Pride Mountain Cabernet Del Dotto Cab Franc 1997

Gala Christmas Surf and Turf Dinners Features Pride Mountain Cabernet Del Dotto Cab Franc 1997 David Arthur Chardonnay John Anthony Sauvignon Blanc

For our gala family Christmas dinner, Linda prepared surf and turf - beef tenderloin and lobster tails. I pulled from the cellar two 1997 Napa Cabernets - a magnum of Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and a Del Dotto Vineyards Cabernet Franc. For the lobster course I pulled a David Arthur Napa Valley Chardonnay and a John Anthony Sauvignon Blanc.

John Anthony Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2013 

Tony Truchard practiced medicine in Reno, Nevada before moving his family to Napa Valley where he purchased and developed 180 acres of property in the Carneros region. His sons John Anthony and Michael learned the business from the ground up working the vineyards. Today they own and operate the John Anthony brand sourcing fruit from vineyards they developed on leased land. Their wines feature small vineyard sites from the Oak Knoll District, Carneros and Coombsville regions of Napa.

This Sauvignon Blanc was a great starter with the shrimp cocktail and artisan cheese and meats course leading to the lobster course. This is butter/straw colored, light bodied, crisp balance of fruits and acidity - aromas and flavors of ripe green apples, ripe melon and hints of zesty citrus with a slight layer of smoke on the opening.

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1788034

http://www.johnanthonyvineyards.com/

David Arthur Napa Valley Chardonnay 2012 

We visited the David Arthur estate Vineyards and Winery high atop Atlas Peak during our Napa Wine Experience in 2013. While known for Napa Cabernets, they also produce this Chardonnay, another wine sourced from Napa growers from vineyards. This wine presents a big bold Napa style. The Chardonnay fruit is sourced from from independent growers' sites in the Oak Knoll District and Stagecoach Vineyard in Napa Valley.

A great complement to the lobster medallions in drawn butter, light pale straw color with greenish hues, full bodied with crisp acidity and buttery full firm flavors of apple, pear, figs, and stone fruits with tones of pineapple, guava, and lightly toasted oak and minerality on a full firm long finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1607206

https://davidarthur.com/assets/2012-dav-chardonnay.pdf

Pride Mountain Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

We discovered Pride and acquired this magnum of Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon at the winery during our Napa Valley trip in 1999.

I wrote recently about the 1997 Napa vintage and how it is now coming of age. This Pride is likely at the peak of its drinking window.

Served from magnum. Blackish purple/garnet, full bodied, firm, tight, complex concentrated black berry and black currant fruits with tones of spice and cedar with hints of smoke, anise and mocha turning to a tangy gripping tannin finish.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

RM 92 points
94 points Wine Spectator
91-93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

93 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
92 points Wine Enthusiast
91 points Connoisseurs Guide

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=96717

Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 1997

We acquired a case of this wine on release back in the late nineties. This bottle better resembles earlier tasting results than some recent bottles that were somewhat diminished from aging.

Tonight's tasting was more consistent with notes from a few years ago, dark ruby color, medium to full body, spicy black berry and black currant fruits are still vibrant in this nineteen year old, accented by tones of earthy leather, cedar and tobacco with hints of anise on the smooth tannin finish.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=35491

http://www.deldottovineyards.com/

Château Corbin St. Émilion Grand Cru 2006

Château Corbin St. Émilion Grand Cru 2006

Home alone for the evening, as it protocol, I opened this 375ml half bottle to taste with dinner. Even then, I had one glass, half the half the first evening, and the remainder the following evening. This was a nice complement to some hearty cheeses and French bread.

I wrote about the allure of half bottles a couple times in recent weeks in these pages. 

Château Corbin is one of the oldest estates in Saint-Emilion, dating back to the 15th century.

Built in the middle of the 19th century, Corbin was purchased in 1924 by the great-grandparents of the current owners. Since 1999, the estate has been managed by Anabelle Cruse-Bardinet, a Bordeaux University oenology graduate, who represents the 4th generation of the family. Jean-Philippe Fort, one of Michel Rolland's team of œnologists, has been Corbin’s wine-making consultant since 2006.

The Corbin vineyards cover 13 contiguous hectares (32 acres) in the commune of Saint-Emilion, adjacent to the Pomerol appellation. The grape varieties planted in the tradition of the 'Right Bank', 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with the average age of the vines being about 30 years. The finest grapes from the best plots and the oldest vines are used for making Château Corbin while grapes from younger vines go into a second label wine (XX de Corbin and DIVIN de Corbin).

I wrote recently about the Right Bank of Bordeaux and the grape varieties and style of wines produced there. 

The producer's website lists sites where the wine can be obtained in the US, a small number of wine shops, including Bassin's MacArthur Wines in WDC, where I recall obtaining this bottle.

This was dark garnet colored, medium bodied, was a bit tight and closed the first evening, being more open and approachable the second day when the smoke, creosote, black olive and herb layer gave way to the dark berry and tangy black cherry fruits, with notes of cedar, black tea and clove spice turning to fine tannins on the crisp clean moderate finish.

RM 87 points, same as WS.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=360786

http://www.chateau-corbin.com/uk/home.php

Del Dotto Napa Cabernet - The 1998 Vintage

Del Dotto Napa Cabernet 1998 BYOB at Angelis Italian Naperville

Winter storm warning with light snow and plunging temperatures didn't deter us from venturing out for Friday night dinner at Angelis Italian, our favorite (Naperville) neighborhood Trattoria. We took BYOB this 1998 Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet.

