Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-05-29
Medium ruby red; some light rims. Restrained wild berries presented in a harmonious way. A little bit of bacon; in the background notes of an odorous smoking lounge. On the palate melting fruits I never recognized before. Long, animating with an aristocratic freshness. Terrific.
This reserve Cab improved dramatically since I tasted it the first time in October 2016 at the winery. Already at this time the wine was very good but far away from the "World Series" level on which it presents itself at the moment. The comparison with the MLB is not by accident. In case your team will reach the "World Series" in 2017 or in the next ten years the Cab is a nice alternative for celebration. Of course as part of an adequate BBQ.
Sunday, June 11. 2017
2012 Trefethen Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Oak Knoll District Reserve (96/100)
2012 Ad Vivum Cabernet Sauvignon (93+/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
14.8 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-06-05
Deep, dark cherry red with some light rims. Extremely young. Lots of blackberries, very dark chocolate and a hint of mocha. The tannins are already well-integrated, but the youthfulness of the wine is obvious. While the wine offers nice creaminess, a certain aggressivity is given. Typical for young Napa Cabs. However the finish is long and smooth with an animating tone of Darjeeling. Fascinating.
The slogan behind this wine project is "AD VIVUM, where wine and life meet". Ad Vivum is a cooperation between well-known winemaker Chris Phelps and fifth-generation farmer Larry Bettinelli, who is the owner of the Sleeping Lady Vineyard just south of Yountville - the source of this Cab. The name shall express the "mystical intersection of wine and life" by the Latin words AD (toward) and VIVUM (Vivere, to live plus Vinum, wine).
One can argue that any new wine project is looking for a slogan for promotional reasons. But it seems to me that the situation here is different. Why? Because the Ad Vivum is not another big, bold Cab. Although the wine has nearly 15 % alcohol, a royal elegance is given. Far away from the usual "give me a lot of points after five seconds tasting" attitude. This wine needs time. A lot of time. And as I mentioned before patience is needed. Wait another two years or decant it for a minimum of three hours. Total lifetime 15 years plus.
At the moment I would pair the 2012 Ad Vivum with braised lamb shoulder. The hearty version!
14.8 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-06-05
Deep, dark cherry red with some light rims. Extremely young. Lots of blackberries, very dark chocolate and a hint of mocha. The tannins are already well-integrated, but the youthfulness of the wine is obvious. While the wine offers nice creaminess, a certain aggressivity is given. Typical for young Napa Cabs. However the finish is long and smooth with an animating tone of Darjeeling. Fascinating.
The slogan behind this wine project is "AD VIVUM, where wine and life meet". Ad Vivum is a cooperation between well-known winemaker Chris Phelps and fifth-generation farmer Larry Bettinelli, who is the owner of the Sleeping Lady Vineyard just south of Yountville - the source of this Cab. The name shall express the "mystical intersection of wine and life" by the Latin words AD (toward) and VIVUM (Vivere, to live plus Vinum, wine).
One can argue that any new wine project is looking for a slogan for promotional reasons. But it seems to me that the situation here is different. Why? Because the Ad Vivum is not another big, bold Cab. Although the wine has nearly 15 % alcohol, a royal elegance is given. Far away from the usual "give me a lot of points after five seconds tasting" attitude. This wine needs time. A lot of time. And as I mentioned before patience is needed. Wait another two years or decant it for a minimum of three hours. Total lifetime 15 years plus.
At the moment I would pair the 2012 Ad Vivum with braised lamb shoulder. The hearty version!
Sunday, June 4. 2017
2009 Martinelli Winery Pinot Noir "Moonshine Ranch" (95/100)
Russian River Valley, North Coast, California
15.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-06-03
Clear, medium ruby red. Nearly no maturity tones visible. Intensive aromas of ripe black cherries; a little bit like a Black Forrest cake. Or even better: A brownie with pickled cherries. Also some floral notes recognizable and in the background some cinnamon. On the palate: Fruit explosion! An insane mix of fruit acid and spiciness paired with an amazing freshness. Neverending finish. Bravo!
