Family celebrates Independence Day and birthday

Family celebrates Independence Day and birthday together  

The family gathered at son Ryan’s house for a gala Independence Day and birthday celebration potluck dinner with grilled beefsteaks and fine wines, and fireworks.

Ryan grilled ribeye beefsteaks, Linda brought scalloped potatoes, Viv brought salad, Erin brought bacon wrapped scallops and home-made cheesecak, plus there was an ice cream birthday cake for g-daughter Marliegh’s birthday. 

I took from our home cellar two bottles from Ryan’s 1982 birthyear vintage year. Ryan served a medley of sparkling, white and big red wines. 

Chateau Cantemerle Haut Medoc 1982 

Chateau Cantemerle is the amongst the well-known Bordeaux estates you pass as you drive along the D2, the main route of the Left Bank of Bordeaux, heading north from the city centre of Bordeaux towards the Medoc, 22 km or a thirty minute drive north of the city. 

Chateau Cantemerle is also one of the oldest properties in the Bordeaux wine region dating back to the 12th century.The estate took its name from the Lords of Cantemerle in 1340 when Ponset de Cantemerle named the estate.

In 1892, the descendants of the last of the Villeneuve family, Jeanne Armande, Baroness Charles d’Abbadie, sold Chateau Cantemerle to the Dubos family after owning the estate for over three hundred years. At the time, the Dubos family also owned a vineyard in Margaux, Chateau La Tour de Mons. The last family owner, Bertrand Clauzel sold Chateau Cantemerle in 1981 to the SMABTP group.

The new owners set upon a much needed restoration of the estate, replanting as much as 50%, and making improvements to the cellars and the winemaking facilities. The SMABTP Group has continued increasing their holdings in Bordeaux with additional vineyard purchases on the Left and Right Bank including recently added Chateau Haut Corbin, Chateau Grand Corbin, and Chateau Le Jurat, located in the St. Emilion appellation.

The huge Chateau Cantemerle Vineyards cover 265 acre with225 planted to the designated Bordeaux varietals, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. 

It is the goal of the estate to continue increasing the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in their vineyards over time. On average, the vines are close to 30 years of age. They have old Cabernet vines, which are close to 70 years of age.

While this is a fifth growth producer, the 1982 vintage was a classic legendary harvest, and as ‘all boats rise with the tide’, even the lesser renowned labels produced high quality collectable wines. Robert Parker wrote in 1995 of this release: “How can you bet against the bargain hunter's favorite Cantemerle in a vintage like the legendary '82? … 'This wine has turned out better than I would have thought. It is loosely structured, soft, and easy-going… The sweet, herb, peppery, and berry-scented nose is followed by a friendly wine with round, generous, medium-bodied flavors with no hard edges.

At forty five years, this is pushing this wine past its ideal drinking window, still in consideration only by the spectacular vintage, and being aged in a large format magnum. As shown the fill level was mid-neck, the label while intact was separated from the bottle, and most importantly, the cork was partially saturated by mostly intact. The bottom fifth of the cork separated upon extraction using a two pronged cork puller. 

This was double decanted three hours before serving. The color was dark garnet colored with only slight opaque discoloration setting in. The medium bodied fruit was starting to give way to damp earth and leather notes, with offputting tones of what I would call ‘sausage’ or bacon fat, setting in after several hours. 

At 45 years, the remains still approachable but diminished to 85 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/37378

Another forty five year old wine, again beyond its prime drinking window, but still holding on as approachable. 

Beringer Special Select Late Harvest Johannesburg Riesling 1982 

At forty four years, the label, foil and most importantly the cork and fill level were still fine. When young, these wines are pale straw colored, darkening over time to golden, then brownish weak tea, and finally, coffee colored as this was tonight. Holding some residual sweetness with notes of black tea or coffee, but for the most part at the end of its drinkability. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?252638

Veuve Cliquot Brut Champagne NV

Greywacke New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2025

CheckerBoard Napa Valley Diamond Mountain Coyote Ridge Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Checkerboard estate vineyard on he upper reaches of Diamond Mountain on the northern Mayacamas Range above Calistoga, CA in northern Napa Valley. 

