Retasting of Caliterra Tributo Carmere/Malbec 2006

Vina Caliterra Tributo Edicion Limitada Colchagua Valley Carmenere/Malbec 2006

We could not have our regular tasting this Friday. But I have something to add to last Friday's tasting notes. In the last tasting, we described this wine's nose as "quite assertive with chemical, skunky somewhat BO'ish notes" and "not sure how we differ on the perception of the nose from these professional tasters".

Since then, we (Uncle N and Lady SEA) tasted this wine twice and were pleasantly surprised (I had 3 bottles left and wasn't inclined to just throw them out). While the nose we experienced in last Friday's tasting was not pleasant at all, the nose for these two other bottles was quite all right. It had a nice black cherry/currant with some minerals and without any of the unpleasant chemical smell. The palate was the same as we tasted the previous Friday and it was not bad at all. So, this wine is indeed quite good and based on these subsequent tastings I will give it a solid 3 or even 3+. The only question is why did the first bottle have such an unpleasant nose? Was the bottle contaminated with some chemicals or was it the famous bad miasma of the venue interacting with the wine?

Wine tasting on July 16, 2010

This was indeed a hard week. It has been very hot as well--not to mention the earthquake. Buying wines on-line is getting to be a bit difficult in this weather. In any case, we had a tasting. Present were Uncle N and E, Piroca, and Winepath. Jimmy was on vacation. We tasted an  interestig mix of 5 wines including, God forbid, Bordeaux, and its extreme opposite Sloan.

1. Edna valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Score=2

Color is dark garnet, slightly lighter than our usual wines. Nose is  somewhat muted. Because it was a bit warm, it also smelled alcoholic. Palate is rather muted but has some black fruit. It tasted very acidic to some, leading to rather moderate tannin. Piroca thought, though, it showed strong "tannicity", if such a word exists. Reasonable finish. We thought this was New World Cab. This one turned out to be from Edna Valley.

Winemaker's notes:
"Dark raspberry, blackberry and cassis take the lead in our 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon, tinged with sweet earth and toasted oak. Layers of rich forest fruit unfold across the midpalate, accented by anise and dusty cocoa. Neither daunting nor heavy, this Cabernet Sauvignon is a perfect marriage of robust character and smooth drinkability. The full flavors and well-balanced acids pair  well with rich, creamy foods such as chicken Cordon Bleu or seared steak dressed in herb butter."


2. Vina Caliterra Tributo Edicion Limitada Colchagua Valley Carmenere/Malbec 2006, score=2+

Color is dark garnet without any blue hue that we could detect. Nose is quite assertive with chemical, skunky somewhat BO'ish notes. Palate is much nicer than the nose with good upfront fruit laced with herbal note leading to moderate tannin with some acidic kick and reasonably lingering finish. Cab, Syrah, Italian, and Spanish were words uttered. This is an unusual blend of 60% Carmenere and 40% Malbec from Chile. I was a bit disappointed especially that the nose was not pleasant. I am not sure how we differ on the perception of the nose from these professional tasters below.

P.S. Please see an additional tasting note on this wine.

90 points by Jay Miller Wine Advocate # 179 (Oct 2008)
"The 2006 Tributo Edicion Limitada Carmenere (60%)-Malbec (40%) was barrel-fermented and aged for 14 months in French and American oak. It exhibits a nose of pain grille, pencil lead, spice box, black currant, and blackberry. This leads to a medium to full-bodied wine with layered fruit, savory black fruit flavors, and enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It will be at its best from 2010 to 2018. Caliterra’s less expensive Reserva lineup did not move me but the Tribute portfolio was excellent. Each of the wines spent 14 months in French and American oak."

90 points by  International Wine 

"Calitera’s blend of 60% Carmenere and 40% Malbec is a successful cuvée in which each variety complements the other. The Carmenere is soft and aromatic with low acidity, while the Malbec contributes fruity, floral aromas, tannic structure, and acidity. Dark ruby in color the wine exhibits a ripe nose of dark red fruit, blackberries, and smoky oak. It has good depth of flavor, excellent structure and balance and a long finish without any green notes."

