Sunday, November 13, 2011

Snowden Lost Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Snowden Lost Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

This is our 50th Cabernet Sauvignon review of this year - 45 of which are from Napa Valley. 


Down to the last few bottles of a case acquired upon release in the late nineties. Consistent with earlier tasting notes taking into account the evolution of this aging wine. Starting to show its age a bit as the dark garnet color starts to take on a slight brownish rust hew and the fruit is starting to fall off a bit and give way to the smoke and leather nose and flavor. Still firm and tight with the smoky leather predominating over the dark berry and black cherry fruit, with forward pronounced cedar and a hint of cassis and a full fragrant firm tannin lingering finish with a bit of tight high alcohol heat. Bordeaux style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot tastes true to form like a lower left bank Bordeaux!  

RM 89 points.

We first were introduced to Snowden wines when we featured Randy Snowden at a Winemaker's luncheon at Brix in Napa Valley during our Napa Wine Experience back in 1998. Randy and his brother Scott, both attorneys, preside over the property that sits 450 to 850 feet above the Silverado Trail. The property was acquired by their parents back in the fifties. My recollection from that meeting was that their father Wayne Snowden was a professor at UC Berkeley when he acquired the property in 1955. After he passed away in 1977 the brothers took over in 1981. They produced their first Snowden label vintage in 1993. Most of their production is sold to Silver Oak, Frank Family Vineyards, Viader and in recent years, David Ramey. 


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

This was Snowden's second label from that era. It was a great compliment to Sunday dinner beet pot roast with roasted carrots, onions and potatoes.

http://www.snowdenvineyards.com/

Friday, November 11, 2011

1990 Birthyear Vintage Tasting Contrasting Styles

1990 Birthyear Vintage Tasting Contrasting Styles 

A mini-family reunion celebration gathering of three sons to welcome son Alec home from university and toast his successful career pursuit as he gathers offers from corporate visits tour. We feasted at Angeli's Restaurant, our favorite local Italian trattoria and opened two BYOB contrasting birthyear vintage wines. It was a study of contracts between 1990 Maison Leroy Maranges, Côte de Beaune, Maranges Burgundy, and 1990 Acinum Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.

If you follow or just read through this unwineWine blog tasting journal or unwindWine.com journal archive or our wine cellar selection list, you'll see we don't do a lot of either Burgundy or Italian wines. Our focus as noted by our cellar inventory stats is US 54% (California 50%), French 23% (only 1% Burgundy), and Australia 15% with Italian being only 2%. As I state in my Getting Started guide to wine enjoyment and collecting, its natural and best to focus on a few regions that represent your preferences.     

As highlighted in my Wine Spectator feature, part of the fun and enjoyment of having a wine cellar is collecting birthyear vintage wines to enjoy during celebration events such as tonight. Indeed, ten percent of our cellar represents birth-year and anniversary year wines for such occasions.


So, tonight, with youngest son Alec home from college on a corporate recruiting visit, oldest son Ryan comes out from the city to join Sean, L and me for a gala family dinner to celebrate our mini-reunion and Alec's success so far in obtaining options for his career launch from business school and notably, his coveted offer received this week from his target opportunities.

In selecting wine from the cellar for tonight's occasion, the boys had almost 200 bottles from which to select from the 1990 vintage.Collecting notable age-worthy wines is easy in such a great vintage such as 1990. Indeed, Wine Spectator's wine of the year selection featured a 1990 vintage wine in 1992, 1993 and again in 1994. We're fortunate enough to be holding those wines for an extra special occasion 

Following are the boy's cellar choices for this dinner - an adventure in wine discovery as these two unique outlier wines are outside our normal cellar preference profile and are both heretofore unknown and untried.

Maison Leroy Maranges, Côte de Beaune, Maranges Burgundy 1990

Like several other Cellartracker posters, I bought this wine wine on closeout at Binnys. The cork was totally saturated through. Another Cellartracker poster notes this is like many Leroys he's had over the past few years--perhaps a quality control issue? Starting to show its age there was slight rust colored browning around the edges. Medium bodied, the wine exhibited some complexity and some polish with earthy leather, slightly tart cherry and black cherry, and hints of dusty rose petals on the palate with a a modest lingering tannin finish.

RM 87 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=420365

Acinum Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 1990

Uncharacteristically, my cellar notes do not show when or where this bottle was acquired. Similarly, Cellartracker has little data of others purchasing or tasting this wine - rare given its 10 million bottle inventory and 100,000 tasting notes.

A typical Amorone, medium to full bodied with full forward ripe raisiny fig and black fruits. The body is a bit lighter and the fruits are less pronounced than most Amarones I have had in the past.


RM 87 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=379640



As usual, all the Angelis dinners were fabulous and the service was attentive and personable. Tonight they featured their Mussels and Clam Chowder which are both extraordinary. Linda had the Asparagus and Ricotta cheese Ravioli which she said was delicious. With Ryan, I deferred to my old standby, their Veal Piccata, which is a standard bearer when I go to other Italian restaurants, Sean had the Pork Medallions special, and Alec the Shrimp special. No wonder we're regulars and recommend it heartily.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Gala Birthday Dinner Wine Tasting featuring Pauillac Bordeaux Duo Vintage Contrast - Classic vs Upstart - Grand Puy Lacoste 1982 and Grand Puy Ducasse 2008


Gala Birthday Dinner Wine Tasting featuring Pauillac Bordeaux Duo Vintage Contrast - Classic vs Upstart - Grand Puy Lacoste 1982 and Grand Puy Ducasse 2008

Fun and interesting comparison tasting of two neighboring wines - one young from a somewhat challenged but promising 2008 vintage against a mature aged bottle from the classic 1982 vintage. Drank at gala family birthday celebration dinner for #1 son Ryan. When Ryan told me he recently picked up a Grand Puy Ducasse 2008 I thought we'd do a comparison tasting, only to discover when I pulled mine from the cellar that I was holding a Grand Puy Lacoste 1982 - commemorating his birthyear! Never-the-less, the two Pauillac 5ème Cru Classé  wines of like terrior and style from vineyards separated by but a few kilometers provided a comparison tasting of two similar wines from different contrasting vintages.