This is a single vineyard designated bottling sourced from the Checkerboard Winery Coyote Ridge Vineyard, located on a long ridge line that runs Eastward downhill from the Aurora Vineyard knoll on the upper reaches of Diamond Mountain. The vineyard blocks are on the hillside above Nash Creek Canyon to the South. The terroir consists of red iron oxide clay soil, a South and slightly Eastern exposure with the lower reaches at a 900 foot elevation, which allows the top of the summer fog line to reach the Vineyard. This creates an ideal microclimate and growing cycle for its vines.

Winemaker Martha Mcclellan’s notes - “So typically Coyote Ridge, the 2017 vintage of this single-vineyard offering is approachable and immensely enjoyable. Dusty barrel aromas laced with cinnamon and milk chocolate follow through on the palate and are joined by notes of dark cherry, dried cranberry, fig jam, and red spices. For the texture aficionados among us, the tannins are reminiscent of the finest silk and deliciously sweet. In its youth, the 2017 vintage of Checkerboard Coyote Ridge benefits from decanting prior to serving."

Dark inky purple, full bodied, brooding thick concentrated but smooth and polished black cherry fruits with bright brilliant expressive notes of cinnamon and milk chocolate with fine tannins on a silky finish. 

RM 94 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/3871559

Lewis Alec’s Blend 2017

A family favorite, commemorating the Randy and Debbie Lewis’ grandson Alec, and designated a ‘signature’ wine of our son Alec. 

We love Lewis Cellar’s and their wines, one of the highlights of the wine producer visit tastings at our Pour Boys 2017 Napa Wine Experience.

I've often written in these pages about the fun we have with this branding, with its signature 'L' on the label, ala Laverne and Shirley, or wife Linda, or her mother Lucy, or our daughter Erin Leigh, or her daughter, our first grandchild/daughter Lucy! That coupled with the Hoosier heritage of Randy Lewis, Indy 500 race driver from our native Indiana, and, their affinity to family, naming labels after their grandkids - Alec, Ethan and Mason, we adopted Alec's Blend as a signature label for son Alec and feature it at family celebrations.

Lewis Cellars Napa Chateau Tasting

Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend is a rich, full-bodied red wine from Napa Valley, primarily a Syrah-based blend with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc. It is known for its plush, fruit-forward profile with notes of dark berries, vanilla, and spice, and fine, polished tannins. The wine is made from grapes grown in top Napa appellations like Calistoga, St. Helena, and Rutherford.

Dark fruits (blackberry, blueberry, black cherry), vanilla, toffee, chocolate, espresso, and savory notes like pepper or bacon fat.

Afterwards, the family gathered for traditional neighborhood Fourth of July fireworks … 

Golf Wine Golf Wine Golf

Father’s Day Weekend Getaway -  Golf Wine Golf Wine Golf

For Father’s Day, my three son’s took me away for a golf weekend at Geneva National Golf Club in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We stayed in the cottages on the course as part of their Stay-and-Play program and had three fabulous days of golf, great food and spectacular wines. 

Over the three days, we played each of the three Geneva National championship courses designed by three legendary players, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Lee Trevino. 

Friday night the boys prepared prime 30 day aged grilled beef and bison ribeye beefsteaks, mashed potatoes and broccolini, mushrooms and fabulous seared foie gras. 

Before dinner we had a medley of artisan cheeses, Brie, aged Goudas and Dragon’s Breath pepper cheese. 

From our home cellars we took several outstanding wines for our dinner. 

Hall Vineyards ‘Exzellenz’ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

One of our absolute favorite labels from one of our favorite producers. We’ve written about both in these earlier blogposts - 

Pour Boys Holiday Wine Dinner 2023

Exzellenz and aged Robert Craig Mt Veeder for holiday celebration gathering

Château Léoville Poyferré St Julien Bordeaux 2008

Another one of our favorite labels from one of our favorite appellations in Bordeaux. This 100 points wine from a spectacular vintage. A Visit to Château Léoville Poyferré was a highlight of our trip to the Medoc region of Bordeaux. 

