo grapes are characteristically found in red wines from the Barolo DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) or appellation in the northern Italian region of Piedmont.

Bill's tasting notes from Cellartracker - "Big, bold and fruit forward. Took some time (about an hour) for the "heat" to blow off but when it did we were left with a nicely balanced Italian with notes of raspberry, cherry and a bit of pepper. Finish was medium in duration. Really delicious with a spicy sausage, pasta dish. An interesting comparison side by side with a pair of '96 Napa wines."

WCC 88 points. 

Bright dark ruby colored, full bodied, moderately complex, concentrated flavorful forward red and dark berry fruits with hints of spice, creosote and leather, finishing with firm structure and a smooth polished tannin backbone.

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1288598

Cal Cab Release Tasting - Caymus 40th, Plumpjack, Silver Oak

Cal Cab Release Tasting - Caymus 40th, Plumpjack, Silver Oak

The special tasting today at Vin Chicago, Naperville offered the opportunity to taste three recent release Cal Cabs of three perennial favorite wines, each with its own classic style. Sharing our 40th anniversary year with Caymus and some special friends, we've been waiting with anticipation to taste the Caymus special 40th label release. Also offered today were Plumpjack Estate and Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernets. The tasting represented three different California Cabernet styles and showing very differently at this stage of their lives.

Caymus Vineyards Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 

This is the 40th release of this legendary label and it features a special 40th Anniversary release label for the occasion. The 2012 vintage release also  shows the classic characteristics of Caymus Estate Cabernet at its best - early approachability and drinkability as a young wine.

Typical Caymus Cab style - dark ruby/garnet colored, medium to full bodied, nicely structured, complex but smooth, well balanced and polished, it opens with sweet ripe blackberry and raspberry flavors highlighted by layers of milk chocolate, subtle tones of cinnamon, vanilla and hints of caramel, giving way to a smooth lingering modest tannin finish.

RM 94 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1805868

http://www.caymus.com



Plumpjack Estate Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Plumpjack is another one of our favorite Napa Cabernets and one of Linda's favorite winery stops in the Valley. We first discovered Plumpjack back in the early nineties shortly after their inaugural release.

We hosted a wine dinner with Mary Pisor, then Plumpjack associate winemaker under Nils Venge at the time. We did a 1995 horizontal tasting of barrel pulls of the Plumpjack Reserve against Lafite Rothschild, Cos D'Estournel, and Pichon Lalande and Venge Reserve Cab (left). The young Plumpjacks held their own very nicely.

We still hold several vintages of Estate and Reserve Plumpjack including several dating back to those early releases. Somewhere along the way, this label has crept up in price to around $100 and left behind many of its peers from that era who now look like good value in comparison. I think this is an ambitious stretch to justify the Estate at this pricepoint for this wine and its hard to recommend it at this level. There are a lot of great wines in the sub-$100 range.  

The Plumpjack Estate 2011 release has in its blend of Bordeaux Varietals 7% Petit Verdot, which adds structure and color to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The Petit Verdot influence certainly comes through.

It is dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, firm and tight, it needs time to settle and allow its flavors to integrate and open further to reveal their native character. It showed layers of blackberry and ever so slightly astringent black cherry with slight earthiness, cinnamon spice, tobacco, spicebox and hints of cedar on a tight firm tannin lingering finish.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1752241

 http://www.plumpjackwinery.com/


Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

This is one of favorite wines that impresses if not amazes us with its longevity as we hold vintages going back to the earliest releases from the early eighties.

To capture its characteristic oak profile, its held in new oak for an extended period extending its release. This emerging 2009 release shows incredible similarity to the aged vintage 1984 Napa Valley Silver Oak Cab we drank last weekend. This release shows that distinctive wood oakiness which certainly predominates in this young wine, somewhat overshadowing the dark berry fruits, spices and vanilla. It shows firm tannin structure backbone that promises for long life but which needs time to settle and allow the fruits to emerge and fully reveal themselves.  