Wine from any region varies from year to year due to different vintage characteristics shaped by the weather and the winemaker. The unique characteristics discovered in different vintages is partly what makes wines collecting interesting and fun. Comparing wines from the same producer or similar producers in different years allows you understand the chateau and vintage differences. Comparing wines from a selection of producers from the same region from the same year, reveals stylistic differences of the producers.

The 1982 Bordeaux vintage conditions were close to perfect from start to finish. Vine budded and flowered under warm, sunny and dry conditions. Ideal dry and hot weather growing conditions persisted through July giving way to a moderate cool down in August followed by marvelously ideal hot weather that lasted for 21 days leading to spectacular results. Interestingly, the 1982 Bordeaux harvest officially began on September 13, the exact same date as the famously spectacular 1945 Bordeaux harvest. Both historic Bordeaux vintages produced classic wines filled with layers of dense, rich, ripe, fresh fruit, opulent, sensuous textures and purity the likes of which only occur every few decades, wines that would also mature and age for decades..

The 2008 Bordeaux vintage faced a cool and wet Spring which included some late frost. Cool temperatures and pervasive rains, which brought mold and mildew problems, continued throughout May leading to uneven and delayed flowering. The weather began to improve somewhat June although the vine growth was about two weeks behind schedule. While July was dry and sunny, it was followed by a dull, grey August that continued halfway through September projecting a difficult vintage.

Because the vines flowered late, and July had been warm, the grapes began this period of Autumn sun in much better condition than in 2007, attaining full ripeness and acquiring better concentration of sugars, tannins and acid.

Finally, Indian summer began on 14th of September bringing sunny warm days and cool nights that lasted up to October 20th through much of the harvest. This, coupled with a drying north-east wind, saved the vintage. While the growing season was below average, the 2008 Bordeaux vintage was saved by the long growing season and ideal harvest conditions. The grapes were allowed a much longer hang time than usual allowing the fruit a better chance to ripen. Typically, the average amount of hang time in Bordeaux is about 100 days, the 2008 Bordeaux vintage saw hang times range from 135 days to as long as an amazing 160 days allowing late harvest ripening to save the vintage!

Although yields were in many places painfully low, overall quality was good to excellent. Most wines achieved good balance with ripe, fine grained tannins, refreshing acidity and a real sense of 'terroir'.

Viticulture in Bordeaux changed markedly over the last forty years for much improved results. Modern Bordeaux wine making and vineyard techniques, coupled with the willingness to perform the necessary amount of selection needed to produce the best wine possible, delivered improved outcomes in modest challenging years such as 2007 and 2008. While a wet, cool year like 2007 would have been a disaster 20 years ago, today, while diluted, some nice wines are still produced. Knowledge and technology have made it possible to produce better Bordeaux wine than ever before, especially in challenging years, but no amount of human intervention can alter the unique personality awarded by nature to each Bordeaux vintage.
A big difference between 1982 and one of the modern day great years is the number of truly great wines produced in current top rated vintages. While 20 or 30 stunning wines were produced in 1982 with perhaps five considered true legends, today, with modern vineyard techniques and cellar management, the number of classic or great wines would have probably doubled as we will see in the recent great vintages such as 2010.

Château Grand Puy Lacoste Red Bordeaux Pauillac 1982

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a 5ème Cru Classé ('Fifth Growth') wine producer. The Bordeaux Pauillac estate has for many years been consistently outperforming its classification. Grand-Puy-Lacoste is located a couple of kilometres west of the town of Pauillac and is owned and run by François-Xavier Borie.

The name Grand Puy comes from its treasured location. The vineyards are situated on the hill of Pauillac, "puy" being a topographical term designating the elevations rising from mostly flat landscapes that are found in Bordeaux wine vineyards. These small hills are vital for natural drainage. The highest point, or puy, at Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste is close to 65 feet.

The second part of the estates name, Lacoste, is the name of the family who owned the property from the start of the eighteenth century until the conclusion of the nineteenth. They were forced to sell due to the devastation Bordeaux suffered when it was struck by phylloxera. Interestingly, the wine became one of the first popular, non First Growth Bordeaux brands to sell in Asia due in part of the name of the chateau, Lacoste, also called the 'alligator wine', due to the name being the same as the famous sportsware designer with the crocodile logo.

Grand-Puy-Lacoste's 90 hectares of vine plantings are 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard is in one block surrounding the substantial 19th century château, lies on deep gravel beds of pebbles and stone over limestone. 


