Wine tasting of November 7, 2008

Winepath is back after visiting Napa valley. Since he complained about our extravagant tastings while he was away, Jimmy planned to honor him with three very ”extravagant” (read “cheap”) wines. To make Jimmy's joke work, Piroca and Uncle-N presented these wines as though they had brought them. Our hope was that Winepath would be very impressed with this 7 bottle “extravagant” tasting--he wasn't. In any case, we had a guest appearance of Uncle-OZ and very late arrival of Uncle-E in addition to our usual, Piroca, Jimmy, Winepath and Uncle-N.

1. Palazzo Napa Valley Red Wine 2004, Score=2+

Nose is bit closed but jammy red fruits were apparent. Palate is bit austere with jammy note with good mid palate and finishes with nice firm tannin. Finish is bit short. Overall, this is a very well made and classic wine of Bordeaux style. Since there is no prominent earthiness or funk, we suggested California Bordeaux-blend. Because of the jammy taste, Piroca suggested Merlot but we discussed that it was very rare to find Merlot predominant Bordeaux blends (right bank) from California. But we were right on! This was Palazzo Napa Red Wine 04 which is made of 72% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in 40% New French Oak.
Here is the wine maker’s note: “My inspiration, and passion for producing my wine continues to come from the beautiful ‘Right Bank’ region of Bordeaux, France… and the exceptional wines produced from the small, family owned Chateau’s that dot the rolling hillsides of this enchanted wine area. Merlot continues to make up the lion share of my PALAZZO 2004 Napa Valley Red Wine… and is the ‘backbone’ of this vintage… giving the wine its power & strength… The Cabernet Franc adds brightness, acidity and a ‘floral spiciness’ to the wine… with the Cabernet Sauvignon adding structure and character to the body and finish of the wine.”
RP gave 90 and said; "Scott Palazzo has fashioned a stylish, European-inspired dry red offering wonderful sweet black cherry, cassis, lead pencil shavings, pain grille, and licorice aromas. Medium-bodied, elegant, and refined, it is accessible at present, but will be even better with another year or so of bottle age. It should evolve nicely for a decade. It’s nice to see such finesse styled efforts emerging from California as there is often a misconception that everything produced in that state is too ripe, too big, and too extracted." (12/06)

2. Pacific Peak Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Score=1+~2

This was the first of Jimmy’s “extravagant” wines for winepath. Nose has grapy or grape juice (Welch’s) note. Some felt that there was something a bit unpleasant; slight smell of “bad” meat, but some did not smell this. Palate is rather simple having acidic finish with smoky note and decent tannin. There is no vanilla or caramel here. Winepath suggested Italian. It is the most drinkable among the “extravagant” three as you will see below.

3. Giant Steps Yarra Valley Merlot 2001, Score=2

Nose has minerals such as pencil lead with prominent cedar or minty notes. Palate is bit austere but nice with moderate tannin. Northern Italian wine was suggested but no earthiness makes that unlikely. Chilean and Aussie cab or cab blend was also suggested. But this was Aussie Merlot from winery “Giant Steps”. We are not familiar with this name but it’s other name is “Innocent bystander”. We have tasted their Shiraz under that name, which, we thought was pretty decent with a high PQR. If you are visiting Australia, we should visit this place (see below).

Quoting from “The Man from Mosel River (Rainer Adam)”; “Actually Giant Steps - Innocent Bystander is not only a winery but also a restaurant, café, bakery, meeting place, etc. in the heart of Healesville, the charming rural town about an hour away north east of Melbourne. Phil and Allison Sexton, the owners, deserve great praise for having the courage to establish such an enterprise, the merging of an industrial work place like a winery with the inviting hospitality necessary for a café-bistro.”

4. Pacific Peak Merlot 2007, Score=1

This is the second installment of Jimmy’s “extravagant” wines. Color is thin and transparent. Nose is grapy with musty note. Palate is rather simple like water with tannin. This is not good.

5. Canyon Oaks California Zinfandel 2007, score=1+

This is the final of Jimmy’s “extravagant” wines for Winepath. Jimmy wanted another Pacific Peak but it was not available and had to splurge to get this higher priced Zin from Central California. Nose has (again) grapiness with minerals. Simple palate with acidic finish. At this point, winepath was not happy about us. So we proceeded with our true offerings for this evening.

6. Caymus Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, Score=3+~ (4)

Here comes a real wine. Color is dark with nice nose of black cherry, black berry with vanilla predominating. Palate is that of a highly extracted new world wine. Lots of black fruits with tons of vanilla, caramel with perfumed coconuts ending in nice firm tannin with long finish. Reminded of us of Clio. Consensus is that this is a classic New World Cali Cab. Caymus is such a consistent wine producer and 06 is no exception.

92 points Wine Spectator Insider: "Full-blown, ripe and rich, with intense and sharply focused dried currant, wild berry and blackberry fruit that's still fairly tannic at this stage. Ends with a long, persistent finish. Best from 2010 through 2015." (10/29/08)

7. Barnett Vineyards Cyrus Ryan Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, score=3+~ (4)

This one came in a “body builder” bottle, which gave away a hint as to what this could be. Color is nice with dark garnet with distinctive blue or purple tinge at the rim. Nose has nice spices and oak with licorice. Palate is intense with tons of black fruits with vanilla and caramel transition into big firm tannin that, some felt, was too bitter in the begining but got much better after some aeration. No question; this is a highly extracted and highly oaked new world wine. It felt bit “hot” indicating high alcohol. Because of the color, Malbec (only Malbec we know which comes in this bottle is Catena Zapata), Syrah Cab blend from Australia were suggested. Uncle-N and lady Sea tasted this one on the mountaintop of the Barnett vineyard this summer. Among the ones we tasted, we liked this the best. The grapes came from the valley floor instead of the mountain fruits of the Barnett itself. Finally we got the shipment. Judging from what we can find on the Internet, we have gotten fairly good price at the Winery.

Here is the wine maker’s note; “The first-ever bottling of the pristine Cyrus-Ryan Vineyard Cabernet promises to be a unique and exciting edition to the Barnett tradition of single-vineyard wines. Located on the western edge of the Valley Floor, on the border of St. Helena and Calistoga, the Cyrus-Ryan Vineyard produces Cabernet Sauvignon indicative of its warm location and volcanic soils. "Whereas the Rattlesnake Hill Cabernet is an expression of complexity, spice nuances, minerality, and long, drawn-out, fine tannins, the Cyrus-Ryan Cabernet reflects the best of classic Valley Floor influences: gobs of ripe, unctuous blackberry fruit delivered unreservedly with pronounced, chewy tannins. It's extracted, generous, and balanced.”
Some professional reviews: Wine Enthusiast: “The wine is enormously ripe, a lip-smacking fruity 100% Cab that seduces the palate with massive black currant, licorice, sweet date and cedar flavors. Yet it has a tannic astringency that suggests, although it does not require aging[, it] should develop well for at least a decade. Score: 93. —Steve Heimoff, June 01, 2008. Wine Spectator: “Broad-shouldered, intense and concentrated, with a tight, rich band of spicy currant, cedar, hazelnut, sage and herbal scents. Young and tightly wound, this needs time in the cellar or a good decanting. Best from 2011 through 2017. 427 cases made. Score: 92.” —James Laube, May 15, 2008.