Tasting Group Ends 2010 with a Bang!

1990 Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (12/29/2010)
A young bordeaux nose and color to match. Taste and nose of cedar, deep red cherry, currants and earth. Silky sweet tannins. Smooth and seamless. Gained weight in the glass. As night progressed, added an asian spice and soy nose. This is how you fall in love with Bordeaux. (99 points)

1999 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/29/2010)
Deep red purple he. Cocoa and red fruit on nose. More plum than cherry. Fruit carried from entry to finish. Alcohol is well integrated. Great pedigree really delivers. Fruit has a nice pucker. This is a fun wine. Some dreied blueberries on finihsh. Enought bottle age but not too much. (97 points)

2008 Sine Qua Non Kolibri - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (12/29/2010)
Orange marmalade, pineapple, lemon curd on palate with amazing acidity. On the nose, along with the tropical fruit, a beautiful array of field flowers. Color was somewhat cloudy. I would have guessed Roussanne if tasted blind. (95 points)

1995 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (12/29/2010)
Dusty nose with a little funk that blew off quickly. Mostle mature cherry, moss and earth with some cedar in background. Siftened up in the glass. Slightly tart/clipped finish. (94 points)

2003 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/29/2010)
A bit clunky at first but after a few sips, the fruit hits you likea brick. Lots of white pepper and chocolate mix nicely with pure red fruit. Get mostly grenache on my palate. Some nice asian spices add to complexity. (94 points)

2005 Saxum Cuvée Rocket Block James Berry Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/29/2010)
Drank side by side with the 2003 Rocket Block. They were different exoperiences but both excellent.Blueberry and chocolate on palate and nose. Baking spice as well. Huge finish, easier to drink than the 2003.More floral. Lots of glycerin and slghly more sweet than the 2003. Is 5 year window the right place for this wine for my palate? (94 points)

Christmas Eve Tasty Wines

2007 Kongsgaard Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
Man do they make great chards. Even the non chard people at dinner fell in love with it. Tropical fruits of banana, pinneaple and melo intermix with just enough lemon. Oak was present but not overt. Aciditity was ample but not overbearing. Great long finish and tremendous weight to the wine. (94 points)

2004 Denner "The Ditch Digger" - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (12/25/2010)
Smooth rounded tannins, strawberry and cherries and a ripe and mature level and a soft mouthfeel. Time has treated this wine well. (93 points)

2007 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
It's all about the fruit. It's black and it's huge. A bit tannic and this stage but softened up about a hour into the journey.Great fruit profile of blackberry and cherry. Some chocolate in the mid palate. Just delicious. (93 points)

2007 Kongsgaard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/25/2010)
Probably just too young to make a real decision on this. At first glance, a muted nose finally revealed plum and black berry with some vanilla and cinnamon. I like the wine but it does not represent a value for the price in my mind. I have had better young 2007's for a fractioin of the price. (89 points)

Christmas at the Stilleys

1997 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (12/22/2010)
WOTN for me. Funky nose, somewhat barnayrdy which almost blew off in an hour. Great nose and flavors of tobacco, cedar,leather and lead pencil. Dark purple bowl of awesome cherries. Soft tannins, put together well, great mouthfeel, smooth. (96 points)

2002 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/22/2010)
Slightly minty nose upon popping. Huge cab fruit, looks like a recent vintage in the glass. Dark purple. Vary complex and nice subtle spices in the background. Excellent wine. (94 points)

2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (12/22/2010)
This is a big wine. Huge fruit profile of cherry and blackberry. Still quite tannic but awesome flavors explode in your mouth. Revisit in 5+ years. (94 points)

1997 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (12/22/2010)
Mature red fruit, black truffles, soft round tannins, great backbone, good structure. Not gonna get better. These are the Italians I love. (93 points)

2005 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection - USA, California, Napa Valley (12/22/2010)
Had late in the evening so the note is short. Absolutely delicious. Felt like a speed date that I would want to revisit. Big black and red cali fruit. Not for the faint of heart. If you like young cabs, go for it. (93 points)

2005 Turley Zinfandel Old Vines - USA, California (12/22/2010)
Peppery, nice blackberry and blueberry fruit. Some heat but didnt get in the way. (92 points)

1994 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia (12/22/2010)
Some fennel on the nose. Color is still ruby red. Somewhat thin on entry. Fruit is there but drying out. Others who had wine in their glass longer than I did said it opened up beuatifully later. (87 points)

2007 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (12/22/2010)
Disappointment of the night. Has a sweet nose, almost merlot like in its bouquet. Entry and flavors are overwhelmed by heat and alcohol. Disjointed and very tight. You fill in the blanks: 1) Has more alcohol than ... 2)Hot as a ... (85 points)

Wines from Our Office Hoilday Party at 32 East

All of these wines were purchased from their amazing list.

2007 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (12/7/2010)
Dark black cherry and blueberry fruit ooze down the side of your mouth with a vanilla chaser. Just a really fun young wine to drink. (92 points)

2008 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (12/7/2010)
Bowl of cherries and baking spices. Pine needles and a nice sweet oak. Smooth finish. (92 points)

2007 Tor Cabernet Sauvignon Kenward Family Wine Cimarossa Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (12/7/2010)
Very enjoyable. Mostly cherries/plum and a backdrop of loam. The oak was pretty substantial and I hope it will become more integrated. Big mouth feel. Just rough around the edges and finish is still a bit tight. We popped and poured. This may act better with some air. (91 points)

2006 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (12/7/2010)
This wine has strawberry fruit and ample oak but is somewhat hot and disjointed at the time. I think that the fruit will overcome some of the other issues with time but it did not hold up to the 2008 Sea Smoke Southing. Heat and alcohol were abundant on finish. (88 points)

Wines from the Week of Thanksgiving

2004 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley (11/25/2010)
First words out of our mouths were Smoooooooooooth. This iwne is accessible, easy to drink and an expected fruit bomb. Blueberry and cherry pop around your mouth in a purple haze. Lots of vanilla and cinnamon follow the fruit. This is clearly a baby. Hedonistic, over the top and a blast to drink. We drank without food but i think it would show even better with a chunk of beef. (96 points)

2001 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (11/25/2010)
This was a total surprise. I had tucked this away in a bin and it was all but forgotten. The wine delivered plenty of mature fruit - mostly plum and black cherry. I would call the fruit adolescent, not infant and not over-the hill. The oak was well integrated and the tannins were firm, but sweet, luch and velvetty. (93 points)
1995 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (11/25/2010)
Great ingredients but just way too young. Tobacco, plum, black cherry. Forest moss. Still very tannic. Try in 5 years. (91 points)

2003 Fisher Vineyards Cameron - USA, California, Napa Valley (11/25/2010)
Decent but not memorable. Somewhat flat mouthfeel and finish. (89 points)