Grand-Puy-Lacoste reveals its classic terrior, it combines marvellous cigar box and floral perfume with cedar, tobacco and truffle scents and a juicy mouth full of flavorful blackcurrant fruit and cassis with velvety power - the epitome of top class Pauillac at its very best. This traditionally styled Bordeaux wine is aged in 70% new oak barrels resulting in a classic Pauillac style, full bodied, tannic, concentrated Bordeaux wine that ages well. 

www.grand-puy-lacoste.fr/

Château Grand Puy Ducasse Red Bordeaux Pauillac 2008


Château Grand Puy Ducasse is a frequently overlooked Pauillac 5ème Cru Classé property that after years in the doldrums, now produces great value fine quality claret at very reasonable prices. The change was brought about by its acquisition by the négociant firm, Mestrezat who extensively replanted the vineyards, and built a new cuvier and chai. Grand Puy Ducasse has 45 hectares of well-sited vineyards, one parcel on a gravel plateau near Batailley, and another adjacent to the famous Lafite-Rothschild and Mouton-Rothschild. The wine is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon and 39% Merlot - matured in oak casks (30% new) for 18 months before being bottled.

Grand Puy Ducasse is a mid-weight Pauillac that displays good depth of fruit and is usually drinkable 5 years after the vintage - the best examples can last for 10-15 years.

The 2008 release showed vibrant bright dark garnet color, medium to full body; aromas and full forward flavors of bing cherries and slightly tart black raspberry and black currant fruits, a layer of cassis and hint of cedar on a forward lingering tannin finish. Needs time to settle.

RM 89 points.


Robert Parker wrote - "This suave, lush, opulently-styled 2008 exhibits a dark ruby/purple hue, medium body, and attractively forward, sweet notes of creme de cassis, licorice, and earth. Like many of its peers, the purity of fruit and ripeness of the tannins are admirable. Consume it over the next 10-15 years." - 90 points. Robert Parker. - Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse


Rating results for Château Grand Puy Ducasse Red Bordeaux Pauillac 2008: The Wine-Searcher score of 87/100 is calculated from the following wine critic scores:

Critic Score When to drink
CellarTracker 90/100 (11 notes from 11 users)  
Wine Spectator 88/100  
Jancis Robinson 16.5/20  
La Revue du Vin de France 15.5/20  
Vinum Wine Magazine 15/20 2016 to 2022
Decanter 3/5 2014 to 2022
 Rick M                               88


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=694381

Château Grand Puy Lacoste Red Bordeaux Pauillac 1982

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar said about this wine; "Still amazingly youthful,this intense classically cedar-scented wine is a joy to drink.It is rich,powerful and marvelously harmonious. Delicious now and will keep for another 20 years." 91 pts.

My views are in line with another fellow reviewer who wrote - "Starting to show its age with a medium ruby color with some garnet hues. The wonderful nose is very complex and evolved: cigar box, pencil shavings and a lot of minerally steel along with red fruits. The palate is somewhat of a let down. Slightly hollow mid palate, lacking more fruit than I would like and with a higher acidity than I find pleasant. The tannin is resolved, but the finish is slightly clipped. this is not nearly as good as last I tried it. I suspect there may have been some heat damage and/or oxidation as the cork was completely saturated in wine. 92 for the nose and 87 for the palate. (89 pts.)"
 
My notes - The Lacoste cork was soft and moist but still intact. The wine was starting to show its age with the color starting to show a brackish brownish rust hew.. Medium to full bodied;
Predominant aromas of floral and violets and tobacco overshadowed the fruit; flavors of floral, black berry, tobacco, cassis and a layer of leather and creosote on the moderate tannin lingering finish. Amazing life left for a 29 year old but certainly has reached maturity and will not improve further - ready to drink. RM 90 pts.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?AllV=True&iWine=2023

Full, deep red. Reticent aromas of plum, currant, mint and cedar. Dry, penetrating and stylish, with very primary flavors and noteworthy vinosity. Classic claret intensity and grip without any excess weight. The flavors build impressively on the firmly tannic, youthfully tough finish. This bottle was still a few years away from full maturity and should last for another 20 years.

Other Expert Ratings

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 96 points
Wine Spectator: 82 points


Before dinner, Ryan served Robert Stemmler Napa Valley Carneros Estate Pinot Noir 2008. This was great with olives, artisan cheeses, shrimp, and oil with herbs and sourdough bread.


I'll go with the winemakers's notes - "This Pinot Noir offers many layers of beautiful ripe strawberry, raspberry and intense black cherry and plum aromas mingled with hints of cola, forest floor and earth. The wine is fleshy, sleek and spicy, with copious wild berry, black cherry and strawberry flavors, good grip and a sustained, well-balanced finish." 
RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1139909

The Bordeaux wines were enjoyed over dinner - a great accompaniment to the beef tenderloin, fingerling potatoes and green beans with chanterelle and shitake mushrooms. 



For desert we feasted on Linda's fabulous flowerless chocolate cake with red raspberries (picture left). 

 To accompany the desert, we served Warre's Quinta da Cavadinha Vintage Oporto 1995 a perfect match!

RM 92 points.  


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3721

MORE to come... 

Friday, November 4, 2011

Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Syrah 2003

Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Syrah 2003

Label from 1997 vintage.
Don't be fooled by the 'petite' in the name, this is a big wine.

Dark color - full bodied - nose of black berry and floral, flavors of forward black berry fruits, spice, smoke, with a layer of floral and dill, accented by big firm gripping tannins that linger on the long finish.

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=302653

These wines retail for $29 but are often available for less than $20. Its a good at value at those prices.

We learned from syrah/sirah specialist Carol Meredith during our visit to Lagier-Meredith Vineyards during our Mt Veeder Wine Experience 2010 that this is indeed related to the Australian Shiraz's. Perhaps it is the influence of the Napa Valley terroir or stylistic, in any event, my experiences show Napa Petite Sirahs to generally be firmer, with harder tannins and less pronounced and less lush fruits than the Aussie counterpart cousins as this wine shows.

