Snowden 'Ranch' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Snowden 'The Ranch' Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Andy brought this wine to dinner at Aria Restaurant in Cupertino. As posted in earlier notes, we first met Randy Snowden at one of our winemaker dinners at Brix Restaurant in Napa back in 1998 and have been collecting Snowden Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ever since. "The Ranch" label has been added in recent years. Randy and his brother Scott, both attorneys, preside over the property that sits 450 to 850 feet above the Silverado Trail. The property was acquired by their parents back in the fifties. My recollection from that meeting was that their father Wayne Snowden was a professor at UC Berkeley when he acquired the property in 1955. After he passed away in 1977 the brothers took over in 1981. They produced their first Snowden label vintage in 1993. Most of their production is sold to Silver Oak, Frank Family Vineyards, Viader and in recent years, David Ramey. 

During these Napa Wine Experience visits of 1997 through 2000 we hosted gala tasting dinners with the 'Undisccovered Dozen' "emerging new wine producers to watch", featured in an article in Wine Spectator Magazine. Many of these producers released their inaugural vintage releases in or about the 1994 vintage.  Those producers and winery visits included Plumpjack, David Arthur, Clark-Claudon, Robert Craig, Del Dotto, Elan,  Paradigm, Pride Vineyards, Snowden, Nils Venge and White Cottage. They are featured on my winesite http://www.unwindwine.com. A complete index of my tasting notes of these wines over the years is on the site at this link to California Producers Index. These producers make up a foundation of our wine cellar collection even today. In many of these wines, we still have vertical selections of these wines, some dating back to those early release vintages.Another of these tasting events is featured in my unwindwine blog http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2011/07/plumpjack-napa-valley-oakville-estate.html.

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is dark purple colored and medium to full bodied. It boasts complex flavors of berry, dark red fruit with a layer of tea and tobacco, with hints of licorice and cassis. This represents good value at $40 for a blend of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 75%, Cabernet Franc 18.2%, and Petit Verdot 6.8%.

RM 91 points.

http://www.snowdenvineyards.com/

Cal Cab Classics - Karl Lawrence Reserve Morisoli Vineyard 2005 - Spring Mtn Elivette 2003

Cal Cab Classics - Karl Lawrence Reserve Morisoli Vineyard 2005 - Spring Mtn Elivette 2003

With AJ and Lori, Saturday afternoon at Vintages on Santana Row in San Jose, bought and poured two class premium California Cabernet Sauvignons with cheese, olives and pasta salad from the neighborhood gourmet deli.It doesn't get much better.

Karl Lawrence Reserve Gary Morisoli Vineyard 2005 - Dark purple color - medium-full bodied. Complex, polished and smooth but somewhat subdued nose and fruit flavors of black currant, black berry and black cherry fruits with hints of tobacco and anise on a well balanced lingering finish. Perhaps needs more time to open and fully reveal itself.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=341570


Spring Mountain Elivette Napa Valley Red Wine 2003

A Bordeaux style blend. Dark purple color, full-bodied - complex and polished but a bit closed and tight with subdued full forward flavors of black berry and black cherry fruit with hints of spice, cedar, and touch of coffee flavors, This one too will evolve for a few more years to further reveal itself.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=794181

Kongsgaard Napa Valley Hudson Vineyard Syrah 2007

Kongsgaard Napa Valley Hudson Vineyard Syrah 2007 

Tasted with Allan B over dinner at Grange Restaurant in Sacramento. This wine is from the Hudson Ranch Vineyard down in the Carneros Appellation in Napa Valley, my second such wine in as many weeks after just tasting the Ramey Hudson Vineyard Carneros Chardonnay at a gala dinner recently and posted on this blog - Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons flight and Carneros Chardonnay. The area with its cooler weather from fog rolling in from the nearby San Pablo Bay, the north end of San Francisco Bay is known for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. What a remarkable find in this Syrah from the Hudson Ranch property just north of the Napa Sonoma Road above Domaine Chandon.  

Kongsgaard Napa Valley Hudson Vineyard Syrah 2007 -
This is the most memorable and extraordinary Syrah I can recall ever having. While not as big or forward as some of the powerful, concentrated, forward fruit filled South Australian Shiraz' I have had, this cousin Syrah was the most complex and and polished.  While Robert Parker describes the 2007 as “a huge, massive force, which combines chocolate, crème de cassis, blackberries", I get lost in his references to "soy, beef jerky, smoked game, and Peking duck". I agree with his characterization of "thick, juicy personality - full-bodied with amazing purity and a stunning finish.” I also concur and relate to Stephen Tanzer' comments, “Knockout aromas and flavors of black raspberry, mocha, animal fur, licorice and pepper. Suave on entry, then almost shockingly energetic in the middle, combining superb density with an almost magically light touch. This very pure wine delivers outstanding syrah character." Did he say animal fur? Okay, I don't get that either, but the rest is spot on.

