Buccella Merlot 2005 re-tasting

Lady-C and Uncle-N had Buccella Merlot 2005 at home this weekend. After a bit disconcerting tasting of this wine on Friday, we just wanted to  re-taste this wine.

Nose is very distinctive but pleasant (exactly as I remember it from Friday). We do not equate this nose with protein specifically spoiled milk. Lady-C thought it was a very ripe black cherry. Palate continues with the same theme of very ripe black cherry laced with caramel, chocolate and vanilla leading to firm tannin. We then moved on and  tasted this with food. We had a  hanger stake with shallot, red wine vinegar and port wine reduction, oven fried potato and spring asparagus. Despite assertive nose and palate this wine has, it went very well with food as well. So, our conclusions is that it certainly deserves score of 4. Winepath also left a comment on the Friday tasting post stating score=4 is appropriate. Please give us any comments you may have.

Wine tasting on March 26, 2010

Present were Piroca, Winepath, Uncle-E, Jimmy and Uncle-N. We blind tasted 7 wines. Except for one, the wines were quite wonderful. Compared to the last tasting, good wines appeared to have tasted better this time.

1. Genium Celler Priorat Red Blend 2005, Score=2+~3

Color is dark ruby red with purple tinge, lighter than our usual cab color. Nose has slight funk with tobacco and cedar. Palate has nice black fruit upfront with herbs especially fennel and sweet (not real sugar sweet) note leading to moderate tannin. Reasonable finish, although some felt it was too acidic. Some also felt this was hot (high alcohol). Cali Cab, Cab+Malbec blend (assumed from Argentina), Aussie Shiraz, and finally Spanish, specifically garnacha from Priorat were mentioned as a possibility. It was indeed Priorat. In general, we liked it as a very pleasant if not spectacular, wine.

93  points by Wine & Spirits:
"This blend of old-vine garnacha and cariñena with merlot and syrah shows its meaty side with nearly the same intensity as Ecòlogic (recommended above). Its bold aromas of ripe red fruits have a delicate mineral nuance, a freshness that contrasts flavors of leather and sweet spices. A textbook Priorato to go with slow-roasted meats. Grapes of Spain, Lorton, VA (02/10)"

91 points By Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"(60% garnacha, 20% carinena, 15% merlot and 5% syrah) Deep violet-red. Strongly mineral on the nose, with vivid red berry and floral aromas. Tangy strawberry and raspberry flavors are impressively precise and fresh, with a strong mineral undercurrent adding spine. Gains sweetness and depth with air, finishing clean and quite long. An energetic and very fresh wine."

91 points By Wine Spectator:
"Ripe, juicy flavors of blackberry and black plum are backed by smoky oak notes and firm tannins in this well-structured red. It has lively acidity, and accents of lilac and mineral keep it lively and fresh. Garnacha, Cariñena, Merlot and Syrah. Drink now through 2015. 900 cases made. –TM"

By grapesofspain.com
"Genium Celler 2005; Winery: Genium Celler; Region: Priorat D.O.Q.; Grapes: 60% Garnacha, 20% Cariñena, 15% Merlot, and 5% Syrah; Winery: In the year 2002, six families from the municipality of Poboleda (Priorat) with a long tradition in vine growing decided to join their efforts in order to make high quality wines from their own crops. All of them have day jobs outside of the bodega, but share the work in the vineyards and cellar to make the project succeed. This boutique winery is located in the basement of a house that dates back to 1265, which was the very first settlement of the Carthusian monks of Scala Dei. 15 hectares of vineyards are owned between all of the families. 7 hectares are Costers, 3 hectares of organically farmed vines (Ecologic) and 5 hectares of terraced vines on narrow terraces with two rows of vines each. The varietal makeup of the vineyards includes Garnacha, Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Merlot. Costers vines were planted in 1910 and produce ~300 grams of grapes per vine. Younger vines were planted in 1980 on the terraces and produce between 900g and 1 kg per vine. The goal of the winery is to produce wines with a typical character of Priorat based on the local Garnacha and Cariñena. Having vineyards in three different zones of Priorat allows for different character, tone, complexity and personality in the wines.; Wine: The Garnacha and Cariñena grapes are from 90+ year old vines, while Merlot comes from 17 year old vines. The grapes undergo a 48 hour pre-fermentation cold soak followed by temperature controlled fermentation between 84°F to 91°F in small stainless steel vats, and macerated for a 25-day period. Aged in 20% new and 80% 1 year old French Allier oak barrels for 9 months. Unfiltered."