See recent review of  Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Petite Sirah 1997.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Ruston Family Vineyards La Maestra Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine Blend 2002

Ruston Family Vineyards La Maestra Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Red Wine Blend 2002

Named for Lorraine Ruston who first planted this small hillside vineyard west of St. Helena - she teaches English as a second language in Napa Valley. Her namesake wine possesses dark inky purple color - full bodied - initial slight earthy leather bled off over the first hour to reveal big full aromas and flavors of blackberry, a subtle layer of sweet black raspberry, tones of creme de cassis, smoke, charcoal, tar and hints of cedar with long lingering mouth puckering smoke/tar laced tannins. Was a very nice good accompaniment to beef tenderloin au poivre and baked sweet potato. After about two and 1/2 hours the sweet black raspberry with a hint of subtle mocha emerged and became more pronounced on the finish.

(54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and 5% Cabernet Franc)

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=99251

Ruston wines from the 1999-2001 vintages were crafted by Bordeaux-trained winemaker Philippe Melka. This 2002 release was done by Joshua Krupp, another rising star Napa winemaker who worked previously  with Mia Klein at Fisher Vineyards, Paul Hobbs and Michel Chapoutier in the French Rhone River Valley.  



Thursday, October 20, 2011

Aussie Shiraz Standoff - Henry's Drive Padthaway Reserve Shiraz 2002 vs. Flinders Run Southern Flinders Ranges Shiraz 2006

Heavyweight standoff between two Aussie Shiraz'  - A comparison tasting with a surprising outcome.
 
Henry's Drive Padthaway Reserve Shiraz 2002

Very different profile than my earlier review of this wine. It shows dark ink color - medium full bodied - lighter and much more subdued than my earlier tasting note record, which was six years ago. This was not the full, thick extracted fruit with huge mouth-feel fruit bomb from that review. It still has the same flavor profile of currant and blackberry, a tone of black cherry giving way to a hint of caramel and a slight layer of 'heat' eucalyptus with a smoky sweet oak and vanilla on the long lingering silky tannin finish. It was a nice accompaniment to artisan cheeses - hearty sharp cheddar, Bellavitano and Blue. 


RM 90 points.


My notes indicate I bought this wine out of state upon release before it was rated. Nice surprise when I went to pick it up eighteen months later after the RP rating and the price had nearly doubled. 


http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4102


My earlier tasting journal notes from July, 2005 -

"Wow. Reminiscent of my reviews of Marquis Phillips '9', but on steroids. No wonder since Sparky Marquis is also the winemaker of this monstrous wine as well. Dark, full, thick extracted fruit - huge mouth-full of currant and blackberry gives way to caramel and creme brulee burnt sugar with a smoky sweet oak and vanilla finish."
RM 
July 31 2005.

My '90' rating was significantly reduced from my earlier '94' back in 2005 suggesting this is a wine to drink younger and that its time to drink remaining bottle (s) in the near term as they are past their prime and not improving.  

 Flinders Run Southern Flinders Ranges Shiraz 2006

Not a fair fight matching this heavyweight against the middleweight above. This is a huge wine that overpowered the Henri's Drive Reserve above - a huge surprise given the earlier tasting experience and review of that wine. This is more obtuse, such that the Henri's Drive comes across as smooth and polished by comparison.

The Flinders presented dark inky garnet color, full bodied with a huge mouthfeel of forward chewy spicy ripe plum, blackberry, blueberry and notes of licorice, toasty oak and mocha followed by a long, pure finish. Slight glycerin and mineral edge up front detract from the fruit a bit. Not quite as smooth as the 2005 vintage but delicious none-the-less. This is a big wine, not for the feint of heart!

RM 91 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=579974 



Tasted at home with Tom L and Danny A - get acquainted meeting launching next chapter and MPN frontal assault on the Fed! 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St. Julien Bordeaux 1989 and Henri Restaurant, Chicago

 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St. Julien Bordeaux 1989 and Henri Restaurant, Chicago

Henri Photo:  Anthony Tahlier
The Ducru Beaucaillou from our cellar was taken BYOB to Henri Restaurant in Chicago and drank this with L over elegant dinner. It was a great compliment to the Foie Gras and the Game Special Entree - venison with beets, chanterelles, reduction and potatoes purée.

The Dover Sole Meunière was delicious with Flowers Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2008, available and served by the glass.  The creme' brulee desert was also good. Henri had a pleasant cosmopolitan atmosphere, great food and attentive service from a professional and knowledgeable server, Megan and the supporting staff.


The Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Grand Cru Classe exhibited garrnet color - medium-light delicate body with pronounced floral perfume, black cherry and berry fruits with layers of tobacco, anise and black tea and a hint of leather, with floral continuing on a modest tannin finish. There is still life left in this twenty-two year old St Julien Bordeaux.

Blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon / 25% Merlot / 5% Cabernet Franc / 5% Petit Verdot.

RM 90 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1625


Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon duo - Marco DiGiulio Progeny 2001 and Robert Craig 2006

Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon duo - Marco DiGiulio Progeny 2001 and Robert Craig 2006

We took a getaway weekend into the city (Chicago) and visited our friend Peter B who served up these Mt Veeder Cal Cabs with some great Spanish artisan cheeses. We got to tour Peter's art gallery (below) and enjoy his magnificent views of the cityscape sunset. See also our Henri Restaurant Chicago wine-dine experience.