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1135126

http://www.silveroak.com/

Cameron Hughes Lot 500 Napa Cab

Cameron Hughes Lot 500 Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

Ironically, someone asked me just the other day if I knew of Cameron Hughes and I replied I did not. Then, just a few days later I discovered this wine and his brand. Cameron Hughes is another California based negociant, a broker who buys product from producers to remarket under its own private label. The wine may be excess inventory or may not meet the standards set by the producer to market under their own label, hence they'll release it for others to market under a different label so as not to diminish their brand. Naturally such agreements are done under confidentiality. In those circumstances the negociant will hint or tease about the source of such wines.

In this case the tag-line is, "An exceptional Cabernet from one of Napa's first 100-point producers," leaving one to conjecture whom the source might be. Of course the benefit to the marketplace is 'liquidity', no pun intended - the producer can monetize his otherwise un-marketable product (under their own label), although they could also release it in bulk for blending with other wines to be sold as a non-specified wine in another brand or label, or as part of a blend. Most larger producers have multiple labels to classify and sell product at the appropriate applicable price point, but boutique producer's don't have that capability, hence this market. The broker is able to fill a need in the marketplace and can build a meaningful business, and the consumer can get a quality, otherwise expensive label at a fraction of the price, if they're willing to forego the cache of the label brand. Often these releases offer extraordinary value. The challenge is that such releases are one-time opportunities that are short-lived and in limited quantity. And of course caveat emptor, buyer beware.

I wrote more extensively recently in this blog about this practice and another negociant broker, Ninety-Plus Cellars who has come on the scene in a big way with wide distribution of a large number of offers. Our discovery of their recent release of Lot 101 of their Columbia Valley Syrah was an extraordinary find.

Hence I took notice upon reading about this release. Their promotion says, "Lot 500 is our most important Cabernet release of 2013. It's our Centennial Lot that represents what we do best - source amazing wines and sell them at fantastic prices. Lot 500 was born in Oakville from the same vineyard that was one of the first Napa estates to receive a 100-point score from Robert Parker."

SavWay Fine Wine & Spirits in tony Hinsdale (near west suburb of Chicago) were promoting this as Groth product, extrapolating the teaser hint about the 100 point Parker producer. Indeed, the Groth 1985 Reserve Cabernet was the first California wine to be so annointed. Whether this is Groth or not, history shows there have been about forty such wines from but about a dozen and a half producers, a fraternity of the most exclusive producers of the most extraordinary wines. In any case, none of their releases would be found at or even near this pricepoint. Hence, even though this might be a shadow of the flagship or namesake label if released under its own brand, its a quality and distinctive wine at a good value offering a high QPR (quality price ratio). 

I almost don't want to release this before I go back and buy more before it is gone.

The negotiant's notes say "Dark black core with kiss of magenta at the rim. The youthful aromatics open up with dusty loam and blackberry fruit that give way to a very compelling and very pure blueberry essence. Hints of plum and rose petal shimmer in the background. The purity of expression at this stage is very exciting (the wine was bottled in late August 2013, so it’s just now emerging from bottle shock). Silky smooth, delivering highly polished textures across the palate, with bands of black currant and plum swirling about a densely packed mid-palate. Excellent length and depth, but the ultimate expression here is one of silky complexity, beautiful proportion, and balanced elegance. Classy juice."

I found this wine extremely vibrant and expressive, initially hot from alcohol - it needs to be decanted and left for an hour to open and settle to reveal its true nature and potential. Lively forward boysenberry and currant give way to a layer of caramel and hints of vanilla mocha on the long sinewy silky smooth gripping tannin finish.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1778513

http://chwine.com/

http://www.savwaywines.com/

Venge Vineyards Penny Lane Family Reserve Sangiovese 2000

Venge Vineyards Oakville Napa Valley Penny Lane Family Reserve Sangiovese 2000

Christmas Day family dinner ... eight degrees outside, Linda made hearty lasagna so I pulled a Family Reserve Sangiovese from the cellar. It was a perfect combination.

We discovered, first tasted and purchased this wine during our winery visit and at a lunch tasting with winemaker Nils Venge as part of our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2002. At lunch with Nils Venge, he spoke of the Family Reserve label being a testament to an annual gathering of the extended family coming together to harvest the Penny Lane Vineyard for this and a few other select wines. In earlier blog posts I've written about that visit and previous tasting notes,  other vintage tasting notes, and Nils Venge, his work with the Sangiovese grape varietal and its history.Venge's label series also features a collection of original art work labels.

