Graduation celebration wine tasting flight

Graduation Celebration Wine Tasting Flight  - featuring 1990 vintage birthyear wines

Gala celebration of son Alec and his roommates' graduation from Indiana U, Kelly School of Business, featuring specially selected wine flight of namesake or other memorable wines saved for the occasion. Tasted with son Alec, siblings Sean with Megan, Erin and Alec's room-mates Matt and Nate, and all the parents, L & I, Lisa & Kipp and Jill & Jerry, other grads and assorted friends. .

Matt, Nate, Alec
Lisa S pic

The wine accompanied a potluck dinner featuring pulled pork, beef brisket, chicken, twice baked potatoes, salads, fruit and cake. From one of our favorite producers, Randy Lewis who also happens be be a former Indy 500 race car driver, Alec's Blend, Napa Valley Red Wine 2003, named for his Randy's first grandson. Another of our favorite wines from a favored producer, Mollydooker, Blue Eye'd Boy Mclaren Vale Shiraz 2006.

The wines
Lisa S Pic

Three special wines to celebrate our son Alec; the first, Michel Loriat Blanc de Noir Reserve Brut Champagne as a remembrance of our Champagne Wine Experience 2006 trip with Alec to Champagne France celebrating his High School graduation, taking advantage of his studies and fluency in French; also tasted were two birthyear vintage selections, from Napa and France: Domaine Boisrenaud Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1990, and Viader Napa Valley Proprietary Red Wine 1990.

Our collection of birthyear wines for each of our kids' birthyears were the subject of our feature in the Collecting section of Wine Spectator, June 2001 issue. See it recreated on our WineSite at unWindwine.com. 


More to follow...The wines ....

Michel Loriot Blanc de Noirs Reserve Brut Champagne NV -

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=337891 


.

Lewis Cellars Alec's Blend Napa Valley Red Wine 2003 

Dark inky color, full bodied, complex nicely integrated and polished layers of black berry, hints of black cherry and blueberry, mocha and spice with layer of soft lingering tannins.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=98918

Mollydooker Blue Eyed Boy McLaren Vale Shiraz 2006

Big brooding full bodied, dark inky purple color, aromas of earth and raisin, forward layers of tongue coating ripe black and blue berry fruits, glycerin, hints of clove and cinnamon spices on a lingering soft tannin finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=329511

Domaine de Beaurenard, Paul Coulon et Fils, Châteauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard 1990

Medium to full bodied, slight earthiness and leather accompany layers of black and green pepper that accompany the slightly subdued black cherry and black berry fruits with a hint of spice, moderate lingering tannins.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=30341

Viader Napa Valley Proprietary Red Wine 1990-
Very Bordeaux like - medium to full bodied, slight rust hue setting in, slight earthiness and leather accompanies the black berry and black cherry fruits, floral, hint of tobacco and black olive on a moderate tannin finish. 

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=135441

The spectacular Viader Howell Mountain Estate was featured during our Viader Napa Valley Wine Experience 2008.

We tasted this wine with proprietor and winemaker Delia Viader who was featured at a Binny's an evening with Delia Viader vertical wine tasting in Lakeview, Chicago.

Robert Craig Affinity Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=6322

Perennial favorite high QPR (quality to price ratio) wine - we own this label going back to the inaugural vintage in 1993. We've featured Robert Craig at numerous tasting events and visited the Napa town tasting room and the winery atop Howell Mountain for harvest parties and special tastings. See our winery visits at Robert Craig Napa Howell Mountain Wine Experience 2008, and Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09, See our Robert Craig featured wine producer dinners during our Napa Wine Experience 1998 and Napa Wine Experience 1999.

Napa Valley California Cabernet Tasting

Napa Valley California Cabernet Tasting

Featuring 2006 Horizontal

Pre-dinner 2006 Horizontal Napa Valley Cabernet Tasting -

Cliff Lede Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Bill's tasting notes:

"Deep, opaque,purple color. Long legs. A bit of perfume, tobacco and spice on the nose. Big and fruit forward, this is a complex wine with layers of black raspberry, plum and blueberry, evolving to chocolate, clove and a hint of tobacco. Drinking very well now but certainly has 5 to 8 years left. Throwing a surprising amount of sediment it's age but this seems to be a Cliff Lede trait. Nicely accompanied by assorted flatbreads, Spanish cheeses and green apples. Drank with Beth, Rick, Linda and Peter with a terrific South Loop view of the Chicago skyline from Peter's apartment."

WCC 90 points. 