Marco Di Giulio Napa Valley Mt Veeder Progeny Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 -  

Dark inky color. Full bodied, big floral nose. Mouthful of blackberry, cedar, spicy oak; full finely integrated polished tannins on a long flavorful finish. 


RM 92 points.



http://cellartracker.com/w?42933

Robert Craig Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - 


We first tasted this wine at the Robert Craig Howell Mountain Harvest Party '09. Previously we visited Robert Craig Vineyards and Winery in 2008. These visits afford the rare opportunity to compare Robert Craig's three mountain cabernet sauvignon wines - Mt Veeder, Howell Mountain, his newest offering, Spring Mountain, and his valley wine,  Affinity Cabernet Sauvignon blend (see picture left). 



L & I with Robert
Craig at Harvest Party


We're long time fans of Bob and the Craig team and their 'artwork'. Our friendship with Robert and our 'Affinity' for his wines dates back at our first visit to Robert Craig during our Napa Valley Wine Experience in 1996, and then again at our Robert Craig featured producer wine dinners during our Napa Wine Experience 1998, and again in 1999.

We last visited Robert Craig during our Napa Valley Mt Veeder Appellation Trail visit this spring. Indeed, we have a assembled a vertical collection of this wine dating back to the inaugural release 1993 vintage. We're delighted to introduce these wines to our friends including Peter B.   




The Robert Craig Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 exhibits dark inky almost black color, full bodied, tight, firm structure. Aromas of forward blackberry and black currant, hints of mocha and nut. Big bold forward flavors of black currant & blackberry with a layer of pencil lead, mocha and hint of cedar, spice and mineral. Long finish with berry and big lingering firm but well integrated polished tannins. Needs time to soften and for the mountain fruit to emerge and fully reveal itself.

RM 91 points. 

81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot


http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=655995 

Peter B in his studio;



Gallery of select Peter B artwork - 





CityScape view from Peter B's -



More on Peter B Art ...http://fineartblindt.com/
 

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Venge Vineyards Napa Valley Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve Sangiovese 2000

Venge Vineyards Napa Valley Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve Sangiovese 2000

Rick & AJ tasting with Nils at Tra Vigne in St Helena
We tasted and purchased this wine at the Winery during our Napa Wine Experience 2002  - Venge Vineyards, Rossini Ranch (picture left). Legendary winemaker Nil Venge is a pioneer in Napa Valley Sangiovese (in addition of course to his Cabernet Sauvignons).See our Venge Wines Tasting Journal. 



Sangiovese may be considered Italy's claim to wine fame, the pride of Tuscany is the most widely planted grape in Italy. These traditionally made wines are full of cherry fruit, earth, and cedar. Sangiovese is found in Chianti (Classico), Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Rosso di Montepulciano, Montefalco Rosso. It is the backbone in many of the acclaimed, modern-styled "Super-Tuscans", where it is blended with Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc) and typically aged in French oak barrels, resulting a wine primed for the international market in the style of a typical California cabernet: oaky, high-alcohol, and a ripe, jammy, fruit-forward profile. 

While Sangiovese is the most popular and most widely planted varietal in Italy, it has struggled to find footing outside of Italy. In recent years California wineries have had some success with Sangiovese plantings in the Sierra Foothills/El Dorado County, as well as Sonoma County and the Central Coast. 

Nil Venge is well known in Napa circles as consulting winemaker to many top producers including Del Dotto and Plumpjack. Nils has his flagship Venge label as well the Saddleback family label, and with son Kirk is produces wines from their property Rossini Ranch. He and Kirk worked with Dwayne and Susan Hoff at Fantesca in their early releases. He worked with Dave Del Dotto to produce a Sangiovese from grapes grown on the Del Dotto St. Helena Estate.

Kirk & Nils Venge with AJ outside their
Rossini Ranch cave.
Venge earned a degree in Viticulture from the University of California at Davis, with a minor in Enology, after a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy.  He began his career in the wine industry as vineyard manager for the Charles Krug Winery, moving to Sterling Vineyards in the early 1970s.Soon thereafter, Venge made the leap into professional winemaking when he took a position as the first winemaker and general manager for Villa Mt. Eden in Oakville, California (now the site of PlumpJack Winery). An outstanding run of exquisite Cabernets from 1975-1979 put the winery on the map and established Venge as one of the industry's new stars.

In 1982 Venge become a minority partner with Dennis Groth in the newly-formed Groth Vineyards & Winery. That year he also  established Saddleback Cellars. It was at Groth that his 1985 Reserve Cabernet earned a 100-point rating from Robert Parker Jr.- the only perfect score ever awarded to an American winery at that time. Venge workedwith Groth until 1994 when he left to focus on Saddleback and continued to consult with other wineries in the area. During this time Del Dotto emerged and was cited as one of the 'undisccovered dozen' emerging producers in Napa Valley. I talk more about this group in an earlier blog posting -PlumpJack Winery Napa Valley, Winemaker Dinner when we our featured winemaker was Plumpjack Assistant Winemaker Mary Pisor.

The 2000 Venge Vineyards Sangiovese is grown on the Venge Family Estate Penny Lane Vineyard in Oakville. Ripe and smooth for a Sangiovese, the 2000 is dark inky color but starting to show a tinge of rust and brown edges at this stage of life. Medium bodied, it still presents pretty, ripe cherry and blackberry fruit flavors at its core highlighted by a layer of herb and anise notes and touch of leather and tobacco. It has a flavorful lush long finish. 
RM 90 points.  