Schweizer Vineyard ‘Mira’ Napa Valley Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 

Another outstanding label we’ve enjoyed on previous occasions as featured in these pages -  

Oak Restaurant Charleston

Old and New big reds for family celebration party

Diamond Creek ‘Gravelly Meadow’ Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1985

Son’s birthyear vintage release of a classic iconic Napa producer that we’ve visited and a label we;ve collected, once again, as featured previously in these pages - 

Diamond Mountain Cabernet Duo

Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Duo

Hill Family Vineyards Napa Valley Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

A favorite producer and label of son Alec’s, collected as part of his club allocations, again, that we’ve enjoyed and featured in these pages -

Napa Valley Atlas Peak Cabernet duo

Gala Family Birthday Celebration features fun novelty namesake wine

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?4093954 

https://hillfamilyestate.com/product/2023-napa-valley-cabernet-sauvignon 

A birthyear vintage wine for son Ryan … 

Smith Woodhouse Late Bottled Vintage Port 1982 

Smith Woodhouse is a historic port wine producer based in the Douro Valley region of Portugal. Founded in 1784, the winery is known for its high-quality vintage ports, which are made from grapes grown on steep terraced vineyards overlooking the Douro River.

Their Late Bottled Vintage ports are from a single year. The wine ages 4-6 years in old oak casks (opposed to Vintage Ports that are aged 2-3 years). Late Bottled Vintage releases fill the gap between the rubies and the vintage ports since a Ruby Port should be drunk quite young and a great Vintage Port may need 15 to 20 years to open up and show their true character and potential. This led to the idea in the 1960s to age the wine 4 to 6 years in large casks before bottling it, thereby producing a wine with the style of a Vintage Port with its deep colour and concentration of fruit but with a more mature character caused by the longer ageing in wood.

This is a selection of some of the finest quality wine of a single year, bottled, like Vintage Port, without fining or filtration, but after four years rather than two years in the wood. The extra wood age softens the wine and leads to an accelerated ageing in bottle. The result is akin to fully mature Vintage Port in flavour and complexity. Smith Woodhouse is one of the very few Port shippers to continue making LBV in the traditional way and to market the wine only after it has been bottle aged. These Ports tend to deliver high QPR - Quality Price Ratios - exceptional value for money.

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/152446

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauterne Bordeaux 2002

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey is a Premier Grand Cru Classé from the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux,  and is among the most prestigious names of the iconic sweet wine appellation located south of the Bordeaux region. Dating back to to the 17th century the historic château estate 100 acres on Sauternes’ highest terrace around the villages of Bommes, Preignac and Fargues. 

The vineyards terroir of silica-gravel and clayey-gravel over limestone, give the grapes concentration and finesse. 

The 2002 Sauternes is a blend crafted mainly from Sémillon with small amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle (roughly 90–95% Sémillon, remainder Sauvignon/Muscadelle). The grapes are sorted and collected by hand in several successive passes to carefully select the botrytised berries. Fermentation and élevage are aged in oak for 12–18 months. 

Winemakers notes - Expect honeyed apricot, marmalade, orange peel, toasted almond and marmite of exotic spice.

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/26588

Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 

Saturday night, we dined at one of the resort restaurants and drank from the winelist a premium white and popular red with our entrees. 

Quintessa ‘Illumination’ Napa/Sonoma Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Our visit to the Quintessa estate winery and vineyards on Silverado Trail in Rutherford, Napa Valley was a highlight of our Napa Wine Experience back in 2003. 

This is a blend of 60% Napa and 40% Sonoma Valley fruit. 

Justin Iscosceles Paso Robles Red Blend 2019

This popular premium red blend from this producer is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 7% Merlot, ideal for pairing with food.  

So blessed and thankful to spend such quality time together, and to have such a legacy of family, career, golf, fine wine! 

https://www.destinationgn.com/stay-play

Preview Night Dinner at The Belmont Naperville

Preview (Pre-opening) Night Dinner at The Belmont American Steakhouse Naperville

Anticipating the upcoming opening of The Belmont American Steakhouse in Naperville, we dined preview night leading up to their grand opening this coming week. This is the latest creation of Dave Miller of the Elements dining in the Indigo Hotel, Naperville, The George American Tavern, and Empire Grill, and partner and Executive Chef Zac Rogers. 

