Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Terra Valentine Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

This is the Sam's Cuvee, label selected and bottled for the former Sam's Wine & Spirits before being acquired by Binny's in Chicago. This was tasted with grilled porterhouse and ribeye steaks, potatoes, and sweet corn dinner outside by the pool at Mark and Shirley's.

The Cabernet Sauvignon was dark garnet colored and full bodied; firm, tight and a bit closed with predominant flavors of black berry, anise and a tone of creosote/tar that gave way to black currant and spicy clove on the finish moderate finish.

RM 88 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=607975

Pair of South Australian Shiraz's 2004

Tasted BYOB with Danny A, Lt Col Joe S and Clint B at Angelis Italian Restaurant in Naperville. Great complements to their Portabello Mushroom ravioli entree.

Pott's Family Bleasdale Langhorne Creek Reserve Shiraz 2004 

From the Langhorne Creek appellation in South Australia, Bleasdaleas vineyards were founded in 1850 by Frank Potts, making Bleasdale one of Australia's oldest family-owned wineries. Having just celebrated its 150th anniversary, it is the second oldest continuously operated family-owned winery besides Yalumba located in the Barossa Valley. Potts was one of South Australia's original settlers having landed in Adelaide on the HMS Buffalo in 1836.

Medium bodied, fairly uninspiring lacking the full forward fruits, spice or body of so many Australian shiraz from the area, this exhibits black cherry and slightly tart cherrry fruits with a layer of creotsote/tar and hint of oak with firm tannins on the short finish. 

RM 87,  Robert Parker, Jr. 88 pts - Wine Advocate #168

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=311592

Jim Barry "The McRae Wood" Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley, South Australia, Shiraz 2004

Medium bodied with subdued fruits, McRae Wood exhibited similar black cherry and black berry fruits but exhibited a layer of graphite and bacon that detracted from the fruit. Like the Bleasdale, also showed modest tannins on a moderate finish.

RM 87 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=390097

Sbragia Family Vineyards Sonoma County Dry Creek Valley Andolsen Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

The fruit for this Cabernet comes from vineyards of a Dr. Andolsen, friend and family doctor of the producers,  located on the west side of Dry Creek in the rolling hills of the Coastal Range in Sonoma County, California in the Dry Creek appellation. 


Winemaker's notes - Aromas of sweet mint, leather, and savory herbs are followed by ripe flavors of blackberry, fresh cranberry and allspice. The blend is mouth-coating and finishes with rich savory notes that complement its velvety tannins.

This wine was aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels imparting cedar and brown spice aromas and flavors and supple tannins. Malolactic fermentation softened the tannins and contributed to a rich, lengthy finish. A small amount of Cabernet Franc was added for  structure and subtle complimentary herbal characteristics.

A blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc.

My notes - medium-full bodied, full flavors of black cherry, black currant, hints of anise, smoke and spices on a lingering moderate finish of polished smooth tannins.
RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1294719

http://www.sbragia.com/

Tasted BYOB at Angeli's Italian Restaurant in Naperville with Danny, Tom, John C and Clint.

Varner Santa Cruz Mountain Chardonnay 2009

Varner Santa Cruz Mountains Spring Ridge Vineyard Ampitheatre Block Chardonnay 2009

Liat, our friend from Northern California visited and L prepared a Salmon with a  tangy Mango and Cilantro sauce and we served this Chardonnay which was a perfect accompaniment to the entree. It also was a toast to Liat's Northern California Santa Cruz Mountain roots in Los Gatos and long time homestead in the area high above Scott's Valley on Vinehill Road on the site of the old Smothers' Brothers vineyard estate.

Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains south and west of the San Francisco Bay tucked back in the Portola Valley west of Stanford University in the Santa Cruz Appellation, Varner Wines are the product of twin brothers Bob and Jim Varner. This area is not well known for Chardonnay but this 'Amphitheatre Vineyard' Chardonnay is highly regarded and much sought after. The Varner 'Amphitheatre Vineyard' Chardonnay represents a sense of place or "terroir". 

Winemaker Bob Varner selects fruit from the "Amphitheater Block" of their Spring Ridge Vineyard, which was first planted in 1980. This area has never been afflicted with Phyloxera so the vines are from the original root stock and plantings. Varner uses non-interventionist farming practices and native yeast fermentation, yielding a pleasant and impressive wine with character that is crisp and citrusy, with plenty of acidity and minerality. This wine is also a considerable value for the money.