Winemaker's Notes: "The 2006 Cabernet lights up out of the bottle with a precocious bouquet of exotic spices and old leather. Given a moment to rest, aromas of sweet marjoram, rose oil, cardamom and blackcurrant jam evolve into exceptionally sweet floral notes of star jasmine and a touch of trumpet vine. Initial flavors of cherry deepen as fine tannins expand and unfold. Dark stone fruits mix and integrate with sweet tannins and fleshy acidity, giving way to a persimmon inspired finish that coats the mouth."

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 2% Malbec
Alcohol: 15.2%

Cliff Lede was a featured producer during our Cliff Lede Stag's Leap District Vineyard & Winery Visit - Autumn '09.

Pine Ridge Epitome Stags Leap District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Epitome is sourced from grapes grown higher overlooking the valley from the ridge, typically with lower yields, more concentrated with higher extracted fruits. It showed a profile and flavors similar to the Oakville Cab below but I found it to be a bit tighter with more subdued fruits, perhaps due to being slightly more concentrated and firm thereby requiring more time to open and reveal itself.   

Pine Ridge Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Dark garnet color -aromatic with flavors of dark blackberry and hint of blueberry followed by red cherry, raspberry, mocha, soft oaky spice and bit of bramble.

RM 91 points.

We enjoyed dinner at May Street Cafe, a quaint trendy neighborhood restaurant that features Neuvo Latin and contemporary American cuisine that is American, part Mexican, part Cuban with accents of Asian - steaks and seafood, that is more sophisticated and stylish than its Pilsen Little Village industrial neighborhood location on Chicago's near southwest side would indicate. At dinner we took BYOB and tasted two other Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons that were perfect accents and complements to the char-grilled steaks.

Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 from Magnum

Medium to full bodied , deep dark ruby color - black berry and sweet black cherry fruits accented by clove spice and a hint of English toffee on the 'Rutherford Dust' moderate silky tannin finish.

RM 91 points.


Del Dotto is one of our perennial favorite Napa Cabs that we have featured in many Napa Valley visits and is a vertical collection in our cellar going back to the inaugural 1993 vintage. See our Del Dotto features on unwindWine.com including Del Dotto - Napa Valley,  Napa Wine Experience 2003 and Napa Wine Experience 99 to mention a few. Their spectacular winery and cellar tour right on Route 29 at Zinfandel Lane as you enter St Helena from the south are a must see for everyone during a visit to Napa Valley.  

This same wine is featured in their extraordinary Connoisseurs Series in which they age the same wine in a variety of oak cooperages to highlight the different oak influences on the wine. We featured a horizontal tasting of the 2001 Del Dotto Connoisseur Series last year as listed on unwindWine.com site. 


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=485814


http://www.deldottovineyards.com/

La Sirena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Bill and Beth brought this classic Heidi Barrett Napa Cabernet selection - his tasting notes as shown on Cellartracker:

"Deep garnet color. A bit perfumey on the nose, much like a Margaux, with some evidence of spice. Opened a bit sweet with notes of raspberry and cherry. After about 30 minutes this smoothed out significantly to become much more elegant and balanced with notes of leather, spice and tobacco with silky tannins. A more delicate contrast to the big 2001 Del Dotto served with wonderful seasoned NY strip with chipotle mashed potatoes and broiled mushroom at May St. cafe in Pilsen."

WCC - 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=45242

Kinzie Chop House Chicago - Beef and Wine Dinner

Kinzie Chop House Chicago - Beef and Wine Dinner

We joined friends Eric & Cathy in from Indy to join the kids, Elyse and Ross, and Sean and Megan in Chicago for dinner at the legendary Kinzie Chop House. Looking forward to great steaks, we took along a classic red, BYOB, for the occasion and matched it with a staple standby and a new discovery for our red wine flight.
 
As is protocol when bringing a BYOB to a fine dining restaurant that offers a wine selection, be sure to bring a unique vintage selection that would not be available on the wine list. Then, be prepared to purchase a bottle for each bottle that you bring.  Kinzie Chop House staff were gracious and accommodating in serving our wine.

The wine flight

We brought from our cellar - Matthews Cellars Yakima Valley Red Wine Blend 2000 - a Bordeaux style blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec and a trace percent of Petit Verdot. This bottle is a stylish etched bottle in magnum format.

From the winelist we selected a Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Merlot 2009 - a staple consistent producer with a broad selection of labels and varietals. The Merlot exceeded expectations and was a good choice for a steak friendly wine. We also purchased from the winelist a previously unknown producer and label, Bennett Family Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. 