We’ve featured the tony, cozy George in these earlier blogposts -  

The George American Tavern, Naperville
The George Tavern Naperville Replay

The Belmont is a classic American steak house reimagined in the former Catch-35 restaurant on Washington Street downtown Naperville. They source prime beef steaks from several sources depending on the cut of meat and prevailing market conditions. They age the beef from 60 to 90 additional days in their own meat cabinet adjacent the main dining room. 

There is a fabulous Wine Room dining room for special gatherings. 

I refrain from showing interior pictures of the bar and dining room as there is a substantial dramatic bar surround overhang not yet installed. 

They also offer several fresh seafood selections based on what was flown in from US and World markets - lobster, Argentine Branzino, Black cod, salmon, crab cake, shrimp and scallops. And, same for the oysters which are fresh, flown in from best available markets - west coast and east coast! 

Pork chops, lamb, chicken and short rib and a couple pasta dishes round out the entree selections along with a caviar service of American Ossetra Caviar.

A highlight, the preparation and presentation of the wedge salad, ideal for sharing. 

The crab cake with chili pepper remoulade … 

A half dozen oysters, east coast Long Island, and California west coast. 

The petit filet … 

The New York strip with Seared Foie Torchon …

There is a range of salads and sides available for sharing as well as enhancements including lobster tail, seared Foie Torchon, Shaved Truffle and accoutrement finish sauces. Each of the usual suspect sides was creative and artfully prepared - puree de pomme with pimento, wild mushrooms, grilled asparagus, charred carrots, Mac-n-cheese, and an interesting take on creamed corn with ‘corn brulee’, almost akin to a dessert!

A selection of the sides, Puree’de Pomme, Wild mushrooms and the Corn Brulee. 

There is a carefully selected wine list of standard labels as well as an extensive Reserve List of ultra-premium selections. Many of our favorite producers are represented: Robert Craig, Plumpjack, Joseph Phelps, Randy Dunn, Kosta Browne, Quintessa, La Jota and a selection of super premium labels such ans Dominus, Hundred Acre and Schafer Hillside Select, and more. 

There is also a selection of some of the most highly acclaimed and sought after cult wines such as Colgin, and Screaming Eagle.  Aside the cult labels, the wine list read like our wine cellar inventory with many of our favorites!  

Having not seen the winelist beforehand, I spent close to an hour trolling our cellar for a special wine accompaniment for our dinner, seeking an ideal label for the grilled beefsteaks, and one not available on their winelist. I was seeking a label in the Goldilocks zone … enough age to having fully integrated and settled, but still within its prime drinking window. I also sought a label we acquired with fellow Pour Boy diner, Dr Dan. In the end, I opted for a vintage label of a favorite producer/label which proved an ideal choice. 

Amazingly, when I saw the winelist, vast majority of selections were producer labels I considered bringing BYOB! 

Dan and I both brought BYOB bottles tonight that were 98+ point rated selections, from prime vintages, and at twelve and fourteen years, in their prime drinking windows, perfect selections for pairing with our dinner. 

Hall 1873 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

From one of our favorite producers of highly acclaimed Napa Cabernets, this label commemorates the founding year of their historic Napa Valley vineyard.

Hall has become one of the premiere Napa Valley producers of ultra-premium Cabernets. We’ve visited the magnificent Hall Rutherford estate vineyards and winery several times as featured in these blogposts = 

Hall Rutherford Winery Estate Appellation Tasting, and 

Exzellenz and aged Robert Craig Mt Veeder for holiday celebration gathering.

Hall produce a broad portfolio of highly acclaimed wines and we acquired this label as part of our wine club allocations back on release. 

This label commemorates the founding of the first winery on the historic property back in 1873 when Captain William Peterson came to Napa and established a pioneering winery on their St. Helena property. Throughout the 1930’s and 40’s, the site grew to become Napa’s most important winery, producing nearly 40% of its entire vintage. 

The fruit for this Hall “”Eighteen Seventy-Three” hails from the mountain slopes that frame Napa Valley along the northern edge of the Vacca Mountains towards Atlas Peak. 

It was rated 98 points by Wilford Wong of Wine.com, and 95 points by Wine Enthusiast. 

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker Notes - “Brooding and earth-driven, this wine opens with dominant aromas of crushed rocks, ripe blackberries, and wild blueberries. The weighty palate is structured by fine, powerful, tightly-wound tannins and balanced acidity. Integrated French Oak aromatics of toasted coconut, cinnamon and clove carry through the lengthy finish.” 