This label is less well known perhaps than their Foxglove label, a line of affordable wines, which offer a high QPR - quality to price ratio; this is from their higher end offerings which are single vineyard and in this case single block designated bottlings. The Varner Spring Ridge Vineyard Amphitheater Block Chardonnay comes from a two-acre block of own-rooted, 28-year-old vines and is aged in 30% new French oak on its lees until bottling.


The Varner Santa Cruz Mountains Spring Ridge Vineyard Ampitheatre Block Chardonnay 2009 was subdued and not over the top like so many Cal chardonnays - medium to full body, excellent texture with aromatic notes of honeysuckle, subtle oak, spice and lemon oil, it features flavors of baked apple, lemon and pear with moderate minerality and a crisp, steely component, with balanced acidity. 


RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1137045

http://www.varnerwine.com/ 

Beringer Vineyards Nightingale Napa Valley Botytised Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2004

 For dessert, Linda prepared warm individual chocolate cakes served with ice cream and fresh red raspberries. We  served this with  Beringer Vineyards Nightingale Napa Valley Botytised Semillion Sauvignon Blanc 2004 which accented the red berry fruits and chocolate perfectly.

Golden yellow on release, this eight year old is taking on a weak tea honey colored hue that will continue to darken with age. Medium to full bodied, scents and flavors of honey, apricot and melon finish with a subtle layer of smoke that moderates the fruit and sweetness.

This smokey current greatly resembles the profile of the Beringer Late Harvest Special Select Johannisburg Riesling 1993 that we have tasted over the ensuing eighteen years since release.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=441964

Steak Night Red Wine Flight

Steak Night Flight ranges from Right Bank Bordeaux to Napa Valley and Mountain to Central Coast

For a summer late night grilled steak dinner poolside with Mark and Shirley, we selected a flight of wines starting with floral elegance of a right bank Bordeaux St Emilion Grand Cru Classe, a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon followed by a big bold Napa Howell Mountain mountain fruit Petite Sirah, and closing with a bold spicy Central California Cabernet Franc.

Antipasta featured Shirley's bruschetta with prosciutto, pancetta, and roasted red peppers (below), artisan cheeses with fresh bread and fruits. The main dinner course featured Allen Brothers aged steaks, sweet corn on the cob, baked potatoes and grilled asparagus. 

Shirley prepared a fruit compote with fresh whipped cream for desert.



The wines:

• Château Larmande St Emilion Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe 2005 
• Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
• Opolo Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2005
• Outpost "The Other" Howell Mountain Petite Sirah 2005

 Château Larmande St Emilion Bordeaux Grand Cru Classe 2005

Château Larmande produces about 9000 cases per year and is known for consistent quality and generally a good value. The estate is planted predominantly in Merlot covering 60% of the vineyard, with 30% Cabernet Franc and just 5% Cabernet Sauvignon making up the balance. The 2005 vintage was above average and produced a wine that is already approachable but should last another ten to fifteen years. Bottles are recognizable by the unique lavender colored foil

Medium bodied, full aromas of floral perfume, moderately complex flavors of red berry and plum fruits accented by subtle spice and hints of cherry-cranberry, nice texture and smooth moderate tannins round out the finish.

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=351693

www.chateau-larmande.com


Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Heaven on earth - the garden at TraVigne

We first discovered this wine during our Napa Wine Experiences in the mid-nineties, sitting out in the garden of TraVinge (left) in St Helena, selecting bottles from the Cantina wine shop on the premises. We have a half dozen of Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon vintages from that era through to this one. This is our first tasting of the '04 release.

Oakville Ranch located is located above the Silverado Trail up on the eastern slope overlooking Napa Valley.

The Oakville Ranch property was purchased in 1989 by Bob and Mary Miner. The 350-acre ranch is planted in 55 acres of vineyards of Chardonnay and Bordeaux varietals − Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. The vines have been tended.in small vineyards and managed to produce small yields of few bunches per vine.to maximize the quality of the fruit to be derived from the shallow red volcanic soil on the rocky mountain slopes.