Continuing to show its age, approaching the last chapter of its aging profile, its time to consume these thirteen year olds, we're nearing the end of our assorted case of these Sangiovese's.

As with earlier tasting notes, the 2000 Venge Vineyards Sangiovese is grown on the Venge Family Estate Penny Lane Vineyard in Oakville. Ripe and smooth for a Sangiovese, the 2000 is dark inky color but starting to show a tinge of rust and brown edges at this stage of life. Medium bodied, it still presents pretty, ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit flavors at its core highlighted by a layer of herb and anise notes and touch of leather and tobacco. It has a flavorful lush long finish. 

RM 90 points.



https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=17566

http://www.vengevineyards.com/

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon - 90+ Wines Shiraz

For a gala dinner celebration while visiting son Alec in New Jersey, we dined at Matisse Restaurant on the Beach in Belmar, NJ and took two big reds BYOB to accompany dinner - Robert Mondavi Oakville Cab 2004 and 90+ Wines Shiraz. 

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

From the collection of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon selections, the Oakville (appellation) label represents the Oakville AVA or Appellation - one of seventeen in Napa Valley. Located in the heart of Napa Valley the AVA (Agricultural Viticultural Area) extends the width of Napa Valley nestled between the Vaca Mountains to the East and the Mayacamas Range to the west, rising from the valley floor to an elevation of 600 feet.

Oakville is home to some of the premier producers of Bordeaux varietals with Cabernet Sauvignon being predominant as it is perfectly suited to the distinctive Oakville terroir - that combination of soil and micro-climate - just the right number hot sunny days and modest amounts of moisture at the right times of the season. Oakville is home to all the traditional Bordeaux varietals in addition to Cabernet Sauvignon  - Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot as well as Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc white wine grapes.


Oakville is also home to many of the most storied, renouned and famous growers and producers of Cabernet Sauginon wines as shown on the interactive map of Oakville Appellation producers and growers and list of Appellation Members.

 The Mondavi Oakville may represent the best QPR - Quality to Price Ratio in the Mondavi line as it often equals or beats the Reserve flagship label for a fraction of the price. While almost double the price of the Estate Napa Cab, the Oakville consistently is distinctive and represents the best that the appellation has to offer in this price range and is generally available based on production of over 10,000 bottles. In good years, Mondavi does a great job obtaining this quality in such a quantity production.

The 2004 presented dark garnet ruby red color, medium to full firm body with intense concentrated flavors of sweet ripe currant and blackberry, dusty herb, and cedary oak with hints of anise and dark mocha on the sharp moderate tannin lingering finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=224276 

http://www.robertmondaviwinery.com/ 

Plumpjack Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Plumpjack Estate Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

A selection from our cellar remaining from a case we purchased at the winery during our Napa Wine Experience 1999. That trip featured one of our wine producers dinners featuring then Plumpjack associate winemaker Mary Pisor when we tasted Plumpjack 95 Reserve and pre-release ot the 97 Estate, and Plumpjack Chardonnay 1997. The then fairly new Plumpjack winery visit was one of our more memorable from numerous Napa trips during that time. This was the second vintage of PlumpJack Cabernet Sauvignon made from the grapes grown in the vineyards directly adjacent to the Oakville winery.

We pulled this bottle for our anniversary dinner a couple of weeks ago but didn't consume it then so we enjoyed it this evening over an intimate dinner of grilled Angus sirloin beefsteaks, corn on the cob and baked sweet potato, followed by baked chocolate cake and turtle ice cream. The wine was a great pairing to both the steak and the chocolate.