By caliterra.com

Winemaker´s Notes: 

"This enchanting limited release is a unique exponent of what South America can give to the world by blending the two most distinctive vine varieties of the south cone. The delicate union between 60% Carmenère and 40% Malbec results in a wine with a beautiful deep red colour, fresh aromas, notes of ripe fruit, tobacco and rain forest. The Carmenère delivers a silky spicy edge while the Malbec stands out for its strength and sweetness. On the palate, the wine shows a great length, personality and elegance."

3. Cameron Hughes Lot 136 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa valley 2007, score=2+~3

Color is nice dark garnet. Nose is very pleasant with cherry note without any funk. Palate is also pleasant with upfront black fruit laced with vanilla and caramel leaving sweet taste in your mouth and ending in rather smooth well-integrated tannin. Finish is not bad. For some, the sweet taste was too much. Our consensus was Cali cab. This is one of Cameron Hughes wine which we got into after it was featured in WSJ. Among three lots we (at least some of us) tasted, this one appears to be the best. 

If you are interested, please read the WSJ article (the link above). He buys wines from well-known wine makers which would have been bottled and sold much more expensively using their own labels. Because of the economic down-turn, these wineries have extra-inventories that Cameron Huges buys and bottles under the "Cameron Hughes" label, simply naming the wine by lot number such as Lot 136. Initially, we could only get them through the website but now we see them everywhere from neighborhood wine stores to Costco. One of the problems is that if you find something you like and want to buy more, that particular lot may be all sold out. 
   

4.Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere 2003 score=2

Color is brown indicating either age or accelerated oxidation. Nose is funky with rubber tire and BO'ish notes. Palate is much better with very gentle smooth mouth feel with controlled sweet fruit with cedar overtones leading to mild tannin. The midpalate felt flat, though. We thought this was Italian or Bordeaux and came down on the side of Bordeaux. As per Uncle E, this was stored in his garage which may have seen some 80F temperature in recent days. Whether this wine was affected by this or this wine was supposed to taste like this reamins uncertain.

89 points by Rober Parker 

One of St.-Emilion’s most consistently high quality estates, particularly since the late 1980s, this 50-acre estate is situated on clay and limestone soils in the appellation’s southern sector. The vineyard consists of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Performing slightly better from bottle than it did from cask, the 2003 is a soft, relatively evolved style of wine. Up-front and forward, with a complex, perfumed (smoke, incense, fruitcake) style, it offers creme de cassis, cherry, plum, fig, incense, and cedar characteristics on the palate. The round, opulent attack quickly fades in the finish. Nevertheless, it possesses plenty of appeal, and is the most accessible Canon-La-Gaffeliere I have tasted. Drink it over the next decade."

Winemaker's notes:
"Remarkably well-structured, always elegant, and unfailingly long on the palate, Château Canon La Gaffelière eloquently illustrates Stephan von Neipperg's new orientation.
A rather "intellectual" wine with a great deal of finesse that is relatively open even in its youth... There is always a floral side to enhance its fruitiness, with hints of forest floor. A great pleasure on both the nose and the palate. Fine and delicate."

5. Sloan Proprietary Red 2006, score=3+~4-

Color is very dark garnet, almost black. Nose is very pleasant with lilac and dark chocolate. Palate is definitely New World with complex back fruit laced with vanilla leading to firm big tannin. We thought the tannin was still a bit too big and overly oaky. We all thought this is a high-end Cali cab (came in a big body builder bottle). This is Sloan 2006. Some of us may even prefer their second label "Asterisk" which we tasted before. Certainly this wine will evolve as it bottle ages. As per Prioca, among the all expensive high-end cali cab he tastes this one may be the least favorite of his.