While this is the most extraordinary Syrah I've ever had, certainly so for any from California, or the French Rhone River Valley for that matter, which includes Chateauneuf du Pape and surrounding appellations, it is also one of the most expensive I've had. At $150 per bottle retail price, its listed on the Grange Wine-list for $275, only a very select few Syrah or Shiraz wines are found at that price-point. Its an adventure and a memorable wine and is worth trying if you can find it, and afford it. It should be available since at that price and with 450 cases produced it should be around.

I concur with the above mentioned reviews and ratings of the others:

RM 94, RP 94 -96 points, ST 94 WA 94 WA 94-96 

http://www.kongsgaard-wine.com/

Fifty-Row and Franciscan Estate Napa Cabs

Fifty-Row and Franciscan Estate Napa Cabs

Pair of Napa Cabs provided by AJ to accompany steak dinner at Forbes Mill Steak house in Los Gatos, CA w/ Mike L, David H and Allan B.

Fifty-Row Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

The second vintage of a wine from proprietor Paul Johnson made by winemaker Gary Galleron of former winemaking efforts at Grace Family, Vineyard 29 and Winehall Lane, Del Dotto, Hartwell and Seavey. The grapes are sourced 50% each from two well-known Napa vineyards from which Gary made great wine with in the past, the Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford and the Lewelling Vineyard in the St Helena foothills.


This wine exhibits dark purple color, medium-full bodied; firm tight concentrated blackberry and black cherry with a layer of tea, tobacco, subtle mocha and mineral on a lingering tannin finish.

RM 90 points.

http://fiftyrow.com/

Franciscan Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Dark purple color, full bodied, firm silky tannins with forward concentrated dark black cherry, black berry with a layer of cassis, hint of tobacco and touch of spicy vanilla and toasty oak.

RM 91 points.

http://www.forbesmillsteakhouse.com/

St. Hallett Faith South Australia Barossa Shiraz 2006

St. Hallett Faith South Australia Barossa Shiraz 2006 

Dark inky black purple color - dense full bodied and chewy; initially tart cherry quickly burns off and gives way to black berry, tar, spicy cedar, hints of tobacco, white pepper, anise, charcoal and smoke on a lingering moderate tannin oaky berry finish. Slightly obtuse and lacking polish but an amazing value at $12.99.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=431862

http://www.sthallett.com.au/

Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons flight and Carneros Chardonnay

Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignons flight and Carneros Chardonnay

For a gala dinner to celebrate Beth's birthday, we opened a flight of Napa Valley Howell Mountain big Cabernet Sauvignons to go with NY Strip steaks from the farm. Starting with caprese salad, lobster medallions were featured with a Napa Valley Carneros Chardonnay and Champagne. Artisan cheeses included Fair Oaks Farms aged cheddar cheeses - 2, 3 and 5 years old.We finished with Linda's fabulous flowerless dark chocolate cake and Eiswein.

Main course big cabs flight ... 

Clark Claudon Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

This was the consensus favorite of the tasting.

Deep dark purple - full bodied - big mouth-full of forward complex but polished spicy black and edge of red berry fruits, violets, layers of mocha and oak with a long lingering tannin finish.

The 2004 Napa growing season was condensed with early bud break, warm days, cool nights and one challenging heat spike. The result was a small harvest of intense, flavor packed fruit from an unusual, but exceptional year that is showing and drinking well and should last another decade.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=229261

We first met Tom Clark and Laurie Claudon-Clark during our Napa Wine Experience 1999 when we hosted them at our wine dinner at Pinot Blanc in St Helena (see picture left). We tasted Clark Claudon 1995-96 against ten year 1989 Bordeaux. Our vertical collection of  Clark Claudon continues to this day.

http://http://www.clarkclaudon.com



O'Shaughnessy Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Dark inky color, full bodied, the black berry, black currant and black raspberry fruit predominate but are a bit flabby lacking the more typical depth and concentration of greater vintages, a layer of lead pencil and a slight herbaceous tone, hints of tobacco and charcoal linger on the firm tight tannins indicative of Howell Mountain terroir. 