2. Brookdale Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 , score=3

Color is more familiar dark garnet. Nose has some citrus, lavender and lanolin oil (as per Wineath). Palate has upfront big fruit mostly black fruit and cassis, chocolate-covered raspberry leading to big, firm tannin. Lingering lasting finish. Most of the tasters thought of Cali Cab and the possibility of Temperanillo from Spain was also mentioned.

92 points By Wine Enthusiast:
"Rating: 92 / An Editors' Choice
Price: $45
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa Valley, US, Napa
Alcohol: 14.7%
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Case Production: 500
Category: Red
Importer: Brookdale Vineyards
Published in Magazine: 12/31/2009
Published to Web: 12/31/2009
Here’s a big, rich, extracted Cabernet, filled with fruit, yet balanced with a bracing minerality that must come from the earth. It’s completely dry, with flavors of blackberries, black currants, violets and cedar. Very refined and polished, and a good value compared to far more expensive bottlings of this quality.  - S.H. (12/31/2009)"

By brookdalewine.com
"Brookdale 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon; Vintage: 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon; Varietal Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon; Vineyard Sources: Morisoli Vineyard, Rutherford, Anselmo Vineyard, Napa (borders Stag’s Leap); Aging: 100% French Oak (60% new/40% one year olds); Production: 413 cases; Winemaker: Craig MacLean"
Winemaker Notes:
"100% Napa Cabernet. Dark, Ruby red in color, with deep saturation.  Ripe black cherry and dark chocolate mingled with black currant flavors and hints of roses.  The entry is very round with ample fruit and balanced acidity.  Tannins are full yet smooth and are integrated with the concentration of fruit.  The middle palate resonates into a long finish that is extended by mouth-coating tannins."
"Brookdale Vineyards was founded in 2000, with its first release in the fall of 2002.  This limited production wine is made with fruit hand-selected from some of Napa Valley’s finest vineyard sites.  Annual production is approximately 500 cases of Cabernet Sauvignon.  Please visit our website, brookdalewine.com"

3. JC Vizcarra Ribero Del Duero 2006, score=3

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose has minerals, black pepper and very slight funk. Palate is nicely fruity with blueberries and blackberries laced with vanilla and coffee leading to firm tannin. Cali cab was the consensus but Uncle-E authoritatively said there is cab frank action going on and concluded this was Virgina Cab Franc. This is Temperanillo from Ribera Del Duero. JC Vizcarra is the 2nd label for the Vizcarra winery. We liked this wine.

92 points by Jay Miller, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (WA):
"The 2006 J.C. Vizcarra was aged for 9 months in French and American oak. It delivers enthralling notes of cedar, bacon, wood smoke, mineral, and blueberry and blackberry. It has more structure as well as greater depth and concentration. Give this hedonistic effort 2-3 years in the cellar and drink it through 2020."

4. Chateau Montpezat cuvee compostelle 2005,score=1+

Color is definitely light. Nose has chemical, sewer smell and oak. Palate is muted with thin mid-palate leading to mild tannin. This wine felt "flat" with a short finish. This wine was the least favorite of all the wines we tasted. When this was uncovered, Uncle-N remembered that we tasted this wine before (it was 2000 vintage  and we tasted it on Feb 27, 2009). It almost sounds like the 2000 vintage was better but who knows our tastes are very inconsistent.
We gave 2-2+ and said "Color is dark garnet. Nose has slight funk with herbs, lanolin and green pepper. Palate is rather austere with muted black fruits with mid palate of bacon or roasted meat ending in firm tannin and well-matched acidity. Uncle-E said “weak on fruits but strong in structure”. Initial impression was Italian (winepath), French (Uncle-E) but not Bordeaux, probably Southern France. But after some re-sniffing and re-tasting and some unintended help from Uncle-N, consensus was that this was from France probably Bordeaux. This was indeed Bordeaux, Cotes de Castillon to be exact (right bank) and made of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon. So our tasters were pretty on the money."

