We skipped tasting last Friday. Actually we did taste but just one wine and Uncle-N and Jimmy. This one is also posted for the record. For today's tasting, present are Unlce-E, Jimmy, Winepath, and Uncle-N. Piroca is conspicuously absent due to Carnival in Brazil. We tasted 4 wines blindly.
0. Rousset Crozes-Hermitage 2004, Not scored
This was only wine we tasted on Jan 25. Nice Crozes-Hermitage. Plum, black cherry and some earthy nose. Rather intense palate with plum, strawberry, and back fruits. Compared to Australian Shiraz, bit more complex and not as fruits bomb. Nice black pepper and black licorice on the finish. As a relatively inexpensive ($25) Crozes-Hermitage, we think this is a buy.
1. Pere Caboche Chateauneuf Du Pape Elisabeth Chambellan Vv 2005, Score=2+
Wine maker is the mayor of Chateauneuf du Pape, Jean-Pierre Boisson, old-vine cuvee. For a RP=90 young Chateaueuf, it is bit disappointing. Nose is nice with red fruits, mostly cherry, without any funk. Nice mouth feel, easy to drink. Black cherry mixed with some red fruits (raspberry, strawberry) on the palate. Good firm tannin. Lacks in complexity.
Tasters thought of Rhone blends but did not think this to be Chateauneuf. California Syrah, Grenache were mentioned.
2. Hanenhof Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc Barossa valley 2004, Score=2-
What a nose! Chemical nose with melting tar, hot asphalt, burned rubber hiding green pepper and some black fruits. Taste much better than it smells. Black fruits, chocolate and sweet herb finish. Tasters thought this could be Australian Shiraz-Cab combo but none of us thought of Merlot to be the main blend. We do not know how they produce this nose. Because of the nose, this wine gets some negative points.
3. Artesa Elements Red 2003, score=2+ to 3
This is a Bordeaux blend from Artesa winery. Grapes were from Napa and Sonoma. If their intention was to make a Bordeaux-style red wine, they have succeeded to the point of reproducing earthy moldy nose. Nose is of black cherry and earthy moldy notes. Rather austere palate with controlled fruits, mostly back fruits. Distinctive herbal note on the finish and rather strong tannin.
We all thought this is a Bordeaux. We really like this one. Again, good buy.
4. Ladera Napa Valley Cab Sauv2001, Score=3+
This is the best of the tasting. Everybody recognized this to be a good classic Cali cab. Nice nose with black cherry, vanilla, and caramel. Not a fruits bomb but nice black fruits with very smooth mouth feel. Chocolate, mocha and caramel. Nice structured tannin with log finish. What can I say, we like this style.
0. Rousset Crozes-Hermitage 2004, Not scoredThis was only wine we tasted on Jan 25. Nice Crozes-Hermitage. Plum, black cherry and some earthy nose. Rather intense palate with plum, strawberry, and back fruits. Compared to Australian Shiraz, bit more complex and not as fruits bomb. Nice black pepper and black licorice on the finish. As a relatively inexpensive ($25) Crozes-Hermitage, we think this is a buy.
1. Pere Caboche Chateauneuf Du Pape Elisabeth Chambellan Vv 2005, Score=2+Wine maker is the mayor of Chateauneuf du Pape, Jean-Pierre Boisson, old-vine cuvee. For a RP=90 young Chateaueuf, it is bit disappointing. Nose is nice with red fruits, mostly cherry, without any funk. Nice mouth feel, easy to drink. Black cherry mixed with some red fruits (raspberry, strawberry) on the palate. Good firm tannin. Lacks in complexity.
Tasters thought of Rhone blends but did not think this to be Chateauneuf. California Syrah, Grenache were mentioned.
2. Hanenhof Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab Franc Barossa valley 2004, Score=2-
What a nose! Chemical nose with melting tar, hot asphalt, burned rubber hiding green pepper and some black fruits. Taste much better than it smells. Black fruits, chocolate and sweet herb finish. Tasters thought this could be Australian Shiraz-Cab combo but none of us thought of Merlot to be the main blend. We do not know how they produce this nose. Because of the nose, this wine gets some negative points.
3. Artesa Elements Red 2003, score=2+ to 3This is a Bordeaux blend from Artesa winery. Grapes were from Napa and Sonoma. If their intention was to make a Bordeaux-style red wine, they have succeeded to the point of reproducing earthy moldy nose. Nose is of black cherry and earthy moldy notes. Rather austere palate with controlled fruits, mostly back fruits. Distinctive herbal note on the finish and rather strong tannin.
We all thought this is a Bordeaux. We really like this one. Again, good buy.
4. Ladera Napa Valley Cab Sauv2001, Score=3+This is the best of the tasting. Everybody recognized this to be a good classic Cali cab. Nice nose with black cherry, vanilla, and caramel. Not a fruits bomb but nice black fruits with very smooth mouth feel. Chocolate, mocha and caramel. Nice structured tannin with log finish. What can I say, we like this style.
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