I bought this bottle on the winery years ago. The tasting at Martinelli was very remarkable for three reasons. First - of course - the quality of all wines. But even more the philosophy of the Martinelli people. The Pinots were poured before the Chardonnays. It was the first time for me that the wines were presented in that order, but it makes absolutely sense. Last but not least it was also the first time in California I discussed the microclimate topic in a tasting room - and I learned a lot about the microclimate situation in the Russian River Valley. And this helped me over the last five years to understand the relationship of this fascinating area and its grapes. Thanks for this.
Coming back to this outstanding bottle of the "Moonshine Ranch" Pinot. The wine is absolutely on the top. I don't think it will improve further. Drink it now and pair it with a rib eye steak. And forget any Cab recommendation for this kind of pairing.
15.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-06-03
Clear, medium ruby red. Nearly no maturity tones visible. Intensive aromas of ripe black cherries; a little bit like a Black Forrest cake. Or even better: A brownie with pickled cherries. Also some floral notes recognizable and in the background some cinnamon. On the palate: Fruit explosion! An insane mix of fruit acid and spiciness paired with an amazing freshness. Neverending finish. Bravo!
I bought this bottle on the winery years ago. The tasting at Martinelli was very remarkable for three reasons. First - of course - the quality of all wines. But even more the philosophy of the Martinelli people. The Pinots were poured before the Chardonnays. It was the first time for me that the wines were presented in that order, but it makes absolutely sense. Last but not least it was also the first time in California I discussed the microclimate topic in a tasting room - and I learned a lot about the microclimate situation in the Russian River Valley. And this helped me over the last five years to understand the relationship of this fascinating area and its grapes. Thanks for this.
Coming back to this outstanding bottle of the "Moonshine Ranch" Pinot. The wine is absolutely on the top. I don't think it will improve further. Drink it now and pair it with a rib eye steak. And forget any Cab recommendation for this kind of pairing.
Sunday, April 30. 2017
2002 Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon "Cherry Block" (94/100)
Sonoma Valley, North Coast, California
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-04-29
Deep, dark cherry red with some light rims. Intensive dark berry fruits paired with a little bit of bacon and some black pepper. On the palate fresh with a nice acidity and in parallel a little bit spicy. Long refreshing finish. Terrific example of a Sonoma Cab. A little bit fresher and more elegant than the brothers and sisters from the famous neighborhood.
We visited Sebastiani in June 2016 for the first time. The reason for our visit was the "ordinary" 2010 Cab we drunk some weeks before (see also 2010 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon "Sonoma County"). The tasting was outstanding. Wonderful people and exceptional wines. Our favorites this day were the 2014 Viognier and three Cabernets Sauvignon "Cherry Block" (2010 - 2012) which were allowed to taste vertically. Awesome!
Sebastiani Vineyards including the Cherry Block Vineyards was sold in 2008 to the Foley Wine Group. Until this point since 1919 the Cherry Block Vineyards was owned by the Sebastiani Family. The tasting of these fantastic Cabs at Fourth Street in Sonoma was so remarkable that I did not hesitate for a second when a well-respected German importer offered me some bottles of the 2002 Cherry Block for my business. He originally had held these bottles back in order to drink them himself, but decided at last that he could not drink all of these wines.
The fruits in 2002 exhibited lots of color and tannin. Therefore the Sebastiani winemaker decided to blend the Cab with more Merlot as usual to soften the wine and increase its elegance. Great decision. The wine is on the top with a huge potential for the upcoming years. You should use a two-prong cork puller for opening but this is the only restriction. If you are looking for the perfect partner for a classic turkey dish then don't look any further. The 2002 Sebastiani Cherry Block Cab will take care of this for you.
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-04-29
Deep, dark cherry red with some light rims. Intensive dark berry fruits paired with a little bit of bacon and some black pepper. On the palate fresh with a nice acidity and in parallel a little bit spicy. Long refreshing finish. Terrific example of a Sonoma Cab. A little bit fresher and more elegant than the brothers and sisters from the famous neighborhood.
We visited Sebastiani in June 2016 for the first time. The reason for our visit was the "ordinary" 2010 Cab we drunk some weeks before (see also 2010 Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon "Sonoma County"). The tasting was outstanding. Wonderful people and exceptional wines. Our favorites this day were the 2014 Viognier and three Cabernets Sauvignon "Cherry Block" (2010 - 2012) which were allowed to taste vertically. Awesome!
