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.)
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