Wine tasting August 8, 08 or 080808

Present were our core member of Winepath, Piroca, Jimmy and Uncle N. We tasted one white (not blind) and three reds (blind tasting).

1. Clos La Chance Sauvignon Blanc, 2005

Piroca is now somewhat into limited whites, especially hot summer season and brought this one. Nose is nice with pear, green apple and melon. Some other smell which Uncle N associate with malolactic fermentation but we are not sure that was done here. The Clos La Chance vineyard is located in central coast and their 05 Sauv Blanc also contain 20% Semillon and ¼ fermented in oak barrel and the rest in stainless steel tank. Good Sauv blanc but it is white and it tastes like white (as expected).

2. Concha y Toro Marques de Casa Concha Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, score=3

Color is nice with deep dark ruby. Nose has predominantly black cherry, hint of smoke and definitive, albeit slight, funk (as per Piroca “Algae”-smell but to me, more like fungus mildew smell). Palate is smooth with black fruits, plum, with hint of smoke, with good tannin and mineral finish. Good wine. Fruits are rather subdued but complex layers of tastes. Cali cab was mentioned. Despite Bordeaux- like nose and palate, our tasters did not think this is French (don’t know the reason but may be, nose is not funky enough). This happened to be Chilean. “WaS” gave 91. At Costco, this is $15, so PQR is very good. Best buy.

3. Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 by Eponymous, score=3+

Nose is very nice with floral scents mixed with mixed red and black fruits. The palate reflects the nose with forward fruits, vanilla, chocolate with nice mild but firm tannin with good lasting finish. Very clean and everything said this is well-crafted California Cab or Cab meritage. This is Cab Sauv by a wine maker and proprietor Rober Pepi in its 4th iteration. This was bit less than $50 at Costco but at most places, $60 and up. Quoting from their web page, “The grapes come from the same unique Napa Valley vineyard as the previous three vintages of Eponymous, approximately 300 feet above the Silverado Trail and the Valley floor. It is a steeply terraced, very rocky site with a Southwesterly exposure. After picking, hand-harvested fruit was fermented with utmost care and the resulting wine was aged 20 months in new oak (85% French and 15% American), with frequent racking the first year”.

We are not sure which one is better. Concha y Toro is more complex but Eponymous is so enticing and so approachable. For me, just sipping I will take Eponymous. With food, I may go with Concha y Toro. Knowing the price point, by far, Concha y Toro has a better PQR.

4. Bodegas Lan Rioja Edicion Limitida 2005, score=3

Nose is bit more closed that the previous two with cedar coming through. Piroca felt it has “sardine” smell but most of us could not detect it. Palate is nice with balanced fruits and tannin associated with vanilla and coffee and chocolate with nice firm tannin. Some felt finish is short some felt finish is just fine. We felt this is also well-made Cali cab (definitely New World) but mentioned that Piroca fooled us with Spanish Garnacha (Alto Moncayas). This happened to be Tempranillo from Rioja. About $36 at Wine Library which is a good deal.