Sebastiani Vineyards including the Cherry Block Vineyards was sold in 2008 to the Foley Wine Group. Until this point since 1919 the Cherry Block Vineyards was owned by the Sebastiani Family. The tasting of these fantastic Cabs at Fourth Street in Sonoma was so remarkable that I did not hesitate for a second when a well-respected German importer offered me some bottles of the 2002 Cherry Block for my business. He originally had held these bottles back in order to drink them himself, but decided at last that he could not drink all of these wines.
The fruits in 2002 exhibited lots of color and tannin. Therefore the Sebastiani winemaker decided to blend the Cab with more Merlot as usual to soften the wine and increase its elegance. Great decision. The wine is on the top with a huge potential for the upcoming years. You should use a two-prong cork puller for opening but this is the only restriction. If you are looking for the perfect partner for a classic turkey dish then don't look any further. The 2002 Sebastiani Cherry Block Cab will take care of this for you.
Sunday, February 19. 2017
2009 Arrowood Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (93/100)
Sonoma County, North Coast, California
96 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 % Petit Verdot, 2 % Cabernet Franc
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-02-17
Deep dark but in parallel shiny cherry red. First impression: Bacon, bacon, bacon. But then slowly blueberries take control. From this moment crème de cassis is plentifully paired with a wild mixture of animating spices. Decanting for at least 30 minutes is a very good idea.
The 2009 Cab aromas are indeed very pleasant, but the taste is the key which blows your mind away. On the palate at the beginning extremely fresh. Then parallel to this freshness a certain acidity is joining. This package is already great, but on the next level a velvety transformation process is started which flows into a long, terrific finish.
When I taste wine I see only rarely paintings in front of me. This time it is the case. I see a river with rapids. Wild, irrepressible. But when the rapids are passed the river calms down. But without losing its strength. A great Cab. More on the classical side.
I visited Arrowood twice in the past. And all the time I preferred the Whites more than the Reds. Perhaps for a simple reason: All the wines of Arrowood need time. See also 2010 Arrowood Chardonnay Réserve Spéciale. But the Whites are a little bit earlier accessible. Sometimes things are easy.
However the 2009 Arrowood Cab is one of the best price / quality ratio I have seen in my life. It is absolutely on the top, but still at the beginning of this fantastic phase. Three or four years more on this level? No problem. Pair it with strongly marinated beef short ribs.
96 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 2 % Petit Verdot, 2 % Cabernet Franc
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2017-02-17
Deep dark but in parallel shiny cherry red. First impression: Bacon, bacon, bacon. But then slowly blueberries take control. From this moment crème de cassis is plentifully paired with a wild mixture of animating spices. Decanting for at least 30 minutes is a very good idea.
The 2009 Cab aromas are indeed very pleasant, but the taste is the key which blows your mind away. On the palate at the beginning extremely fresh. Then parallel to this freshness a certain acidity is joining. This package is already great, but on the next level a velvety transformation process is started which flows into a long, terrific finish.
When I taste wine I see only rarely paintings in front of me. This time it is the case. I see a river with rapids. Wild, irrepressible. But when the rapids are passed the river calms down. But without losing its strength. A great Cab. More on the classical side.
I visited Arrowood twice in the past. And all the time I preferred the Whites more than the Reds. Perhaps for a simple reason: All the wines of Arrowood need time. See also 2010 Arrowood Chardonnay Réserve Spéciale. But the Whites are a little bit earlier accessible. Sometimes things are easy.
However the 2009 Arrowood Cab is one of the best price / quality ratio I have seen in my life. It is absolutely on the top, but still at the beginning of this fantastic phase. Three or four years more on this level? No problem. Pair it with strongly marinated beef short ribs.
Monday, December 26. 2016
2000 Madrigal Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (94/100)
Oakville, Napa Valley, California
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-12-25
Deep and dark ruby red with some light rims. Still very fruity. Boysenberries, blackberries and a hint of ripe plums. Also some sliced dried tobacco leaves. Elegant but in parallel also stimulating. Perfectly developed.