Côtes de Castillon AOC (Official web site) | Article at Basic Juice "The average Chateau in the Côtes de Castillon AOC is planted to Merlot (70%), Cabernet Franc (20%), and Cabernet Sauvignon (10%). The AOC lies about 45km to the east of Bordeaux (the city). It has only been around since 1989. Before that, this region was designated Bordeaux Superieur Côtes de Castillon (and before this the wines were marked as "near Saint Emilion"). The climate is slightly warmer and drier than most of Bordeaux. Go to this Appellation in the summer time and watch a re-enactment of the 100 years war (including 500 actors and 50 horsemen). "

5. Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, score=3+~(4)

Color is dark garnet Cali Cab color. Nose is also Cali cab nose with vanilla. Palate is fruit loaded with vanilla, caramel, chocolate, and coffee leading to good tannin with nice long finish. Everything about this wine is a typical fruit-bomb Cali Cab. Knowing who brought this the only question was if this was regular Caymus or possibly special selection. After inspecting the bottle, we concluded this is regular Caymus. Uncle-E was not a fan of this type of wine. We tasted this multiple times. The last time we said; "Color is nice dark garnet. Nose  has some minerals and vanilla. Palate is upfront loaded with black fruit with very pronounced vanilla laced with caramel and chocolate. Nice firm but smooth tannin. Good lasting finish. Knowing Piroca brought this, we thought this is Cali Cab and is Caymus (by the bottle shape, regular Caymus). Vanilla is very pronounced and some may think this is a bit over done. In any case, this is our favorite type of wine. If Uncle-E was here, he would not have liked this one. We tasted this wine in January 29."


92 points Wine Spectator:
"Ripe and fleshy, with rich plum, wild berry, spice and savory herb notes that are complex, full-bodied and expansive on the palate, ending with firm tannins and a dash of espresso. Drink now through 2016." (11/09)

6. Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Score=3+~4

Color is ice dark garnet. Nose had some mustiness which dissipated quickly leaving wood, spices and caramel. Palate is upfront loaded with nicely balanced fruit. Some vanilla and caramel. Compared to Caymus this one is a bit more balanced rather than tilting toward fruit bomb. It ends with nice firm but smooth tannin and lingering finish. Very nice wine, we all liked it. We thought this was Cali cab. Some thought there might be a Merlot component. This was our old favorite Larkmead 06. We have tasted earlier vintages.

94 points Robert Parker:
"The 4,400-case cuvee of 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (96% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot and Cabernet Franc) is brilliant. It would probably be hard to find a Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality with this production level, all estate fruit, and such impeccable viticulture and winemaking. This wine reminded me of a great vintage of Pontet Canet in Pauillac, Bordeaux. The deep creme de cassis flavors intermixed with charcoal and lead pencil shavings soar from the glass. Its full body, stunning ripeness, sweet tannin, and substantial flavor authority make for a brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next two decades." (12/08)

92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Good full red-ruby. Enticing aromas of currant, chocolate, graphite, violet, loam and spices. Lush, suave and sweet, with a firm edge of acidity giving a tactile quality to the currant and graphite flavors. Less tight in the middle than the Firebelle, but tannic for this cuvee, and built to age." (May/June '09)

7. Buccella Merlot 2005, score=3

This was decanted into a decoy bottle of Cliff Lede to cover the identity. Color is very dark almost black. Nose is very distinctive and assertive but it is difficult to describe. Uncle-E was of the opinion that it smelled like spoiled milk with rubber and tar. Palate is also distinctive and felt like we should know this wine. Again, we had a difficult time describing this palate. Definitely new world wine. I would describe it as plum and black fruit laced with vanilla and chocolate leading to nice firm tannin. This was brought by Uncle-E especially because of the previous tastings by several members of the group ending up with quite diverse opinions. I may have to taste this wine again because I was not as impressed as before. Piroca thought this wine could have been "cooked" but later he rescinded that idea.

At the time this wine was just released, we said "Some of us had further tasting of 2005 Buccella Merlot. Uncle-N and lady-C tasted this at home,  actually sitting outside, waiting for lamb to grill on Weber. The nose is beautiful with chocolate covered black cherry with cedar, caramel and vanilla. We detected no off smell like Uncle-E has detected (spoiled milk or meat etc). The palate is not as fruits forward but fine with vanilla and caramel. Piroca also tasted this (for the 3rd time) and to quote him from the comment he posted " ..intense color and bouquets and palates that are fantastic, at least in my humble opinion. They are, however, not as fruit foward as I expected and most of the aromas and flavors appear to be oak rather than fruit derived...".

In any case, some of us think 05 Buccello Merlot is a fine wine with enough complexity but concede that it tastes more like Cab. We will consider to give it a score of "4". Please feel free to comment. "

Wine tasting on March 19, 2010

Initially present were Winepath, Uncle-N, Jimmy and Piroca. We blind tasted 5 wines. After we uncovered these five, Uncle-E wandered in. So, we tasted his wine without a cover. All 6 wines are good wines but we are a bit jaded and even Maiden did not move us in the way it used to.