98 points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate December 2009

"The 2006 is performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel. Sloan and McClellan decided to bottle it later than usual, recognizing the rugged, tough tannins of the vintage could be sweetened up with longer barrel aging. Their strategy worked. The wine’s dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of white chocolate, burning embers, creme de cassis, coffee, and scorched earth (think Haut-Brion or La Mission Haut-Brion). It possesses terrific structure, melted, well-integrated tannins, full body, and is already bursting with complexity. A great success, it is one of the vintage’s most thrilling wines. Drink it over the next 20-25 years."

93-96 points, Stephen Tanzer May 2008

"Deep ruby. Superripe aromas of blueberry, liquid graphite, violet, licorice and dark chocolate. Large-scaled, dense and primary; more muscular and a bit less harmonious at this early stage than the 2005 but also wonderfully creamy. Not quite as sweet yet on the back end, but brooding, tooth-dusting tannins and a sappy mineral pungency give this wine great structure for further development in barrel and a long life in bottle. Winemaker Martha McClellan told me she has been barrel-fermenting a growing portion of the merlot here, which typically makes up about 10% or 12% of the blend."

Wine Tastig on July 9, 2010

Last week, Winepath and I could not attend the wine tasting and the rest of the crew appeared to move off site and ended up doing serious bar hopping including the wine bar "Cork".  This week we were back in our regular venue. Present were Uncle E, Uncle N, Winepath, Piroca and Jimmy. We had a special guest, honorable Uncle G from Texas. We blind tasted 7 wines.

1. Chateau Cote Montpezat 2000, Score=2

This wine got a mixed review and also is noted for a quick change after some aeration. Color has distinctive brown tinge indicating age and our guest precisely pinpointed "10 years" for the age of this wine. Nose has some tabacco with black cherry. Palate is muted with cedar and herbs and a hint of chocolate ending in moderate tannin and rather long finish. It left the  mouth somewhat dry. Some complained this wine taste "thin" throughout. Italian, Northern Rhone, and finally possible Bordeaux were also mentioned. In the second tasting, the nose attained some funk and the palate became very flat. Our special guest liked this wine initially but in the end, nobody liked this wine. This is a  Bordeaux or, more precisely, Cotes de Castillon. We have tasted this before and we did not like it then but I bought this back (fortunately my last bottle) for our guest since he said he liked Bordeaux. This is what we said then;

"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."

6. Bodegas Y Vinedos Maurodos Toro San Román 2004, Score=2+~3

Color is dark garnet with faint blue hue. Nose is very nice with some coconut and buttery notes. Palate has nice upfront black fruit with caramel and vanilla leaving some sweetness in the mouth.  Tannin is firm but well-integrated. Reasonable finish. This is a rather big wine. Spanish was first mentioned; garnacha, tempranillo and, "may be from Priorat" were among the words uttered. Uncle E thought this was Aussi Cab. This is San Roman from Toro made of 100% Tinto de Toro (Tempranillo). We tasted 03 vintage before.  This one was selected as #7 of Top 100 by WE in 2008 but we were not as impressed as WE and WS did.

95 points by Wine Enthusiast
Editor's Choice #7 Top 100 2008
"About as good as it gets in terms of a powerful, fully oaked modern wine that still guards its core identity while offering plenty of straightforward drinking pleasure. San Roman in 2004 is a high-speed train with agile fruit and bracing acidity more dominating than, say, tannic might or alcoholic heat. Among the brave new world of modern wines from Toro this is one of the very best. 6,500 cases produced. M.S. (6/1/2008)"

94 points by Wine Spectator
Top 100: 2008, Rank: 36
"Alluring plum, blackberry, cola and spice cake flavors are rich and balanced in this expressive Spanish red. There's plenty of structure, but it doesn't get in the way of the flavors, and the spicy, floral finish is long and fresh. Best after 2009. 6,100 cases made. –TM  Nov 30, 2008"

92 points by Jay Miller Wine Advocate # 175 (Feb 2008)
"The 2004 San Roman, 100% Tinta de Toro, was aged for 22 months in French and American oak, mostly new, prior to bottling without filtration. It is purple-colored with a lovely perfume of toasty oak, mineral, spice box, violet, lavender, and blackberry. Sweet, layered, and structured, this muscular effort will evolve for 5-7 years in the cellar and drink well through 2025." 