At the beginning the mouthfeel is fresh and vibrant. This freshness is improved by a charming acidity to the middle of the long finish. To the end the acidity disappears and makes room for a powerful punch similar to when eating extraordinary dark chocolate. Aristocratic and yummy. Gorgeous.
It is now the second time I have the privilege to drink this Cab from Madrigal. Last time around four years ago we enjoyed it from the magnum. For me it seems the wine is still improving. Of course already perfectly drinkable but the potential for another five years is easily given. I have another mag in my cellar. It is Christmas time and I am a lucky guy.
Pair it as a variant to a Port with a duck parfait.
Additional remark: The 2000 Madrigal is another example of how wonderful Cabs from this totally underestimated vintage can be. On WineAdvocat the vintage is rated 78C! C stands for "Caution, may be too old". Believe me: For this Cab this is totally not true. And I drunk already other examples which might give the impression that the 2000 vintage for the North Coast Cabs was prejudged too early.
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-12-25
Deep and dark ruby red with some light rims. Still very fruity. Boysenberries, blackberries and a hint of ripe plums. Also some sliced dried tobacco leaves. Elegant but in parallel also stimulating. Perfectly developed.
At the beginning the mouthfeel is fresh and vibrant. This freshness is improved by a charming acidity to the middle of the long finish. To the end the acidity disappears and makes room for a powerful punch similar to when eating extraordinary dark chocolate. Aristocratic and yummy. Gorgeous.
It is now the second time I have the privilege to drink this Cab from Madrigal. Last time around four years ago we enjoyed it from the magnum. For me it seems the wine is still improving. Of course already perfectly drinkable but the potential for another five years is easily given. I have another mag in my cellar. It is Christmas time and I am a lucky guy.
Pair it as a variant to a Port with a duck parfait.
Additional remark: The 2000 Madrigal is another example of how wonderful Cabs from this totally underestimated vintage can be. On WineAdvocat the vintage is rated 78C! C stands for "Caution, may be too old". Believe me: For this Cab this is totally not true. And I drunk already other examples which might give the impression that the 2000 vintage for the North Coast Cabs was prejudged too early.
Saturday, October 15. 2016
2015 Trefethen Family Vineyards Dry Riesling (90/100)
Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley, California
12.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-10-12 & 2016-10-13
Pale golden-yellow. The aromas are reluctant but manifold. Lime notes paired with several fruit blossoms - peaches, nectarines and again lime. Far at the end also some honey and something which reminds of pastry. And then it becomes clear: Key Lime Pie. Very interesting and absolutely nice. So let's take the first sip. At the very first beginning the lime notes are still dominating. But only for a very short period. Then the taste is converted to a parade of apples. Fuji, Pink Lady and a touch of Granny Smith. As a consequence the well-integrated acidity is developing on the way to the long finish. At the beginning a little bit stronger, then in the middle smoother and finally to the end a sustained tartish finish. A very good example of a hot-summer Riesling. And indeed THE perfect Dry Riesling for the Napa Valley region.
I visited Trefethen especially because of the Riesling. But all other wines presented by the charming tasting room people were of exceptional quality. My favorite of the day was the 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. However also the Riesling was surprisingly good and so I decided to take a bottle with me for a later tasting without the influence of the great interior and the friendly people. Totally surprising the wine was even better than in the tasting room. We enjoyed it as part of a Mexican dinner, and especially with a classical Filete de Pescado the wine unfold its strength. Drink this harmonious US Riesling over the next three years - even if I think that a great maturity potential for the Trefethen Rieslings is given.
12.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-10-12 & 2016-10-13
Pale golden-yellow. The aromas are reluctant but manifold. Lime notes paired with several fruit blossoms - peaches, nectarines and again lime. Far at the end also some honey and something which reminds of pastry. And then it becomes clear: Key Lime Pie. Very interesting and absolutely nice. So let's take the first sip. At the very first beginning the lime notes are still dominating. But only for a very short period. Then the taste is converted to a parade of apples. Fuji, Pink Lady and a touch of Granny Smith. As a consequence the well-integrated acidity is developing on the way to the long finish. At the beginning a little bit stronger, then in the middle smoother and finally to the end a sustained tartish finish. A very good example of a hot-summer Riesling. And indeed THE perfect Dry Riesling for the Napa Valley region.