I have written often in these pages about the '98 vintage of Napa Cabs. It was much maligned by the pundits and was generally regarded as a disappointing vintage. The inferiority of the vintage was exacerbated by the fact it was 'surrounded' by stellar vintages. In fact the run-up to the '98 vintage was a run of four years of highest rated seasons, then '98, then another blockbuster year in '99.  Generally, any vintage of the nineties was a collectable highly rated vintage except '98. So it was that this vintage was the one to avoid, there were many great wines available, and the follow on year added to its demise as a non-collectable, non-respectable wine, a vintage to be avoided.

Here are the vintage reviews from Wine Spectator for the period.

Vintage WS Rating Vintage Review

1999	97		Drink	Tremendous depth, concentration and structure from a cool, moderate year; ageworthy
1998	84		Past peak	Cool, damp year with mostly green, herbal wines marked by gritty tannins; few memorable bottles
1997	99		Drink	Huge crop of ripe, opulent, fleshy, concentrated wines, from near-perfect weather; super in Sonoma, too
1996	96		Drink	A sleeper, with a remarkable number of compelling wines; warm year with fine concentration and depth
1995	97		Drink	Surprisingly fine year, with wines marked by great flavors, balance and structure
1994	97		Drink	A showy year all around; ripe, complex and fleshy, with excellent depth

The Cellartracker community average rating for this wine is 86.7 (points), vs 91.8 for the '97, and 92 for the '99. I say, buy it up, drink it up, and enjoy!

So why is one vintage better than another? The 1998 vintage was a difficult year for growers due to the effects of the El Niño weather pattern that brought unusually cool weather and rain, both early in the spring and sporadically later in the season. This resulted in a fruit set that was small and late. The cooler temperatures continued on into the summer, with a few periods of heat where growers were concerned with sunburn. The result was uneven ripeness, irregular-sized berries, and an overall sluggish ripening. While September brought more suitable, drier, warmer weather, the harvest was delayed into late October, with some wineries finishing as late as November.

There was a silver lining in this clouded vintage with many great values emerging. Here is another testament to refute the prevailing views. There were many sleepers of the vintage, and because of their tainted lineage, they were and still are great bargains with high QPR (Quality Price Ratio). I've written often that I think the '98 has consistently been more approachable, and more pleasant drinking than the much heralded, revered '97, and could be obtained, in many cases (no pun intended), for half the price.

Note, this is not applicable across the region, we hold some Napa Cabs that live up to the deplorable reputation of the vintage, and are indeed the cause, not the effect. But, we're consistently rewarded for having gone against the prevailing views and stocking up on '98's that have proven wonderful wines with respectable aging potential, despite the belief they would be early gratification but short-lived.

Del Dotto produced such a wine in their Napa Valley Cabernet. This wine, even eighteen years later is delightful, while the '97 is just now starting to open and reveal its potential. Up until recently, I would have preferred the 98 over the 97. Their aging curves may only now be intersecting, and perhaps crossing.

My on-line wine journal shows nine reviews of this wine dating back to our tasting of it at the winery in 2000. The earliest reviews rated it 92 points, indicating that early gratification, but half of them over the last six years were ranked 90 points. Only now is this wine starting to show its age as I deducted a point from my last four consistent reviews of this wine.

Shown left, we're tasting Del Dotto Napa Cab with David and Yolanda Del Dotto at our favorite dining spot/table, at Tra Vigne, in St Helena, during our 1999 Napa Wine Experience Tour. 

We hold over a dozen vintages of this wine going back to their inaugural vintage in 1993. We are now starting to appreciate its aging potential as some of the vintages are just emerging to reveal their true potential. I recently wrote the same thing, about such a phenomenon, regarding the great, super premium Dominus, Napa Valley Estate Red Wine, that twenty, even thirty years later, it opens to show its true greatness and potential. While perhaps not Dominus' equal, some of the Del Dotto releases are showing some of the same traits.

Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 

Cellartracker reviewer AlphaWillie wrote of this wine: "This bottle was great and did not have any of the issues that others have reported."

My view: "A sleeper of the vintage, a consistently pleasant, nice drinking wine, belaying and despite its lackluster reviews. Still life left, this was dark garnet colored, medium bodied, still vibrant and lively, nicely balanced, moderately complex black cherry fruits accented by tobacco leaf, leather, tones of tangy spicy oak and modest but pleasant tannins on the finish".

RM 89 points.

My early reviews of this wine attribute to it a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 5% Cab Franc.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=616987

http://www.deldottovineyards.com/

Lail Vineyards Blueprint Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Lail Vineyards Blueprint Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Home alone for the evening I pulled this 375ml half bottle to taste with the leftover steak from Saturday night dinner.

Lail Vineyards is a legendary Napa Valley producer with roots dating back five generations to the founding of Inglenook Vineyards in 1879 by their great, grand-uncle Gustav Niebaum. Today, Niebaum ancestors continue the tradition making premier Napa wines with this label “Blueprint”, based on Jon Lail’s wine country architectural practice, which dates back to the 2001 vintage release.

Blueprint is a blend of Bordeaux varietals with the 2005 vintage being a cuvee of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. The wine is based on the estate's flagship wine, J. Daniel Cuvee, which was a proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot from 1995 -2000. The grapes are sourced from vineyards in several sub-appellations in Napa Valley including Howell Mountain, Oakville, St. Helena, and Yountville. The wine is crafted by well known winemaker Philippe Melka who has been winemaker at Lail Vineyards since the inaugural vintage in 1995. We have several wines from Melka from several leading producers across Napa Valley including his own private labels.