2007 Stolpman Roussanne L'Avion - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (11/25/2010)
Nice Rousanne tropical fruit, nice mouth feel. Subtle lemon, pinapple and a nice nuttinesss (87 points)

2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (11/24/2010)
Five years in and this wine is starting to show its beautiful colors. Cherry, rasberry and some cranberry round out an elegant mouthfeel. This is a special wine and my favorite pinot in 2010. I will let the last bottle sit another few years. It was special. (94 points)

2004 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County (11/24/2010)
We popped and poured this. Initially, there was a bit of a sulfury funk. We aggressively decanted and swirlled and after ten minutes the funk blew off into a wonderful mix of minerality, terroir and bright fruit. Cranberry and rasberry dominate. The subdued alcohol allowed a lighter mouth feel than the Sea SmokeTen that was before it. This wine had a sense of place to it. Excellent acidity brought the whole package together. (93 points)

2005 Russian Hill Estate Winery Pinot Noir Leras - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (11/22/2010)
Great purity of fruit in this medium bodied pinot. Rasberry, cranberry and pomegranate meld into a great mix of red fruit with ample earthiness. Awesome body to this wine. Ample acidiity ends with a decent but not great finish. (93 points)

2006 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (11/21/2010)
Somewhat monolithic, simple and not that interesting. Red fruit, mostly cherry and rasberry. Vey little mouthfeel. A bit of a woodsy note (oak and pine). Tart finsih. Color looked older than the age of the wine. (86 points)

Sharing Legendary Wine

A memorable night with great friends and amzing food. This is what sharing wine is all about.

1971 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Tâche Grand Cru (11/7/2010)
First bottle was oxidized. Big bummer. Second bottle was in perfect shape. Go figure. Color of the wine was clear and bright.Flvor and nose of light cranberry, fragile rasberry and a fabulous minerailty and sense of earth. Rocks, black truffle at the mid palate. Made me sigh after each sip. Sweet integrated and smooth tannins. This is a wine to remember. (98 points)

1988 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan (11/7/2010)
Nose dominated by cedar, tobacco, oak and cassis. Palate is rich and full of mature red fruit of cassis, kirsch and red cherry. Wow, I kept rubbing my forehead with each taste. An epiphany of why these wines are so special. I know realize that I drankmany of mine way too young. (98 points)

1997 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (11/7/2010)
Mojo meet my palate!Some pine on the nose, mingled with oak and floral bouquet. Very European in style. Sweetest tannins I have had from the 1997 vintage from California. Seemless, contiguous and continuous red fruit flavors. Bright cheries go to town in your mouth. This is what I would imagine some of the Kapcsandy wines to be like in 13 years. I can only hope. (97 points)

1997 Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (11/7/2010)
Flavors were powerful, rich and splendidly vibrant. Awesome sense of earth with each sip. May be one of the best Italian wines I have had to date. Legendary. (96 points)

1997 Clarendon Hills Astralis - South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon(11/7/2010)
Bummer it is my last bottle but worth every drop. Nose had a smoky, bacon and coffee element. Great acidity in the wine delivered blueberry , balck cherry and some cinnamon. No apparent heat. Astralia at its best. Still very young. (96 points)
1966 Château Mouton Rothschild - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/7/2010)
Nose of moss, cedar, lead pencil. Fruit was amazingly vibrant and young. Cassi, kirsch were the main flavors for me. Sweet integrated tannins delivered a superb mouthfeel. (95 points)

2000 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (11/7/2010)
Fabulous flavor profile of limestone, lemon curd, leechee nuts. Great acidity that is crisp and clean. Lighter in style but not too light. Elegant but powerful. I have yet to meet a Corton Charlemagne that I haven't liked. But I loved this one. (95 points)

2004 J. Rochioli Pinot Noir East Block - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (11/7/2010)
Molassis and brown sugar on the nose but not in the mouth. It was like having chocolate covered rasberry puree. Not too sweet though, just right. Huge acidity. If I had tasted this blind, I might have guessed Blue Slide Ridge. Alcholo doesn't show on palate. Every taste had a cooling effect on my palate. Well balnaced with great back end finish. (94 points)

Posted from CellarTracker

Buying wines on a trip that taste just as good at home

Sometimes, when you travel to California or to a wine country anywhere, you get caught up in the moment and buy wines as a memory for the trip. That special bottle to open another time to remind you of the trip. Soemtimes, the wines disappoint and sometimes they deliver that specialness that made you buy it in the first place. Luckily, the wines that we re-visited last night from our napa trip this past summer hit a homerun back in Florida. Can't wait for the other cases to arrive in November to continue to see if we were caught in the moment or caught holding the proverbial bag.

2007 Kapcsandy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville (10/17/2010)
Just fab. Once again, the cab slightly hid behind the delicious merlot fruit. Plums, cassis, cherries. A great earthiness in the mid palate that reminded me of being in the diagonally plan red vines with Lou. Way too early. It will get better but so what. Life is short! (96 pts.)

2008 Château Boswell Chardonnay True Course - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (10/17/2010)
Love when you buy a wine on a trip to Napa tastes as good when you are in the moment there. Great citrus profile of tropical fruits, lemon curd and a creme brulle finish. Color reminded me of some Aubert chards - a bit cloudy. Great acidity and an elegant finish. (94 pts.)

Tasting Notes from a European Free For All

2006 Bodegas AAlto Ribera del Duero AAlto - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (10/17/2010)
Wine of the Tasting. Cocoa, coffee on nose. Lighter in style than the Bassseta. Great deep red cherry fruit. A hint of mintiness and green pepper. Memorable. Well balanced. (95 pts.)

2006 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja - Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja (10/17/2010)
Stupendous grenache. Wow! Chewy rasberry. Kaboom in mouth. Man, Spanairds due grenacha right. When it's good, its great. (94 pts.)

1998 Luigi Pira Barolo Marenca - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (10/17/2010)
Delicate. Could have guessed an aged Sea Smoke Ten if it was blind. NIce backbone. A touch acidic at back end. Mature cherries and mushrooms. Heavy tannins with a memorable earthiness. Got better toward end of tasting when I revisited it. (93 pts.)

2005 mas alta Priorat La Basseta - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (10/17/2010)
Chocalte covered cherries. Huge wine. Some called it "Parkerized" - a bit manipulated. Great food wine. Some acid on finish. (93 pts.)

2006 Orma Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (10/17/2010)
This wine is still a juvenile. Tight. Brooding fruits flavors of plum with some black pepper. (90 pts.)

2008 Murphy-Goode Sauvignon Blanc The Fumé - USA, California, North Coast (10/17/2010)
Palate cleanser and warm upper before European wine tasting. Light, crisp and clean. Lemon intertwined with lemon grass. Wellintergrated acidity and decent tartness. Nice finish. Never have low expectations on Sauv Blanc. Often surprised to the upside. (88 pts.)