Dark garnet colored, full bodied, round forward concentrated bright expressive vibrant rich ripe blackberry and black raspberry fruits with notes of creme de cassis, anise, sweet tobacco, sweet oak and dark mocha with full tannins on the huge finish. 

RM 94 points

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/2602610

https://www.hallwines.com/

Dominus Estate Napa Valley Red Blend 2012

Dan brought from his Dominus vertical collection this 100 point rated 2012 vintage. Protocol suggests one doesn’t take a BYOB label that is available on the winelist. While they had Dominus on the winelist, it was a recent release, not an twelve year aged vintage, from a 100 point rated release! 

Dominus Estate is the Napa Valley product from legendary Christian Moueix of Bordeaux Chateau Petrus fame. This is from one of the region’s oldest vineyard sites. Dominus sits on a rocky alluvial fan, a gentle benchland slope nestled into the western hills of Yountville.

It was rated 100 pointss by Vinous, 99 points by Jeb Dunnuck and the Wine Independant, 98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, Decanter and James Suckling, 95 points and Editor's Choice from Wine Enthusiast, and Wilford Wong, and 94 points from Wine & Spirits and Wine Spectator.

Like many 100 points wines, perfection is discernable not so much by any memorable or highlighted flavor sprites or profile, but rather the lack of any faults, and the straight forward elegance, polish and balance of the blend. 

Vinous in their ‘perfect’ rating wrote, “Dominus is very clearly one of the wines of the year. I loved the 2012 from barrel, but found it quite closed after bottling. Now, after all these years, I finally see the realization of the potential suggested in my barrel tastings. Magnificent.” 

In his 99 point review Jeb Dunnuck wrote, “The 2012 Dominus is a sensational wine that certainly ranks with the all-time greats of this cuvée and is reminiscent of the 1991”, describing it as “Ripe, flamboyant, and incredibly sexy, it nevertheless shows the classic style of this estate, has nothing out of place and just glides across the palate. It's a tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and one of the greats. 99+“

Decanter wrote, “if you have any 2012 in your cellar, try it today and try it again in 5, 10, and 15 years.” Similar to Robert Parker’s note that this is “built to go on for 25-30 years.”

Wilfred Wong of Wine.com said it is one of the winery's best efforts to date. 

This Bordeaux varietal blend was 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Winemaker Notes - “The Dominus 2012 exemplifies the finest qualities of Cabernet Sauvignon from an ideal vintage. The intriguing nose offers a depth of aromas including lavender, Asian spices and cedar. Soft, supple tannins buoy layers of dark earth and cocoa. The wine is racy yet refined with a long elegant finish.”

Dark garnet colored, medium to full-bodied, elegant, silky smooth and polished, pure seamless black raspberry and black currant fruits with notes of rose petal, cassis, graphite, violets, tobacco leaf and anise, hints of mocha and hazelnut with round soft fine tannins on a soft velvety finish.

RM 96 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/1794476

https://www.dominusestate.com/

We then had to try the Belmont signature chocolate cake, prepared by legendary local DeEtta’s Bakery, delicious paired with tawny ports.  

Check out The Belmont in Naperville, while you can, before it is discovered and becomes a difficult reservation to obtain! 

Grilled beefsteak Sauv Blanc and Cabernet Franc for Birthday Dinner

Grilled beefsteak Sauv Blanc and Cabernet Franc for Birthday Dinner

Son Alec and D-in-law Vivianna hosted us for Sunday dinner and (my) birthday recognition. Alec grilled flank steak marinated in a ginger and sesame chirizo sauce, served with roasted peppers and a medley of grilled squash, mushrooms, onions and cauliflower.

I brought from our home cellar a big round zesty Sauvignon Blanc which paired well with the ceasar salad, veggie and fruit plates, and the dinner course. This is another label from the producer of a California Cabernet Cuvee' Bordeaux Blend from Alec’s birthyear vintage, which we served at Alec and Vivianna’s wedding reception. It was a special limited release commemorative bottle, signed by Quivira Vineyards and Winery founders and then owners, Henry and Holly Wendt, packaged in its own OWC, Original Wood Case. I wrote about Quivira Vineyards and that bottle in a blogpost at the time - Wedding Wines - Birthyear and Big Bottle Extravaganza.

