US Wines

Santa Barbara, Central Coast, California
Grenache
15.6 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-03-28

Medium dark cherry red. Intensive aromas of cherries, mild pepper and dark chocolate. On the palate explosive but at the same time smooth and silky with a neverending, floating finish. Definitely not a wine you can find in Europe. Pure Californian hedonism. Pure, rich, almost an impertinence, congenial.

I bought this bottle in a wine shop nearby San Diego. It was possible to taste the wine before buying, and today I can say it was a mistake to buy only one bottle to take with me home in far-away Germany. The goal was to open the "On The Road" for a very special occasion - and today my wife prepared a traditional chicken mole. Seemed to be the perfect day. And indeed: A glorious pairing! The sweetness of this Grenache harmonized fantasticly with the slight bitterness of the mole. A wonderful experience.

Drink this blockbuster now. Don't wait any longer. It is on the peak.

Napa Valley, California
91 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Petit Verdot, 3 % Cabernet Franc , 1 % Merlot
14.7 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-03-17 & 2016-03-18

Deep cherry red; some light rims. Intensive nose of blackberries, medium-dark chocolate and morello cherries. Also a hint of Dresden stollen is noticeable. All very harmonic. At the very first beginning the mouthfeel is extremely fruity, but only for a short time. It is replaced by a spicy-sour style (in an absolutely positive sense) which remains long on the palate. Far at the end suddenly a silky attitude comes to the foreground. Of course still young, but already wonderful to drink.

The next day. Still the same impression. Perhaps a little bit smoother. Not the blockbuster-style, more a classical representative on a high level. Drink this great effort from now within the next ten years.

Grgich Hills Estate is a wonderful place to visit. It is a family-friendly winery, and in the tasting room walk-in visitors (and dogs) are welcome. I tatsted the 2010 Cab end of 2013 on a sunny afternoon in the tasting room. At this time the tannins were very astringent. However sip for sip I recognized a gentle, nearly feminine attitude behind this wall of green tannins. So I bought one bottle - but I was definitely not sure if the tannins would become smoother over the years. Today I know it was a mistake to buy only one bottle. The potential of this wine is tremendous.

I mentioned in previous entries that I am not a supporter of the classical Steak-Cab-Pairing. This Grgich Hills Cabernet is a perfect example where the origin of this dogma may come from.