2003 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage (10/17/2010)
Dark with some reduction on the nose. Lilacs protrude from glass with some funk. Lots of subtlety to the mix of dark berry and forest floor. Wine had an oxidization issue though and wasn't its best showing. (87 pts.)

Andrew's Bar Mitzvah Celebration: 1997

WE started with a pre-party tasting. Straight out of the small glasses they give you in the bathroom of Marriott hotels. Could be a lot worse.

•2005 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry Poetry Stags Leap District - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (10/10/2010)
This wine totally delivered. Violets and field flowers on the nose with cherry and baked blueberry pie on the palate. Amazing structure to this wine. A strong backbone carries the intense fruit through each phase of the palate. It is a baby but delish now. (94 pts.)

•2007 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (10/10/2010)
Love this wine once again. Cocoa,back cherry, cassis and some vanilla. Ample oak but staysin the background. Hedonistic. Could age for a long time but why wait. I call this a Fedex wine - it delivers. (93 pts.)

Popped and poured all of these wines at the party. We were not good sharers!

•1997 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley (10/10/2010)
I take back my comments on this vineyard. Sometimes I feel like it doesn't age well. This vintage held up beautifully. Sweet smooth tannins follow ripe, mature red cherries. It won't get much better. Drink now.. (94 pts.)

•1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley (10/10/2010)
Ooh la la. Loved it. Cassis, black cherry and forest moss dominate this heavy weight. This still has years ahead of itself. Absolutely stunning. Amazing mouthfeel, texture and a very long finish. (96 pts.)

•1997 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (10/10/2010)
Well integrated fruit and woody notes. Some tobacco, cedar on thE and I initial hit to the palate. Sweet, soft tannins followed by light red cherry compote. Really nice. In the right spot for my taste. (92 pts.)

•1997 Graham Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (10/10/2010)
Sweet plums and dark berry fruIt. Too young still. A bit disjointed. Has the right recipe, just needs time. (91 pts.)

Birthday Tasting with Rhone Rangers

Last wine of the night may be considered blasphemy. It was my person concoction of 1/4 each of Alban Reva, the two Saxums and the Booker. WOTN!!! 98 points!!!




•2004 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley (9/17/2010)
Crazy, out of control delicious. Cherries, rasberry and a dose of road tar. Perfect spot for this wine for my palate. John Alban is a magician. (96 pts.)

•2005 Saxum Syrah Bone Rock James Berry Vineyard and 44 - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (9/17/2010)
Drank side by side with the 44 month. Both seamless. Around the table, not much difference between the two bottles. The finish on the 44 was smoother and regular bottling had more of a cocoa component. Both were crazy yummy and proves Justin is a master of Rhone style wines. Blueberry was the dominant fruit with some earthiness and wet stones. One person at the tasting described the finish as a piece of blueberry pie with cream soda. Finish is still pretty tight and still has some heat fromthe alcohol. This wine will continue to age well. (95 pts.)

•2007 Booker Vineyard Vertigo 28 months - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (9/17/2010)
This was one of the upside surprises of the night. Cumin, nutmeg and all spice ont he nse. On palate, cinnamon, clove, dark cherry. This wine is chunk and layered. It has a great flavor profile, including blackberry compote and some black tea in the background. Happy to support this vineyard. Great job. (94 pts.)

•2007 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (9/17/2010)
Beautiul floral nose, smooth entry. Weight of wine was more Euro than Paso. Best Espirit vintage I have had yet. Cherries, light chocolate nuances and some vanilla on nose and on finish. This wine is rocking right now. (93 pts.)

•2003 Pax Cuvée Moriah - USA, California, Sonoma County (9/17/2010)
Blueberries dominate with bright plum with smooth tannns. This wine is well knit. Some subtle gaminess. No apparent heat. Yummy (92 pts.)

•2008 Linne Calodo Rising Tides - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (9/17/2010)
Very rich wine. Syrah dominates. Meaty, chewy dark red fruit. Round, velvety bright cherry on finish. No fizz. Excellent young LC. (92 pts.)

•2009 Kinero Grenache Blanc Alice Blackseth Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (9/17/2010)
Light, fruity, tropical fruit of pineapple, banana and citrus. Great acidity and clean finish. Nice body and decent weight. Great starter for a Rhone Ranger tasting. (90 pts.)

•2008 Robert Foley Griffin - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (9/17/2010)
This wine is still a baby beast. Black ink in the glass. Young, tight, packs a punch. Dark black fruit with ample oak. Mouth puckering finish. Needs time but has the right recipe. Petite sirah dominant. (88 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker

Lamb and Bordeaux - A great pair! plus some others per usual!!

The night had all of the showings of a Europe/US smackdown on bordeaux blends. Heavy weight faves like Pichon Lalande and Cos against upstarts like Opus One and Dominus. Unfortunately, the Americans were leftat the gate on this flight. Could be indicative of aging Cali cab blends compared to their European cousins. However, I am not willing to give up yet. Just think we caught a couple of bottles that didn't show well. Note to self, if have multiple bottles of some of these Cali stars, try them along the way and don't just forget them in the back of the cellar. The night was dominated by terroir. With many of these wines, you felt like you were drinking them in the vineyards of the chateaux.


1997 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Roncières - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (9/12/2010)
Garnet/rose mixture in glass. Great minerality, wet stone and flint. Rasberry, cranberry and pomegranate. Vibrant fruit. Excellent sense of terrior. (94 pts.)

1983 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (9/12/2010)
Old bordeaux nose of cassis, red sweet cherry, cedar, tobacco. Plenty of fruit left in this. At peak. Soft mouthfeel with essentially no tannins. (92 pts.)

Note: This wine was consumed out of sequence. Lots of decanters look the same as the night goes on!
1996 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (9/12/2010)
This was a big and chewy wine and is still incredibly young. Some what muted nose but the wine has lots of stuffing. Firm but sweetening tannins. A good dose cedar behind the black cherry on the palate. (94 pts.)

1986 Château Cos d'Estournel - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (9/12/2010)
This was right up there with the 86 PL. Juniper and cedar on the nose. Very smooth on entry. Elegant. Primary fruit was mature red cherry with some truffle on the finish. Hasn't developed the classic tobacco/cedar nuances that I usually get from Cos. Still fruit dominant on the nose. (96 pts.)

1986 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (9/12/2010)
WOTN. Floral notes of roses on the nose. This wine is still huge, well integrated red fruit of cherry and cassis with some sweet plums. Great mouthfeel. Velvetty. (97 pts.)

1999 Dominus Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/12/2010)
The wine wasn't corked or oxidized but it was flat, fruitless and missing sommething or many things. Poured down the drain. Bummer. NR (flawed)

1996 Opus One - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/12/2010)
This wine did not show well tonight. It was abit oaky, flabbby and finished with a tart/slightly sour zing. Red cherry fruit was there but th e wine is either in a wierd state or IMHO, thiese wines are constructed to be consumed young in restaraunts. (86 pts.)