The Matthews Cellars Yakima Valley Red Wine might be considered a surprise selection as this is a relatively unknown producer outside the Pacific Northwest - a region not known for Bordeaux style wines. Interestingly, we first discovered and tasted this wine at fabulous Aureole Restaurant at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas - a great value find on their spectacular winelist. My tasting notes from Aug 8, 2005 - Matthew Cellars Yakima Valley Red Wine 2000 - "Full bodied Bordeaux style - forward fruit of red cherry, hint of currant and spice come together in a nicely balanced and polished firm red with a lengthy finish". My notes from this and other tastings are similar and consistent.

RM 89 WS 91 - 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=81849 

 From the winelist we selected a Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Merlot 2009 - a staple consistent producer with a broad selection of labels and varietals. The merlot was a good reliable choice for a steak friendly wine that was a good value.

Medium bodied, the color is a deep, rich ruby-garnet. Forward spicy sweet oak, layers of black cherry, raspberry and dark plum flavors with hints of dark chocolate, cinnamon and clove spices and touch of vanilla. This is a pleasant easy drinking wine with nice complexity and depth.

RM 89 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1199830

The fruit for this wine is sourced from several Freemark Abbey vineyards two in the mountains overlooking Napa Valley, Keyes Vineyard high atop (35.3%) Howell Mountain near the town of Angwin near the Las Posadas State Forest and Stage Coach Vineyard up on Atlas Peak (30%) high above Napa to the Northeast; and three vineyards from the Rutherford appellation - Wood Ranch vineyard (8.9%) in the heart of the Rutherford appellation, east of the Napa River, the nearby Red Barn Ranch Vineyard (6.9%) in the creek beds of  the Napa River and Conn Creek, and the legendary Beckstoffer Vineyard Rutherford (4.8%) in the heart of Rutherford on the valley floor.

 We've been collecting Freemark Abbey wines since the eighties. We met Jeff Jaegar, a partner of Freemark Abbey at the time at a wine tasting at Binny's in Naperville back about 1994. Jeff helped source a case of Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 and a special library selection large format Jaegar Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1981(shown left) for our daughter Erin's birthyear. We served this wine at her wedding in 2006 along with several other large format selections collected for the occasion.

We've visited the Freemark Abbey Winery north of St Helena in Napa Valley several times over the years including during our Napa Valley Wine Experience Freemark Abbey Wine Visit  in 2009. 

A pleasant surprise of the evening was discovering this selection from the Kinzie Chop House winelist, a new previously unknown producer and label, Bennett Family Napa Valley Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006.

The Bennett opened with aromas of dark plum, black cherry and mocha, dense flavors of candied dark fruit and subtle hints of vanilla oak. The finish is smooth and velvety, with elegant tannins. The Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of fruit from the Estate Lynch Family vineyard in Rutherford and select other sources throughout the Napa Valley.

RM 89 points.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=743028 

Christian Moueix Pomerol 2005 - 2006

Image from 2005 Vintage

From Christian Moueix, noted for a dozen well known properties and labels in Bordeaux as well as the classic Dominus Estate in Napa. See my notes of earlier tasting of this same label, previous vintage which were very similar and consistent, ironically tasted two years and one day apart in the same city, different restaurant.

An evening with Edouard Moueix -  We had the honor of meeting Edouard Moueix at a fabulous Dominus Vertical Tasting hosted by Binny's in Chicago Lakeview that featured vintages selections from 1996-2002.  

March 29, 2010 - Christian Moueix Pomerol 2005 - I figured if world famous Christian Moueix put his name on the bottle it must be respectable and I was not disappointed. Great value in this simple fundamentally sound merlot with a highlight of 5% cabernet franc Bordeaux blend from a classic vintage. Nice well rounded smooth silky dark berry fruits with a moderate structure and slight leathery soft tannin finish. Great compliment to grilled steaks w/ Scott E at Ray's Steak in Arlington Clarendon. RM 88 points. 

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=443092

 

Christian Moueix Pomerol 2006 -

My experience with this wine was more fulfilling that than reported by the majority of readers on Cellartracker. Medium bodied, dark garnet color. Pleasant easy drinking (nice way of saying not complex!) black berry fruits predominate with a hint of mocha and truffle on a moderate nicely integrated soft tannin finish. The winemaker's notes sum it up perfectly.  

Winemaker's notes:

Deep ruby color. Soft bouquet with black fruit and a touch of truffle. The natural sweetness of the Merlot is balanced by a good tannic structure.

RM 88 points.Wine Spectator and Wine & Spirits, 88 points each. 

Tasted w/ JK, James S and Danny A at Idywild Grill in McLean, VA. 

 

Other Bordeaux properties and labels owned and operated by Christian Moueix: Château Magdelaine, a Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion. Next were acquired Châteaux La Fleur Pétrus and Trotanoy in Pomerol, to mention only the most famous. The Jean-Pierre Moueix enterprise owns or controls twelve properties with a total area of over 250 acres.