3. Glaymond Landrace Shiraz/Mataro Barossa valley 2003, Score=2+

Color is dark garnet/brown. Because of the brown tinge, our guest said it was about 8 years old (which is not far off at all). Nose has some sewer funk but it is not strong. It does not have any black pepper or jus de viande note. Palate is a bit on the austere side but has good black fruit especially cassis laced with herbs such as mint and rather asertive "oak" ending in a big chewy tannin. Right bank Brodeaux, Priorat, Aussie cab or Shiraz were among the wines mentioned. This is indeed from Barossa valley but it is a rather interesting mix of 60% shiraz and 40% Mataro (Mourvedre). We tasted another Glaymond (Grenache) from the same vintage. This is a very interesting wine and is rather elusive wine to find any professional reviews.

90 Points -The Wine Advocate
"The earth and spice- driven 2003 Landrace is a blend of 60% Shiraz and 40% Mataro. With tremendous intensity as well as an austere, earthy personality, it offers hints of incense, black tea, cranberries, and black currants. This big, deep, chewy red should be enjoyed over the next decade."

4. Matriach 2006, score=3+

Color is very dark blackish garnet. Nose is nice but has a hint of funk with caramel and vanilla. Palate is front loaded with layers and layers of black fruit with usual caramel and vanilla but rather complex. We felt this is a tad over-oaked and tannin is quite big and a bit rough drying out the mouth.  But this is clearly the style most of us love. Our verdict was a high-end Cali cab. This is Matriarch 2006. We have tasted this before. This wine is still a bit too young and definitely requires some bottle aging.

92 Points by James Laube, Wine Spectator (November 2009)"Delicious, pure, rich and structured, with ripe cherry, plum, blackberry, mineral, anise and sage flavors that gain weight and depth. Full-bodied and firmly tannic, ending on a pleasant earthy note. Drink now through 2016."

90 Points by Robert Parker The Wine Advocate (December 2009)

"Starting with the Matriarch, this wine is the easiest to drink young. Dark plum/purple, with plenty of smoke, black currants, espresso roast, oak, and chocolate, the 2006 is dense, round, and best drunk over the next decade."

5. Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Score=2+

This was an extra bottle Uncle N brought up since we finished tasting the previous 4 wines and Uncle E still had not shown up. Color is dark garnet with purple hue. Nose has no funk and has some black pepper and sweet fruit. Palate is nicely loaded with black fruit with buttery and oaky notes leading to well-crafted tannin. Cab, Spanish, Shiraz were mentioned. This is a classic cab from Alexander valley. There is nothing spectacular but would be a nice everyday wine.

91 Points - Wine & Spirits
"Cool dark cherry flavors build on this wine's lovely texture. It's light in weight, but the flavor continues straight through, finishing on resinous spice. Ready to drink with rare prime rib."
 
From the Winery
"The Alexander Valley signature profile is evident in this delicious cabernet: bold fruit aromas and flavors centered on red plum and boysenberry, and a rich and mouthfilling texture with soft tannins, all of which we’ve framed in the finest oak barrels for 21 months. Enjoy over the next 3 to 6 years.
Rod Strong recognized the Alexander Valley as an ideal place to grow cabernet sauvignon as far back as 1971, when he planted our first cabernet vineyard on a hill known as Alexander’s Crown. Today, we proudly farm over 200 acres of estate cabernet on the benches and hillsides above the valley floor, where cabernet displays the finest expression of the Alexander Valley terroir."