1998 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz E & E Black Pepper - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (9/12/2010)
After two disappointments with the cali cabs, this wine brought us right back into the mix. Floral nose of mostly violets. Wine smelled and tasted like blueberry pie with a cinnamon crust. Expected this to bring heat like many Aussies but it was not the case at all. THere was a nice coffee and cocoa/mocha finish after the fruit. Sweet tannins and a great finish. (95 pts.)

1998 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore (9/12/2010)
Just when we thought we were wrapping up the night, out came an Italian big gun. Tar, tabocco on nose. Rich red fruit with a tough of green pepper. This wine had great body and was elegant. Still very young. (94 pts.)

Tasting notes to start the weekend. More to follow

2007 DuMOL Chardonnay Clare - USA, California, Sonoma County, Carneros (9/11/2010)
Fabulous chard. Lemon curd and creme brulle. Awesome mouthfeel from acidity and weight of the wine. Some other tropical fruits lingered in the mouth on finish. Great. (95 pts.)

2005 Jonata Winery La Fuerza de Jonata - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (9/11/2010)
This wine was a beast. It was so thick you had to chew it. Major profile of blackberry, black cherry and a forest floor/moss component that made you think your were actually drinking in the wilderness. It was my first experiment with all Petit Verdot and I think it is best used in a blend for my palate. (90 pts.)

2006 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Mukaida Vineyards - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (9/10/2010)
Young, vibrant strawberry and raspberry fruit. Worked for me. Not cerebral. In your face calii fruit. (94 pts.)

2007 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (9/10/2010)
Typical murky profile in glass. Bright red fruit of raspberry, strawberry and red cherry jumped out out of the glass and ricocheted in your mouth. Light to medium in weight. Just a fun wine. (92 pts.)

2008 Kinero Grenache Blanc Alice Blackseth Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (9/10/2010)
Beautiful deep straw color. Great way to start a wine night. Bright acidity and tropical/citrus fruit. Some of the rougher edges have mellowed out since the last tasting. Defintiely in a good window. (91 pts.)
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TNs with a local distributor at Guy's Wines

•2005 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Stagecoach Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/18/2010)
This is a teeth licker. At first the nose was muted but then the flavors explode on the palae - cassis, blackberry, dark cherry. This is a monster/huge wine. Like it but didn't love it for the price tag. I think it is not in the league of the $200ish wines. At half the price, worth a shot. (92 pts.)

•2006 Talley Vineyards Pinot Noir Rosemary's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Arroyo Grande Valley (8/18/2010)
Showing a touch of age on the rim already. Candied fruit of strawberry and rasberry. Heavy weight body, nice mouthfeel. Definitely in the Cali pinot/fruit bomb category. (91 pts.)

•2008 Paul Hobbs Chardonnay Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/18/2010)
Nice balance, great acidity, classic chard. Rich, opulent with interesting minerality mixed with vanilla and bright citrus/lemon. A lip smacker. Unfined and unfiltered. (91 pts.)

•2005 Lindstrom Wines Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (8/18/2010)
Nose of violets and blueberries. A nice wine but lighter in style than I would have expected. Didn't have the depth or power that I was looking for. Really interesting flavor profiles of cocoa, coffee and red cherry. Somewhat green on the finish for me. Once again, it was more of a crowd pleaser than I liked. (88 pts.)

•2007 Brewer-Clifton Chardonnay Mount Carmel - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Rita Hills - Sta. Rita Hills (8/18/2010)
Nice oak (uses old oak barrels) and vanilla. This is a big chard that packs a punch. Mostly lemon opil on palate with nice bright acidity. Somewhat tannic (maybe from the stem inclusion). Edgy. (88 pts.)

•2008 Chateau Souverain Chardonnay - USA, California, Sonoma County (8/18/2010)
Smoewhat green but creamy. Sweet lemons with nice acidity. Iam conflicted if I like this or not. (86 pts.)

•2007 Peay Vineyards Pinot Noir Scallop Shelf - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/18/2010)
Nose of strawberry and cranberry (as well as on palate) with a very tight finish. Sour mid-palate. Lean style. Doesn;t do it for me but was a crowd pleaser at the tasting. (85 pts.)

•2001 Mas Igneus Priorat Costers de Mas Igneus - Spain, Catalunya, Priorat (8/18/2010)
Pruny and tannic. I just don't get it. Not the nice balance and power that I would have hoped for from this Priorat. (84 pts.)

TNs from Guy's 59th Winefest

•1994 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/13/2010)
Nose of cake spices, black tea, chocolate and rich cherry fruit. This wine is regal and elegant. Palate expands to a very long finish with richness of fruit and finesse. Slides all the way to the bottom of your stomach. Damn is that good. (97 pts.)

•2003 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto Monte Lodoletta - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella (8/13/2010)
Who needs dessert? Seemless, sweet but amazing. This is a big by wine for sure. Licorice and dark chocolate spread over dark red fruit. Port like without the extra sweetness. Very memorable. (97 pts.)

•2005 Futo - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (8/13/2010)
This wine held up to the big boys: Maya, Harlan, Bryant and Pride. Highly extracted, hedonoistic, fruit bomb. Black cherry with a drizzle of vanilla and cocoa that explodes in the mouth. Ooff! (96 pts.)

•1999 Harlan Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/13/2010)
Schwing. This nose was loched and loaded for pleasure. Licorice, road tar, and huge dark fruit on the nose. A tough of kerosene but not obtrusive. Flavor profile was amazing: Asian spices, coffee, clove, soy and cinnamon. Very exotic and smooth. Well balanced. Crazy, stupid delish. (95 pts.)

•2005 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/13/2010)
Elegant, great acidity, lemon peel and lemon oil. Ample oak, great mid palate. (95 pts.)

•2005 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Aquilon - Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja (8/13/2010)
Huge, thck wine. Great viscocity. Fills your whole mouth. Everything a grenache should be and more. Plums, plums and more plums were my primary fruit in this monster. Wow. This is good stuff. One of best grenaches to date. (95 pts.)

•1997 Dalla Valle Maya - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (8/13/2010)
Rose nose with allspice at front of tongue. Dark color, showing no age. Primary flavors were mocha and mature cherry. Huge backbone. Tghis is a cool wine at its present stage. (94 pts.)

•2007 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (8/13/2010)
This was my first encounter with the Frog. Nose of Road tar from Rt 66. Pure syrah fruit flavors. Cherry, plum, and a bit of blackberry. Some blood sausage and smokiness rises fromt he fruit. At first smell, my brain hurt. This wine is nirvana, pure, inviting and edgy. Have been on the list for a few years but haven't graduated to the Frog allo yet. Can't wait. Addicitive. (94 pts.)