Tasted with L at Angelis, our favorite neighborhood Italian trattorria.  




Sunday, October 9, 2011

Girard Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2004

Girard Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2004

Dark inky color, huge, intense, full bodied - thick chewy tongue-coating black fruits - blackberry, cassis, black raspberry, ripe plum finishing with essence of blueberry, blackberry liquor, glycerin and touch of smoke. Became more approachable as it was opened longer and had time to soften and settle.

RM 90 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=214952

http://www.girardwinery.com/

Saturday, October 8, 2011

David Arthur Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

David Arthur Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Scenic Pritchard Hills Vineyards
overlooking Napa Valley
David Arthur Estate vineyards sit up on Pritchard Hill, overlooking the southern Napa Valley from the eastern slope at the south end of the range. Three generations of the Long family (no relation to our in-law Long's and our family farms in Indiana) produce Estate wines from mountain fruit grown on their 21 acres of vineyards sitting 1200 feet above the valley floor. Hence the name 'Elevation 1147' of their flagship ultra-premium Cabernet Sauvignon. 

They grow Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo grapes. The mountain terrain and rocky red soils provide ideal growing conditions for Cabernet Sauvignon. David Arthur hand crafted Estate wines express the unique terroir of the site - rich extracted fruit character and silky tannins. They also bottle a blend based on the typical Italian varietals they whimsically call "Meritaggio".


We first discovered David Arthur Wines during our Napa Wine Experience back in 1999. We visited Pritchard Hill and the neighboring Chappellet winery during our Napa Valley Wine Experience during the Autumn of 2009.  

From our vertical of this wine dating back to the 1997 vintage, tonight we drank 1998 David Arthur Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows dark inky garnet color and is medium-full bodied. It exhibits bight vibrant black raspberry and current fruit flavors highlighted by a layer of soft cedar turning to a hint of anise and eucalyptus with a smooth silky tannin finish. Very nice drinking in this thirteen year old - still has life left, no need to hurry - a very nice wine from a vintage that was given a bad rap as many of the 1998s turned out reasonably well, beyond expectations set by reviewers at the time. Top producers manage to produce good wines even in challenging years.

RM 92 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=6095

http://www.davidarthur.com/

Drank at home w/ L over grilled beef tenderloin.

Tasted again on 26 November 2011, w/ L,  BYOB at Enoteca Roma in Wicker Park - fabulous accompaniment to Ricotta, Pear and Walnut Ravioli in a Gorgonzola Cream sauce.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Godspeed Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

Godspeed Napa Valley Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

We visited Godspeed during our Mt Veeder Appellation tour last spring when we picked up this wine in regular and 375 half bottles. This wine is showing its age and diminishing as the fruit is giving way to other elements.

The initial fruit has given way to a frontal layer of anise with cedar and leather giving way to a hint of fig and dark chocolate with firm lingering musty tannins. Okay for pizza or heady cheeses. Drank from a 375 bottle picked up at the winery this spring.

RM 84 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=79478

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Silom12 Bucktown Chicago Thai Restaurant - BYOB


Silom12 Bucktown Chicago Thai Restaurant - BYOB

Silom12 1848 North Milwauikee, Bucktown, Chicago
Wine and Dine experience at Silom12, named for the bustling nightlife district in Bangkok. The new Bucktown Chicago Thai Restaurant, located at 1846-48 Milwaukee, walking distance from the Western Avenue Blue Line station, Silom12 offers standard traditional and contemporary Thai fare, great food, reasonable service, and liberal BYOB for a great value dining experience.

For Starters, we tried the Crispy Coconut Shrimp which was incredible, featuring shrimp mixed with tasty Water Chestnuts. The Crab Rangoon starter was less impressive with lots of cream cheese and little perceptible sign of crab. Both were served with a tasty sweet chili sauce.




Other tempting Starters that tempt a return visit were sesami crusted Tuna Tataka, Steamed Mussels in spicy coconut sauce and Rock Shrimp in tempura sauce.

Entrees include a selection of Noodle dishes, Stir Fry, Curry and Fried Rice dishes. Featured entree's also are the Chef's Specialties including Shrimp, Soft Shell Crab, Tilapia and Chilean Sea Bass offerings.

Other featured selections that we ordered were Crispy Fried Duck Delight with shrimp, asparagus, mushrooms and jasmine rice, Osso Buco braised veal shank with mushroom, young chili pepper, green curry and jasmine rice, and Tiger Cry features a 7 ounce filet of beef with green beans, sticky rice and spicy tamarind reduction.

We also had the Orange Chicken (above) and Garlic Chicken stir fry's, and the Massaman Potato noodle with beef, sweet potato, rice, peanut sauce and coconut milk (left).  All were nice portions, tastefully prepared and aside from the Osso Buco, all warrant a return visit.





To accompany dinner we brought and tasted the following wines:


Leitz "Eins, Zwei, Dry" Trocken Riesling 2009


Toad Hall, Napa Valley Carneros Pinot Noir 2007


Carmenet Moon Mountain Reserve Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996,


Shrader Double Diamond Mayacamas Range Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003,


Shrader Double Diamond Beckstoffer Amber Knolls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2002



Leitz "Eins, Zwei, Dry" Trocken Riesling 2009 - this was  a perfect compliment to the Thai cuisine, fresh, acid and medium bodied. Brought by Ryan and Michelle.
RM 86 points.