The Plumpjack Estate '96 opened with a big fruit and floral nose, dark garnet color and full body. Aromas and flavors of big ripe black cherry, black currant and black raspberry, a layer of cassis (more pronounced than earlier tastings' notes), and a slight hint of bittersweet chocolate, finishing with sweet soft oak from the French Demptos oak cooperage, and lingering soft tannins. At release this was projected to have "a long and vibrant life of more than 12 years." Well here it is at fourteen years just beginning to show any signs of diminution tempting promise of perhaps another half decade of enjoyable drinking, so we'll not rush the remaining bottles in our cellar, but expect no improvement from further aging.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=11760

http://www.plumpjackwinery.com/

Paradigm Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Paradigm Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

This is one of the remaining bottles of a case we picked up following our visit to the winery during our Napa Valley Wine Experience back in 1999.  This is one of the joys of a wine cellar - to conduct periodic comparison tastings over the years to see how a wine ages. We tasted this at home with some artisan cheeses, grilled beef tenderloin, roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus.

Paradigm Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 - My last tasting notes were a year and half ago on this blog as part of a "diverse-cabernet-bordeaux-blend_tasting" , and previously three years earlier; both notes consistent with this time. 

 

This bottle took an hour to open and shed an initial slight tart cherry edge, which it did. Dark inky color - medium to full bodied. Full forward black cherry and black raspberry fruit flavors starting to show its age a bit with earth and leather emerging over the subtle currant, ripe plum, cedar and a hint of anise on a full firm finish. Earlier notes talk of a milk chocolate layer which was very subtle. I would say the aging of this bottle seemed no more-so than the previous tasting as it is holding its fruit quite well. RM 91 - WS 92.

http://www.paradigmwinery.com/

http://cellartracker.com/w?5051

Vintage Dominus and Two Emerging Napa Cabernets

Long time friends Pat and Maureen poured out the cellar (pun intended) for our visit to Bluebell in suburban Philadelphia and an intimate poolside visit and dinner. An interesting selection of a Napa Valley classic big red Dominus and a couple of delightful new Napa Cabernet discoveries that they found at the local wine shop.    

Erba Mountainside Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Wow, what a find in this new emerging Napa Cab. Watch for great things to come from this exciting new producer Paul Erba, proprietor, and winemaker Denis Malbec. 

Starting in 1998, Paul and Debbie Erba planted the five Bordeaux varietals  (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec) and some Syrah high on the steep rocky volcanic soil slopes of Atlas Peak at 1100 to 1550 feet above south east Napa Valley. Seventy percent of the vineyard planting are Cabernet Sauvignon. Their first release of this wine was in 2003 followed by inaugural releases of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah in 2006.

Winemaker Denis Malbec studied viticulture and oenology  in France and worked for the storied first growth Chateau Latour starting as one of the cellar workers in 1993 and moved up to enologist and cellar master in 1994, making the vintages from 1994 to 1999. Denis consults several boutique wineries in and around the Napa Valley including Kapcsàndy Family Winery, Blankiet Estate in Yountville, and Captûre Wines and Respite in Sonoma.
 

Taking some points from the winemakers' notes, this big cab has dark inky purple color, big full bodied, bouquet of cassis liqueur, graphite, violets and smoke give way to big forward flavors bold blackberry, blueberry and plum with subtle spice, tobacco and leather accents giving a supple lush mouthfeel. The long finish exhibits polished tannins with a nice balance of vanilla and toasted oak. We started with this Cabernet and it was fabulous with artisan cheeses and starters. It would be superb with dark chocolate!
Blend of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot.
 

RM 93 points. 
 

Readers of this blog will know that we love big bold mountain fruit wines. I've not seen this wine before but will definitely be on the lookout for this label for great drinking now and collecting for future enjoyment.
 
http://www.erbavineyards.com/ 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=106401 

Dominus Estate 1999

The 1999 vintage of the iconic Dominus was Number 11 on Wine Spectators Top 100 Wines of 2002! This vintage was characterized by its extremely long growing season - a season where patience eventually paid dividends in the form of wine with outstanding character and complexity. 

This wine is very Bordeaux-like, true to its heritage and blend of  75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 9% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. 

The 1999 Dominus is dark garnet colored, complex and polished - a symphony of integrated flavors and silky smooth tannins - not a big powerful wine but certainly full bodied and flavorful. Delicate floral bouquet gives way to black berry and black cherry fruits with a long fragrant finish of soft oak, spice and hint of cedar and leather earthiness. 