I visited Trefethen especially because of the Riesling. But all other wines presented by the charming tasting room people were of exceptional quality. My favorite of the day was the 2012 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. However also the Riesling was surprisingly good and so I decided to take a bottle with me for a later tasting without the influence of the great interior and the friendly people. Totally surprising the wine was even better than in the tasting room. We enjoyed it as part of a Mexican dinner, and especially with a classical Filete de Pescado the wine unfold its strength. Drink this harmonious US Riesling over the next three years - even if I think that a great maturity potential for the Trefethen Rieslings is given.
Sunday, September 18. 2016
2009 Adastra Wines Merlot Proximus (90/100)
Carneros, Napa Valley, California
14.7 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-06-24 & 2016-06-25
Medium to deep, rich cherry red. Aromas of blackcurrants and blackberries are dominating. Very, very young. Green notes still noticeable. After a while also some smoked bacon and cocoa beans become visible. On the palate the dark fruits are dominating; the tannins are still present and are clearly influencing the flavor profile. Waiting an hour: Now the wine becomes smoother and smoother. So the message is clear - decanting is the key. The next day: Now the tannins are perfectly integrated. Taking the small number of remaining sips is pure joy.
I met Edwin Richards - the General Manager of Adastra - two weeks before I tasted the wine in the Adastra tasting room at Sonoma Square. It was a coincidence meeting: We arrived early in Sonoma and Adastra was the first open tasting room. What a stroke of luck! We stayed for more than an hour and were allowed to taste a lot of the fascinating Adastra wines. All of them were anything but superficial. You need time to understand the idea behind the Adastra style. Nothing for straightforward drinkers. This Merlot is a very good example for the Adastra style. I love it.
Pair this capriccioso with Ossobuco alla milanese - but wait another three years.
14.7 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-06-24 & 2016-06-25
Medium to deep, rich cherry red. Aromas of blackcurrants and blackberries are dominating. Very, very young. Green notes still noticeable. After a while also some smoked bacon and cocoa beans become visible. On the palate the dark fruits are dominating; the tannins are still present and are clearly influencing the flavor profile. Waiting an hour: Now the wine becomes smoother and smoother. So the message is clear - decanting is the key. The next day: Now the tannins are perfectly integrated. Taking the small number of remaining sips is pure joy.
I met Edwin Richards - the General Manager of Adastra - two weeks before I tasted the wine in the Adastra tasting room at Sonoma Square. It was a coincidence meeting: We arrived early in Sonoma and Adastra was the first open tasting room. What a stroke of luck! We stayed for more than an hour and were allowed to taste a lot of the fascinating Adastra wines. All of them were anything but superficial. You need time to understand the idea behind the Adastra style. Nothing for straightforward drinkers. This Merlot is a very good example for the Adastra style. I love it.
Pair this capriccioso with Ossobuco alla milanese - but wait another three years.
Sunday, September 11. 2016
2012 Luna Vineyards Sangiovese Reserve (92/100)
Napa Valley, California
14.9 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-09-10
Clear, medium ruby red. A slightly restrained bouquet of prunes, red berries, cinnamon and some other spices. On the palate the Luna Sangiovese develops its whole power. An explosion of red fruit opens all senses. Then a very charming acidity fights against an incredible velvety to get the upper hand. No winner. The fight continues during the whole medium-long finish and ends in a silent, a little bit wistfully final chord. After that the whole throat seems to be paralysed - waiting for the next sip.
I visited Luna Vineyards several times during the last five years. For several reasons. First of all it is within a stone's throw of Napa on the Silverado Trail. Second the environment is absolutely beautiful. Third and finally nearly all wines I tasted there were of exquisite quality. Like this Sangioves Reserve. Definitely one of my favorites from Luna. We enjoyed this shy beauty with a vegetarian pasta dish. And another strength of this wonderful wine becomes obvious together with the pasta. It accompanies the dish without dominating it but also not losing its own character. A great food pairing wine.