The 2004 Oakville Ranch Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Estate's vineyards - 100% Oakville Ranch: 84% Vista, 9% Terrace and 7% Plateau blocks.

The juice was aged 18 months in 100% french oak barrels, 67% new.

725 cases, plus 8 cases of magnums were produced

The wine is medium to full bodied, dark ruby in color. Aromas of floral, red raspberry and cherry fruits give way to soft oak. Dense full flavors of blackberry, black cherry, black raspberry fruits are accented by tones of spice, cassis and soft sweet oak and a hint of black pepper on a long lingering silky tannin finish. 

RM 90 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=495121

http://www.oakvilleranch.com/


Outpost "The Other" Howell Mountain Petite Sirah 2005

We discovered Outpost wines when we visited their mountaintop vineyards high atop Howell Mountain 2,200 feet above upper Napa Valley, beyond the town of Angwin, across from Lamborn and midway up the dead end road to Robert Craig's mountaintop winery. The volcanic, rocky red soil, high altitude, gentle cooling breezes and sunny western exposure produce fruit of incredible complexity and richness. Outpost creates world-class Zinfandel, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petite Sirah from their hand-cultivated, organically farmed 42 acre estate vineyards. The Other is named for this 'second' or 'Other' label, made  from Petite Sirah "H" clone grown on Outpost Wines' Howell Mountain estate.

Big, bold, full bodied, dark inky purple with a garnet colored rim, a nose of mineral, this wine packs dense concentrated sweet fruit of blackberry, blueberry, raspberry with hints of mineral, dark chocolate and nuances of molasses.Bright acidity is brought into focus with fine-grained tannins and a hint of toasty oak on the lingering finish.

100% Petite Sirah, estate grown, 50% new French oak barrels, 50% 1 year-old French oak barrels.

RM 90 points.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=438620

http://www.outpostwines.com/

Opolo Paso Robles Cabernet Franc 2005

Still work in progress - stay tuned.... 

Shirley's Bruschetta

 

My birthday, my wine and dinner favorites

Its my birthday, my wine and dinner favorites 

For my birthday dinner, I was fortunate to be surrounded by the whole family and my wife Linda prepared my favorite meal - beef tenderloin and lobster tail with caprese salad, baked potato and grilled asparagus. For dessert she prepared her spectacular flourless chocolate cake and fresh berries. To accompany the dinner I opened two classic Bordeaux like Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wines from the cellar - complex, dark, full, black fruits, with floral notes.

Elan Atlas Peak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997

Bordeaux like floral fragrance, subdued black berry and black cherry fruits, slight earth and leather with hints of subtle cocoa and sage on a moderate tannin finish. Better than earlier releases, still showing well and has life left.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5873

We first met winemaker Richard Elliott Smith and his wife Linda (center, left) at our Napa Wine Experience in 1998.

 See my Elan Vineyards Wine Label Library on unwindwine.com. 

http://www.elanvineyards.com/


 York Creek Spring Mountain District Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Meritage 2001

Dark, full bodied, full flavored currant, red raspberry, and black cherry with a long soft polished tannin finish. More subdued fruit than earlier tasting.
RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=47677

 http://www.yorkcreek.com/

Still under construction ...

Chardonnay

The whole family.

Torbreck Vineyards Barossa Valley Woodcutters Shiraz 2009

Dark inky purple color, big full body - big aromas of floral and perfume, forward full flavors of black and blue berry fruits, a layer of metallic mineral, vanilla, and spice on a full lingering tongue coating tannin finish. 

RM 89 points. 

L loves this style but the metallic tones detract from my preference. Taken and tasted with L, BYOB in the concierge lounge at JW Marriott in Indy w/ artisan cheese and biscuits prior to Kara and Gary's wedding.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1035343

Syrah Syrah - Mothers' Day Dinner Wine Selection

Syrah Syrah - Mothers' Day Dinner Wine Selection 

If you don't already know, Syrah is the same grape varietal as Shiraz. Mothers' Day family dinner gathering, Mom gets to choose her favorite wine (s). Ryan pulled from the cellar these two Shiraz's for L - d' Arenberg 'The Dead Arm' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 and Flinders Run, Southern Flinders Ranges, Baroota, Australia, Shiraz 2005. For this momentus holiday gathering of four generations of family - Great-Grandmother Evelyn, Grandmother Linda, Daughter Erin, and Granddaughter Lucy, we dined at our favorite Italian trattoria, Angeli's Italian Restaurant and took our BYOB wines.We were also celebrating son Alec returning home from college graduation.