Toad Hall, Napa Valley Carneros Pinot Noir 2007 - medium bodied, nicely balanced black cherry and black berry fruits intermingled with dusty rose petals and a hint of leather on the light tannin finish; went well with the lighter rice and water chestnut features - a great value at under $20. Brought by Bill & Beth.
RM 85 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/editnote.asp?iWine=859016

Carmenet Moon Mountain Reserve Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 - I have four tasting notes over ten years for this wine and this resembles the earliest tasting back in the year 2000 - Fairly complex and medium fullness - black berries and currant turn to a layer of mocha/coffee, with a hint of anise and sage, with  moderate finish  Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This lighter more moderate cab went with the heartier Thai dishes especially the Massaman Potato noodle and the duck. Brought by Bill & Beth. RM 89 points.
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=10002

Shrader Double Diamond Mayacamas Range Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - Dark inky color, full bodied, full but subdued black berry and plum fruits, hint of sweet cherry and mocha on the smooth tannin finish. Brought by Rick & Linda. This 'big cab' went well with the Filet of Beef but was a bit too much for the rest of the more refined Thai dishes. RM 90 points. 
http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=97356


Dining and tastiing w/ L, Ryan & Michelle, Erin & Lucy (top), and Bill & Beth C, Matt & Molly (bottom) at Silom12 in Bucktown.

http://www.silom12chicago.com/ 




Saturday, October 1, 2011

Caymus and Del Dotto Napa Cabernets - 1995-96 horizontal - vertical !

Caymus and Del Dotto Napa Cabernets- 1995-96 horizontal - vertical ! 

Not quite OTBN (Open That Bottle Night) but a grand tasting of a selection of 1995 and 1996 Napa Cabernets from two distinguished producers with contrasting styles. Caymus produces Bordeaux style blends sourced from a combination of mountain and valley fruit from the reaches of Napa Valley. Del Dotto produces several labels including this Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Rutherford appellation.

We enjoyed these wines with a selection of artisan cheeses (below) and fresh fruits, and over a beef tenderloin dinner with green vegetables and baked potato. Tasted with L and Bill and Beth C. Bill had the '95 Caymus and I had the '96; we came together to create an occasion for a mini vertical tasting. We added the mini vertical of same vintage Del Dotto Cabernets for a pair of horizontals as well! At fifteen years old, these wines showed no sign of deterioration or diminution.

Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

Took more than an hour to open and stabilize. Medium bodied, dark garnet color with earthy blackberry and black and red cherry fruits, layers of leather, tobacco, cedar, and pencil shavings with finely integrated moderate tannins. Bigger and more fruit forward than the '96 below; less polished and delicate, lacking the soft floral, perhaps due to the simpler more focused blend without the Merlot. Maybe also a reflection of the vintages, contrary to, or in-line with the notes below. 

RM 91 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5614 

Blend for this wine was 83% Cabernet Sauvignon  and 17% Cabernet Franc. The fruit was sourced from St Helena 47%, Rutherford 36%, Atlas Peak 9% and Mt Veeder 9%.


Caymus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

This wine was opened two and a half hours ahead of time and burst with floral on initial tasting. Dark garnet color and medium bodied. Predominant throughout in the tasting, the bright vivid floral perfume highlighted the soft delicate nicely integrated fruits, harmoniously balanced and polished - currants, black cherry, subtle hints of vanilla, oak, spice, milk chocolate and cigar box with a moderate tannin lingering floral finish. After initial moments of brilliance, the fruit later fell off to slightly tart black cherry with a subtle leather finish took over, still accented by dusty rose petals and floral.  Perhaps, this wine shows so well since much of the fruit for this bottling came from plots that are ordinarily used for the Special Selection which was not produced  in the '96 vintage.

RM 93 points.

Blend for this wine was 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The fruit was sourced from St Helena 29%, Rutherford 52%, Atlas Peak 11% and Mt Veeder 8%. 

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1655 

Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1995

Only starting to show a hint of age but still life left in this sixteen year old - dark garnet color, medium-full bodied, oak predominates the taste accented by spicy forward black cherry, berry, plum and cedar with hint of leather, cigar box and vanilla with well-integrated tannins on a long complex finish.

RM 91 points. 

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=890767









Del Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1996


Dark garnet color, medium-full bodied - the black cherry and black currant fruits are starting to fall a bit giving way to a slight earthy leather and cedar but it still retains a layer of toasty oak with a hint of spice on moderate lingering tannins on the finish. Not as polished as the 95 above.

RM 89 points.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=846486









Artisan Cheeses tasted:

Bellavitano
Mayberrry "Millenium" Year 2000 Sharp Cheddar

More to come. .... 



Friday, September 23, 2011

Authentic French Wine & Dine Adventure - Le Petit Cafe Redoux

Authentic French Wine & Dine Adventure - Le Petit Cafe Redoux  - 

Imagine leaving the city and driving out to a French country village for an exquisite, quaint dining experience. Such is dining at the French bistro Le Petit Cafe in Bloomington, Indiana which provides an authentic Provencal dining experience as if you've been transported from Southern Indiana to Southern France. You'll not find a more hospitable atmosphere; the food and wine experience is straight out of the Libournais, true to the roots of the owners who also cook and serve. Don't expect elegance and haute cuisine, you'll get honest home style cooking, great food paired with select wines - all at very reasonable prices. For the wine aficionado or gourmand, don't expect a fancy or complex wine list, just ask for wines to accompany the food and leave it at that! You won't be overwhelmed, disappointed or taken for a ride - expect a complete, authentic dining experience at a reasonable fair price. Our complete dinner with wine, shared starter and shared desert was about $30 per person including tip. Don't expect an itemized detailed bill - consider it as a price-fix meal.