•2005 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/13/2010)
Very floral nose, great entry, no mid palate though. Not a ton of weight to this wine. Smoky cassis and bright cherry. A lot of vanilla with smooth, sweet tannins. (90 pts)

•2002 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley (8/13/2010)
This wine underperformed since last tasting. Has the normal Alban funk which I have grown to love. Like sitting in a barn. Decent amount of tar on nose and palate. Somewhat closed at first. Needs food which made the fruit show up a bitmore. Didn't hold up tot eh other wines of the night though. (88 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker

TNs of Wines on a short NYC stay

Bought this at Crush Wines and had with great Greek food at Trattorria Akra.
2008 Scholium Project Naucratis Lost Slough Vineyards - USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg (8/4/2010)
Great pairing with Greek food. Great lemon oil and citrus on the palate. Crisp but not crispy. Had a very nice mouthfeel and a heavier weightt than I would have expected. (91 pts.)

Had with a superb lunch at Mark Hotel
2007 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir San Andreas - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/4/2010)
Rhubarb, rasberry, licorice, cranberry and forest floor. A bit of a green stem finish. Nice backbone and structure. Bright acidity. (90 pts.)

Bought at Crush. A wine to look for. Very different.
2008 Bedrock Wine Co. The Bedrock Heirloom - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (8/3/2010)
Freakishly fun with zin black flavors that are dark fruit with a guttural fruitiness. Heavy but not overbearing. Still really young. Needs a few hour decant. Other grapes create an interesting conversation around blackberries and saddle leather. (90 pts.)

Bought off the list at Tbar Steakhouse. Great meal.
2008 Turley Zinfandel Juvenile - USA, California (8/3/2010)
Somewhat disappointing. Decent red fruit but a bit of a sour and tannic finish. Don't think time helps this one. Just average. (86 pts.)

Drink the best while the kids are at camp! Only 2 weeks left!!

•2009 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (8/1/2010)
Great lemon and pineapple on the nose with a touch of tropical life savers and freshly cut grass. Great balance and acidity that keeps it all together. Reminds me why I don't start with SB more often. A Winner. Bought at Whole Foods for under $50/ (95 pts.)

•2005 Star Lane Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Astral - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley 8/1/2010
Great bright cherries fruit with a hint of chocolate. Delivered with a punch. Think this is a drink em young wine that has hedonsitic tendendacies. Not a long term ager in my opinion. Doesn't have the structure or backbone. Great now. Carpe Diem. (94 pts.)

•2004 Justin Vineyard Isosceles - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles 8/1/2010
Somewhat smokey with dried cherries. (87 pts.)

New Alban offering - an early drinker

Look for this special bottling at restaurants. Cheaper than Alban's big boys but delivers.


2008 Alban Vineyards Syrah Patrina Alban Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley (7/26/2010)
This is Reva's.baby sister. Deep dark purple slides down the glass, oozing with plum, black cherry and a smokey grilled steak behind it. Early drinker while the others rest. Delish!,, (93 pts.)

A Great Burgundian Value

•1997 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Roncières - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru (7/21/2010)

This wine was so well balanced and had a great flavor profile of rasberry, truffle and an amazing sense of earthiness and minerality. Nice long finish and plenty of fruit in the mid palate. Beautiful wine. Still very young. Refined. (93 pts.)

Italian Tasting to Remember

•2001 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (7/14/2010)
Sexy, OMG kind of wine. Silky red fruit, great richness. Elegant, soft tannins. Cherries and some plum. This was a ballet dancer compared to the Casanova de Neri which was a boxer. Both great, just at two ends of the pleasure spectrum. (97 pts.)

•2001 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (7/14/2010)
Licorice, violets, velvety, great weight to this wine. Layers of red fruit, great depth. Chocolate, cherry and some nutmeg. Tied for WOTN (96 pts.)

•2004 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT (7/14/2010)
100% Sangiovese. Smooth mouthfeel, young red fruit, perfumed nose with a bit of grilled meat. Still a baby. (94 pts.)

•1999 Tenuta San Guido Bolgheri Sassicaia Sassicaia - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Sassicaia (7/14/2010)
Deep brooding purple color, mushroom and chocolate on palate and nose. rich deep red fruit, amazing acidity, nice oak. (93 pts.)

•1997 Agricola San Felice Vigorello Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (7/14/2010)
Nice minerality on nose and palate, mature cherries, ample acidity, red rose pedals on nose (90 pts.)

•2001 Argiano Solengo Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (7/14/2010)
Would have been a dead ringer for a bordeaux. Somewhat one dimensional, plums, cherries. Hollow mid palate. A bit acidic but the back end was rich and full of sweet tannins. The finish kept you coming back for more. (90 pts.)

•2003 Gravner Ribolla Gialla Anfora Venezia Giulia IGT - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT (7/14/2010)
Thick, oily, with a yellow straw center. Nutty. Mature citrus. Unusual wine. (86 pts.)

•1999 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (7/14/2010)
I am not going to rate this wine as I think this bottle was in a wierd place or I had palate fatigue. The table was mixed between amazing and not getting it. Maybe a dumb stage. Butcher blood color, still very young. Extremely complex but the flavors were muted.

Tasting Notes from 3 days in SF and 3 Days in Napa

Dinner at House:
2007 Philippe Melka Cabernet Sauvignon CJ - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/8/2010)
Plum, cassis and black cherries jump out of the glass. Smooth tannins and a mouthfeel that invites the next sip. We blinked and the bottle was gone. Style is made to drink now. Since it is in a good place, I plan on drinking these. Could be a risk of getting flabby with time. Nice structure now. (92 pts.)

2007 Copain Syrah Tous Ensemble - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County (7/6/2010)
Lighter in style then other Copain wines that I have had. Extremely food friendly with nice plum-cherry combo. A bit of a short finish but picked up some weight as the evening progressed. Short on the "it" factor that I enjoy with many of his wines. Not as cerebral but delivered on a wine list on the low end of the prices at The House in SF. (90 pts.)

Dinner at Michael Mina:
2007 Rhys Pinot Noir Family Farm Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County (7/6/2010)
Rhubarb,, cherry, raspberry with forest floor and the perfect amount of acidity. Kudos! (94 pts.)

2007 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (7/6/2010)
Great straw color. Draws you into picking up your glass.** Great acidity but works with the lemon curd and vanilla bean.* These guys are good. The oily consistency mixes with the white toast points at the back end. (94 pts.)

Dinner at Gary Denko: Best meal in years!
2006 Lillian Winery Syrah - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (7/7/2010)
Up for the syrah of the year for me. Palate was seamless with blue fruit and a richness that drew you to want to have more. I was speechless. Just silly. Not a lot of funkiness that I typically like but the intense flavors worked. (95 pts.)

2006 Neyers Chardonnay Thieriot Vineyard Sonoma Coast - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (7/7/2010)
This wine totally delivered. Lemon and grapefruit dominated the nose upon popping the cork. A s night progressed, picked up weight with a phenomenal mouth feel. Won out over the RM chard the night before (95 pts.)

Napa Day 1:Holly couldn't have been a more gracious host!