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=15897


http://oshaughnessywinery.com/

La Jota Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Dark inky purple, full bodied, notes of blackberry, black raspberry and black currant, turning to cedar,  leather, then oak and silky smooth tannins on the finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=14319

Legendary winery on Howell Mountain since the turn of the last century released wines as early as the late 1890's.

http://www.lajotavineyardco.com/

Blue Hall Vineyards Camiana Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2007


Blue Hall Vineyard sits 1700 feet above the valley floor atop Howell Mountain. Its three acres are planted in Cabernet Sauvignon and is the used to produce one Estate bottled single vineyard wine, Camiana, named for Juliane and Camille, the two daughters of Vintner and owner, Dr. Andrew Zolopa, is a world-renowned researcher and the director of Stanford University's HIV/AIDS program. Zolopa spends most of his time researching HIV, but his second passion is wine; and his spare time is dedicated to fine-tuning Blue Hall Vineyard.Cabernet Sauvignon. They built a get-away weekend retreat high up on Howell Mountain and eventually planted three acres of Cabernet vines. The first limited vintage was in 2004, increasing production with the subsequent releases. 


The wine is full bodied and dark inky purple color, the nose is perfumed with violets, cedar box and dusty earth, The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon flavors are complex, tight and dry, with big firm tannins masking the intense concentrated black berry and black cherry fruit accented with tobacco, hints of cassis and sweet oak. This wine is great now but should be laid down for five to 10 years.



RM 91 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1268057



http://www.bluehallvineyard.net/

 Before dinner, with the artisan cheeses ...    


FogDog Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006 

Medium bodied, ruby colored, bing cherries, raspberries, cedar, spice box, and hints of anise and mocha.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1141912

A Joseph Phelps project, Freestone Vineyards are a 100-acre, cool climate site on the Sonoma Coast now coming into production, with a selection of  Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs under the Freestone and this FogDog labels.

http://www.freestonevineyards.com/

Ramey Napa Valley Carneros Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay 2005

This was highly praised by everyone. Medium bodied with  golden yellow color; full forward creamy flavors of pear, lychee and baked apple with hints of nut, caramel, and touch of citrus - nice structure and depth with a well balanced clean and crisp lingering aftertaste. 

RM 91 points.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=384077

 

 Situated in the rolling hills of Carneros in the southern Napa Valley on the road to Sonoma sits Hudson Ranch whose Hudson Vineyards source grapes to over 32 wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma counties.Carneros is one of the nations finest grape growing regions where the cool breezes off north San Francisco Bay allow the grapes a longer hang time in which to develop flavor and intensity, without sacrificing acidity and balance. The Hudson site was originally known as Talcoa Vineyards, an Indian name meaning ‘laughing land.’ It was on these lands in the 1880’s that the first American successful scientific experiments were carried out to overcome phylloxera, which was devastating the vineyards of Europe.

Hudson Vineyards produces 10 different grape varietals in the Los Carneros AVA of Napa, California on 160 acres.Only a select few producers that source their grapes from Hudson produce wines that bear the ‘Hudson Vineyards’ designation. These producers are those whom Hudson Vineyards has established long term contracts to for specific blocks of the vineyards. Those wines are of great importance and interest as those are sites of intense, interesting, varietal distinctiveness.to the grower and the winemakers.

The vineyards north of the Carneros Highway, but further west, have terrain that is more rolling with lighter more  friable soil. This year’s bottling is the second to come entirely from B-block, planted in 2001 to a Wente selection from the Hyde Vineyard, so the vines were eight years old this vintage and further developing their maturity resulting in Hudson Vineyard wines being more muscular and masculine broad-shouldered character.

http://www.rameywine.com/

Finis w/ flowerless dark chocolate cake and fresh berries ... 

Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Eisrebe 2010

100% estate-grown Scheurebe from a Spring Valley Vineyards outside of St. Helena. The Scheurebe grapes are picked late in the season and then frozen, thereby concentrating their already high sugar levels resulting in a wine viscous and smooth, with good acidity levels to balance the sweetness, and luscious flavors of citrus and apricot.The grapes are left to shrivel on the vines. They must reach the same level of sugar concentration
as Beerenauslese.

Pale gold, full  bodied. Predominant full concentrated Peach flavor with hints of apricot, orange oil and clove on the luscious long lingering finish and aftertaste.