Domaine Serene Evensted Reserve and Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz

Domaine Serene Evensted Reserve and Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz 

Wine flight of selected favorites for dinner outing at our favorite Italian trattoria, Angelis Italian in Naperville, enjoyed with L and dear friends Mark and Gayle B.

Two very different wines with contrasting styles, but perfect complements to varied entrees of grilled sea scallops and Italian sausage pasta in vodka cream sauce. As usual, Angelis food and service were spectacular providing the perfect setting to showcase and enjoy our favorite wines.

Domaine Serene Evensted Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2007

One of our perennial favorites although if you read this blog you'll know we don't a lot of Pinot Noir compared to other varietals. The 2007 vintage is fairly typical of this label although seemingly slightly lighter and more subdued fruit than some years;  ruby color, medium bodied, raspberry, hint of black berry, strawberry, rhubarb, dusty rose with a touch of cinnamon spice.  

RM90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1027405

http://www.domaineserene.com/ 



Two Hands Lily's Garden McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003


The Two Hands represent the two producers, Michael Twelftree and Richard Mintz. The Two Hands 'Garden Series' represents their six ultra premium select bottling Shiraz's from the six key South Australia regions and appellations; Bella's Garden in Barossa Valley,  Harry & Max's Garden in Langhorne Creek, Max's Garden in Heathcote, Samantha's Garden in Clare Valley, Sophie's Garden in Padthaway, and Lily's Garden in McLaren Vale.

The Lily label is name for Michael's daughter, born in 2001. You can see a number of tempting variations of horizontal and vertical tasting in the making here!

Despite its massive 15.5% alcohol content, this wine is very approachable and easy pleasant drinking, if one is accustomed to the big bold fruit forward select Shiraz's. Typical distinctive dark inky black purple colour and big full body with concentrated forward fruits. This vintage is a bit more subdued and moderate than many yet still has complex concentrated dark berry and ripe plum fruits, with tones of blue fruit, spice, dark chocolate and smooth well integrated oak. finishing with supple fine tannins on a lingering persistent finish


RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=30558


http://twohandswines.com/

Venge Scouts Honor and Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel Blends

Ribs and Zinfandel March Madness Wine Tasting - Venge Scouts Honor and Ridge Lytton Springs Zinfandel Blends Against HazyBlur Shiraz

What to drink when watching March Madness b-ball? Not a dilemma here - Zinfandel with bar-b-que ribs, of course, a favorite combination. For a gourmand approach, try Zinfandel blends, a more complex wine for a more enriching wine tasting experience. The other wine that fits here is our usual favorite, South Australian Shiraz, so we compared a Hazyblur Kangaroo Island Shiraz 2004, a perfect match to the flight, brought by Bill and Beth for the occasion.

For our bracket busting dinner and tasting we opened two Venge Vineyards Scout's Honor Napa Valley Family Reserve Zinfandels - 1998 and 2001. We matched against the Venge's Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Zinfandel 2009. 

Before dinner, we paired the hearty Zins with a selection of artisan cheeses, (shown left). The cheese selection included Aged cheddar, Assiago, Blue, Manchego, a Carr Valley Winter Solstice Wisconsin Cheddar and a Parmigiana.

The 2001 Venge is another wine we purchased during our Venge Winery visit and lunch tasting with winemaker Nils Venge as part of our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2002.


Venge Vineyards Scout's Honor Napa Valley Family Reserve Zinfandel 1998

This vintage selection was showing its age - from the brownish-orange rust hue rimming the glass to the earthy leather bramble taste that may have taken over for some of the fruit. Never-the-less the medium body was full of black raspberry and black cherry fruits accented by smoke and hints of creosote. This resembles my recollection of the 1996 vintage more than the 2001 as shown below.

85% Zinfandel, 15% Charbono
14.7%alcohol.

RM 87 points, but Bill C preferred this over the 2001!

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=48135

Charbono? It is a grape variety with origins in the Savoie region of France where it is also known as Corbeau, Douce Noire, or Charbonneau. It is the second most commonly grown variety in Argentina, where it is known as Bonarda, which is not the same as the Bonarda Piemontese varietal, and is probably not related to Dolcetto of the Piedmont. Some believe that this variety is actually the Dolcetto Nero grape of Italy, or the minor French variety Charbonneau, because an Italian synonym for Dolcetto is "Dolce Nero" which translates to "sweet black," as does the French name "Douce Noire" for Charbono.