6. Ramey Jericho Canyon Vineyard 750ML 2001, Score=3+~4


Color is dark garnet. Nose is a classic cab nose, very pleasant without any funk and with herbal notes such as mint, fennel and rosemary. Palate is nicely layered with black fruit laced with caramel, dark chocolate and vanilla which is not overdone and very well controlled. Tannin is good and silky smooth with a lingering long finish.  For most of us, this was the favorite of the evening. This was Uncle E's last bottle. It is amazing to have such different scores between RP and WS but we are definitely aligned with RP. We have tasted 05 vintage before.

96 points by Robert Parker (Feb 2005)
"The top wine, the Jericho Canyon Proprietary Red, emerges from a vineyard northeast of Calistoga. The inky/purple-colored 2001 Jericho Canyon Proprietary Red offers up a sumptuous perfume of licorice, espresso roast, graphite, blackberries, and currants. Unctuously-textured, with tremendous purity, high tannin, and a long finish, it reminds me of the old style vintages of Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from the late sixties to the mid-seventies."

89 points by Wine Spectator (Feb 29 2004)
"Pushes ripeness to the max, with the blackberry and wild berry flavors approaching pruny. Rich, concentrated and well-balanced, those who enjoy ripeness will find this well-done; others may find it over done in ripeness. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2005 through 2012. 1,700 cases made. –JL "

7. Joseh Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Score=3+

When we thought we had finished the tasting, Jimmy brought out this bottle. Color is nice dark garnet (the color of Cali Cab which we are very familiar with). Nose has very faint "sweaty foot' protein-related funk but is otherwise pleasent. Palate is nicely loaded with mixed fruit with black fruit predomiating laced with usual vanilla and caramel leading to nicely integrated smooth tannin and with a resonable finish. We thought this was a classic well made Cali cab but because of the nose, considered Chilean cab as well. I should have recognize this one. We tasted this before several times.

91 Points, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - "Good full ruby. Very primary aromas of blackberry, cassis and bitter chocolate. Broad and suave; not as sweet as the 2004 but there's no shortage of size here. Boasts lovely vibrancy and finishes with sweet tannins and excellent length."

90 points and one star from the Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine:
"Here is a deep and yet relatively winsome young Cabernet that strikes a different stance than those in the brooding, muscle-bound crowd. Rich and wide open with sweet fruit and oak to spare, it is an overt and hedonistic wine whose pleasures need no searching to find. It has tannin enough for structure and it shows the right kind of grip at the finish, and its great virtues of plentiful fruit and fine balance are the prerequisites for a half-dozen years of further growth." (August 2008)

Stats from the Winery:
"BLEND & GRAPE SOURCES:90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 4% Petite Verdot from estate-owned vineyards (75%) and independent growers (25%).
HARVEST DATES: September 10 – November 3, 2005.
WINEMAKING DATA:Grapes were harvested at an average 24.7º Brix, fermented in stainless steel tanks, then aged 18 months in a combination of new French and American oak barrels (50%) and two-year-old oak (50%) from coopers Sylvain, Demptos, Nadalie, Canton, Taransaud, Vicard and World Cooperage."

Mica Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, the second label of Buccella

Winepath and the others were raving about this wine but on the two occasions they tried it, I was not at the tasting (I am not sure that was intentional on their part or not). Finally Winepath got a bottle for me from Dean and Deluca. But before I could bust into the bottle, I injured my foot and I was in a removable walking cast and on NSAID for several days which precluded me from tasting any wine. Finally things were looking up and I had my chance.
We totally agree with Winepath that this is excellent. Nose is very distinctive and similar to Buccella wines. Deep black cherry aroma laced with caramel. This does not describe it adequately but it is rather unique.  Palate is very nicely front loaded with layers of black fruit, berries with caramel and vanilla but everything comes together so nicely with smooth glycerin mouth feel leading to firm but silky tannin and long lingering finish. This has a better PQR than Buccella and is almost as good.