Sangiovese - Venge Vineyards Napa Valley Oakville Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve 2002

Venge Vineyards Napa Valley Oakville Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve Sangiovese 2002

Wow, this is a totally different, much better wine than earlier tasting last year. Similar to the 2000 vintage journal review with its dark garnet color and medium bodied, this was bursting with full forward flavors of dark berry, hints of red berry fruits, with subtle tones of herb and anise notes and touch of leather and tobacco.on a moderate tannin lingering finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=147885

Nils Venge was one of the pioneers and champions of the Italian Sangiovese varietal in Napa Valley. He was winemaker for Del Dotto when they planted the front acre at the estate on Hwy 29 at Zinfandel and released the Del Dotto Sangiovese back around 1998 which we featured in our tasting journal from that era. We first tried and then purchased this Venge Family Vineyards Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve Sangiovese at the winery during our Napa Wine Experience 2002  - Venge Vineyards, Rossini Ranch (picture below). See our Venge Wines Tasting Journal of Venge wines. Contrary to our most previous tasting notes for this vintage release which were lackluster, this time the wine burst with berry fruit aromas and flavors.

Rick & AJ tasting with Nils at Tra Vigne in St Helena

The Sangiovese grape varietal hails from Italy and is best known blended with Cabernet Sauvignon to craft the popular Italian wines known as "Super Tuscans." Sangiovese is a fairly delicate variety in terms of the fragrances and flavors it offers. In the hotter, drier parts of Southern Tuscany it produces bigger fleshier wines than those made in Chianti and other cooler, higher areas. Sangiovese can produce highly aromatic, fragrant wines with nicely integrated tannic structure.

If you are looking for wines that are 100% Sangiovese, you'll find it in Italian wines from Montalcino, where wines are made from the Brunello grape, also known as Sangiovese. Grosso, an especially high quality clone of the Sangiovese grape produces full-bodied and powerful wines labeled Brunello di Montalcino which rank with Barolo as Italy's most-ageworthy wines. Rosso di Montalcino, grown in the same area is also 100% Brunello, but results in a softer, fruitier wine that requires much less aging. Popular producers for both Brunello and Rosso di Montalcino include Altesino, Caparzo, and Val di Suga.

Sangiovese remains rare in Napa Valley where Cabernet Sauvignon is king. Look for Del Dotto and Venge Sangiovese and you'll be rewarded with a the perfect natural complement to Italian fare. As in our previous tasting journal on Venge Penny Lane Family Reserve Sangiovese, we took this to our favorite local Italian bistro Angelis Italian in Naperville.

Lobster Tail dinner and Catherine & Pascal Rollet Domaine de la Chapelle Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 2007 and Liparita Napa Valley Yountville Chardonnay 2006.

Catherine & Pascal Rollet Domaine de la Chapelle Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 2007 and Liparita Napa Valley Yountville 2006 and Liparita Napa Valley Yountville 2006.

For our lobster tail dinner we served Catherine & Pascal Rollet Domaine de la Chapelle 2007 from Pouilly-Fuissé Vieilles Vignes Burgundy and Liparita Napa Valley Yountville Chardonnay 2006. 

Linda preferred the lighter, citrus forward, non-oaked French Burgundian Chardonnay while I preferred the fuller, sweet oak, caramel and nut laced Napa Chardonnay. 

Pouilly-Fuissé is the appellation in the Maconnais region in southern Burgundy known for most renowned  white wines produced exclusively from Chardonnay grapes grown in the communes of Chaintre, Fuisse, Solutre-Pouilly and Vergisson.

The Pouilly-Fuissé appellation officially dates back to 1936 although the boundaries were drawn up as early as 1922. It covers around 2000 acres (800ha) of hillside vineyards, planted on limestone-rich clay soil atop a granitic base. The 1600 foot (500-m) limestone escarpment known as the Roche de Solutre is located at the heart of the appellation's vine-growing area and towers over the vineyards below.

The Pouilly-Fuissé title on a wine label may be completed by the name of the specific vineyard where the grapes were grown. The most commonly cited are La Roche, Les Vignes Blanches, Aux Chailloux and Les Crays. There is no Premier Cru system within the appellation, so quality is indicated through the reputations of producers and their vineyards.

Pouilly-Fuissé wines are typically full-bodied, ripe and relatively elegant, with the best examples rivaling the finer wines of the Cote de Beaune.