Melka's notes on this wine, “The 2005 Blueprint is seductive and approachable. The wine reveals dark notes of blackberries intermixed with vanilla, cacao and coconuts. In the mouth it is round with a pure attack and good balance finishing with raspberry and cherry flavors and well-integrated sweet tannins.”

Dark blackish garnet colored with brownish hue setting in, medium full bodied, black fruits are overtaken by licorice and cedar/camphor and tones of smoke and creosote that burn off over time turning to tangy firm, tight black cherry and black raspberry fruits with tongue coating tannins on the lingering finish.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=472976

https://www.lailvineyards.com/

Robert Craig Mt. Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Winter Storm Shelter in Place with Wine and Movie

With over six inches of snow on the ground and still coming down, we settled in for the evening in front of the fireplace with a movie, wine and cheese and fruit plate. I had already pulled this big Napa Cab as an option for our holiday dinner the previous night so I opened this Robert Craig Mt Veeder. We watched on-demand, the movie "War Dogs" which we found thoroughly entertaining, perfect for the mood of the occasion.

I wondered about how this wine was holding up based on the lackluster reviews I read on Cellertracker, but was pleasantly surprised when it exceeded my expectations.

Robert Craig Mt. Veeder Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Our Cellartracker records show we hold at least fifteen vintages of this label dating back to what I believe was the inaugural vintage in 1993. 

 Showing amazing resilience and vibrancy in its seventeenth year, this is what this wine is supposed to taste like, with all the essential characteristics of a Mt.Veeder appellation Cabernet – dense, generous black fruit integrated with fine, sinewy tangy tannins. 

Expansive aromas of bright dark berry fruit emanated from the glass. Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, bright forward ripe black currant fruit tones accented by black raspberry and black berry, spicy oak and anise. The finish features a solid core of black fruit that lengthens and combines with smooth mocha, cedar and cassis for a plush, long-lived finish. 

Blend: 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=6530

http://www.robertcraigwine.com/

Kathryn Hall Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Kathryn Hall Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 for Ivy Wheaton Christmas/Birthday Dinner

For our annual dinner outing taking friend Marlene U out to celebrate her birthday and the Christmas season, we dined at Ivy Restaurant in Wheaton, IL. We took BYOB this Kathryn Hall Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. It was a perfect complement to my Rib-eye steak, Linda's petit filet, and Marlene's BBQ ribs. Kathy served us and provided attentive friendly service.

We dined in the side-room overlooking the courtyard (shown below) which was a picture postcard with the heavy falling snow. While its not as picturesque as the main dining room, which is actually the sanctuary of a historic church (shown left), complete with stain glass windows, it's more intimate and quieter, as the sanctuary main dining room tends to be rather noisy, even bordering on boisterous.

For the second time in a row, my Ivy steak entree was laced with Rosemary which I do not favor. Otherwise, our dinners were delightful.

A really cool and interesting part of the Ivy dining experience was their illuminated menus - a great feature in a darkened restaurant. See their illumination in the lower center of the picture above.

Kathryn Hall Napa Valley Sacrashe Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

This single vineyard designated wine predates the Kathryn label becoming the signature flagship of the Hall brand. This label's demise can perhaps be explained by their expansion to a broad portfolio of labels, many small production boutique or individual labels,  extending the Sacrashe Vineyard fruit more broadly across the brand line-up. The Sacrashe Vineyard (shown right) sits just above the Winery on the estate which lies near the Napa Auberge du Soleil Relaix a Chateau Resort.

We visited the Hall Rutherford estate winery with its magnificent caves art gallery, cellar and tasting room (shown left) during our Napa Wine Experience in 2013.

Its time to drink up this vintage label as its showing it age, revealing its true profile and character, but still drinking nicely. Dark garnet colored, medium bodied, the black cherry and black berry fruits are starting to give way to black olive, leather, tobacco leaf and hints of tar and anise, with smooth soft tannins. This is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot.

RM 87 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=610687

http://www.hallwines.com/

http://www.ivyofwheaton.com/

Godspeed Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Godspeed Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

A colleague Stan stopped over to talk business so I pulled this from the cellar to taste with a selection of artisan cheeses.

We discovered and acquired this wine at the vineyard/producer during our Napa Mt Veeder Wine Experience back in 2011. This was drinking very nicely in its twelfth year and may be at its prime, not likely to improve further with more aging. This 2004 was the best showing of this label that I have had to my recollection. This is a small production label from this boutique producer. Ironically, I saw some available just this week at Total Wine in Minnesota. 

Dark blackish purple/garnet colored, medium-full bodied, aromatic, black berry and black raspberry fruit flavors, a bit tight and firmly structured with tones of truffle and spice with hints of cedar, tobacco and green pepper, turning to moderate tannins on the long finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1106764

Château de Ferrand St. Émilion Grand Cru 2010

Château de Ferrand St. Émilion Grand Cru 2010 in 375 Half Bottle Format

Traveling on business, I picked up a 375ml half bottle of this Château de Ferrand, St. Émilion Grand Cru at Total Wine to taste with carry-out dinner back at the hotel. 