•2007 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (7/8/2010)
Calssic Cali Cab. Plums, cherries and cassis. Great floral notes and rose pedals. No noticeable oak. Extremely sweet tannins. Very smooth. (91 pts.)
•2007 Vineyard 29 Zinfandel Aida Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (7/13/2010)
Blueberry compote with lilac. 15.8% but so well integrated. Loved it. (94 pts.)
•2007 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Franc 29 Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (7/13/2010)
This was a beast even though it was decanted for six hours. Subtle licorice on nose with blackberry. (96 pts.)
•2007 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (7/13/2010)
Great mouthfeel, cherry nose with a hint of vanilla. Finish lasted forever. (96 pts.)


Look out world, here comes Juan Mercado. What an amzing few hours. Future rock star and very humble.

•2008 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena (7/13/2010)
Deep purple, ripe cherry fruit, earthiness, chewy, feel like you are drink the wine in the vineyard, great minerality (96 pts.)
•2007 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Farella Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Black ink, 100% cab, this vineyard fruit went into Opus and Mondavi Reserve, volcanic soil, great floral nose and minerality, brilliant black fruit (95 pts.)
•2008 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Fruit from Napanook, a blend. Soft on entry, 78% merlot, ripe cherry fruit (94 pts.)
•2009 Realm Cellars Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
Great acidity, citrus fruit, rich, medium bodied, clear yellow hue, noy overly tropical (93 pts.)

Josh at Boswell was very nice and walked us through some great wines that we had never had before:

•2008 Château Boswell Jacquelynn Cuvée Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Half semillon, half sauv blac. Oily consistency, waxy, melon fruit. Euro in style like a white Bordeaux blend from Graves (88 pts.)
◦2008 Château Boswell Chardonnay True Course - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/13/2010)
Straw color, all Wente clone, Burgundian, purity of fruit with great finish. One of best chards I have had in a while. (95 pts.)
◦2008 Château Boswell Chardonnay Dutton Ranch/Morelli Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/13/2010)
Coconut oil, pineapple, a bit cloudy, rich, delicious, would have warranted a higher score but a bit short on finish (92 pts.)
◦2008 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Jacquelynn Oakville - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
Only 5 barrels made. Just bottled. Green tinge to the cherry fruit at entry, wine is still tight, needs time. Has the right stuffing for dark cherry fruit to emerge. (91 pts.)
◦2008 Château Boswell Chardonnay Dutton Ranch/Sebastopol Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma (7/13/2010)
White fruit, nice acidity, oaky (87 pts.)
◦2007 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
98% cab, 2% petit verdot, very tannic, thin, uninteresting at this stage (86 pts.)

Dinner at Redd:
2009 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/13/2010)
Light yellow, tropical fruit, great viscocity, lemon, cocnut oil, melon, guava with a finish of key lime pie. Great way to start a night of wine off. (92 pts.)

2007 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Phaedrus - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Somewhat disappointing. Green red fruit with short finish and no mouthfeel. (86 pts.)

Napa Day 2:

Started at Biale: Nice tasting room hospitality
•2008 Robert Biale Zinfandel Black Chicken - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
The best wine of their lineup on tis tasting. Bright fruit, typical pepper nose, black fruit, red/purple color (90 pts.)
•2006 Robert Biale Petite Sirah Thomann Station - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Unctuous, tick, blueberry, bacon fat, needs a long time in bottle. Some olives, tight at back end. (88 pts.)
•2006 Robert Biale Syrah Hill Climber Jack & Jill - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (7/13/2010)
Blueberry, cherry, tightly wound. A bit green, some unripe notes on finish. (86 pts.)
•2007 Robert Biale Zinfandel Party Line - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Tis is their cuvee. Flat taste, no disctinctive fruit, just red, alcohol before fruit. (85 pts.)
•2009 Robert Biale Sauvignon Blanc Pollo Bianco - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/9/2010)
NIc light wine, refreshing when cold. No finish. One dimensional. It is just wine. (84 pts.)

Popped into Plumpjack
2007 Plumpjack Syrah - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Smokey, chewy tannins. Deep purple fruit, would be great with BBQ. Medium bodied. (94 pts.)

2009 Cade Sauvignon Blanc - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Lemon zest in a glass, crisp, green grass (86 pts.)

2006 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
Wow, this finish lasts a full minute. Black cherries, currants, still needs time but extremely well woven. (95 pts.)

2007 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
Sweet black cherries, clean mouthfeel, ample oak. Would be great but missing the X factor (92 pts.)

Last of day at Kapcsandy: see separate long note!!! Amazing tasting.

Dinner at Don Giovanni

•2003 Miner Family The Oracle - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Well integrated black fruit with an amazing harmony, all comes together. Sophisticated but still a street fighter. These wines are great young but gain some weight with time. A sleeper. (94 pts.)
•2005 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Russian River Valley - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (7/13/2010)
Ripe Cherries and roasted rasberries. A touch of oak and a great mouth feel. This wine is still really young but hs the stuffing to mellow out. Give in another 5 years. (93 pts.)
•2003 Swanson Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
I didn't get this wine at all. Disjointed, unintersting, just a bowl of semi ripe fruit. (84 pts.)

Day 3:

After Kapcsandy, we needed a rest and only got to Cliff Lede.

•2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (7/13/2010)
Soft mouthfeel, elegant, dirt, earth, very complex red fruit (94 pts.)

•2007 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Imagine Rhapsody - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
2 best blocks from each vintage, combo of Imagine, the highest elevated block in stag's leap and Bohemian Rhapsody. Deep rich, inky color, cherries, cocoa, lilacs. Packs a punch. Medium bodied. (94 pts.)

•2007 Cliff Lede High Fidelity - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Nice spicy entry, smooth rounded tannins, deep ruby color, baking spice, cherry, cinnamon. (92 pts.)

•2007 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (7/13/2010)
Black fruit, earthy, lilac nose but a bit green on entry, acidity hits in mid palate, sweet fruit comes at back end. Blueberry, black cherry. It feels like it's missing something. (89 pts.)

•2001 S. Anderson Diva - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Clean, crisp, bright acidity, grapefruit. Good, but not up to the reputation. (87 pts.)

•2009 Cliff Lede Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Tropical fruit, peachy nose, soft mouthfeel with mild acidity at back end. Distinctive citrus fruit. (87 pts.)

•2007 Cliff Lede Claret - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (7/13/2010)
Just average, not even close to the Endre bottling across the street in the same vintage. Tight at back end, muted red fruit (85 pts.)

Dinner at Bardesono: Bumped into Paul Lato, small world...

2007 Mapson Cellars Left Lane - USA, California, Napa Valley (7/13/2010)
Wowsa. Dark brooding glass of black cherry, slides down your throat, plums, long finish. Thank you Acme! Sh, don't tell anyone. (95 pts.)

2007 Oakville Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/13/2010)
Decent fruit, muted nose, spices, average (86 pts.)

