Wine tasting on 10-20-09

Winepath is back and all the core members were present for a change. Even Uncle E arrived on time. Present were Winepath , who was a bit under the weather, we are afraid it may be the beginning of HiNi (for H1N1) flu (hope not). We tasted six wines. We had very unusual wines and, as usual, we were not particularity good in determining the varietal and origin of the wines.

1. Regent Stammheimer Eselsberg Red 2007, Score=2+

Color is dark garnet with bluish tinge at the rim. Nose is somewhat Bordeaux-esque with mineral, pencil shaving and black fruit with a hint of earthiness. Palate is nice starting with good layered black fruit but tasted a bit flat and ending in moderate tannin. Good reasonable finish. This is a good wine but something is missing, some pointed out that it needs some acidity. We said it is in  the New World style. Because of the blue tinge, Malbec was mentioned and also Spanish. This is a very unusual wine which was painstakingly brought back from Berlin by Winepath. He had this in a winebar in Berlin and asked if he could buy a bottle. Although information on this unusual German red is impossible to find, it is said to be made of Chambourcin plus a small amount of white wine grape. Chambourcin is one of French-American hybrid which is popular in Germany. Wineath said he paid 5 euros. This one has a high PQR, only problem is you will never find one here in the U.S.

2. 2005 Ridge Vineyards "Lytton West" Dry Creek Syrah, score=3+

This one came in a sloped shoulder bottle. Color is nicely dark. Nose is the best among the 6 wines we tasted with floral note and citrus. Palate changed during the tasting but it is loaded with upfront black fruit with vanilla and caramel ending in nice firm tannin and bitter chocolate and mint finish. No black pepper or meat juice flavors as would be expected from an Aussie Shiraz. Although the consensus was syrah or syrah blend, the origin of the country for this wine was difficult to determine. French Rhone, Cote Rotie, California, Washington state,  etc but at the end, this was deemed to be Califronia Syrah, which was right on. It is interesting that Uncle E thought of Cote Rotie since it was mentioned in the wine critique below.

95 points, three stars and the top rated Syrah in the March issue of the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine:
"6% Viognier. There is a sense of refinement and pure precision about this bottling that not only moves it to the head of the class but sets it in a class all its own. Very deep and impeccably structured, it eschews runaway ripeness in favor of layered richness and real nuance, and it begs for comparison with the fine wines of Côte Rôtie rather than its more blustery Californian kin. It is as classy and sophisticated as local Syrah is likely to get, and it is bound to age famously by dint of balance and depth." (March, 2009)

"Ridge, the legendary Santa Cruz Mountain producer owns just over three acres of mature syrah and six acres of younger syrah vines at Lytton Springs West. The older parcels contributed exceptional depth and complexity to this wine, while the younger vines added soft tannins and a delineated fruit component. Aged for 21 months in air-dried American oak, this bold, complex wine is fruit-forward with plenty of syrah spice. Give it some air now or watch it gain complexity over the next decade."

3.  Phoenix Vineyards & Rancho Napa Wines Special Reserve Cuvee Meritage 2007, Score=2+

Color is nicely dark. Nose is bordeaux-like with slight basement smell. Palate has muted but well-layered fruit predominately black cherry leading to good firm tannin with acidic finish. The tasters oscillated between Bordeaux and Bordeaux blend from the New World. In the second tasting, Uncle-E was convinced that this is Italian, Sangiovese. Spanish was also mentioned.


Jonathan Newman – 93/100 Points
"This excellently made Bordeaux blend  has certainly become the marquee wine for Napa’s Phoenix Vineyard and winemaker/proprietor David Bader. ....Deep purple color. Dark, alluring Bordeaux nose with  black raspberry, vanilla spice and plum. Ripe fruit and full bodied with redcurrants, black cherry, blackberries and blueberries with a nice long finish. The wine was aged for over twenty months in French oak barrels.   While it's drinking beautifully right now, it is well structured, complex and has loads of fruit so it can also be cellared and enjoyed for many more years. David only makes his Rancho Napa Bordeaux blend in the most special of vintages and the 2007 is a stunning vintage. " 

ABOUT THE RANCHOS…
"In the years before California became a state most of the Napa Valley was divided into Mexican land grants known as Ranchos. This wine is names after, and our winery lies in the middle of, what once was Rancho Napa. This grant, which stretched from the city of Napa north to the town of Yountville, was created in 1838. This was just a few years before a German immigrant name Jeremiah Bader gained his citizenship in this country in 1842. We have resurrected this name from Napa’s glorious history. Our goal is to add to this history in honor of the pioneers who carved this pastoral valley out of the early California frontier; those people who, like our family, followed their dreams to a place called Napa Valley. Alcohol 14.0% by volume, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc
aged 14 months in French and American oak barrels less than 500 cases were bottled."