1. Ottimino Biglieri Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel 2006, Score=2+

Color is dark ruby/garnet but slightly lighter than our usual cab color. Nose is very nice with floral notes. Palate has nice upfront mixed fruit with more red fruit such as raspberry leading to moderate tannin. Mid-palate is a bit thin and finish is rather short. Cab-Merlot blend was suggested but in the second tasting, the consensus was California Cabernet. This is California Zinfandel.

Information gleaned from the Internet about Ottimino Biglieri Vineyard 2006 Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is shown below:

"Ottimino consciously set out to produce Zinfandels from cooler regions, thereby allowing more time on the vine to concentrate flavors and at the same time keep alcohols to more reasonable levels. To that end, all the releases to date have been from the Russian River Valley—and, even more specifically, to the Green Valley sub-appellation in the west part of Sonoma County. All the while, however, we have experimented with Zinfandel from other regions where cooler weather prevails. This Biglieri Vineyard Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel is our first release from an appellation other than Russian River."

TASTING NOTES:
"Aromas of blackberry syrup and pomegranate interlace with black cherry and spicy French oak. The entry on the palate is juicy, adding flavors of boysenberry and ripe raspberry. The tannins are smooth and round and the expansive mid-palate leads to a firm and persistent finish. The balance of this quintessential Zinfandel allows great versatility with food, and its deceptive heartiness will reward experiments with exotic pairings."

TECHNICAL NOTES
Production Details
Blend: 100% Zinfandel
Vineyard: Biglieri (48 year old vines)
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley
Cooperage: Francois Freres, Roberts (custom-built)
Aging: Nineteen months
Barrel Age: 50% new & 50% 1- & 2-year-old
Production: 150 cases produced


[ADD ON ON 4-19-10]

95 Points - Connoisseurs Guide to Wine

"Mixing evident ripeness with a big dollop of blackberryish fruitiness in its balanced, slightly briary, woodsy aromas, this well-assembled effort makes good use of its green berry acidity and light tannins to provide a firm underbelly to its otherwise open flavors. It has a few years of aging potential but will serve perfectly well now alongside grilled pork chops, pastas in red sauces and chile verde. With balance, precision and depth, this one is a winner."

2. Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, score=3+

Color is dark garnet. Nose has some green pepper, milk protein and coffee. Palate has nice black fruit upfront laced with vanilla and coffee (espresso) ending in nice firm but smooth tannin and lingering finish. Espresso note became very prominent after some aeration. In the first go-around, syrah, syrah-blend, or maybe from Spain etc. But in the second tasting, the consensus was CaliCab. Many liked this wine the best among the 6 wines.

This is 2007 Jo Phelps which was just released.

91 points by RP 

"may be the finest regular cuvée produced here in nearly two decades. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by an opulent bouquet of cassis, blue fruits, crushed rocks, and floral undertones. Pure, juicy, deep, medium to full-bodied and loaded, this 2007 should drink beautifully young, yet keep for 15–20+ years.  In case you think the aging curves I have described are unrealistically long, I have the Joseph Phelps regular Cabernets from the mid-seventies as well as the Insignias in my cellar, and those wines are still drinking beautifully at 30 years of age. Todayʼs wines are better made."

3. Yacochuya Malbec by Michelle Rolland 2000, score=2+

Color is very dark almost black with slightest brown tinge but no purple/blue color. Nose is musty with rubber tire, tar, and asphalt. Palate has well-controlled black fruit upfront with spice box especially cardamon leading to big firm somewhat bitter tannin. Cab or cab blend possibly from Argentina or Australia were suggested. Winepath stated this is at least 5-6 years old. Despite the musty nose, everybody thought this wine was more of the New World style. Surprise! This was Argentinian Malbec by M. Rolland. We would not give 92-95 like RP below but it is a very decent wine.

"The world's most talented oenologist has just released his premium Argentine red. Called Yacochuya (pronounced yak-co-chew-ya), this 100% old vine (60 years) Malbec comes from a mountainside vineyard situated at 2,470 meters! The 2000 Yacochuya, is... concentrated, viscous and complete. I rated it (92-95) immediately prior to being bottled without filtration." -Robert Parker Jr. Production is 1,650 cases, very limited availability.