The menu is recited by the server or written in marker on the white board if you happen to be seated at that end of the dining room - beef, foul, fish or game, with soup or salad, accompanied by side dishes served family style. With reasonable prices and such authenticity, go for the starter appetizers and deserts to take in all that is to offer for a complete dining experience.

On this visit there were ten of us allowing us too experience everything on offer - steak with blue cheese and butter, steak with olive oil and garlic, white fish with shrimp, rabbit with brown sauce, and chicken with white wine cream sauce. All were delicious, served with a side of cooked carrots and eggplant ravioli with herbs. The appetizers, a memorable pate and a nice delicate puffed pastry with cheese were exquisite. The chocolate gato (cake) desert with cream sauce was sinfully wonderful.

To accompany all the entrees and each course we had four different wines - two Southern Rhones, and two Burgundies. The Burgundies served up as accompaniments to dinner were thoughtfully selected wines, quality easy drinking, wonderfully and appropriately matched to the food.   While they don't boast or profess a wine cellar or extensive winelist, as with each previous visit, we were delighted by the wine courses. On this evening, we were treated to a red and wine Burgundy from the 2000 and 2003 vintages. The other two wines, two southern Rhones from the 1998 vintage were by pre-arrangement. 



The wines:

Domaine Santa Duc, Prestige des Hautes Garrigues Gigondas 1998 - 
This was the biggest of the four wines, even moreso than the Chateauneuf-du-Pape - and was a perfect accompaniment to the pate and the steaks. Dark color - medium - full bodied. As we work through this case in its 12th year, this wine seems to be more subdued but more balanced, integrated and polished than when younger. Still exhibiting full forward black berry, black cherry and hints of anise, slight earthy leather on a moderate firm tannin finish.

RM 90 points. 

 



Domaine De La Gardine Chateauneuf du Pape 1998 -

From one of the biggest private owned estates in Chateauneuf du Pape, this was medium bodied and complex - good with the pate, the steaks and rabbit dish as well as the chocolate desert.  Dark garnet color, medium bodied, with slightly tart red fruit, pepper, berry, mineral, spice nose; it was very tasty, balanced, slightly tart berry, blackberry, black cherry with mineral  palate, hints of earthy tobacco and cassis and a medium-plus finish. The blend is  60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 15% Syrah and 5% Muscardin.

RM 88 points. Consistent notes w/ earlier tastings.

92 point Wine Spectator: "Beautiful. Black in color, thick in texture, with delicious ripe fruit and silky, sweet tannins. This balanced, full-bodied Châteauneuf delivers harmony and pleasure from start to finish, although it emphasizes fruit over terroir." (11/02). 90 Points Robert Parker: "The 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape boasts a dense, saturated purple color, as well as an enticing, sweet nose of black fruits, licorice, and violets. Full-bodied, moderately tannic, and impressively concentrated, with a long finish, it will be at its finest between 2003-2016."


Gilles Noblet, Domaine De La Collonge, Macon-Fuisse 2003

Very fresh and acidulous nose of exotic fruits - lychee and subtle apple, with violet and white flowers notes. Great balance, ample and round with a mineral touch. Delicate and soft easy drinking to accompany the salad but supple and full enough to go with the fish and chicken dishes as well. 


What a delightful and fun wine. We learn that Domaine de la Collonge is situated in the village of Fuissé,  the heart of the Pouilly- Fuissé Appellation in the southern Mâconnais. This is Burgundy’s southernmost area and one of the most prestigious vineyards of the Maconnais. The estate has been handed down from father to son for four generations and is now run by Gilles Noblet who has improved it greatly. Gilles Noblet is among the most respected of a new-breed of Mâconnais producers. When he is not occupied with the volunteer fire department in Fuissé, he is busy tending the vines and the cellars of his Domaine de la Collonge. Noblet’s Domaine de la Collonge represents the best artisan traditions of the region: respect for the different “terroirs” of the domaine, low yields in the vineyards that total 9 hectares, meticulous winemaking that expresses both Chardonnay fruit and the characteristics of the vineyards’ earth, with a gentle (20-30%) touch of oak.

The Domaine consists of small parcels of approximately 3 hectares each in three appellations in a region dominated by high-volume cooperatives and the labels of negociant producers, Noblet’s wines show the quality that can be attained in this region with a more personal and artisanal approach. They serve as a reminder of why the Mâconnais region, and Pouilly-Fuissé in particular, originally gained popularity and notoriety for producing some of the world’s best loved and best value Chardonnays. The 2006 Pouilly-Fuissé from Gilles Noblet was named among the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2008.

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=107292 


Louis Latour, Les Garans Cote-D'Or  Fleurie 2000

From the vineyard of Les Garans, situated to the north-east of the village of Fleurie, acknowledged as one of the finest sites for growing top quality grapes because of its combination of unique soil composition and specific microclimate. This wine is deliciously floral on the nose and possesses great smoothness on the palate with a wonderful balancing acidity. Deep red in colour with a clean and rounded bouquet of ripe red fruits. Structured, balanced and quite sinewy on the finish.  This was a nice balance to the bigger Gigondas and CDP and a perfect accompaniement to the rabbit with brown sauce, yet sufficiently delicate to pair nicely with the chicken.


http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1220396 


Previous visit to Le Petit Cafe.
 

Le Petit Cafe on the web ... http://www.lpc1977.com/home.html