It is produced in small acreage on California’s North Coast, mainly in the Napa Valley. This grape produces very dark, acidic, red wines, with high tannin levels and wild berry aromas. Charbono rarely receives much attention, but some producers continue to grow the grape once produced by the storied Inglenook. Currently, producers such as Turley, Pacific Star, Villa Helena, August Briggs, Robert Foley, OnThEdge and Randall Grahm's Bonny Doon have extended the life of this grape. Venge uses the grape to add structure, backbone, color, complexity and character to its Zinfandel, which while big and bold might otherwise be less interesting. 
 

Venge Vineyards Scout's Honor Napa Valley Family Reserve Zinfandel 2001 

The surprise of the evening, this was a bold sweet fruit bomb. Medium to full bodied, dark ruby red color, bright full aromas and flavors of full rich ripe sweet black raspberry and ripe spicy plum with a hint of bramble, leather and smoke. It was amazingly sweet with bright forward fruit - its hard to imagine this not being at its prime right now. Surprisingly soft, smooth and easy drinking given its high 15%alcohol content. This shows Scout's Honor Zinfandel Blend at its finest, and shows reason to go get more and try other vintage releases! May be too sweet for many folks but that's why it makes a perfect complement to the bar-b-que ribs and the white cheeses.

Zinfandel 79%, Petit Syrah 14%, Charbono 7%

Alcohol 15%

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=27799

Ridge Vineyards Lytton Springs Dry Creek Sonoma Valley Zinfandel 2009

By far the biggest and most structured of the tasting. Firm and still a bit tight, with forward black fruits, plum, a layer of tar, licorice, smoke and notes of pepper. This needs a couple more years to unwind and open and probably has a long life ahead. We knew that going in but wanted to try it as a benchmark against the vintage selections above and also to determine if we should buy more since its currently available. While Parker loves this wine and gives it a 95 rating, I would favor the Scout's Honor if I were buying more.

The blend is 71% Zinfandel, 23% Petite Sirah and 6% Carignane.
14.5% Alcohol

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1097930

Carignane? It's origin is a Spanish varietal of grape from Cariñena, Aragon. It was later transplanted to Sardinia, where it is still made into varietal wine, Carignano, and elsewhere in Italy, France, Algeria, and much of the New World. Italian immigrants to the US brought the vine to California in the late 1890's. Through the early and mid-20th century, Carignane was one of the most widely planted grape varietal in California. Acreage has diminished from a high of 27000 acres to about 3500 today. The grape is not often used to make varietal wines but a few producers such as Ravenswood, Cline and Mayo Family Winery still make notable varietals from old vines.

Carignane was generally associated with jug wines, it is appropriately used for blending into wines to add body, color, and character however it tends to have a characteristic harshness and astringency that diminishes with age. It is one of the 22 approved Rhône varietals and can be found in the notable Chateauneuf-du-Pape. It is often blended with Cinsaut, Grenache, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre, Merlot, and/or other grapes, especially in the Languedoc region of France. Ridge uses it as its best suited to add complexity, depth and character to a bold varietal such Zinfandel, which otherwise might be someone one dimensional, albeit big and flavorful.

Hazyblur South Australia Kangaroo Island Shiraz 2004

Typical dark purple color, medium to full bodied with full forward black and blue berry fruits accented by predominate black pepper and a layer of clove spice.

RM 89 points. .

Bill's notes: Garnet in color, fruit on the nose. Delicious, huge mouthfeel, lots of spice with predominant pepper notes. Also some cherry and a touch of clove. This has rounded out and become a bit more complex since my last bottle 2 years ago. A wonderful complement to summery barbecue rib and coleslaw dinner with Rick and Linda. 

WCC 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=246963

Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 

Arrowood Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

We've been fans of this Arrowood cab for a long time and have selections in our cellar dating back to the 1991 vintage. We've enjoyed visiting the Arrowood Vineyards & Winery sitting in the rolling hills overlooking the serene valley on several of our Sonoma Valley visits. Its one of the highlights of the valley. 

Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from fruits from the vineyards neighboring the winery from a mix of mountain and hillside vineyard sites. The Sonoma Valley hillside vineyards give structure to the intense and concentrated Cabernet Sauvignon. Medium-full bodied, dark black purple color, this Cabernet its very expressive with full forward rich aromas and flavors of layers of spicy fruits - black berry, black currant, and black cherries with a layer of cassis, hints of toasty oak and dark chocolate in the background with a lingering firm tannin finish. It has a bit of heat that should soften with some time. This represents a great value Cal Cab at $27.

RM 91 points. 