Light-medium bodied, straw colored, the nose is full and forward with lemon and grapefruit;.flavors of toasty pear and tropical fruits are accented with hints of caramel apple and toffee, with a mineral-driven long, lemon-scented finish.

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=688118

Liparita Napa Valley Yountville Chardonnay 2006

Butter colored, medium bodied, sweet oak, sweet nut and pear flavors laced with a layer of caramel and hint of vanilla on a tangy finish.  


RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=769185

Beef Wellington Red Wine Dinner

Festive Beef Wellington Bordeaux - Meritage Proprietary Blends Wine-Dinner

For our gala family Christmas dinner Linda prepared classic Beef Wellington featuring tenderloin of beef, foie gras, medley of mushrooms, topped in an incredible port wine syrup sauce, baked in a puff pastry shell to lock in and harmonize the flavors. Starting with Caprese salad, side dishes included au-gratin potatoes, peas, brussel sprouts and crescent rolls.

Our dinner wine selections included a right bank Bordeaux Pomerol, proprietary Meritage blends from Napa and Yakima Valleys, and a duo of Burgundies, young and old. None of these are causal easy drinking wines, rather they were chosen to complement and highlight the complex flavors of the beef dinner preparation. The port wine sauce featured Warre's Warrior Oporto NV (and some HazyBlur Baroota South Australian Shiraz 2006 left over from the other evening).


Wines shown below, left to right:
Domaine Tortochot, Champerrier, Vieilles Vignes, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, 2005
Matthews Cellars Yakima Valley Proprietary Red 1999
Melka Metisse Napa Valley Proprietary Red 1999
Château du Domaine de l'Eglise Pomerol Bordeaux 1996
Albert Morot Beaune Bressandes, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru, Burgundy 1992



The Beef Wellington

Trimming Beef Tenderloin

Mushroom Medley

Foie Gras Hash

Grilled Mushroom Medley

Beef Wellington Preparation

Beef Wellington
Puffed Pastry Shell

Slicing Beef Wellington

The Holiday Dinner Wine Course:

Pierre Gimonnet Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuis 1er Cru N.V. 

Light gold color - Bright vibrant expressive, smooth silky polished nice drinking - touch of sweetness,crisp acidity, tangy lengthy finish.

RM  90 points. 


http://cellartracker.com/w?389638


 

Melka Metisse Proprietary Red Wine 1999

Flagshp namesake wine from legendary winemaker Phillip Melka, this wine comes entirely from hillside Napa Valley vineyards.

Full bodied, deep dark inky color - dense concentrated complex layers of black berry fruits, hints of black tea, silky clove and spice with a long ripe smooth refined tannin finish.

Drank from magnum.

RM 91 points.

80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc 100% Napa Valley 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=10051

Château du Domaine de l'Eglise Pomerol Bordeaux 1996

Surprisingly light, medium bodied, opaque garnet color, vibrant cedar and floral aromas and flavors predominate with bing cherry, black cherry and black berry flavors with layers of leather, tea and tobacco on the lingering moderate tannin finish.

Drank from magnum.


RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=333874

Matthews Cellars Yakima Valley Proprietary Red 1999

Surprising over-achiever for our gala Christmas beef wellington dinner - this was more polished than earlier tastings, full bodied, complex, vibrant and expressive with layers of blackberry, black currants and cherry fruits, a layer of spice, with hints of black tea, tar, leather and tobacco on the lingering moderate tannin finish.

52% Cabernet Sauvignon 37% Merlot 11% Cabernet Franc

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=79548

 
Domaine Tortochot, Champerrier, Vieilles Vignes, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin, Burgundy, 2005


Very open and expressive - bright berry, strawberry, mulberry, spice and wood with long moderate tannin finish.

RM 89 points,  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=537162

Albert Morot Beaune - Bressandes, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru, Burgundy

I thought this had given up the ghost a while back but it remarkably still had life in it - light bodied, opaque garnet purple color - initial funky barnyard aromas thankfully burned off - the black cherry and olive tapenade gave way to earthy leather, tea and wood.

RM 86 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=605439

Christmas Movie Wine Night In - Merlot and Shiraz

 Christmas Movie Wine Night In

Fun festive relaxing night in front of the fire with L and Mary Lou watching Christmas movies and sipping some tasty juice with sliced pears, blueberry infused goat cheese, ementheler and brie. Mary Lou likes Merlot while Linda prefers big rich ripe Shiraz. 