We last tasted this wine Dec 8, 2005 in Chicago at a Dominus Napa Valley Red Wine vertical tasting with the producer Edouard Mouiex that featured Dominus from vintages 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. My Tasting Notes and Commentary at that time said it needed more time. My rating for that tasting was the same as this time.

We have one bottle left from a case of 1986 Dominus that we pulled from and tasted periodically over a decade and a half, when it burst open with fragrance and complex flavors to fully reveal itself, by which time we were down to the final couple of bottles. I remember at that time exclaiming, 'THIS is what Dominus is all about!" I sense the 1999 was similarly subdued withholding its true character and potential that will fully emerge in a couple more years, or perhaps this is all it has to offer. I look forward to opportunities to find out!

We saved this one for dinner and it was the perfect complement to the sirloin steak with roasted potatoes and green beans.

RM 91 points. 

http://dominusestate.com/

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=140

Oliver Hill Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Another discovery of a new emerging producer of Napa Cabernets, Oliver Hill is not to be confused with the Australian producer of jammy Syrahs with the same name. This is the collaboration of college roommates Mike Oliver, the grower, and Jerry Hill, the wine maker/owner. Mike provides Cabernet and Pinot Noir grapes and Jerry handcrafts wine in small batches producing less than 500 cases a year. 
This 2005 Oakville, Cabernet Sauvignon is their first commercial release the using the Oliver Vineyard Cabernet grapes sourced from Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard clone 7 planted in 1993. The 100% Cabernet from the Oliver Vineyard, Oakville is barrel aged 36 months in French Oak.

The 2005 Oakville Cabernet medium to full bodied with aromas and flavors of black berry and cherry fruits, hints of dark plum, cola, mocha and cinnamon with lingering soft tannins on the finish. Released at $28 an advertised in the $20-25 range, this wine represents great QPR (quality to price ratio) in a Napa Cabernet.

RM 88 points. 

http://www.oliverhillwines.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

 

Italian - 1997 Vintage Cal-Ital, Cal-Cab Taste-off

Italian - 1997 Vintage Cal-Ital, Cal-Cab Taste-off

Gala Italian business dinner tasting featuring two Italian classics, a Lombardia Nebiolo and a 1997 vintage Sangiovese from Napa Valley against two 1997 vintage California Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, served in that order, lightest and brightest to tightest and firmest. Wines from cellar taken to our favorite cantina, Angeli's Italian Restaurant in Naperville. The artichoke in dill dip and mussels appetizers were typically incredible. The veal and pasta dishes were their customary tasty - great backdrop to showcase this wine flight.   

Venge Oakville Napa Valley Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997

Nino Negri Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle, Lombardia, Valtellina, Italy 2004


Cornerstone Cellars Cornerstone Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997



Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Venge Oakville Napa Valley Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997

Dark purple - medium - full bodied, this was the most expressive of the flight, bright lively forward fruits, red berry, ripe plum and spicy cherry with hints of cedar aroma and taste and a touch of anise on a lingering smooth tannin finish. Still life in this fifteen year old. More expressive than earlier tasting. 

This went well with the salads as well as the pasta entrees.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=50439

From our Venge vertical collection that is highlighted regularly in this blog. Another of Venge's Sangioveses that we discovered, first tasted and purchased this wine during our winery visit and at a lunch tasting with winemaker Nils Venge as part of our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2002. In earlier blog posts I've written about that visit and previous tasting notes,  other vintage tasting notes, and Nils Venge, his work with the Sangiovese grape varietal and its history. .Click on the Venge link for more features. 

Nino Negri Valtellina Sfursat 5 Stelle, Lombardia, Valtellina, Italy 2004


Brick red color, medium bodied, nose black fruits, wood and hint of floral. Slightly subdued black berry and black cherry fruits predominant with undertone of black tea, leather and hint of baking spices with supple tannins that are smooth and well integrated.

RM 88  points. 


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=464104

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997


Rich medium full bodied. A bit tight, fruit filled with black currant, black berry, raspberry, cassis with a slight bit of astringency, hints of black pepper and smoke with silky tannins on the finish. (82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc). This wine is more expressive than early in life showing lingering fruit and staying power.This is Robert Craig's Cabernet Blend from his three mountains (Mt Veeder, Howell Mountain and Spring Mountain) and a (Napa) Valley collection. Known for its good value and early drinking ability, this fifteen year old is holding up well. We have these wines dating back to the inaugural 1993 vintage in our cellar.