I've written often about half bottles in these pages; ... as late as last week. Here's another scenario where a small format bottle is in order. For the money spent, while I got half as much wine, I got a much better wine. Since I was dining alone and wouldn't consume a whole bottle anyway, and can't take the remainder on the airplane home (in carry-on luggage), I consider this a useful option, when opting for a higher quality wine. 

The challenge of course is the options are very limited in seeking small format labels. Smaller merchants likely won't offer any, while a beverage super store such as Binny's in Chicagoland, and in this case, Total Wine, will offer a selection of wines in small format. Binny's has close to a hundred labels on offer (their Oak Brook store aisle is shown above) while Total Wine had perhaps a score. 

Note, that a half bottle will cost sightly more than half the price of a standard 750ml format, so there is a bit of an uplift in price for the lower volume unique offering. In the case, a standard bottle cost $39.99, the half bottle was $23.

At six years of age, this was perfect for current drinking now, probably at the apex of its drinking window, not likely to improve with further aging. It was very pleasant with smoked cheese and a hearty salad.

Immediately upon opening, bright berry fruit and floral aromas erupted from the bottle. Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied with nicely balanced, bright, forward black berry and black raspberry fruits with tones of anise and hints of dark mocha and subtle spicy oak on a lingering polished tannin finish. 

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1732472

Château La Louvière Pessac-Leognan 1994

Château La Louvière Pessac-Leognan 1994

Home alone for the evening, I opened a half bottle from the cellar to enjoy a glass with leftover BBQ rib dinner. I enjoy keeping 375ml small format bottles for such occasions for convenience and for temperate consumption. This is one of a half dozen remaining from a case of 1/2 bottles acquired back on release of this wine, noting that a such a case contains the same amount of wine, in twice as many bottles - 24x375 is 9 liters, the same as a 12x750ml case. I've also written in these pages, that the 375ml, 1/2 bottle format, also allows for tasting two times as many wines if opening multiple bottles for a tasting, with the same consumption.

The last time I reviewed this wine in a 1/2 bottle from this case eighteen months ago, I wrote, "While I lauded that there was life left in the earlier bottle tasting note, tonight, the dark berry fruits are definitely giving way to non-fruit earth, leather, creosote and musty wood notes.

Dark ruby color with a brownish tinge starting to set in. Medium bodied, leathery and smoky creosote tones predominate over the black cherry and black berry fruits, accented by cedar and tangy and slightly tart cinnamon spice that gives way to a big full floral note that fills the mouth and lingers for minutes with the tongue coating moderate tannins."

That deterioration of this wine approaching the end of its drinking window continues as the fruit continues to fall off with non-fruit tones encroaching. It should be noted that wine ages less gracefully in smaller format bottles. I need to keep this in mind and not wait so long between bottles, and need to consume these remaining soon (er).

PS. Saving half of the bottle until the second night, the funkiness had blown off, replaced by the floral tones of its youth, with the fruit re-emerging to the grandeur of earlier. The lesson: don't be hasty to rush a twenty plus year old... give it some time to open, settle and return to its native character and profile. 

RM 85 points the first evening on opening, 87 points the second evening.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=38869


Previous reviews ....

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2015/06/chateau-la-louviere-pessac-leognan-1994.html

http://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2013/12/chateau-la-louviere-pessac-leognan.html

Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah Walla Walla Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2003

After going to see Brad Pitt's new (movie) release, "Allied", (okay, but far from blockbuster, love story, war action, intrigue to the end), we settled in at home with Netflix, some wine and a plate of cheese, fruit and nuts. After the recent tasting of the Columbia Valley Syrah this week, I had a taste for another wine from the region. I wanted something of quality and complexity, so I pulled this Spring Valley Vineyard Uriah Red Bordeaux Blend from the Walla Walla Valley in Washington.

I wrote about this producer and label in an earlier blogpost. 

This has the profile of a 'Right Bank' Pomerol (AOC) Bordeaux, with a blend predominantly of Merlot 77%, with Cabernet Franc 22% and Petit Verdot 1%.

For neophytes, 'Right Bank' refers to areas to the north and east of the Gironde River that runs diagonally through the Bordeaux region, while 'Left Bank' refers to those areas to the west and south. While all Bordeaux (AOC - appellation original controlle wines - subscribe to the rules of the appellation governing such things), consist of 'Bordeaux varietals' - Cabernet Sauvignon and/or Merlot, accented by Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, perhaps some Malbec, Left Bank wines are predominantly Merlot, while those from the Right Bank are mainly Cabernet Sauvignon.

The last time I tasted this wine was eighteen months ago when I wrote, "This is the oldest of ten vintages we hold of this wine and is the last bottle from this year. This is a Merlot based Bordeaux blend. At fourteen years its likely at the apex of its tasting window/curve." Well, obviously it wasn't the last bottle, bottle variations aside, it certainly was at its apex as the bright fruits have started to diminish slightly, taking on a sense of overripe, raisin tones, and starting to give way to the non-fruit notes of tea, graphite and cigar box. The spicy tones of the Cabernet Franc are starting to show through.

In a tasting note from the period, I wrote the same thing about the 2004 vintage, "the fruits are starting to subside a bit and give way to non-fruit tones".  All that said, the same profile remains ...

I said above, 'bottle variations aside', but perhaps this bottle represents more the true character of this label, because I've written this about the 2005 vintage, "Definitely needs some time - decant and let breathe. A bit harsh up front with cedar and tar overpowering black currant and black berry fruits - turns to vanilla with creme brulee burnt sugar on the long firm tannin filled finish."

Dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, bright vibrant flavors (starting to fade) of black berry, cherry and currants with (increasing predominant) tones of tea and cigar box turning to mild tannins and lively acidity on the long, silky, finish.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=148343

http://www.springvalleyvineyard.com/

 

Cune Rioja Reserva 2011

Cune Rioja Reserva Tempranillo Blend 2011

I wrote about the 2010 vintage of this wine recently when son Ryan brought it to our family Sunday brunch. I said at the time that while I don't do much Spanish wine and we hold only a few labels in the cellar, I would rate this one a good QPR (quality-price-ratio) value buy and that I would definitely pick some up. When I went to get some, the '10 was replaced by the next vintage release, the 2011 was on offer, and I also have seen the 2012 in some stores. I picked up the '11 and will probably try the '12 at some point too.

Cune is actually named after the initials of the production company, C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España), the first wine of this winery to do so. By their testament, this is produced in the style of  "a red ‘clarete’ wine was made as a fine wine in the style of the Bordeaux “Claret” produced by the great chateaux’s of the Medoc."

C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Reserva 2011

I liked the 2010 more than the 2011, which was less structured without the predominant backbone core of dark fruits accentuated by spicy oak. Like the 2010, the 'll was also as noted by the winemaker's notes, "Intense ruby red, bright and deep in colour." I found it similar in style and character, dark berry fruits accented by spice, cassis, oak, and tones of smoke and creosote with long lingering tannins on the bright tangy finish. 

As with the 2010, the 2011 is also a blend of Tempranillo: 85%, Grenacha, Graciano and Mazuelo 15%. 

RM 89 points. I gave the '10 91 points, Robert Parker gave the '11 90 points.
 

http://www.cvne.com/

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2141378

 

Alexandria Nicole Cellars Jet Black Horse Heaven Hills Syrah 2012

Alexandria Nicole Cellars "Jet Black" Horse Heaven Hills Syrah 2012

Traveling to Madison, WI on business, I dined with a client and took this Columbia Valley Syrah BYOB to dinner. I found this single vineyard designated Syrah at the local Verona Wine Cellars wine shop. Being out of state, and in a small tertiary market presented discovery of small production labels such as this, that I haven't seen in distribution, perhaps because they would not meet the volume demands of our larger wine retailers in the Chicago metro marketplace.

This small production boutique bottling is from small family run Alexandria Nicole Cellars in Prosser, Washington. Their Destiny Ridge Estate Vineyard is in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA, located high on the bluffs overlooking the Columbia River. This label offers good value QPR (quality price ratio).

The owner/producers of Alexandria Nicole Cellars are winemaker Jarrod and wife Ali (Alexandria Nicole) Boyle, who produce small lots of hand-crafted estate wines, meaning wines sourced from their own 327 acre property. They planted their vineyard's first vines in the fall of 1998, and built their winery in the fall of  2004.

Jet Black is an apt name for this blackish garnet ink colored, full bodied Syrah. It's dense, thick, complex, concentrated black berry and black cherry fruits are accented by lavender floral notes, tongue coating layers of mocha, black olive and espresso, with tones of toffee, cedar, and spicy oak with approachable acidity, turning to fine, silky and sleek tannins on the smooth finish.

Garnet color. Aromas of chocolate toffee, blueberry tart, and floral honey with a satiny, tangy, fruity medium-to-full body and a polished, complex, medium-long delicate spice, plum skin, and wet cedar finish with fine, well-integrated tannins and light oak. A supple, succulent syrah that is sure to satisfy. - See more at: http://www.tastings.com/Wine-Review/Alexandria-Nicole-2013-Jet-Black-Destiny-Ridge-Vineyard-Syrah-Horse-Heaven-Hills-USA-09-18-2015.aspx#sthash.Y72XeSQn.dpuf

Garnet color. Aromas of chocolate toffee, blueberry tart, and floral honey with a satiny, tangy, fruity medium-to-full body and a polished, complex, medium-long delicate spice, plum skin, and wet cedar finish with fine, well-integrated tannins and light oak. A supple, succulent syrah that is sure to satisfy. - See more at: http://www.tastings.com/Wine-Review/Alexandria-Nicole-2013-Jet-Black-Destiny-Ridge-Vineyard-Syrah-Horse-Heaven-Hills-USA-09-18-2015.aspx#sthash.Y72XeSQn.dpuf

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1820051

http://www.alexandrianicolecellars.com/
 

Venge Vineyards Merlot, Mr Riggs for BBQ Rib Dinner

Venge Vineyards Merlot, Mr Riggs for BBQ Rib Dinner

With son Alec and Viv home for a post-holiday dinner, I pulled a 'V' bottle for Viv, Venge Merlot for her request for a Bordeaux varietal. I also pulled a bottle of Mr Riggs McLaren Vale Shiraz of the same vintage, 2004, to accompany Linda's dinner featuring Ditka's BBQ ribs, roasted potatoes and sweet potatoes, asparagus (shown left) and her delectable baked brie pastry with fresh berries, roasted pecan nuts and honey (shown below).


Venge Vineyards Oakville Estate Merlot 2004

I must admit, this bottle exceeded my expectations.  Wow, I wish I had more of this. At a dozen years of age, it seemed to be at its prime, the apex of its drinking window. Winemaker Kirk Venge was prescient when he said back upon release, "This wine will drink well now through 2016."