Northstar Columbia Valley Merlot 2001

Medium bodied and soft, this ten year old is showing its age a bit as the dark purple color is taking on a slight brownish rust color and the black berry and black cherry fruit flavors are giving way to leather and an olive tapenade tone.


RM 87 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=25832

HazyBlur The Baroota Shiraz 2006

Dark inky color, big, firm and full bodied, rich thick tongue coating, super ripe raisin fig fruits, hints of cedar, pepper, violets, and blueberry. This is too ripe and raisiny for my tastes but the bride likes it this way - and so does Wine Advocate who gives it a 91.

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=730925

2006 Napa Cabernets for Festive Holiday and 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner

2006 Napa Cabernets for Festive Holiday and 5 Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner

For this gala family dinner celebrating Erin & Johnny's 5th anniversary as well as early pre-Christmas we opened two 2006 vintage Napa Cabernet Sauvignons to accompany the beef tenderloin, twice baked potatoes, spinach and smoked Gouda cheese dip, artisan Fair Oaks Farm Ementheler cheese and four cheesecake medley deserts - turtle, caramel, berry-cream, and tiramirsou. 

Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauivignon 2006
Deck the Halls with boughs of holly ... We discovered Hall wines during our Napa Wine Experience 2003 with their moderrn op-art scuplture garden. The 2006 vintage was a high achievement for this Estate standard label Napa Cabernet with a Wine Spectator 93 point rating. Their flagship wine, Katheryn Hall 2006, was #20 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2010 with a score of 96 points!. This year it was selected the #2 Wine of the Year in Wine Spectator's annual roundup.

This wine opened with a vibrant forward layer of cedar/camphor which burned off after an hour to reveal the sweet ripe berry fruits. Dark inky color, rich, dense, concentrated, style, full-bodied, fruit forward ripe sweet currant, ripe black raspberry, plum, black cherry fruits with hints of milk chocolate and vanilla on a long soft tannin finish. Not as lush and jammy as earlier tasting notes.

RM 93 points. 

http://www.hallwines.com


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=761928


Chappellet Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauivignon 2006

We visited Chapellet Vineyards up on Pritchard Hill high above Napa town during our Napa Valley Wine Experience - Autumn '09. 


Dark inky purple color - medium-full bodied, complex and concentrated blackberry and black raspberry fruits in a tightly wound core accented by spicy oak on a balanced structured tannin finish.


This is actually a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 76%, Merlot 18%, Malbec 4%, and Petit Verdot 2%.

RM 91 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=595997


http://www.chappellet.com/

Picturesque Pritchard Hill
overlooking Napa Valley

Long Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Long Vineyards Estate Grown Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

From a two acre vineyard on Pritchard Hill on the eastern slopes above Napa Valley, 600-800 feet above Silverado Trail overlooking Lake Hennessey. This is a neighbor to David Arthur wines. We first discovered David Arthur during our Napa Wine Experience back in 1999. We visited Pritchard Hill and the neighboring Chappellet winery during our Napa Valley Wine Experience during the autumn of 2009.See earlier unwindWine blogpost on Long's David Arthur.
   
Long Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Starting to show its age as the dark garnet color has taken on a tinge of brown forming at the rim. Tight and somewhat closed, medium-full bodied; black cherry and black currant fruit flavors give way to smoke,  leather, earthy cedar and hints of cassis, spicy anise and tangy clove on the finish.


Alcohol 14.5%
325 cases produced.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=95144

Tasted at home with L with fruit and Indiana Fair Oaks Farms artisan cheeses including five year old aged cheddar. No relation to spouse and in-law Long family.

California Cabernet Wine & Dine Road Trip East

California Cabernet Wine & Dine Road Trip East

Another chapter in the life of a road warrior - a swing down the east coast - but one of those weeks that provides periodic rewards in the grind of business travel - some pleasurable dining experiences with great food and wine, and good company in some wonderful settings for some productive, effective business outcomes.

Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Deep dark purple-garnet color - medium-full bodied. Very approachable and flavorful, a favorite, consistent with previous tastings with full forward flavors of black raspberry, black cherry, currant, hints of spice and dark chocolate. Available, tasted by the glass at Willys Steak House & Grill in Shrewsbury, Massachusets. Great complement to beef steak dinner with Jeff G.
RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=875375
http://www.willyssteakhouse.com/

Arrowood Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Medium bodied, dark purple color. Another perennial favorite, consistent pleasant easy drinking cab, aromas and flavors of black berry fruit accented by a layer of cigar box with a hint of dark mocha and cedar on a moderate smooth tannin laced finish. Great complement to beef steak filet laced with gorgonzola dinner w/ Dan H at the Fig Tree Restaurant At The Lucas House in Charlotte.
RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=654910
http://www.charlottefigtree.com/ 

A group business dinner at Wildfire Restaurant in Tyson's Corner Galleria Mall in Mclean, VA with Danny A, James S and CS partners George, Gary and David. The group provided the opportunity for a select flight dinner tasting of Napa/Sonoma cabs and a starter Carneros Pinot Noir. More to come ...