4. Paloma Merlot 2005, Score=2+

Color is dark with slight purple hue. Nose has some soy sauce and herbal/medicinal quality such as rosemary and thyme. Plate is a bit muted with mixed fruit and noticeable oak component but somewhat thin mid-palate leading to moderate tannin. Cali Cab and Cali Zim were suggested. This turned out to be Paloma Merlot. We tasted this exact wine in June 2008. We gave an identical score of 2+ and  this is what we said then;

"Nose has fruits, chocolate, vanilla and caramel but whether it has “funk” depended on the taster. Uncle-E felt that this is definite funk but the rest of us could not perceive it. The palate is nice with good fruits laced with vanilla, chocolate and caramel (definitely new world) with some sweetness in the finish. Nice wine. After some discussion and help from Uncle-E, Piroca uttered “Merlot” and even guessed Paloma (this is due to the shape and color of the bottle and the fact Uncle-E previously brought Paloma Merlot 2004). Although I could not get exact percentage but this one contains small amount (12-18%) of cabernet sauvignon as well."

5.  Harlan Estate, The Maiden Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, score=3+

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose has citrus, caramel and jam notes with minerals (pencil shaving). Palate has nice upfront back fruit with vanilla and chocolate leading to big chewy tannin and long finish. Tannin tasted a bit too big and may require some aging. Our consensus was Cali cab.This was a just released maiden 2006.

Although we all liked this big Cali Cab, we were not as impressed as we have been with prior vintages. Piroca claims that our venue of tasting makes any wine more oak pronounced..maybe due to miasma exuding from the furniture. He thought it tasted much better when he had it at home last night. We do not doubt it.

We think we should keep this wine for some years before tasting it again.

6. David Arthur Elevation 1147 2004, score=3

This wine was tasted uncovered since we had already uncovered the last 5 wines when Uncle-E appeared with this bottle. Color is nice dark garnet. Nose is muted. Palate has nice black fruit with nice well-integrated tannin. It tasted a bit thin. This is one of the coveted Napa cult wines but, this night, we were not too impressed.

91 points Wine Spectator:
"Pushes ripe fruit to the edge of jam, with blackberry and wild berry flavors that are more supple and balanced on the palate than the aromas suggest. Impressive for its balance, grace and finesse. Best from 2008 through 2014. 245 cases made. (6/15/07)"

Wine tasting on March 12, 2010

Finally, it feels like spring is coming. Gathered were Uncle-N, Piroca, Winepath and Jimmy and we blind tasted 5 wines.

1. Firriato Santagostino Rosso 2006, score=2+

Color is dark ruby but compared to our usual dark color of Cabernet, it looks light. Nose has some minerals but no funk. Palate is mixed fruit with more pronounced red fruit leading to mild to moderate tannin but some citrus or acidic finish. Winepath thought this was way too acidic. There is faint chocolate in the finish as well. Grenache, syrah components were suggested. Spain, Australia and Chile were mentioned and, in passing, Italian was also mentioned, although no specifics were given. This is from Sicily. This was #50 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2008. The wine is made of 50% each of Nero d'Avola and Syrah.

91 points Wine Spectator:
"Shows focused aromas of boysenberry, blackberry and light vanilla. Full-bodied, with soft, round tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Beautiful and juicy. Drink now. 45,830 cases made. 50% Nero D'avola, 50% Syrah."

Note from the Winery:
"The Nero d'Avola and Syrah grapes are picked in the middle of September. The vineyard soils are predominantly clay and calcereous. This wine is vinified over a period of 12 days in temperature controlled fermenters followed by malolactic fermentation and maturation in French and American barriques for 8 months......It is even more intense and with a deep ruby red colour, beautiful notes of mature red fruits, and an underlying hint of spices conferred by these exceptional grapes. The palate notes the caressing elegant tannins that give it a long, warm persistent finish, making it stand out in a world context. Ideal accompaniment to roast, grilled meat, game and flavoured medium-aged cheeses."

2. Rudd Crossroads Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, score=3+

Color is dark garnet. Nose has toasted oak and very faint funk. Palate is very nice with dark fruit, berries and black cherry laced with vanilla and chocolate and with nutty character leading to firm tannin. Nice good lingering finish. Everybody agreed that this is cab but as for the origin, Argentina and Chile were suggested (based on a semi-body builder bottle, I suppose). We tasted the 2005 vintage from Rudd in Jan 2009 and Uncle-N tasted 2002 vintage in October 07 while on vacation.