d' Arenberg 'The Dead Arm' McLaren Vale Shiraz 2003 -  RP Review - ‘One of this estate’s flagship wines, the 2003 The Dead Arm Shiraz appears to be better than the 2002. A deeper, richer, fuller-bodied offering that spent time in equal parts French and American oak, it possesses an opaque purple colour, great intensity, and a fabulously sweet nose of blackberries, cassis, asphalt, earth, and oak. Powerful, super-concentrated, and obviously fashioned from low yields and old vines, this is classic McLaren Vale old vine Shiraz that should age nicely for 15+ years.’ RP Rating 95. 

My review - Reminiscent of the 94/95 Dead Arms reflecting a distinctive blueberry taste along with that sweet oak, blackberry and slight earthy smoke, but smooth and polished - more approachable than some of the overpowering over-ripe fruit bombs coming out of Australia recently. - RM - Dark full bodied, concentrated forward ripe black fruits, hint of cassis, raisin, slight tar firm tannin finish. RM 92 points.

This wine derives its odd name from the results of a louse that hit the region early in the last century and destroyed many of the vines. Many producers plowed the affected vines under and replanted. d'Arenberg cultivated their vines which survived however with only one remaining shoot having sacrificed the other main shoot, the 'Dead Arm'. The results were that the remaining vines produced rich extracted fruits from the diminished reduced yields of the surviving grapes benefiting from the nutrients of the full remaining root structure.

We first discovered this wine back in1994 at a dinner with AJ out in Silicon Valley. I still recall the bold, forward, full bodied, ripe black and blue berry fruits of that wine that characterizes Dead Arm wines to this day - worthy of our Mother's Day family dinner selection.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=84155 

Flinders Run, Southern Flinders Ranges, Baroota, Australia, Shiraz 2005 - One of our absolute favorite wines with a huge QPR (Quality Price Ratio). Dark inky colour - full bodied, elegant rich thick chewy - symphony of flavors of sweet currant, ripe plum, red raspberry, blueberry, a layer of mocha accented by hints of pepper, vanilla, and spice, and a lingering essence of creme brulee' and cedar on the long full soft finish. Now seven years old with a bit of age, this wine is smoother, more polished and more approachable than earlier tastings when young.

RM 94 points. 

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=421985

We first discovered this wine down in central Illinois wineshop Friar Tuck's. We bought some and brought it home and loved it. We bought case quantities from Southern Hemisphere Wines in SoCal. Eventually Binny's featured this wine and we bought it all and are fortunate to have a supply as we continue to enjoy this wine which is improving with age!

Two bold and hearty Australian shiraz's - perfect complement to hearty Italian dinner fare on a special day and family gathering. 

Pahlmeyer Jayson Red Wine Blend Napa Valley 2008

Pahlmeyer “Jayson”, Red Wine Blend, Napa Valley 2008

Great accompaniment when tasted with steak dinners at Ruths Chris in New Orleans with Danny A and Chris K.
 

Dark inky purple, full bodied; ripe black berry fruits predominate with a bramble taste almost zinfandel like yet a Bordeaux blend - layers of spice, anise, cigar box with hints of dark chocolate and black olive with a long lingering moderate tannin fruit filled finish. Complex but slightly disheveled lacking polish or refined integration.

RM and Wine Spectator 89 Points

Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec

www.pahlmeyer.com

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1079523

Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz 2009

Schild Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz 2009

Recently purchase a half dozen selections of the same vintage and varietal, 2009 Australian Shiraz' from different producers. Will be tasting and journaling over the coming weeks. Ideally would do a comparison tasting in one sitting. Hopefully will do this soon. Meanwhile watch for these posting. 

Schild Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz 2009

 

Dark inky purple color, big full body - big aromas and forward full flavors of black and blue berry fruits, a layer of metallic mineral, a layer of black cherry with hints of vanilla, and spice on a full lingering tongue coating tannin finish.

RM 89 points. 

Tasted with artisan cheeses, pear fruit, smoked salmon and various biscuits as shown. L loves this style but the metallic tones detract from my preference.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1276854