Tasting with Lou Kapcsandy: First to try 09

Like many posts, this was an amazing day. We spent close to three hours with Lou. Also, we were the first people outside of the winery to taste the 2009s from barrel. Below are some brief thoughts and notes that will eventually go into CT.

First, Lou greeted us and brought us out to the vineyard next to his gorgeous home and facility next door on State Lane Road. It is truly breathtaking. We went to the back of the winery and he walked us through the meticulous farming process, from the extensive pruning of the vines, to selection and even how the vineyard was replanted to reduce the exposure the grapes during different parts of the day/year.





We moved into the winery. It was immaculate. You could literally eat of the floor. As we walked into the barrel rooms, two workers were cleaning around the holes of the barrels to ensure cleanliness.

We then moved into his boardroom/tasting room. It is casually elegant. There is a press at one end and two antique Hungarian glass thieves were works of art. On to the stories, which we know about. Lou is truly a classic overachevier and strives for excellence in every aspect of his life. His mission in life now is to beat Bordeaux and redefine excellence in Merlot. He is surely close if not there already. On to the short marathon notes. They are brief but it should not miminize the unbelievable experience. After this tasting, we stopped going to any other wineries for the last day as it would have been a buzz kill. What a day to remember.

Lou's quote of the day: "Terroir is not only the soil. It is the soil and the soul of the vineyard owner and its generational impact."

2009 Rose: I think this is already in bottle and we were not the first to taste this. It is a huge rose with bright acidity, fresh red fruit, rhubarb, some toasted baquette and is extremely well balanced.

1995 Beringer State Lane: Lou poured two vintages of these wines as the vineyard fruit used to go into the blend of Beringer Reserve. Lilacs, floral nose, mature cherry, soem vegetal tones.

1998 Beringer State Lane: Some smokey accent mixed with same floral notes, some eucalyptus and red cherry fruit

2003 Kapcsandy State Lane: Deep dark pruple, great floral notes on nose, really well integrated black cherry fruit and structure. Showed better than the last time I had it. More integrated.

2006 Kapcsandy Estate Cuvee: Chocolate, cherries, softer mouthfeel than other vintage.

2007 Endre: Great flavor profile, ripe black/red fruit, lucious



2007 Estate Cuvee: Smooth as silk, fruit burst in my mouth, bright red cherry and plum

2007 Cabernet Sauvignon: Black ink, chewy, perfect intense cab fruit, speechless

2008 Endre: Minty nose, better than 2007, big mouthfeel, plum dominated

2008 Cuvee: Medium bodied, lip smacking, black rasberries, dark fruit, tight finish. Needs lots of time. Not to self, keep paws of of these.

2008 Caberbet Sauvignon: Cabtastic!! Bottled three weeks ago, great richness to cherry fruit. Tightly wound but stuffed with everything. Has greatness ahead.

2008 Roberta's: Round, lush, chewy, WOTY for me. Bright deep red fruit flavors, grilled meat, sweet tannins, silky

2009 Roberta's Barrel Tasting: Wow. Ever read the book Outliers? This wine is an outlier. Licked my teeth for two minutes after the glass was empty. No dump bucket. Look out right bank! Better than 2008?

2007 Vino del Sol: Need to take a breath. This is powerful stuff. All merlot fruit, figs on nose and palate

2008 Vino del Sol: same flavor proflie as 2007, more complex. Liked it more and will use these wines for dessert as my older ports rest.

2005 Saxum Heart Stone - Consistently excellent

I have had this wine three times this year. What a crowd pleaser. Still has plenty of time left but why wait!


2005 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (7/5/2010)
Great wine with BBQ. Blueberry compote with a red meat underbelly. Very well integrated tannins. Some heat but manageable. Definitely a heavy food wine. (93 pts.)

2005 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (5/16/2010)
Decanted for 2.5 hours. Gave the wine to round out and smooth out some rough edges. Flavor provile was mostly blueberry and a hint of bacon fat. Lush fruit with a long finish. Some heat but didn't get inthe way. Think the decant helped. (92 pts.)

2005 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (1/30/2010)
Deacnted for 1 hour. Very floral nose of lilacs and roses. Color was a deep garnet, somewhat cloudy. On the palate, a kirsch-like taste with some dark berry fruit and plum. This wine was very complex. Due tot he blend, I tried to figure out what varietal was bringing the different flavors. It definitely was not syrah dominant. I really enjoyed the grenache. I don't have a lot of experience drinking Mouvedre. I have recently purchased a few Mouvedre only bottlings from various producers and plan to eplore this more. The length on this wine was great and the finish was smooth. Great experience. (94 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker

7 more wines after Shafer

Call us crazy but we sat down for a great meal at Vino and soaked up some great grenache plus a few!

•2002 Marquis Philips Shiraz 9 - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (6/28/2010)
Chocolate and cherries. A pleasure. Smooth and yummy. (94 pts.)

•2005 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Veraton - Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja (6/28/2010)
Blueberry and cherry. Some cocoa. Big wine that delivered ripe cherry. Great smooth tannins. Some mint at back end. Loved it. (94 pts.)

•2006 Booker Vineyard Grenache The Ripper - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (6/28/2010)
Candied cherries and sweet rasberries. Light bright fruit that was seamlessly delicious. A bit of cinnamon and nutmeg spice rounded out the whole package. (92 pts.)

•2006 Storybook Mountain Vineyards Antaeus - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2010)
Spicy fruit with some pepper. Cherries. Soft round tannins. A little light on the finish. (87 pts.)

•2007 J.L. Chave Sélection Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône (6/28/2010)
Kirsch nose. Served too warm and the heat was prevalent. Ripe red fruit but a bit pruny. Smooth tannins, legs dripped down the side of the glass. Over-extracted fruit. May want to revisit at a cooler serving temp. (86 pts.)

•2007 R Wines Grenache Chateau Chateau David And Goliath Mclaren Flat - Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Barossa (6/28/2010)
Thin, uninteresting. Sweet and floral nose with rose pedals was the redeeming factor. Could have guessed Boujelais Noveau in a blind test. (84 pts.)

•2006 Bodegas AAlto Ribera del Duero AAlto - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero (6/28/2010)
I asm not going to rate this wine from palate fatigue. Delicious with the right recipe. ust wrong course for the night after all of the grenqache. An inviting wine that I must re-visit.

Tasting Notes from the Shafer Event

This producer was hit or miss for me tonight. The chard was a major surprise.


2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (6/28/2010)
WOTN: Dah??? Lilac and floral nose. Lots of fineesse. A thoroughbred race horse. You want to stick your whole face in the glass. Cassis, plums, black cherries. It has it all. Hedonsitic. (96 pts.)

2006 Shafer Relentless - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2010)
NIce funky nose out of the bottle. Like being ont he family farm. Blew off quickly in glass. Meaty and bloody red fruit, plums cherries. Vibrant wine with a nice vanilla underbelly. (93 pts.)