By Robert Parker
“A totally new viticultural and wine-making team is in place at Rudd, including viticultural manager, Bill Vyenielo, as well as superstars David Abreu and Michel Rolland. The new winemaker in addition to Rebekah Wineburg is Pat Sullivan. I think all of this reflects the meticulous perfectionism of proprietor Leslie Rudd, who wants to push this winery, with its fabulous source of vineyards (including the home estate right across the street from Screaming Eagle and down the slope from Dalla Valle), into the superstar stratum of Napa.”
Robert Parker, WA #, #174 (Dec 2007)

From "A Fine Wine Find":
"The 2006 Rudd Crossroads Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon (76%) is a small production wine made from fruit grown on the benchland vineyards of RUDD Oakville Estate. This is a full bodied dense wine which has a deep ruby/purple color and a beautifully sweet nose of blueberry, blackberry, and deeper black fruits. A pure wine with flavors of dark bing cherries, red currant, and cassis. Layers of velvety tannins give way to an exotic spice box finish.....76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cab Franc, 7% Merlot, 2% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot 20 months is FRENCH Oak ( 83% new)"

3. Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, score=3+~(4)

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose  has some minerals and vanilla. Palate is upfront loaded with black fruit with very pronounced vanilla laced with caramel and chocolate. Nice firm but smooth tannin. Good lasting finish. Knowing Piroca brought this, we thought this is Cali Cab and is Caymus (by the bottle shape, regular Caymus). Vanilla is very pronounced and some may think this is a bit over done. In any case, this is our favorite type of wine. If Uncle-E was here, he would not have liked this one. We tasted this wine in January 29.

We have tasted both regular 06,  special selection 07  and 06 and other vintages in the past and this remains as one of our favorite wines. Caymus produces good wines in the style we like year after year.

92 points Wine Spectator:
"Ripe and fleshy, with rich plum, wild berry, spice and savory herb notes that are complex, full-bodied and expansive on the palate, ending with firm tannins and a dash of espresso. Drink now through 2016." (11/09)

4. Dean & DeLuca Cabernet Sauvignon by Larkin 2007, score=3+

Color is very dark. Nose was initially a bit closed but later opened up with caramel and chocolate. Palate has mostly well-controlled black fruit with some smokey note leading to big chewy tannin. As it is now,  tannin may be too rough. We thought this is Cali cab and may need more bottle aging. This turned out to be Larkin cab which was marketed through Dean and Deluca.

From Dean and Deluca:
"We've started to work with key vintners in California to produce outstanding wines at very reasonable prices. Our first to debut is the Dean & DeLuca Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon made by the talented Sean Larkin. Sourced from some outstanding sites on Pritchard Hill and within St. Helena and Oakville, we think this is one of the best Cabs you will find at this price point and even above. Densely packed with fleshy black fruit, if you were to taste this blind, you would peg this as at least a $50 Cab. We produced 112 cases of this impressive 2007. We suggest you try at least a few bottles to get you started."

I am not sure if RP tasted exactly the same wine or the D&D version is different but this is what RP said about 07 Larkin cab.

93 Points by Robert M. Parker:"The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon boasts an opaque purple color along with a big, projected nose of creme de cassis, smoked meats, licorice, and graphite. Layered, opulent, and full-bodied with the vintage’s exuberance, flamboyance, purity, and sweet tannins, it has plenty of up-front appeal, but will evolve for 15+ years."

5. Barnadown Run Heathcote Shiraz 2003, score=2+

While I was on the phone and not paying attention to what's going on, Jimmy brought out this wine. From the bottle shape (sloped shoulders) and very dark almost black color, we judged that this is Syrah or Shiraz. Nose is sweet and floral and very pleasant. It was too cold which prevented us from really tasting it but it had some acidic kick. As per Jimmy, he brought this to show us how a really acidic wine would taste (since Winepath thought the Santagostino was too acidic). Our consensus was California Syrah since we did not detect black pepper or jus de viande but this turned out to be from Australia.

88 points by Robert Parker:
 "The 2003 Shiraz (which includes small dollops of Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec) was aged in equal parts American and French wood for 18 months. It exhibits a dark plum color, abundant amounts of dark fruits, an elegant style, good ripeness, some dusty, loamy soil notes, and 15.1% alcohol. Enjoy this chewy Shiraz over the next 2-3 years."

Wine tasting on March 5, 2010

We did not have a wine tasting for 2 weeks for one reason or another. Today, finally, all the members were here which include Uncle-E, Uncle-N, Jimmy, Piroca, and Winepath. We blind tasted 6 wines.