RM 91 points.



https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=29715


From our Robert Craig vertical collection that is highlighted regularly in this blog. Click on the Robert Craig link for more features.

Cornerstone Cellars Cornerstone Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997


Dark purple color, medium-full bodied; a bit tight, predominant black berry and black raspberry fruits with a layer of tea, tobacco, leather and hint of smoke; nicely integrated smooth tannins with hint of cassis, oak and earth on a lingering finish.



RM 90 points.



https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=69195


The two Cabernets were spectacular with the dark brown sauce of the portabella mushroom ravioli.

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

It's easy to get confused by all the labels of a large brand selection from the likes of Mondavi. Of course their top end Reserve sets itself apart by its $100 price point. But notable is their Oakville designate select Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. While a more expensive higher price point than the Coastal and general Napa Valley (not Oakville designated) labels, this may provide one of the higher QPR - Quality to Price ratios in the family.

As soon as we opened this seven year old 2004 vintage bottle, we were blown away by the full expressive fragrances of floral and fruits bursting from the bottle. The fruit flavors were equally robust and vibrant. This wine has much life left and may benefit from a few years more of cellaring. 

Dark inky color - full body and big full forward fruit - blackberry, black currant and cassis give way to a subtle but lingering slightly sweet caramel and vanilla with hint of subtle mocha, with a layer of alcohol almost bourbon-like taste  on a moderate tannin oak finish.

This was great simply with biscuits and artisan cheeses.
RM 91 points.

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. 

California Cabernet New Release Discoveries - Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge & Hoopes Estate Discovered

California Cabernet Spring '10 Release Tasting - Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge & Hoopes Estate Discovered

Tasting of recent California Cabernet Sauvignon releases uncovers some new discoveries - Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge and Hoopes Estate Cabernet Sauvignons. Malloy's Finest Wine and Spirits in Lisle, Illinois hosted their annual gala spring tasting of 120 wines. I focused on six California Cabernets - four known and two new discoveries uncovering some some nice surprises.

Wines tasted:

Rodney Strong Brothers Ridge Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage Red Wine 2007
Hoopes Estate Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Arrowood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

We've long known Rodney Strong Cabernets and Symmetry Meritage wines and especially enjoyed their recent vintages of Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a pleasant surprise to discover their new single vineyard designated Brothers Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006, from a 140 acre property in the hills near Cloverdale, Sonoma County Alexander Valley. I deemed this best in class of this tasting.

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, barrell aged 22 months in French Oak with 40% new barrels. Deep dark purple in color, firm but very approachable, full bodied with rich extracted black and blue berry fruits, ripe plum, hints of vanilla, dark chocolate and touch of spice. this wine exhibited complexity, depth and polish with a well balanced acidity on a long finish. RM 93 points. 

The Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage Red Wine 2007 was also impressive. This Bordeaux blend consisting of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 3% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot was aged 26 months in French oak barrels. Dark inky purple color, medium to full bodied with flavors of blackberry and plum fruits,  layers of cassis, dark chocolate and a hint of spice on a smooth soft lingering finish that belays its 15.1% content.  RM 91 points.

Another new discovery of the tasting was Hoopes Family Estate Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. Dark color, full bodied, firm, intense and complex blackberry, black cherry and black raspberry fruits with a layer of spice, leather and tobacco box on a firm tannin lingering finish. This would be a great accompaniement to hearty cheese or grilled steak. RM 92 points.

A good benchmark to measure these wines against was the Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007.  Dark ink color, full bodied, complex and sophisticated dark berry fruit with hint of  cassis, licorice, touch of smoke and mocha on the long lingering finish. RM 92 points.

Robert Parker gave the Beringer 95 points, revealing his more sophisticated palet that likely apprecated the complex sophistication of this wine, while I tended to favor the more forward perhaps narrower but deeper cabs above.

Arrowood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. This wine was more subdued and almost delicate compared against the 'big'hitter's' above.

