1. Saggi 2004, Score =2+~(3)This was contribution from Aunt-M. We were waiting for her to attend the tasting but we decided to taste this wine since she broke a leg recently and may not be able to attend the tasting for some time. We wish her quick and complete recovery. Her wine was good! Color is nicely dark and nose is pleasant with cherry, coffee and flowery note. Palate is definitely fruits forward in a New World style. Vanilla laced with spice box and well integrated smooth tannin and reasonably long finish. Consensus was California probably Cab blend but floral note made us think that Merlot could be a major component. This was a surprise. Saggi 2004 is from Columbia Valley, Washington state. It is a small production (633 cases) super Tuscan from Washington state (if such a thing exists) and made of 35% Sangiovese 35% Cabernet Sauvignon 16% Syrah, 14% Barbera. RP gave 92. Here is the description from the winery.
winemaker's notes:
“Among Tuscany's oldest and most prestigious wine families, Ambrogio and Giovanni Folonari (father and son) teamed with Allen Shoup to produce a wine that is true to Washington's terrior with plenty of Italian character. Saggi (meaning "wisdom") is a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah varieties, selected from the Columbia Valley's best vineyards.”
2. Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon Napa 2005, Score=2+~3Color is nice dark garnet. Nose is bit closed but some mint, black cherry and vanilla coming through. Palate has somewhat muted fruits upfront but layers of subtle black fruits are there with chocolate and mocha leading to firm well constructed tannin and nice lasting finish. We thought that this was a New World Bordeaux. Nice wine. This turned out to be Turnbull Cab.
91 points Connoisseurs Guide: "Despite its wealth of rich oak and its tantalizing touches of root beer, cocoa and cream, this keenly defined opus is very specific in its deep Cabernet fruit, and its strong themes of ripe currants stay the course from beginning to end. It is an especially well-polished wine on the palate and its very trim tannins allow its concentrated fruit to shine through, but, its present temptations noted, it is impeccably balanced and promises to get better and better for a good many years." (04/08) Also got 90 points from Wine Spectator: "Ripe and fleshy, with generous plum, black cherry and red cherry fruit that's intense and complex without being too powerful or overblown. Ends with firm, fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2012." (06/08)
3. Bond St. Eden 2005, Score=3+~4Color is dark and nice. Nose is probably the most complex among the three wines we tasted with mint, cedar, faint hint of tar and leather. Piroca also detected subtle floral/perfume described as “my aunt’s dresser”. Palate is very nice with layers of well balanced black fruits upfront leading to well intergraded but firm tannin. Extremely long finish (you are tasting this wine for a full 1 minute after). Our consensus is that this is a well-crafted California Bordeaux blend. We were surprised and impressed when the cover was lifted. Bond St. Eden 2005. RP 96. Here is some background just in case:
“In his ongoing quest to produce world class wine in the tradition of 1st Growth Bordeaux, Bill Harlan - of Harlan Estate fame - started Bond to create single vineyard wines from sources meeting his high growing standards. Winemaker Robert Levy produces 4 vineyard designate wines: Melbury, St. Eden, Vecina and Pluribus, as well as a blend called The Matriarch. Levy's goal is for each wine to take on the unique expression of its vineyard site and Bill Harlan's ultimate plan is to produce wines from a total of 6 unique vineyards. The wines are known for their lush, deeply concentrated flavors, and their elegance and finesse, which Bill and Robert feel define them as the "Grand Crus" of Napa. Fewer than 1,500 cases of the Matriarch, and between 400 and 700 cases of the vineyard designates are produced annually. “
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