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=542192

http://www.arrowoodwinery.com/ 

D'Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002

D'Arenberg The Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002

Interesting name dating back almost a hundred years to the results of a phenomenon of affliction that took half of the growth of the vines, hence a dead arm. Most producers churned them under and replanted but d'Arenberg descendants kept this vineyard whose now aged vines produced rich, complex, extracted fruits from the remaining one-sided vines.  

One of our longstanding favorites going back to our discovery of the 1994 vintage. Always a big fruit forward complex wine, this was much more expressive than as documented in my earlier 2004 and 2009 tasting journal posts. Its bigger and still boasts a forwardness but what was an off-tone of minerality now is more natural ripe raisin-fig with a layer of cedar predominating over complex black and blue berry fruits with tones of pepper, spice, and cassis and hint of vanilla with a big long bold finish that has a slight tone of tangy cherry. Linda likes this ripe boldness but its a bit too much to my liking. We tasted with fruits and artisan cheeses - it needs a bigger accompaniment like beef steak or even perhaps bar-b-que ribs!


RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=27221

Monastrell Red Blend Leads Red Wine Flight at Grand Celebration Dinner

Sensational Monastrell Red Blend Leads Red Wine Flight at Grand Celebration Dinner

Gala family birthday celebration dinner - our son Ryan and daughter-in-law Michelle prepared a super make your own sandwich featuring grilled beef tenderloin, roast pork loin and roasted chicken with all the accoutrements featuring carmelized onions, pickled onions, avocado, tomato, fresh celantro selection of cheeses, herb balsamic vinagrette dressing and selection of fresh breads, twice baked potatoes and salad.

I brought a vintage 1983 Cabernet Sauvignon from Michelle's birthyear to celebrate the occasion along with a a slightly eclectic pair of outliers which I thought would highlight lamb which ended up not being served. What a pleasant surprise when they turned out to be a sensational eye-popping wines fit for the occasion and spectacular complements to the great food!

Dessert featured chocolate cake and fresh berries and key lime cupcakes.

The wines:

Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio 2004 

Dark inky color, full bodied, huge forward black and blue berry fruit flavors with layers of caramel, vanilla, anise, vanilla and sweet oak that go on and on. Nice structure and complexity but not firm, tight or tannic resulting in a tasty, pleasant easy drinking wine yet sophisticated and polished. Wow, this was an eye-opener and changed my perspective on Spanish wines - by far the most expressive and tasteful I have ever experienced. This wine vastly exceeded my expectations. We're huge fans of big fruit filled Syrahs and this stood with the best of them, with none of that metallic, mineral or creosote that I expected. 70% Monastrell (and 30% cabernet sauvignon) which I now know is aka Mouvedre which is the M in GSM - Genache, Mouvedre and Syrah, a popular blend in the Rhone River Valley as well as South Central Australia. This wine was sensational - bursting with flavor in the glass - immediately apparent to everyone.


RM 93 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=288642

Liparita Napa Valley Cabernet Franc 2002

Like a left bank Bordeaux that features Cabernet Franc to add flavor and structure, this full bodied Cab Franc was all-in with huge floral bouquet and full forward flavors of black berry and black raspberry fruits, a layer of clove spice, leather and a hint of cedar on a long lingering finish. Its slightly flabby awkwardness can be forgiven for its big forward tasty floral and fruit. We've been long time fans of Liparita Cabernet Sauvignons and Merlots - this is our first Cabernet Franc and what a hit - a nice achievement exceeding expectations indeed - better than their other endeavors from this era. 


RM 91 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=158451

Conn Creek Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1983

Vintage selection of the evening commemorating daughter-in-law Michelle's birth-year and birthday celebration - one of such selections in our cellar for each of our kids' years. This one was of a lesser producer and as such hadn't held up as well as some of the others - clearly beyond its prime and certainly reaching its end of life. The black cherry and black berry fruits were diminished, giving way to more leather and an earthy mustiness with hint of smoke and anise on a moderate finish. The color was tinged with a rim of rust color on the edges. It was still drinkable and a notable and worthy selection for the occasion but am glad I didn't hold it any longer.  

RM 85 points.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=272467

Eagle Eye Rutherford Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Medium to full bodied - well balanced nose of black berry, black currants, dark cherries with a layer of vanilla, hint of spice, smoke, anise and oak on a moderate tannin finish.

RM 88 points. 


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=359815


More to follow.

Sonoma Wine Flight Features Syrah and Vintage Cabernets with Steak Diane Dinner

Sonoma Wine Flight Features Syrah and Vintage Cabernets with Steak Diane Dinner

Tasted w/ L at Bill and Beth C's over dinner - Beth prepared a delicious Steak Diane with roasted potatoes with shallots and onions that was a perfect complement to showcase the Sonoma Valley Cabernet flight, as was the selection of chocolate and assorted petit-forts deserts. A selection of artisan cheeses inlcuding my favorite Bellavitano were perfect with the bold forward Constant Syrah and the opener Pinot Noir. 