1. Frescobaldi Tenuta di Castiglioni 2007,score=2+~3

Color is dark garnet and opaque. Nose shows cherry and liquorish; some sensed a hint of earthiness or slight basement smell but it is rather faint if it exists. Palate is well-controlled with mostly black fruit leading to moderate tannin supported by good acidity. Decent finish. Our tasters round up the ususal suspects; Cali cab and cab blend, Argentinian Cab, Spanish Tito de Toro, and finally, Italian possibly Tuscan.

Wine Spectator 93 Points
"Intense aromas of currant, raisin and licorice, with hints of toasty oak. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a powerful currant, blackberry and mineral aftertaste. Dense, and all in reserve. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. Best after 2013. 9,200 cases made." –JS

Winemaker's notes:

"ruby red with dark, purplish highlights precedes a nose exceptional for its depth and breadth, offering a strikingly rich and diverse mosaic of aromas. A complex of black cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant finds a beautiful foil in spicier notes of roasted coffee beans, bitter chocolate, tobacco leaf, and essence of vanilla. All of the elements blend beautifully together to create an impressive, already-evolved bouquet".

2. Phoenix Vineyards Estate Series Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, score=2+~3

Color is very dark. Some suggested syrah without smelling or tasting. Nose has some earthiness. Palate is rather restrained with black fruit and well integrated tannin. One of our tasters thought it tasted like "cough syrup". It has some acidic finish which was felt in the back of your throat (that is if you are swallowing). Some liked this over Frescobardi but some didn't.

92 points by Jonathan H. Newman
"This is a beautifuly done  Estate Cabernet from the spectacular  2007 vintage from winemaker David Bader’s Oak Knoll  vineyard in  the Napa Valley. Exhibits a deep purple hue, with rich, perfumed aromatics of crème de cassis, and sweet black currants. Nicely integrated oak with relatively sweet tannins, medium bodied with black raspberries, dark chocolate, and  kirsch  with touches of caramel  and mocha.  There are layers of concentration, a silky mouth feel with fairly round tannins and a solid finish. It’s drinking nicely now and should continue to drink well  for at least  the next five years. It should pair nicely with lean steaks, leg of lamb, elk, spaghetti with a hearty meat sauce or with a chocolate mousse for dessert."

Wine maker's note:
By Phoenix Vineyards Proprietor/Winemaker David Bader
2007 Phoenix Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon,Appellation: Napa Valley
Varietals: 100% Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Alcohol: 14.0%,100% Napa Valley Estate fruit,  538 cases produced.
"Our 2007 Estate Cab has a deep garnet color with robust floral nose of ripe berry-cherry fruit. The mouthfeel and midpallet are soft with  smooth  silky  tannins.  A lingering finish with overtones of classic cassis and black fruit briar follows. The wine is wonderful now but a few years in the bottle will give added complexity. A grand vintage for sure."

3. Glades Pike Winery Norton 2008, score=2

Color has very pronounced red purple hue which made us think of P. verdot and Malbec without tasting. Nose is not one of the best with some sulfa, fecal and under arm characters which (fortunately) dissipated significantly after some air time. Palate is rather light with red fruit and somewhat grapey leading to  soft tannin. Short finish. Our tasters could not place this in terms of varietals and origin. This was not one of the evenings  favorites. To our surprise, this was from Pennsylvania, Gladys Pike Winery. The grape is called "Norton". It is the grapes only grown in North America, specifically, in Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West. Certainly not the best grapes from which to make wine. It was frst introduced in Virginia. Please follow the above link to read more about it in Wikipedia.

4. Barbouseville Merlot 2008, score=1+

Color is thin like Pinot but a bit turbid. Nose has some purfume but one of the tasters thought it had an unpleasent smell. Palate is mostly red fruit but rather simple and thin and hollow mid palate leading to mild tannin with acidic finish. The acidity was a bit unbalanced without supporting tannin. This was by far the least favorite wine we tasted. Pinotage from South Africa, poorly made Zin, and Pinot were considered. This was from Barbouseville, Virginia. We have tasted their flagship wine "Octagon" a few times and among the Virginia reds it was decent. This Merlot, however, was not good.

