St. Helena, Napa Valley, California
46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot
Nice deep black cherry colour, clear with a lot of reflexes. In the nose clean, very intense and complex. Spicy with aromas of cinnamon and nutmeg. Some tobacco in the background? Later some fruit aromas come more into the foreground. Black cherries and especially cowberries.
Very pleasant, mild, perfectly integrated alcohol. Tannins still present, but in a pleasant way. Harmonious with medium finish but in the main part smoothly lingering.
A complex wine which needs the taster's whole concentration. Absolutely on the top. Perhaps another two or three years.
Definitely the wine for your next tender beef filet.
Thursday, February 27. 2014
2005 Newton Vineyard „The Puzzle“ 89/100
Sunday, February 9. 2014
2010 Robert Sinskey Vineyards Pinot Noir 89/100
Los Carneros, Napa Valley, California
Organic Grapes
Surprising dark ruby red. Crystal clear, reflective surface with medium colour depth. Pure aroma with good intensity. Typical pinot style but not too much as you can find it today very often in Pinots when the winemaker was over-motivated. Wonderful aromas of dark cherries. Typical for young Pinots. Very, very pleasant. Mild, warm and round with exactly the body needed. Long finish with some dominant fresh acid. This aftertaste acid tone was gone after four hours. Then the wine was nearly perfect. Gives hope for a longer life.
The Carneros Pinot from Robert Sinskey is a wonderful partner for a diner with salmon, not too heavily prepared meat, duck, ham, ... My favourite would be sautéed foods. But if you are looking for a nice glass of wine to drink in a summer evening sitting in the patio refelcting your life... no bad choice. You would be surprised how fast the bottle would be empty.
The wine is still young but very good to drink. I would say that the peak will be in two years to remain for another three or five years.
Organic Grapes
Surprising dark ruby red. Crystal clear, reflective surface with medium colour depth. Pure aroma with good intensity. Typical pinot style but not too much as you can find it today very often in Pinots when the winemaker was over-motivated. Wonderful aromas of dark cherries. Typical for young Pinots. Very, very pleasant. Mild, warm and round with exactly the body needed. Long finish with some dominant fresh acid. This aftertaste acid tone was gone after four hours. Then the wine was nearly perfect. Gives hope for a longer life.
The Carneros Pinot from Robert Sinskey is a wonderful partner for a diner with salmon, not too heavily prepared meat, duck, ham, ... My favourite would be sautéed foods. But if you are looking for a nice glass of wine to drink in a summer evening sitting in the patio refelcting your life... no bad choice. You would be surprised how fast the bottle would be empty.
The wine is still young but very good to drink. I would say that the peak will be in two years to remain for another three or five years.
Saturday, February 8. 2014
2007 Bonterra Vineyards Viognier 85/100
Mendocino County & Lake County, California
Made from Organic Grapes
Nice golden yellow colour, reflective with some veil. Clean aroma, intensive and fine. Fruity with a lot of ripe peaches. In the mouth very pleasant, mild and round. 14.0 % alcohol well integrated. Smooth acid. In the finish a little bit too much alcohol, but in total very harmonic. Long aftertaste, still with peaches in the retro-olfaction. Charming.
Definitely not the wine to simply drink it in the evening. This wine needs corresponding food as partner. Exotic foods from India or the Caribbean always match, curry styled food could be a wonderful partner. However soft and semi-soft cheeses would fit perfectly. I'm a Raclette fan - and this wine is definitely a Raclette one.
The general opinion about Viognier is that the wines have to be drunk young. My experience is that Viogniers can be held for two years; sometimes five or more. This 2007 Viognier from Bonterra is on, perhaps a little bit over the top. Do not wait any longer.
Made from Organic Grapes
Nice golden yellow colour, reflective with some veil. Clean aroma, intensive and fine. Fruity with a lot of ripe peaches. In the mouth very pleasant, mild and round. 14.0 % alcohol well integrated. Smooth acid. In the finish a little bit too much alcohol, but in total very harmonic. Long aftertaste, still with peaches in the retro-olfaction. Charming.
Definitely not the wine to simply drink it in the evening. This wine needs corresponding food as partner. Exotic foods from India or the Caribbean always match, curry styled food could be a wonderful partner. However soft and semi-soft cheeses would fit perfectly. I'm a Raclette fan - and this wine is definitely a Raclette one.
The general opinion about Viognier is that the wines have to be drunk young. My experience is that Viogniers can be held for two years; sometimes five or more. This 2007 Viognier from Bonterra is on, perhaps a little bit over the top. Do not wait any longer.
Tuesday, February 4. 2014
Coravin - A new toy in town
Today I received it - my Coravin (www.coravin.com).
But let's go back half a year. A very good friend living in Oakland sent me a note about a new wine preservation system. Very interesting and during my US trips last year I followed the story behind it in the news. Also I saw the tool (unfortunately not in action) at Grgich Hills.
Import to Germany seems to be difficult due to the gas capsules. Strong TSA rules. However Coravin confirmed my request that import to Germany would not be a problem. Indeed it took only one week - 2 days transport from US, 5 days German customs - for delivery from US to Pforzheim in Baden Wuerttemberg.
I'm a man:-). So it took me 5 minutes to unpack, install and use it. Perfect "Getting Started" manual. Yes, I read it!
The victim: A 1994 Rosenblum Zin Richard Sauret Vineyards from Paso Robles. Still in wonderful condition with a lot of earthy tones, some wood and still some gentle blackberry aromas. The colour outstanding for the age. Nearly no ripeness tones.
So the wine was a real surprise. I will do the next test with the Coravin in one or two weeks. I will report...
But let's go back half a year. A very good friend living in Oakland sent me a note about a new wine preservation system. Very interesting and during my US trips last year I followed the story behind it in the news. Also I saw the tool (unfortunately not in action) at Grgich Hills.
Import to Germany seems to be difficult due to the gas capsules. Strong TSA rules. However Coravin confirmed my request that import to Germany would not be a problem. Indeed it took only one week - 2 days transport from US, 5 days German customs - for delivery from US to Pforzheim in Baden Wuerttemberg.
I'm a man:-). So it took me 5 minutes to unpack, install and use it. Perfect "Getting Started" manual. Yes, I read it!
The victim: A 1994 Rosenblum Zin Richard Sauret Vineyards from Paso Robles. Still in wonderful condition with a lot of earthy tones, some wood and still some gentle blackberry aromas. The colour outstanding for the age. Nearly no ripeness tones.
So the wine was a real surprise. I will do the next test with the Coravin in one or two weeks. I will report...
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