Bill decanting the Sonoma Cabs

Beth preparing the Steak Diane

The wines:

 Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyards - Queen of Diamonds Estate - Northern Sonoma Syrah 2006

We picked up this wine during our winery visit to the spectacular Constant Vineyards property at the very top of Diamond Mountain during our 2011 Diamond Mountain Experience. Sitting at the summit at 2100 feet elevation it is the only Sonoma vineyard on Diamond Mountain.

Dark purple color - medium-full bodied. Bright vibrant lively full forward flavors of blue and black fruits with a layer of ripe plum and sweet clove, hints of tea and cedar on the lingering finish. While this is tasty now, it lacks backbone and structure for longevity.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=775651 

Gundlach Bundschu Rheinfarm Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

In a blind tasting one might mistake this for a Margaux Bordeaux! Dark inky purple color, medium-full bodied; big floral perfume scents and flavors of violets and rose petals gives way to dark black berry and raspberry fruit flavors with complex layer of leather and tea with hint of earth and herbs on a moderate tannin finish. Amazing life left in this fifteen year old.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=136899

http://www.gunbun.com/

We met and had an enjoyable visit with producer Jeff Bundschu back in February 2005 in Chicago at the Silicon Valley Bank hosted wine producer wine tasting and networking event held at the One North Wacker restaurant.We stopped in at the winery and vineyard during following Sonoma Valley visits. We need to schedule a tour and tasting on our next Sonoma trip. 

Gundlach Bundschu Rheinfarm Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Dark inky purple color - medium bodied. Not as polished or complex as the 1997 perhaps reflecting a more modest vintage. Dark berry fruit flavors are more subdued giving way to a layer of mineral and tea and hint of leather on the moderate finish.. 

RM 87 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=109617

Hanna Bismark Mountain Vineyard Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Dark inky purple color - medium-full bodied; a bit tight but slightly bigger and more complex than the other cabs perhaps indicative of the mountain fruit; somewhat subdued black berry and black raspberry fruits give way to a layer of tea and mineral, hint of smoke and a slight vegetable herbal tone that detracts from the fruit.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=54725

Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Dundee Hills Oregon Pinot Noir 2008

Bill C's Cellartracker Wine Tasting Notes posting -

"Nicely balanced Pinot. Medium red in the glass. Long legs imply more glycerine than I think is really there. Nose is light and a bit on the earthy, herbal side. Maybe a bit of cherry also. Cherry also reveals itself on the palate with a touch of strawberry. Nice overall, well balanced but at $40, a bit pricey for what it is."

I found it nicely balanced and as noted in Bill's post but bit austere with a slight cherry tartness note.

WCC and RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1035962 

See Bill's WineBlog - http://billswines.blogspot.com/ .

St. Hallet Gamekeeper's Reserve Barossa Shiraz Grenache 2009

St. Hallet Gamekeeper's Reserve Barossa Shiraz Grenache 2009

Another discovery of a great value over-achiever from this Barossa Valley South Australia producer. See recent review of their St. Hallett Faith South Australia Barossa Shiraz 2006.
.

Dark black purple color, full  bodied. Full forward flavorful black berry, black cherry and a layer of red berry fruits accented by pepper, spice, hint of floral, with a slight metallic note which I associate with the Grenache. Moderate to full tannins on the lingering finish.Great value Barossa Shiraz that is somewhat complex but pleasant for easy drinking.

This was available by the glass at Seasons 58 Restaurant in Atlanta/Dunwoody. Great compliment to the beet salad, cheeses, and the chocolate mousse desert. Blend of 56% Shiraz, 35% Grenache, and 9% Touriga Nacional.

RM 88 points. 

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

http://www.seasons52.com/

OTBN - Open That Bottle Night 2012

OTBN - Open That Bottle Night 2012

Still gathering pics - more to follow.

Its that time of year again - a highly anticipated annual event in the life of a wine-geek.No, its not the vintage viticulture milestones, the bud break, grape vine pruning, harvest picking, crush, blending, or the release party. Its OTBN - Open That Bottle Night. Great fun, food, friends and of course, great wine in our OTBN 2012! See feature from OTBN 2011.