4.  Heredad Vina Carles Priorat 2005, score=2

Color is dark garnet. Nose has some peculiar spices and oak notes reminiscent of Lee & Perrin Worcester Sauce. Upfront palate has muted fruits, bit acidic and mild tannin. It tasted very oaky. Not our favorite tonight. Cali Cab was mentioned but it turned out to be Priorat. Not much could be found about this wine.


Description: 
"Authentic Priorat from the most rugged part of Spain. Carignan, Garnacha and Syrah. Bright black cherry color. Creamy, tannic structure. Good length with a strong, slatey minerality."

 


5. Ruston Family Vineyards Merlot 2001, score=2+

Color has definitive brown hue indicating age. Nose has peculiar medicinal or chemical note which I did not like but some did not mind or even liked it. Palate is loaded with upfront fruit predominately black fruit such as black cherry and blackberries ending in nice well-crafted tannin. It is well balanced. The consensus was California Cab but it turned out to be Merlot from Ruston. Some felt it was a nicely aged wine.

6. BALDACCI FAMILY VINEYARDS  Black Label Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, score=3

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose has a bit of sulfer or stewed vegetable (cruciferous vegetables) but it dissipated somewhat after some time. Palate is loaded with fruit with smooth mouth feel leading to nice tannin. New World, cali Cab is out consensus.

Winemaker Notes:
"The Black Label Estate Baldacci Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon is produced exclusively from the 17 acre Baldacci Family Vineyards Stags Leap District Vineyard. 2005 brought in wines with outstanding character due to the long cool summer. The Black Label Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet aged in 70% new French oak barrels for 20 months and bottle aged for 14 months prior to release. The integrated aromas of cigar box, rose petals, and cassis linger in this classic, Old World style Cabernet as you taste the wine. Dusty tannins highlight the ripe plum, leather and brambly notes. Hints of fig and bittersweet chocolate powder linger on the palate as the wine expands into an outstanding finish. The complexity and balance on this wine makes it enjoyable now, in its youth, but you will be rewarded to lay it down and enjoy this wine in a few years as the dense flavors soften and integrate."

Wine Tasting on October 16, 2009

Present were Uncle-N (after being absent from the prior two tastings), Piroca, Jimmy, and Uncle-E. Winepath is globe trotting (again) and was absent. We blind tasted 6 wines. It so happened that three were Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina. Piroca was particularly sharp tonight--calling grape varietals from the colors of the wines correctly.

1. Ave Malbec Premium 2007, Score=3

Color is dark with purple tinge on the rim. Nose has black fruit especially black currant, cedar,  and olive. Some felt it has some funk. Palate is very nice, a New World style with plenty of plum, black fruit (initially tasted somewhat candied or sweet but in the second tasting, it did not taste too candied). It finishes with nice firm tannin with some acidic kick. Reasonably lingering finish. All tasters liked this wine as a very pleasant and nice wine if not exceptional. Because of the blue tinge, Piroca was of the opinion that this was Malbec or Petite Verdot. He concluded that this was Malbec from Argentina. Other possibilities mentioned were Grenache, Cab-Merlot blend, and Spanish (Tempranillo). This is a little brother of the Ave Malbec Grand Reserva which was on the last tasting. Uncle-N was absent from that tasting and found this wine for the  tasting today. Considering this is only $11, PQR is very high.

90 Points - Wine Spectator

"Deliciously vibrant, with mouthwatering acidity running through the dark plum, violet, pastis and licorice snap notes, which stay tangy and pure on the nicely driven finish. Drink now through 2010. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 8,000 cases made."

2.  Havens Bourriquot 2005, Score=2+

Color is dark but has brownish tinge indicative of some age. Nose has a bit of funk with smoke and burned wool. Not the best nose for wine in our opinion.  Upfront palate is a bit austere but nice black fruit is apparent which leads to smooth tannin. French, may be Bordeaux, Super Tuscan were mentioned. Uncle-E was of the opinion that this may be Cotes de Castillon or even Languedoc. Some mentioned Merlot component. This is Havens Bourriquot composed of 67% Cab franc and 33% Merlot. (Our resident green pepper expert, Uncle-E, did not mention "green pepper" in this wine despite the main grape was Cab franc). We have tasted their Merlot and "Black and Blue" in the past.

92 Points - Robert Parker (Wine Advocate)

"Fashioned from a blend similar to the 2004, the brilliant, fuller-bodied 2005 Bourriquot displays classic notes of menthol, mint, black currants, blueberries, and raspberries, terrific fruit on the attack, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, silky tannin, and a long, expansive finish. It should be even better in 3-4 years, and keep for 15 or more."