Beringer Sonoma Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - Dark garnet color - medium bodied, aromas and flavors of somewhat forward black raspberry and black currants with a subtle layer of dark mocha chocolate through the moderate tannin lingering finish. Not as complex or sophisticated as the others but once again as is often the case, this is a high achieving moderately priced wine that offers good QPR (quality price ratio). 
RM 89 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1194880

Beringer Private Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Dark inky purple color, medium-full bodied; complex black raspberry, black berry, with a layer of dark chocolate and hints of cassis, oak and spice on a soft, smooth silky lingering finish.
RM 92 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=770953 


Chimney Rock Napa Valley Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Dark inky color, medium to full bodied; slightly tighter, firm and more closed than the others indicating it perhaps needs more time to open; fragrance and flavors of black berry, hints of spice and lead pencil, with subtle pepper and cedar notes on a balanced moderate tannin finish.
RM 90 points.
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1063566


Etude Napa Valley Carneros District Pinot Noir 2008 - Opaque ruby colored, medium to light bodied; nose and flavors of red berry fruits - cranberries, bing cherries, hints of strawberry with layer of dusty rose petals and hint of spice on the finish.
RM 88 points. 
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1208540

Beef Steak Dinner Wine Flight - Napa, Sonoma, Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Blends

Beef Steak Dinner Wine Flight - Napa, Sonoma, Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon Blends

A flight of Cabernet Sauvignon blend wines from Napa, Sonoma and Bordeaux taken to festive holiday dinner at neighbors' Mark and Shirley's. They served David Burke’s Chicago Primehouse aged prime beef  Black Angus steaks. The restaurant dry-ages its hand-picked meats in a Himalayan salt-tiled aging room on their premises at Rush and Ontario Streets in Chicago.

All their steaks are from a prize winning Black Angus senior herd that sires the highly coveted USDA-quality grade beef. Our dinner featured 55 day aged Rib-eye, prime filet, and New York Strip steaks purchased at the Chicago Prime steak house, accompanied by basil mashed potatoes and butternut squash ravioli with roasted sun-dried tomatoes (shown above).

The wines:
 

Chateau St Jean Cinq Cepages Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 - Cinq Cepages means 'five flavors' ala a Bordeaux style meritage blend - medium bodied, soft black raspberry, red currants and kirsch flavors highlighted by a layer of tea and hint of caramel and touch of spice on a moderate light short polished tannin finish.

RM 90 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2205

Fisher Vineyards Coach House Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 - Meritage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot from the Cameron Vineyard above the Napa Valley Silverado Trail and Cabernet Sauvignon from Stagecoach Vineyards above Oakville, and Merlot from Feingold Vineyard just over the hill to the west in Sonoma. Medium to full bodied with black raspberry, black berry, coffee and kirsch flavors highlighted by a layer of leather, tea and hint of caramel, mocha and touch of spice on a moderate tannin finish. Similar to the Cinq Cepages above but tighter with possessing the leather tone.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=18076

Château Pontet-Canet Grand Cru Classe' Pauillac Bordeaux 1997 - A mini-horizontal vintage selection to compare the 1997 Cinq Cepages and Bordeaix against a 1999 Napa Cabernet blend. The Pontet-Canet exhibited medium-full bodied - big floral bouquet with flavors of violets, earthy leather, layer of of black cherry and black berry accented by tea, tobacco box and black currants and cedar on a moderate tannin finish.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=26493

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 -
Medium bodied, sweet red berry and currant fruits with layers of milk chocolate, anise, oak and tar on a smooth silky lingering finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=678191

Chateau St Jean Alexander Valley Belle Terre Vineyard Select Late Harvest Johannisburg Riesling 1998

This desert wine accompanied hand made dark chocolate truffles rolled in crushed almonds and pecans.