Credit (or blame) for this annual wine bachanalia goes to Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, wine columnists for the Wall Street Journal. OTBN - Open That Bottle Night, was conceived for those that have a special bottle of wine or champagne hidden away being saved for a special occasion that for whatever reason hasn't happened.  Every year since 2000, on the last Saturday night in February, Open That Bottle Night (OTBN) has been celebrated - the time to uncork and enjoy that cherished but here-to-for elusive bottle. OTBN was conceived by Gaiter and Brecher to say, what the heck, go for it, Open That Bottle (to)Night. They realized they weren't alone - having that special bottle set aside for an occasion that just never happens. On this night, you don't need an excuse or a reason - just do it! Take advantage of OTBN to open that bottle and enjoy it! Enjoy it by yourself, or better yet, enjoy it with someone special, or even better, with a group of special friends. Have everyone bring such a bottle and let the story telling begin, because amazingly, every OTBN bottle has a story or some meaning, or not. What the heck, Open That Bottle (To) Night!. Let the fun begin. 

Linda did her usual masterful job of preparing a spectacular dinner - a selection of artisan cheeses including blue, 2 and 5 year aged cheddar, cranberry cheddar, cranberry almond cheddar, french baguette, assorted biscuits and crackers. Alongside were an assortment of cheese stuffed olives, pickles and medley of vegetables and fruits. Dinner began with caprese salad featuring beef-steak tomatoes, beef tenderloin, her unique baked corn casserole, twice baked potatoes, green beans followed by her sensational flowerless chocolate case with whipped cream and an assortment of fresh berries.  

Yikes, we woke up this morning and found all the lemon sorbet dishes in the freezer that we forgot to serve last night between courses.

I started the gala by revealing a gift wrapped box given to me fifteen years ago by a fellow wine aficionado that I summarily tucked away in the cellar. With much anticipation, I opened it tonight to reveal a  magnum of Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne. Thankfully it wasn't cheese!

Dr Dan presented three wines, Iron Horse Sonoma County Green Valley Thomas Road Vineyard Pinot Noir 1998, Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996, and a 'mystery 'bottle - the inaugural release of a special Italian varietal production by a personal friend. It was surprisingly good for something bottled just three weeks ago!

Bill and Beth brought the spectacular Wine Spectator Wine of the Year for 1999, the 1996 vintage Chateau St Jean Cinq Cepages Cabernet Sauvignon. He also provided a Tobin James "Liquid Love" Late Harvest Zinfandel Paso Robles 2005 desert wine. Beth brought some additional artisan cheeses befitting the medley of dessert wines as well as the big cabs and cab based Bordeaux.

I chipped in a Cinq Cepages 1994 to taste off against the legendary 1996 for comparison.

Ernie presented two left Bank Bordeaux - 1996 Chateau Lafon Rochet St Estephe and Chateau Les Fort Latour, Pauillac from the spectacular 2000 vintage.

Ryan & Michelle brought 2008 Bordeaux commemorating their anniversary year - Chateau Brane Cantenac Margaux and Chateau Pichon Baron Pauillac. They also brought a Robert Craig Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 for us to taste and extend our horizontal collection that dates back to the inaugural release 2003.

Lyle and Terry brought a legendary 98 point port - Niepoort Porto 1997, and an accompanying ever popular and one of Linda's favorites, Thorne Clark Shotfire Shiraz 2006. To complement the port, Terry provided artisan gorgonzola and cranberry stilton cheeses and fine dark chocolates.  

Sara added a chocolate infused desert wine from Vienna, Illinois, "Voyage into Night" from Shawnee Wines from near the Shawnee National Forest down near Carbondale.

I opened two of the classic and ever-popular TBA - Trockenberenauslese Austrian wines from Kracher, from the 1998 vintage, the classic Kracher Scheurebe TBA #12 Zwischen den Seen 1998   and  Alois Kracher Chardonnay/Welschriesling TBA #7 Nouvelle Vague 1998. 

Matt C (posing behind magnum below) opened a wonderful Robert Craig Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 1996.

 

Two other 'what-the-heck, Open That Bottle (To)Night wines were ... 

 

Also attending were Johnny, Erin, Lucy and Jared G, and dropping in, passing through were Sean and Megan. 

Finally, this was the first gathering of the Chicago Wine Spectator Grand Tour group since that event last spring, excepting Eric who unfortunately could not attend due to a Board meeting commitment in Las Vegas. However, to attend and participate in spirit, Eric sent in a very special commemorative bottle as the ultimate artifact befitting the OTBN occasion, a non-vintage select bottle of Monto Rosso that he was able to acquire at a special benefit fund raising auction. Since Eric and Cathy could not attend in person and share in this special selection, we're saving for a future time when we can all gather together and partake of this special bottle. 

  

Stay tuned for more highlights and postings from OTBN 2012. Share your experience below.

See Bill's report at http://billswines.blogspot.com/2012/02/open-that-bottle-night-2012.html