91-93 Points - Stephen Tanzer  (International Wine Cellar)
"Good ruby-red. Slightly funky, claret-like aromas of black fruits, violet, licorice, chocolate and game. Sweet, rich and shapely, with nicely buffered acidity and good inner-mouth energy. Round and plump in the middle, then suave and long on the finish, with late-arriving dusty tannins and firm acids leavening the wine's sweetness. Very promising."

3. Familia Mayol, Lujan De Cuyo Montuiri Vineyard Malbec2004, Score=1+

Color is dark with, again, purple tinge. Nose is not very pleasant, some said solvent, some were more kind and said soy sauce and sushi rice with mineral (rusted iron).  Palate has strange "effervescent"  mouth feel with black fruit with raisin component with mild tannin and very sharp acidic bite. For many, this is the least favorite among the 6 we tasted. Spanish (tempranillo), Italian were suggested (should have paid attention to the purple tinge). We had this one before and we also commented on the very unpleasant nose especially after one day of aeration. At least we were consistent here.

At this point, Piroca felt that he had to bring out another wine to compensate for this not so good wine and brought the next wine to taste.

4. Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 2006,  Score=4

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose is very pleasant with vanilla, chocolate and black fruit. Palate reflects the nose and is loaded with nice mixed fruit with predominance of  black fruit such as black cherry, blueberry and blackberry. Very nice mid-palate with vanilla, chocolate, and caramel  leading to smooth, well-integrated tannin. Nice long finish. Nice smooth mouth feel.  All the indication is this is a well-crafted California Cab. By far, our favorite for the night. After some examination of the bottle, our conclusion was that this is Caymus Special Selection, which was right on.

winemaker's notes:

"One of the most allocated and collectible Cabernets in the world, Caymus Vineyards Special Selection is crafted from the outstanding barrels of the vintage. Special Selection is produced only in vintages that proprietor Chuck Wagner feels are suitable for this designation.

We are proud to offer limited amounts of the new release of Caymus Special Selection – dark and intense with deep, rich flavors of black currant, cherry, mocha and spice. A collectible masterpiece!"

94 Points Wine Spectator "Complex, riveting aromas of spice, cola and sassafras join wild berry, spice, black cherry and sage notes in this full-bodied, intensely flavored, tightly focused and very persistent display of fruit that's long and lingering. Drink now through 2017."

 5.  Caliban Petite Sirah 2004, Score=3+

Color is dark, almost black with purple hue and came in a sloped shoulder bottle. Syrah and Petit Sirah were immediately mentioned without further tasting. Nose is nice with black fruit, floral with chocolate without any funk or unpleasant component. Palate has nice upfront black fruit and plum with smooth mouth feel. Palate also felt a bit hot indicative of high alcohol. Vanilla and spicy toasted oak (some even specified "American" oak) follows.  Tannin is big but not too overwhelming. The verdict was Petit Sirah from California which is absolutely correct! I think the alcohol content is very high at 15.5%. This is a very low-production wine (only 190 cases made).

Product Information:  "Prior to his first Franz Hill Zinfandel effort, Jack Bittner and his good friend David Phinney took a vinous-laden dinner conversation from speculation to reality. The resulting collaboration, Caliban Petite Sirah, has emerged -- in all its 190-case production glory – to a stunning 94 point Parker review!  (Jack notes that David Phinney deserves 100% of the winemaking credit for this Big Boy.)"

94 Points - Robert Parker (Wine Advocate)

"A fabulous Petite Sirah, Caliban's 2004 rivals the finest Napa examples of this underrated varietal. An inky/blue/purple hue is followed by aromas and flavors of creosote, graphite, blueberries, blackberries, and brioche. The wine is full-bodied with fabulous pure fruit that cascades over the palate in layer upon layer. There is plenty of tannin, but most of it is buried under the extravagant display of fruit and glycerin. This 2004 should drink well for 20-25 years."

6.  Viña Cobos "El Felino" Malbec Mendoza, Argentina 2006, Score=2+

This was served too cold since it was stored in Uncle-E's car in this cold wet weather.  We had some difficulty tasting all the flavors. Color is dark but some did notice the common finding for tonight of "purple tinge". Immediately, P. Verdot and Malbec were mentioned. Nose has some soapy note with tobacco but not unpleasant. Palate is OK with some acidic kick.

We had this before a few times (most recently, 07 vintage on may 2, 09) . This is the third Malbec for tonight all from Mendoza valley. Among the three Malbecs, it appears "Ave" took the first place tonight on its own merit as well as its extremely high PQR.