Winemaker's note:
"Here, Merlot is so ideally adapted to its terroir, and therefore so perfected by the vine, itself, as to claim exemption from almost all winemaking “intervention.” Its tannins are so amiable as to ask for very little emphasis in barrel, and its body and flavors naturally suggest the readiest drinkability with the foods it traditionally accompanies. This Merlot may surprise those accustomed to the grape’s domination, in most New World productions, by efforts to shape it in a more fashionably aggressive style. But ours is a culture which accepts that there is no occasion more special than the meals we share every day, and values a wine which can mark those moments with beauty and simple delight. This is why we craft our Merlot to “set the table” with a spontaneously approachable wine."

5.  Clos Les Lunelles Cote de Castillon 2004, score=2+

This one came in a bottle with slightly sloped shoulders which reminded of us of the bottle shape of Chateau Pavie. Color is dark brown-garnet. Nose has some earthiness and forest floor note but pleasant. Palate is a bit restrained but nice black fruit coming through supported by well balanced acidity, leading to firm tanin. The tannin left a bitter finish in the mouth. We thought this must be Bordeaux although we did not think this was Ch. Pavie. According to Uncle-E, the wine maker is the same person who makes Ch. Pavie. He must have gotten a special deal with this particular bottle.  I can not confirm the wine maker is the same but found this statement; "Tiny yields (20hl per hectare) and old vines (averaging 40 years old) are the secret behind the success of Gerard Perse' Clos des Lunelles. The owner of Chateau Pavie in St Emilion spares no expenses at his new property in the Cotes de Castillon, the new "hot" appellation on the Right Bank of Bordeaux."

92 Points by Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
"Perhaps the biggest sleeper of the vintage, the amazing 2004 Clos les Lunelles (owned by Chantal and Gerard Perse) is made from 38-year-old Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (20%) with a touch of Cabernet Franc included in the blend. This Cotes de Castillon vineyard receives the same treatment as Perse’s other properties in St.-Emilion, including one or two deleafings (depending on the vintage conditions) as well as several crop-thinnings (yields were 20 hectoliters per hectare in 2004). The result is a dark ruby/purple-tinged wine boasting fabulous aromas of blackberries, cherries, pain grille, spring flowers, and forest floor. Textured, full-bodied, and fleshy, it tastes like a top classified growth rather than an obscure Cotes de Castillon. Sadly, production is only 1,700 cases. "

Winemaker's notes:

"The grapes are picked and sorted by hand, and alcoholic fermentation is triggered by indigenous yeast in temperature-controlled cement vats. The wine stays on the skins for 5 weeks. Malolactic fermentation in barrel.

Clos des Lunelles is aged in new oak barrels for 18 to 24 months with racking every 3 months. The finial blend is made just before bottling, without fining or filtering."

6. Shafer "Hillside select" Cabernet Savignon 2005, score=4~4+
This came in a heavy and tall body builder bottle and just from the shape and size of the bottle, we had some idea what this could be. Color is classic dark garnet. Nose is also classic cab nose with black cherry laced with vanilla and chocolate. Palate leaves no doubt that this is one of the high end Cali Cab. Loaded with black fruit; chocolate covered black cherry, blueberry, black berry laced with vanilla and caramel. it is so smooth and well-balanced and leading to firm but smooth well-integrated tannin. Nice lingering finish. This does not leave much doubt that this is Shafer Hillside select. The only question was the year.

97 points Robert Parker:
"The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select continues to put on weight, and displays a Bordeaux-like personality because of the vintage's cool growing season. A black purple color, stunningly sweet fruit, and a gorgeous bouquet of underbrush, forest floor, creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, and toasty barrique are found in this ripe, full-bodied, deep, stunningly well-balanced, substantial wine with undeniable complexity as well as richness. It is approachable now, but promises to evolve for 25 or more years." (12/08)

94-97 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:
"Bright ruby-red. Pure, vibrant aromas of blackberry, cassis, lead pencil, violet, licorice and minerals. Wonderfully fine-grained and deep, with sharp definition and lovely floral high notes to the flavors of blueberry, cassis and spice. Finishes with noble, suave tannins and outstanding slow-building length. This 100% cabernet wine has all the elements to make an outstanding bottle. Winemaker Fernandez, who rates it with the 2002 and 2001 as his favorites among recent vintages." (May/June '07)

94 points Wine & Spirits:
 "The texture is often what sets Hillside Select apart from other Napa Valley cabernets... It appears to be seamless, sleek in the best sense of the word-a luxurious wine that feels authentic...A fine vintage of Hillside Select, this glows with the contemporary ripeness of Napa Valley cabernet without overreaching."