Normally for BBQ ribs, I would select a hearty zinfandel or big rich shiraz, which was our second wine, but this was delicious with our opening course of artisan cheeses, Swiss, Bellavitano and a big bold Blue which served as the transition to the BBQ. 

Kirk, Nils and Andy
at Rossini Ranch

We visited the Venge Vineyards estate in Oakville several times starting back in the nineties when legendary patriarch Nils Venge was working the vineyards and operations, and up at their new Rossini Ranch in 2002 when he was working with son Kirk setting up new vineyards, cave and operations in the eastern foothills of the Palisades Mountain range up in Calistoga (shown right).

Nils Venge purchased the 7-hectare (17-acre) vineyard in Oakville in 1976 and planted it in Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Kirk continued his father's legacy, taking over ownership of Venge Vineyards in 2008. He purchased and developed the vineyard in Calistoga, where the winery stands today. 

We visited the new site during the time they were digging the cave out of the side of the mountain in 2002. Venge's family run operation now involves three generations and has grown to produce a large range of wines sourced from multiple vineyards around Napa Valley and Sonoma. Venge's main focus is full-bodied red blends such as their Zinfandel-based blend Scout's Honor, named for the family vineyard dog, and the powerful flagship Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve, sourced from the Oakville Estate.

This 100% merlot was sourced from Oakville. It is dark blackish garnet and purple colored, medium to full bodied, refined, polished and elegant, bursting with floral perfume and sweet candied red and black fruits, accented by flavors of cola, dark cherry and hints of cocoa and vanilla, almost approaching caramel. Kirk compares this wine to a fine Pomerol (right bank Merlot based Bordeaux). This is structured, yet silky and seamlessly balanced, turning to ripe gripping but smooth tannins, modest acidity and rich texture on a lingering polished finish.

RM 92 points. Wine Advocate gave this 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=332796

http://www.vengevineyards.com/

Sauvignon Blonde - Nova Wine Marilyn Series

Sauvignon Blonde - Nova Wine Marilyn Series

To accompany Thanksgiving leftovers, Alec pulled from the wine cooler this Sauvignon Blonde, a label from Nova Wine series based on the legendary starlet Marilyn Monroe. The unique branding strategy was built on their Marilyn Merlot label but has expanded to include a premium label, and economy entry and some complementary labels such this one. I admit I have fallen prey to the whimsy of 'collecting' these uncustomary, not necessarily collectable worthy wines now holding almost two decades of Marilyn Merlot in our cellar. Indeed, my Nova Wines on-line label library features 29 vintages of the Marilyn Merlot label.

Unlike collectable wines that generally gain value as they age due to their distinction of being more rare as time passes, as bottles from the vintage are consumed, and based on their drink-ability over their aging/drinking life, these wines don't have the aging potential to improve and gain interesting character over an extended time. Rather, these wines' gain in value from aging is primarily due to the uniqueness and novelty of their labels.

Nova Wines Sauvignon Blonde Marilyn Sauvignon Blanc 2013

Never-the-less, this was a respectable enjoyable drinking wine showing extraordinarily high value QPR (quality price ratio) for its pricepoint.

I reviewed this wine back in 2013 when I wrote, "This 2013 release Sauvignon Blonde is light straw colored, light bodied, crisp, clean, and flavorful with lemon citrus tones turning to pear and stone with a tangy long lingering finish. Great QPR (quality-price-ratio) in this collectable artist label series"

Today, a layer of pleasant green apple predominates before giving way to the pear, wet stone and whisper of apricot on the tangy lingering finish.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1866356

http://www.marilynwines.com/

Vérité La Joie Red Bordeaux Blend

Vérité La Joie Red Bordeaux Blend

Thanksgiving evening, Jared (Gelband) stopped over with a bottle of Vérité La Joie Red Bordeaux Blend. To accompany the wine we paired some Smoked Gouda and Swiss cheeses. 

Vérité La Joie Red Bordeaux Blend 1999 

The Verite opened firm and tight with a hard edge, then reverted to a layer of barnyard funk, but after two hours, it burst open with complex concentrated structured backbone of dark raspberry and black currant fruits accented by layers of  graphite, cigar box, tobacco leaf, spicy oak and floral notes with hints of vanilla, then silky textures of fine tannins on a long lingering tangy finish.

At seventeen years, this almost seems like it needs several more years to settle. Will be wonderful to taste this again in five and ten years if you can wait, and get access to some.

RM 94 points. Robert Parker gave this 95 points; Steve Tanzer 94,  Vinous 93 points and Wine Enthusiast 90 points. 

This is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot (89% from Sonoma and 11% from Napa).

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=6409

http://www.veritewines.com/ 

He also brought a Furmint based blend dessert wine, Château Pajzos Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 1999, so we pulled from the cellar to pair with a 2000 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos Birsalmás, and a 2002 Kracher Chardonnay TBA #2 Nouvelle Vague Chardonnay.

Château Pajzos Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 1999

Interest that this was similar to, almost indistinguishable from the 2000 as they're from different vintages and different producers. Slightly more pronounced perhaps but same profile and character.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=78287

Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos Birsalmás 2000

My review of this wine from 2014 - "Burnt orange colored, medium full bodied, sweet apricot with tones of peach turning to pink grapefruit citrus on a tongue coating smoky almond finish."