Quivira Dry Creek Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2022    

Quivira Vineyards was founded in 1981 by Holly and Henry Wendt in the Dry Creek Valley of Sonoma County to pursue their passion for winemaking and the natural beauty of the area. They also were dedicated to restoring Wine Creek, source to the namesake of their home ranch, Wine Creek Ranch. It is a vital waterway for Coho salmon and Steelhead trout that flows through their 110 acre estate and merges with Dry Creek. 

In addition to vineyards, the Quivera estate is a sanctuary for biodiversity with lush gardens, teeming with life. Over 100 raised beds grow heirloom produce that supply local Sonoma County restaurants and the local food bank. Farm-to-table dinners showcase their garden-grown produce, estate olive oil, jams, and spices.

There is also a landmark 150-year-old fig tree, a living testament to the vibrant ecosystem.

The estate vineyards terroir consists of gravelly and sandy loam soil deposited over thousands of years on the valley floor – deep, well drained and fertile dirt that produces good crops of flavorful grapes. Fifty-nine acres of the estate is planted to vines of Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and Rhône varieties.

A representative of the Adcon weather station has stated that the Quivera Wine Creek Ranch is the coldest site in Dry Creek Valley, which is optimal for preserving acidity in the Sauvignon Blanc and Rhônes planted on the valley floor.

Wine Creek Ranch’s estate Zinfandel is grown on hillside sites which are principally Dibble Clay Loam and Clough Gravelly Loam which produce spicy red fruit that is distinctive and unique to Dry Creek.

The property’s Mediterranean climate and well-draining soils is also ideal for Rhône varieties producing a distinctive flavor profile in the mainly Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Quivira is at the forefront of blending Rhône varieties in Dry Creek and stands out from other New World producers.

Quivira sits five miles west of the town of Lytton and Hwy 101, five miles northwest of Healdsburg, and 35 miles north of Santa Rosa. 

Quivira Vineyards’ produces Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc and Rhône under the stewardship and handicraft of vineyard manager Ned Horton and winemaker Hugh Chappelle. 

This release is 99% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Semillion. It was aged in mostly older 500L barrels, Acacia pun- cheons, which add texture with no aroma or flavor impact and helped buffer the typically high acidity. A very small inclusion of Semillon (1%) was used as a final finishing touch for overall wine balance.

Forty percent of the fruit came from Quivira Wine Creek Ranch, with the balance sourced from like-minded partner/growers.

This release was rated 93 points by Wine Spectator and 90 and ‘Best Buy’ by Wine Enthusiast. 

Cases produced: 4,010.

This release  was rated 93 points by Wine Spectator and  91 points by Wine Enthusiast.

Winemakers rating notes - Pale yellow in color and star bright with a slight green tinge. The nose is filled with floral notes of jasmine, hibiscus and white rose, with lingering aromas of classic lemongrass, nectarine and clementine. On the palate, the Quivira mark of high acidity is balanced out with minerality reminiscent of limestone, topped off by layered flavors of Meyer lemon, Key lime, orange flower water and spring herbs 

Pale straw-colored, light medium bodied, pleasantly acidic and crisp gooseberry, green apple, hints of grapefruit and peach, notes of lemon verbena and a touch of tangerine and lime with vibrant acidity and mineral on the pleasant dry finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?3092990

https://quivirawine.com/previous-vintages/

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/09/wedding-wines-birthyear-and-big-bottle.html

As we moved from the fresh veggies and fruits to the salad to the main course steak entree, Alec pulled and served from his cellar this Napa Valley Cabernet Franc. 

This is from Alec’s wineclub allocation collection from Hill Family Vineyards whom he and Vivianna discovered and visited during their Napa Valley honeymoon. 

Hill Family Estate Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2022 

We featured Hill Family Estate Vineyards in these pages in detail previously in this blogpost - Hill Family Estate Napa Cabernet 2018, excerpted here

We wrote about how As newlyweds, son Alec and Vivianna visited Hill Family Estate during their forest fire shortened honeymoon in Napa a year ago September. They visited the new Hill Family Estate winery, located just minutes south of Yountville just off Ste Helena Highway 29, the western main artery of Napa Valley. They tasted this wine there and since then have acquired wines as part of their wine club allocations. 

