Tasting of May 22, 2008

Present were Uncle-N, Piroca, Uncle-E and Jimmy. Winepath is on vacation. We blind-tasted 4 wines. (updated with my notes).

1. Orna Chillag Cabernet Sauvignon (Israel) 2003, Score=2 ~ 2+

The nose is mostly black fruits (black cherry) but rather closed without significant “oak” derived nose. Some black tea leaves, slight smell of sweaty foot or (by some) dirty pool water were also noted in the nose. The palate is nice but rather simple with thin midpalate and reasonably long sour cherry finish. (Some felt it is too acidic.) Nice supporting tannins. Some thought this was Cab possibly Cali Cab but rather austere side (Bordeaux style). Possibility of Italian was also raised but most did not think that was the case. It turned out to be Israeli Cab, which was given by Winepath to Uncle-P at one time and Piroca decided to bring it in Winepath’s absence. We think this is one of the better wines among the few Israeli wines we tasted.
Quote from from the Kosherwine.com; “Orna - Chillag is a recipient of the Italian Knighthood "Castellana" of Soave and a member of "Le Donne del Vino" the organization for women winemakers. Trained in Italy, Orna established the Chillag Winery in Israel in the year 2000.….The Orna' was made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, hand harvested from a single vineyard in the Upper Galilee. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 12 months and is unfiltered.”

2. Paul Hobbs Cabernet sauvignon 2003, Score=3+

The nose is nice with black cherry with hint of smoke, caramel and vanilla. The nose said highly oaked Cab. The palate reflects the nose; nice smooth mouth feel with lots of black fruits, caramel and vanilla in the midpalate and nice long finish with structured but smooth tannin. This had to be a well made Cali Cab was the majority of the opinion. We were right; it was Paul Hobbs.
“WA 93 Pts. - The dark ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied, impressively-endowed 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa offers up notes of charcoal, smoke, creme de cassis, and toasty oak. A wealth of glycerin, concentration, and fruit suggest it will provide ideal drinking now and over the next 10-15 years.”

3. Portal Del Montsant Santbru 2005, score=2+ ~ 3

The color is quite unique: dark with distinctive purple especially at the fringe. The nose is also unique; besides some usual black fruits, there is very distinctive smell, which is difficult to describe; not unpleasant but almost chemical in nature. By Unlce-E, this wine has a nose of licorice, port-like or raisin aroma. The palate is also interesting with thick “chewy” mouth feel (lots of glycerin with nice leg). Nice fruits (both black and red) but the finish is bit short. Nice smooth tannin. The tasters could not place this wine correctly, although Syrah and Grenache were mentioned and there was some discussion of Languedoc. Suggestion of Amarone was also made. This is from Spain and from a relatively new winery.
93 Points - Jay Miller - The Wine Advocate; "The 2005 Santbru is 65% Carinena, 15% Garnacha, and 20% Syrah sourced from 50-80 years old vines. The wine was aged for 12 months in French oak, 80% new…..Portal del Montsant is a new estate started by Barcelona architect Alfredo Arribas in 2001 with his purchase of the Mas de Portal property. He hired the experienced Ricard Rofes as winemaker. The estate is being farmed organically."

4. Chateau Pape-Clément 2001, Score=3+ (4)

The nose said this is Bordeaux. Nose is not unpleasant but wet earth, mushroom and forest floor (or “funk” or “wet basement”) with some minerals. The palate has surprisingly good amount of fruits with complex layering of flavors. Good mid palate with nice tannin and long finish. Uncle-E knew he brought Bordeaux to the new world wine enthusiasts but everybody liked this one. Apparently, Pape-Clement utilizes a new technology (cold maceration etc for highly extracted wine), which explains the palate of much more fruits driven and highly extracted flavor as compared to other Bordeaux. I think that they use almost equal amount of Cabernet and Merlot in their wines (like other Graves) but could not get information specific to the vintage. This is an old prestigious estate making “almost” New World wines. Quoting from one of the websites; “Centuries ago, Pope Clement V, elected in 1305, was the lord of these lands. However, since they have been in the careful hands of Bernard Megrez, the wines have improved considerably. They are full and creamy wines to be kept hidden away in the cellar, and to be drunk two decades later as if they were equals to the greatest.”