2008 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (6/28/2010)
NIce citrus perfume nose. yellow/greenish hue, some buttery tones but not too much, wet stones and minerals, lemon peel. This was a crisp, medium bodies chard with bright acidity, not over oaked, well balanced, ripe intense fruit with a long finish (92 pts.)

2006 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (6/28/2010)
Smooth sweet tannins, cherries, currants, a bit young and tight but solid fruit. (90 pts.)

2007 Shafer Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/28/2010)
I didn't get this wine. Muted nose, cherries with tart tannins. somewhat disjointed and a bit hot at the back end. Linear red fruit. (86 pts.)

Happy Hour Wine Tasting

The Copain and Papa were both375s A great way to start happy hour with a few people and a mini tasting

2005 Copain Syrah Hawks Butte Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Yorkville Highlands (6/25/2010)
Brilliant, chewy wine with grteat red fruit. Lots of cherry and an awesome barnayd funk that worked great with the fruit. Served a little cold at first which made the wine very refreshing. Loved it. (94 pts.)

2007 Sean Minor Cabernet Sauvignon Four Bears - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/25/2010)
Plum, cherry, blackberry. Thick and chewy tannins. Alcohol gets in the way a little. Some oak and vanilla at the back end. Very good QPR. (90 pts.)

2004 Papapietro Perry Pinot Noir Peters Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (6/25/2010)
Candied cherries and rasberries. One of the best splits that I have had of this bunch. No appranet heat and a nice mossiness that integrates great the fruit.

Not gonna finish that full bottle

With the right cellar conditions, you can pop a new wine and immediately transfer half of the wine with a funnel to a clean half bottle. Pour enough wine close to the top of the neck to jam a cork in so that there is no air between the wine and the cork, it works like a charm.

TNs: 2000 Bordeaux vs. Cali Cab plus a few

Gotta tell you, that the Bordeaux held its own and beat many of these top notch cabs.

•2007 Robert Foley Claret - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District (6/22/2010)
WOTN. Even though really young, this wine was very complex. Blueberry, cherry, blackberry and bitter sweet chocolate. A fruit bomb, cocoa, baking spice, needs time to open up. Could have guessed QC blind. A few years and this will be rocking. (95 pts.)
•2002 Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon John C. Sullenger Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (6/22/2010)
Plum, balckberry, candied cherries. Thin finish. (87 pts.)
•2000 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/22/2010)
Eucaluptus, mint, cherry, full mouth feel, bright acidity but it faded really quickly in glass. (87 pts.)
•2000 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/22/2010)
Oak and plum. Hollow mid palate, burnt orange skin on finish. At peak, somewhat dissapointing. Not complex, not a lot of body. (86 pts.)
•2000 Château Angélus - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (6/22/2010)
Cedar and cherries, chewy, a tannic monster that died too young. good stuffing fo rthe next ten years. Some tasr, leather, precise and sweet tannins. (94 pts.)
•2000 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (6/22/2010)
Cherries and chocolate, beautiful balance, very accessible. (94 pts.)
•2000 Château Monbousquet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (6/22/2010)
Nice nose of cedar and plum, smooth at back end, long finish, tight at first but opened up. (91 pts.)
•2006 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (6/22/2010)
Light yellow color, lemon curd, burgundian, some nutty and otasty overtones, great acidity with a little butter. Really nice wine but not worth the upcharge/price. (92 pts.)
•2000 Croix de Beaucaillou - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (6/22/2010)
This wine held up nicely with its more expensive brethren. A bit musty upon opening. Nice cherry compote nice smooth sweet tannins, somewhat thinner mouthfeel kept it from a higher rating. (91 pts.)
Posted from

Saxum rocks!

2005 Saxum Broken Stones - USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles (6/19/2010)
Brambly blueberries and blackberries with some hint of cocoa. A bit of mintiness and some charcoal. Even though I would put this in the fruit bomb category, the four hour decant smoothed out some of the rough and tumble character that I remember from this wine. A nice viscosity but more heat than others that I have had within the last year. This wine is more sexy than the last tasting but not as much of the wow factor. Maybe a dumb phase for total excellence. Then again, it is all relative. (94 pts.)

Friends and Mailing Lists

How many friends are on the same wine mailing lists? Why are we getting together and group allocation orders to save shipping/choices? Additionallly, many of the wiens that I think I need to have from mailing lists are available from certain distributors here. We should all cross-reference our lists. There is a ton of money to be saved.

Don't forget about those '02 Turleys

•2002 Turley Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Contra Costa County (6/17/2010)

This wine was still in great shape. Rose pedals intermixed with mature cherries and ripe plums. White pepper in the mid palate. A bit of a dry finish. Toward end of the bottle, the alcohol started to bubble up. Prior to that it was well integrated into smooth, sweet tannins. (91 pts.)

Tasting Notes from ALS Charity Event with Truchard

•2006 Jonata Winery Todos - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley (6/16/2010)
Love this young wine. I call it the kitchen sink with a bunch of different varietals thrown into the pot. Smooth as silk. delecate rose pedals, cherry and other red fruitt mixed with some blackberry and blueberry. It has a flavor profile for everyone. I caught a bit of olive at the back end. I will drink these up as they are so much fun to drink right now. Great food wine too. (93 pts.)

•2004 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/16/2010)
Served from a mag. Chocolate and cherries with some dirt sprinkled in. Nice backbone, solid finiah. Still very young. (91 pts.)

•2006 Truchard Roussanne Botrytis - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (6/16/2010)
This is the only wine that showed well in their line up for me. Nice acidity, not overly cloying, nice apricot notes. Very solid. (89 pts.)

•2007 Truchard Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (6/16/2010)
Nice citrus nose with some lemon peel. A bit sour in mid palate. No noticeable oak, generic. (85 pts.)

•2008 Truchard Roussanne - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (6/16/2010)
Very light, would have guessed sauv blanc.A bit green and tart with a decent citrus nose. No finish. (85 pts.)

•2006 Truchard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (6/16/2010)
A decent blueberry and chocolate nose that did not deliver in the mouth. Greenish tones, astringent. Not my style at all. (84 pts.)

•2007 Truchard Syrah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (6/16/2010)
Vegetal overtones on nose and palate. Stewed fruit. Puckering tannins, tight, hot finish. Not enjoyable. (82 pts.)

2002 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak (6/14/2010)
Color beginning to brick with a light red center. Nose is a bit muted. Some bramble weed, white pepper,coffee, plum and stewed cherry. Usually I get floral notes on the nose, but this wine is showing some rose pedals at the mid palate. Tannins are soft, maybe a little too soft as the wine is a bit past peak but very enjoyable. Fruit is far from dead and has a nice finish. Don't discount old Turleys!

Up and Running

You can now track what I am buying, drinking and writing notes on. It will be a bit wine snobbish but that is the way it will fly here.