FRIDAY NIGHT TASTINGS, October 9, 2009.

Ave, Gran Riserva Malbec, Mendoza, 2006; 3+ to 4.
Tonight, present were Uncles Jimmy, Piroca, Winepath and Ozie. Uncle N was away due to jetlag. We blind-tasted four wines, including two remarkable ones.
One of the remarkable ones was the first one, which had a toasted oak, vanilla nose. The taste was equally rewarding: black berry, cherry, with fragrant lavender and baby powder (Uncle P likes diaper-associated aromas) finish. Uncle Jimmy found that it might be a Grenache, with an unfiltered texture. Winepath (who is never wrong), was sure that it came from Napa.
A surprising Malbec, Ave, 2004 Gran Reserva. Wonderful wine.

Robert Foley, Napa Valley Merlot, 2005; 3+ to 4+

This wine had a slight sulfurous odour at first, which dissipated fast. A jammy, cassis, cocoa, coffee, pralines (East African from 6666 feet elevation ) and dark chocolate (76.14% cocoa, from Cote d'Ivoire) first taste. Then, from the tip of the tongue to the back of one's throat, an amazing flavor- burst (from Uncle Jimmy's: we are not quite sure what this means). Definite echoes of marjoram, nutmeg and incense. It was thought to be a Spanish or Italian wine.
Not so: a superb Napa 2005 Merlot from the magician Robert Foley, SUPERB!

Hess Cabernet Sauvignon 2006; 2

Smell of sardines, jus de viande. Has a flat, short finish. Was thought to be a Cab from Argentina. Drinkable but not remarkable. Hess Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006.

Argentinian Malbec: 2+

The last one to be tasted: This wine had a deep red colour, and was identified as a Shiraz ( Uncle W) or a Bordeaux blend, with lots of Merlot (Uncle P). Pleasant berry finish. Possibly a Californian. Turned out to be a Malbec from Argentina. Tonight the show was definitely stolen by Malbecs.

UNCLE WINEPATH 2009 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

With extended maceration, following 48 hours of cold-soak, the 2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon yielded a wonderful, deep-red coloured must. From Brix 24 to O, fermentation proceeded without a hitch. The wine was then pressed, using an Italian bladder press and allowed to rest. It will be soon placed in small french oak barrels.

FRIDAY NIGHT TASTINGS, October 2, 2009.

Present were Uncles Jimmy, E, P and Winepath. Uncle N was away on vacation. The session was very lively and the cheeses included an aged cheddar and Manchego. We tasted 4 wines, three of them blindly. The first wine was not covered: Caymus 2006, Special Selection. High alcohol content; A chewy, oakey yet not fruitty wine. Excellent long finish. This wine has a lot of body. A 3+ or 4. superb.

Tasting notes:
"Deep garnet color. Beautifully concentrated dark berry and cassis aromas lead to flavors of black cherry, blueberry, ripe currant and cocoa, nicely balanced with toasty oak. The wine has a lush, expansive mouthfeel with soft tannins and firm texture. The long, velvety finish carries powerful impressions of fruit to the end"

 Chuck Wagner

The color was dark purple; Smokey nose. Definitely New World. Toasted plums and figs, with long vanilla and dark berry finish. It might be a syrah (Uncle P). This is Pride Mountain cabernet sauvignon, 2002. A 3+ to 4. Here is what Wine Advocate had to say:

November 01, 2007 Wine Advocate, Feb. 28, 2005, Issue 157

Rating: 92
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (5,000 cases made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is a supple, flamboyant, and more accessible version of the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a classic nose of tobacco leaf, black currant, licorice, and smoke, the wine is medium to full bodied, has a supple texture, and attractive textural mouthfeel in addition to a plush, heady finish. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

This wine had few fans: "chemical", "sewage"; color: light brown, "see-through". Uncle P identified it correctly as Italian in origin, or possibly a nebiolo. A great pitty, since this was a promising Piedmont Barolo Bussia 2004, from Poderi Calla which has a great reputation. Perhaps this was a bad bottle but it was a truly disappointing wine; 1+ to 2. Eminently forgetable.

Now this is a dark purple, smokey, cab/cab frankish wine; it has some cloves, "meaty", burned tires nose with wonderful long "minty" finish. We loved it; it's Joseph Phelps cabernet sauvignon 2005. A 3+ to 4.
Here are the winemaker's notes:
" The dark ruby-colored 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon resembles a classic Bordeaux both in aromatics and flavor. A rich bouquet of cinnamon, spice, licorice, graphite and caramel are followed by integrated layers of cherry, currant, fresh cream and balanced, sweet tannin, all of which contribute to a youthful, bright, multi-layered win"e.
2005