RM 91 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=381819


Alois Kracher Chardonnay TBA #2 Nouvelle Vague Chardonnay 2002

I last reviewed this wine back in 2011 when I wrote, "Honey color - full bodied, thick, chewy apricot, hints of grapefruit citrus, touch of pineapple and smoke."

An interesting comparison against the Tokaji's ... this Austrian Chardonnay based dessert came across as smoother, more elegant and approachable, a bit lighter, with more finesse.

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=50493

http://www.kracher.at/en/

More to come ...

Rick, Jared, and Johnny ...

 

Zinfandel and Assorted White Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

Zinfandel and Assorted White Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner - Hearty Zinfandel America's Varietal for the American Holiday

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner for seventeen members of the extended family. Ryan brought a flight of white wines and I pulled a couple of hearty Zinfandels - America's Varietal for the American Holiday. I selected three zins from three classic Zinfandel producers - Lamborn, Ridge and Biale.

The whites are profiled below .. . here are the Reds ... 

In the evening, Jared G stopped by and we opened some special wines to cap off the holiday. 

Andy, Jan & Bill and Linda with Mike and Terry Lamborn

Lamborn Family Vineyards is a small boutique family operation focusing on distinctive terroir handcrafted Estate Cabernets and Zinfandel from their vineyards high up Howell Mountain. We visited the wonderful and hospitable Mike and Terry Lamborn (shown right) at their estate high atop Howell Mountain during our Napa Valley Howell Mountain Wine Experience 2008.

Lamborn have the legendary wine maker Heidi Barrett to craft their wines. She joined Lamborn  in 1996, while Terry and Mike, and now his sons, focus on the business and tending their 4 acre Zinfandel and 4 acre Cabernet vineyards. Lamborn is unique in being the first to have Heidi craft Zinfandel varietal wines for them.

Lamborn Family Vineyards Zinfandel The Team Connection 1997

This may be the first Zinfandel to be crafted by Heidi Barrett. We've enjoyed more than a half dozen vintages of Lamborn Zinfandels and hold as many of their spectacular Cabernets.

We found this 1997 Zin languishing in the cellar. At nineteen years of age, it was time to drink as it is reaching the end of its drinking window.

The rich dark concentrated Howell Mtn fruit has given way to non-fruit flavors as the ripe brambly black cherry and black raspberry fruits have been overtaken by black pepper, spice and tones of creosote and hints of licorice predominating.

RM 87 points.

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=25065

https://www.lamborn.com/ 

Ridge Lytton Springs 2011

Ridge are a tale of two cities, or counties ... they actually produce two dozen labels including many vineyard designated wines from no less than a dozen vineyards. They have the historic Ridge Monte Bello Estate high above Cuperino and Silicon Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where they produce the legendary Monte Bello Cabernet blend. And they have the Lytton Springs site up in Sonoma County Dry Creek Valley where they produce a range of two dozen varietal wines. But Ridge are most notably known for their range of vineyard designated select Zinfandels.

Since 1972, Ridge have produced this Lytton Springs label from vines planted back at the turn of the last century, blended with fruit from vines from the early 1990s. The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varietals. This Lytton Springs Zinfandel blend continually receives high marks and accolades and is a must have for every cellar to have around for BBQ, and in this case, Thanksgiving turkey dinner.

This is actually a blend of  82% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, and 2% Carignane.

This is full bodied, dark garnet with brambly black raspberry, black cherry and currant fruits accented by tones of cassis, black olive and hints of toasted oak and graphite with gripping acidity and well coated tannins on the finish. The non-fruit flavors tend to detract from this on the finish.

RM 89 points. 

This was rated 93 and 91 by leading reviewers, who cited it may need a few more years to settle and come together. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1588534

https://www.ridgewine.com/

I pulled two vintages of the Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel to compare but with the white wine focused crowd we put them away for another day.  
 

Thanksgiving whites ....

Ryan brought this flight of assorted white wines for our Thanksgiving dinner feast, several light easy casual sipping whites in different styles, a sparkler, a dry and a sweet Riesling.

Segura Viudas Cava Brut NV

There is always room for bubbly - especially preceding a big meal. Sparkling wine is produced around the world in all major wine growing regions. Of course, only Champagne region in France produces true Champagne. Other areas simply produce sparkling wine, some in the Methode Champagnaise style and process methode, such as this one from Spain.

True Champagne is a blend of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay grape varietals. This is a blend of Spanish varietals Macabeo-Xarel-lo-Parellada.

Served from a magnum.

Light straw colored, light medium bodied, tangy crisp clean tones of grapefruit citrus and hints of lemon with green apple and toast with tangy short slightly acidic finish.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/notes.asp?iWine=1688853


Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Dry Riesling 2015

Brian brought two Rieslings, one in a sweet style and this dry one from New Zealand.

Light straw colored, light bodied, crisp clean slightly tart subdued hints of grapefruit citrus, quince and whisper of lime with chalky minerality.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2304771










Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb

This German white wine is from the Mosel Ruwer Saar river valley. German Riesling wines are selectively and specifically labeled according to their style - from dry to sweet - Kabinet, Riesling, Spatlese and Auslese. Spat is the German word for 'late', as in late picking of the grapes, hence 'spatlese' or late lying on the wines, wherein they'll pick up more residual ripeness or sweetness, hence sweeter style of wine.

We toured the Mosel Ruwer Saar River Valley during our wine country trip there back in the mid-eighties.