Marquis Phillips '9' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2001

Marquis Phillips '9' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2001

Marquis Phillips '9'
McLaren Vale Shiraz
(2005 label)

Consistent notes with earlier tastings of this ten year old shiraz. Super ripe and rich Amarone-like raisin scents and spice flavors overpower the forward blackberry liquor, ripe plum fruits, tar and licorice - much more so than earlier tastings. Not nearly as polished as other vintages. 

RM 88 points. WS92 RM92 

Tasted w/ L at home with fruit and artisan cheeses. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=96213

 

Liparita Napa Valley Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Liparita Napa Valley Vineyard Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Big full floral, dark fruit and leather tones. Big forward flavors of black cherry and berry, cassis, smoke and dark plum fruits accented by smoke and spice with hints of spicy earthy cedar tones and firm tannins. Initially slightly tart and awkward, eventually comes together to be full of complex and balanced big fruit, smoke and firm but smooth tannins on a long lingering cinnamon spice finish. 

RM 91 points. 

Great with Spaghetti and meatball dinner but especially good with fresh Parmigiana cheese, fresh baked crescent rolls and natural baked pita chip crackers.  

First discovered this wine during our Napa Wine Experiences in 1998 and 1999.

Alcohol: 14.1%

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=193055

Kilikanoon Parable McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004

Kilikanoon Parable McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004

Dark inky garnet color - full bodied. Dense, thick, chewy ultra-ripe almost raisiny black berry fruits, hint of ripe blueberry with complex layers of tapenade asphalt, truffles, and roasted meats on a glycerin coated moderate tannin finish. While it is nicely balanced, with the firm ripe hard edged flavors, this is not an easy drinking wine and I don't think it will soften further with time. Tasted with roast beef and cooked vegetables dinner. A bit obtuse, too much for even my tastes which prefer big bold forward wines.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=246942

Robert Craig Amador County Zinfandel 2001

Robert Craig Amador County Zinfandel 2001

From Amador County nestled up against the Sierra Foothills. This ten year old Zinfandel shows dark garnet color showing its age with a slight brownish rust color. Medium bodied, its moments of polish and balance turn to a slightly awkward tart cherry taste at times. Flavors of black berry, black cherry, spice and tobacco predominate with hints of oak, floral, and touch of vanilla with moderate tannins on the finish. 

RM 89 points.

Alcohol: 15.3%

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=157348

Selected and pulled from the cellar for Thanksgiving dinner, it went well with bar-b-que ribs the following weekend.

Gala lunch with Robert Craig at the winery atop
Howell Mountain.

As noted in earlier blog posts, we're long time fans of Bob and the Craig team and their 'artwork'. Our friendship with Robert and our 'Affinity' for his wines dates back at our first visit to Robert Craig during our Napa Valley Wine Experience in 1996, and then again at our Robert Craig featured producer wine dinners during our Napa Wine Experience 1998, and again in 1999. We attended special lunches and Harvest Parties up at the Howell Mountain Winery with its spectacular views of Napa Valley below and looking across to the Mayacamas Range from Diamond Mountain down to Mt Veeder. 

We last visited Robert Craig during our Napa Valley Mt Veeder Appellation Trail visit this spring. Indeed, we have a assembled a vertical collection of this wine dating back to the inaugural release 1993 vintage.

Thanksgiving Dinner Wine Selections - Teruzzi & Puthod Terre Di Tufo 2006 &Szigeti Welschriesling Brut Classic Sekt

Two European white wines for Thanksgiving turkey and dressing dinner wine selections -

TERUZZI & PUTHOD TERRE DI TUFO 2006 - Tuscan

Fun wine with the whimsical matchbook size label. Winemaker's notes:

Blend: 80% Vernaccia, 7% Chardonnay, 7% Malvasia, 6% Vermentino

Color: Deep straw tending toward gold; Fruity bouquet with light notes of vanilla cream, tangerine, citrus and pineapple.Subtle aromas and flavors of pear, hint of pineapple, a touch of lemon with nut and toast on the finish. A full-bodied citrusy attack with a little woodiness and subtle acid, followed by a shortish finish. Firm acidity and fresh with flavors of citrus zest, walnuts and a pleasant touch of toast on the finish. Served from Magnum.

RM 88 points. 



https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=526694

 Szigeti Welschriesling Brut Classic Sekt N.V. Sektkellerei - Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee, Gols 

Pale color, medium bodied, subdued notes of apricot, peach blossoms, and pear are overshadowed by a smoky nut layer with muted tone of anise. 

RM 85 points.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=385773