From vineyards near the lower Sonoma Valley hillside winery, this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits predominant black berry and black cherry fruits, a hint of cassis, toasty oak and a touch of mocha on the soft finish. RM 89 points.

Rounding out the tasting was  Faust Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 
Dark color, medium-full bodied, black cherry fruits with hint of earth and cassis framed by balanced acidity and tannins. RM 89 points.

Kudos and thanks to Malloy's Finest Wine and Spirits in Lisle for hosting this quality event.

Napa Valley Oakville & Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

Napa Valley Oakville & Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon Tasting

First dinner outside on the deck of the year featuring three Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons, artisan cheeses, grilled steaks, sauteed green beans and twice baked potatos  - served at Bill & Beth C's.


Provenance Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 -  Surprising depth and fullness - deep purple color - full bodied - black berry and black currant fruits, hints of spice and cedar and dark chocolate.
RM 91 points.

Barbour Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 -  
Medium bodied leather, hints of earth and smoke with subtle black cherry and black berry fruits on a moderate tannin finish. RM 88 points.

Del Dotto Napa Valley Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 -
A bit of a cross between the top two wines above - medium - full bodied, black berry fruit, leather, hints of earth, cedar, spice and a soft smoky tannin finish. RM 90 points.

Diverse Cabernet - Bordeaux Blend Comparison Tasting - Aging Wine

Son Alec's brief visit home from university - spur-of-the-moment (yes, my bride is amazing) celebratory dinner - serving favorite surf & turf - poses wine opportunity/challenge. Go with it and have fun... three diverse aged vintage Cabernet - Cabernet blends to compliment the beef tenderloin and Riesling Spatlese highlights the broiled lobster. 

Paradigm Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 - http://cellartracker.com/w?5051 - Bought a case of this big Napa Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon following a winery visit during our 1999 Napa Wine Experience.   This is one of the joys of a wine cellar - to conduct periodic comparison tastings over the years to see how a wine ages. (More on that in another unwindwine blogpost). My last tasting notes were three years ago but are totally consistent with this time. Needed an hour to open and shed an initial slight tart cherry edge, which it did. Dark inky color - medium to full bodied. Full forward black cherry and black raspberry fruit flavors starting to show its age a bit with earth and leather emerging over the subtle currant, ripe plum, cedar and a hint of anise on a full firm finish. Earlier notes talk of a milk chocolate layer which was very subtle. I would say the aging of this bottle seemed no more-so than the previous tasting as it is holding its fruit quite well. RM 91 - WS 92. 

Chateau Calon-Ségur Grand Cru Classe St. Estephe Bordeaux 1995 - Had to pull out this Valentine wine - noted as such due to the heart on the label (below) since this turns out to double as our Valentine's dinner too. Once again we have a case of this wine and look forward to periodic tastings in the years to come. Notably reflecting the age-worthiness of this wine (compared to the Napa Cab above), we're only a couple bottles in to this case while only a few bottles remain of the Napa. No signs of age whatsoever here with a long life ahead - Classic Bordeaux with earthy, leathery black berry and black raspberry fruits accented by a long smooth floral finish - this exhibited a bit more fruit and floral the next day at the expense of the firm full but smooth tannin structure. http://cellartracker.com/w?1577  RM 90; WS 96; RP 92. 

Matthews Cellars Yakima Valley Red Wine 1999 - A Bordeaux mix blend 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. Dark inky color - medium - full bodied - spice from the Cab Franc comes through, firm black berry and black raspberry fruits are giving way to a tar, leather, cassis and hint of tobacco as this wine is passing its prime. http://cellartracker.com/w?79548 RM 88.

 

Dr Heidemanns-Bergweiler Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese 2006 - Paired with the broiled lobster. http://cellartracker.com/w?500230

Guenoc, Guenoc Valley Vintage Port 2000 - Paired with cheese cake, fresh strawberry and chocolate fondue dessert. Full bodied - black and deep purple color - taste of brandy, black berry, black raspberry, deep blueberry, dark chocolate, cassis and black cherry, sweetness a nice complement to the dessert - would be great with a stilton cheese - nice close to a great meal. http://cellartracker.com/w?54302 RM 88