Straw colored, medium bodied, light grapefruit citrus highlights the thick slightly tart pear and subtle peach tones with a layer of wet stone, the acidity is a slight bit soapy that takes away from its crisp clarity.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2429972

Zinfandel Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner

Zinfandel Wines for Thanksgiving Dinner - Hearty Zinfandel America's Varietal for the American Holiday

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner for seventeen members of the extended family. Ryan brought a flight of white wines and I pulled a couple of hearty Zinfandels - America's Varietal for the American Holiday. I selected three zins from three classic Zinfandel producers - Lamborn, Ridge and Biale.

The whites are profiled below .. . here are the Reds ... 

In the evening, Jared G stopped by and we opened some special wines to cap off the holiday. 

Andy, Jan & Bill and Linda with Mike and Terry Lamborn

Lamborn Family Vineyards is a small boutique family operation focusing on distinctive terroir handcrafted Estate Cabernets and Zinfandel from their vineyards high up Howell Mountain. We visited the wonderful and hospitable Mike and Terry Lamborn (shown right) at their estate high atop Howell Mountain during our Napa Valley Howell Mountain Wine Experience 2008.

Lamborn have the legendary wine maker Heidi Barrett to craft their wines. She joined Lamborn  in 1996, while Terry and Mike, and now his sons, focus on the business and tending their 4 acre Zinfandel and 4 acre Cabernet vineyards. Lamborn is unique in being the first to have Heidi craft Zinfandel varietal wines for them.

Lamborn Family Vineyards Zinfandel The Team Connection 1997

This may be the first Zinfandel to be crafted by Heidi Barrett. We've enjoyed more than a half dozen vintages of Lamborn Zinfandels and hold as many of their spectacular Cabernets.

We found this 1997 Zin languishing in the cellar. At nineteen years of age, it was time to drink as it is reaching the end of its drinking window.

The rich dark concentrated Howell Mtn fruit has given way to non-fruit flavors as the ripe brambly black cherry and black raspberry fruits have been overtaken by black pepper, spice and tones of creosote and hints of licorice predominating.

RM 87 points.

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=25065

https://www.lamborn.com/ 

Ridge Lytton Springs 2011

Ridge are a tale of two cities, or counties ... they actually produce two dozen labels including many vineyard designated wines from no less than a dozen vineyards. They have the historic Ridge Monte Bello Estate high above Cuperino and Silicon Valley in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where they produce the legendary Monte Bello Cabernet blend. And they have the Lytton Springs site up in Sonoma County Dry Creek Valley where they produce a range of two dozen varietal wines. But Ridge are most notably known for their range of vineyard designated select Zinfandels.

Since 1972, Ridge have produced this Lytton Springs label from vines planted back at the turn of the last century, blended with fruit from vines from the early 1990s. The vineyard is planted to zinfandel and its principal complementary varietals. This Lytton Springs Zinfandel blend continually receives high marks and accolades and is a must have for every cellar to have around for BBQ, and in this case, Thanksgiving turkey dinner.

This is actually a blend of  82% Zinfandel, 16% Petite Sirah, and 2% Carignane.

This is full bodied, dark garnet with brambly black raspberry, black cherry and currant fruits accented by tones of cassis, black olive and hints of toasted oak and graphite with gripping acidity and well coated tannins on the finish. The non-fruit flavors tend to detract from this on the finish.

RM 89 points. 

This was rated 93 and 91 by leading reviewers, who cited it may need a few more years to settle and come together. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1588534

https://www.ridgewine.com/

I pulled two vintages of the Robert Biale Black Chicken Zinfandel to compare but with the white wine focused crowd we put them away for another day.  
 

Thanksgiving whites ....

Ryan brought this flight of assorted white wines for our Thanksgiving dinner feast, several light easy casual sipping whites in different styles, a sparkler, a dry and a sweet Riesling.

Segura Viudas Cava Brut NV

There is always room for bubbly - especially preceding a big meal. Sparkling wine is produced around the world in all major wine growing regions. Of course, only Champagne region in France produces true Champagne. Other areas simply produce sparkling wine, some in the Methode Champagnaise style and process methode, such as this one from Spain.

True Champagne is a blend of Pinot Noir or Chardonnay grape varietals. This is a blend of Spanish varietals Macabeo-Xarel-lo-Parellada.

Served from a magnum.

Light straw colored, light medium bodied, tangy crisp clean tones of grapefruit citrus and hints of lemon with green apple and toast with tangy short slightly acidic finish.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/notes.asp?iWine=1688853


Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Dry Riesling 2015

Brian brought two Rieslings, one in a sweet style and this dry one from New Zealand.

Light straw colored, light bodied, crisp clean slightly tart subdued hints of grapefruit citrus, quince and whisper of lime with chalky minerality.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2304771










Hofgut Falkenstein Niedermenniger Herrenberg Riesling Spätlese feinherb

This German white wine is from the Mosel Ruer Saar river valley. German Riesling wines are selectively and specifically labeled according to their style - from dry to sweet - Kabinet, Riesling, Spatlese and Auslese. Spat is the German word for 'late', as in late picking of the grapes, hence 'spatlese' or late lying on the wines, wherein they'll pick up more residual ripeness or sweetness, hence sweeter style of wine.

We toured the Mosel Ruuer Saar River Valley during our wine country trip there back in the mid-eighties.

Straw colored, medium bodied, light grapefruit citrus highlights the thick slightly tart pear and subtle peach tones with a layer of wet stone, the acidity is a slight bit soapy that takes away from its crisp clarity.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2429972