Doug Hill founded Hill Family estate vineyards back in 1977 when he acquired his first vineyards. Since then, eleven different vineyard locations have been added to the Hill Family Estate portfolio, mostly in Napa Valley and its environs now covering more than 100 acres in numerous significant sub-appellations within Napa Valley.

For nearly four decades, the fruit was sold to the likes of Far Niente Winery, Silver Oak Cellars, Duckhorn Vineyards, Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Caymus Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars and a host of other winery luminaries. Hill Family grapes were considered among the finest grown in the prestigious Napa Valley. 

Around the turn of the century, Ryan and Carly Hill approached their father with the vision to establish the family winery with the family name on it. Hill Family Estate was born in 2001 with the first fruit that would become Hill Family Estate wines. A total of around 980 cases were produced and released in 2004. The new brand was immediately acclaimed and gained national prominence with numerous Awards and industry plaudits. 

Hill Family Estate winemaker Alison Doran joined the team and crafted the inaugural 2001 vintage. Alison was introduced to  Doug while he was growing grapes and she was making wine for Lewis Cellars, another one of our benchmark favorite producers, and the other estate visit tasting the kids attended during their shortened honeymoon. Alison  developed her skill while being mentored by renowned wine expert Andre Tchelistcheff, completing a degree in winemaking at UC Davis and spending time in the legendary  wine region of Alsace, France. Today, Doug and  Alison work closely together selecting the highest quality  grapes and producing ultra premium wines

Today, the Hill Family owns 120 acres of vineyards  with properties on Atlas Peak, in Carneros, Oak Knoll and American Canyon. They are 100% family-farmed, family-owned and  family-operated.Production ranges between 9,000 to 12,000 cases  annually sourced from 12 different estate vineyards allowing them to select the  highest quality fruit for their wines.  

The Hill Family portfolio has grown to over twenty five different labels across the broad range of varietals, blends, and single vineyard designated offerings.  

Producer Doug Hill enjoys producing Cabernet Franc, so he maintains a few rows in the Beau Terroir Vineyard. While Cabernet Franc is a delicate variety and tends to be a difficult grape to grow well, but it is somewhat virus resistant and is well suited to the site. 

Hill Family Vineyards’s 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc is a polished, expressive take on a grape that often plays a supporting role in Napa blends but rarely gets this much attention on its own. 

Production was a mere 280 cases of this Bordeaux varietal blend that was 91% Cabernet Franc, 7% Malbec, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Merlot. 

After a year, it was blended with a small amount of Malbec, then put it back to barrel for a total of 20 months in 50% new French oak (Trust, Treuil Terroir, Nadalier Alliers).

Winemaker Alison Doran’s tasting notes: The 2022 Cabernet Franc is dignified with aromas of mulberry and cool climate graphite. The wine is medium in body and has a soft balanced entry that expands out to a lively mid-palate filled with pomegranate, new saddle leather, ripe fruit and a smooth finish.

Fruit was sourced from the Hill Family Beau Terroir Vineyard in the Carneros-Napa Appellation

Producer’s tasting notes - “What stands out most is the balance. Many Napa Cabernet Francs lean heavily into extraction and oak, but this bottling preserves the grape’s hallmark freshness and aromatic lift. It feels confident without becoming heavy, making it versatile at the table.’

“While already approachable with a decant, this wine should evolve gracefully over the next 6–10 years, developing more earthy and cigar-box complexity with time. It delivers a thoughtful and distinctive expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Franc that will especially appeal to drinkers looking for something more nuanced than the region’s typical Cabernet Sauvignon powerhouse style.”

This was a perfect accompaniment to the grilled flank steak, thereby enhancing enjoyment of both the wine and the food. 

Dark garnet colored, full bodied, this was bold, bright and expressive, concentrated blackberry, plum and black currant fruits accented by sprites of spice, cocoa, tobacco leaf, graphite and cedar with supple tannins with a long, polished, and savory finish.

RM 92 points. 

https://go.cellartracker.com/wine/5210616

https://hillfamilyestate.com/knowledge-base/2022-cabernet-franc/

https://hillfamilyestate.com/