Drink this more silent Sangiovese representative now or during the next three years.
14.9 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-09-10
Clear, medium ruby red. A slightly restrained bouquet of prunes, red berries, cinnamon and some other spices. On the palate the Luna Sangiovese develops its whole power. An explosion of red fruit opens all senses. Then a very charming acidity fights against an incredible velvety to get the upper hand. No winner. The fight continues during the whole medium-long finish and ends in a silent, a little bit wistfully final chord. After that the whole throat seems to be paralysed - waiting for the next sip.
I visited Luna Vineyards several times during the last five years. For several reasons. First of all it is within a stone's throw of Napa on the Silverado Trail. Second the environment is absolutely beautiful. Third and finally nearly all wines I tasted there were of exquisite quality. Like this Sangioves Reserve. Definitely one of my favorites from Luna. We enjoyed this shy beauty with a vegetarian pasta dish. And another strength of this wonderful wine becomes obvious together with the pasta. It accompanies the dish without dominating it but also not losing its own character. A great food pairing wine.
Drink this more silent Sangiovese representative now or during the next three years.
Saturday, September 3. 2016
2012 Bodegas Luigi Bosca Chardonnay Finca Los Nobles (87/100)
Mendoza, Argentina
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-23
Medium golden yellow. Ripe apricots and quince. In addition a hint of smoke and honey. Strong with a gentle acidity. Pure vanilla. A little bit like the old California style.
I selected the "Finca Los Nobles" as starter for the Maal tasting (see former entries). It was a very good selection. Our host prepared a nice salmon tartare and the Chardonnay harmonized wonderfully. This was a piece of luck because this big, bold Chard is not so easy to pair. Salmon is in any case a good choice.
Three days later. The wine was kept in the cooler using the preservation system. Now the fat attitude was nearly gone and converted into a quiet smoothness. Incredible and unexpected. Perfect for a lazy late summer afternoon after a hard working day.
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-23
Medium golden yellow. Ripe apricots and quince. In addition a hint of smoke and honey. Strong with a gentle acidity. Pure vanilla. A little bit like the old California style.
I selected the "Finca Los Nobles" as starter for the Maal tasting (see former entries). It was a very good selection. Our host prepared a nice salmon tartare and the Chardonnay harmonized wonderfully. This was a piece of luck because this big, bold Chard is not so easy to pair. Salmon is in any case a good choice.
Three days later. The wine was kept in the cooler using the preservation system. Now the fat attitude was nearly gone and converted into a quiet smoothness. Incredible and unexpected. Perfect for a lazy late summer afternoon after a hard working day.
Tuesday, August 30. 2016
A 94 to 100 Evening with Burgers
End of July my friends Mrs and Mr J had invited for a nice summernight dinner - Burgers and California Cult Reds. Who can resist that? I couldn't.
Mr J had subdivided the evening into three flights:
1st Flight
- 1994 Peter Michael Winery "Les Pavots" Proprietary Red Wine
- 1994 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
2nd Flight
- 2005 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvee "State Lane Vineyard"
- 2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon "Peterson Family Vineyard"
3rd Flight
- 2007 Clark-Claudon Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2007 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine
And as the title implies it was an evening with lots of points. And the first 100 points of this blog. Premiere!
Mrs J decided to pair these vinophile heavyweights with some small delicacies and burgers for the main course. Absolutely perfect! With this selection it was possible to detect the strengths and weaknesses - if any - of the wines in the best way.
1994 Peter Michael Winery "Les Pavots" Proprietary Red Wine (98/100)
Sonoma, North Coast, California
70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 % Cabernet Franc, 14 % Merlot
Dark ruby red with nice, slowly enlightening rims. Very earthy, but still lot of fruits. Mainly plums. Also some cold tobacco and cardamom. On the palate subtle with an outstanding berry, tartish freshness. Extremely soft finish. Simply wonderful - and a high-end starter.
The Peter Michael Winery is one of the best addresses in California - no matter if you are looking for Chardonnays, Pinots or Bordeaux-style blends. Certainly this has something to do with the founders Sir Peter and Lady Michael - both esteemed personalities in the Napa wine society. But if you drink this wonderful Les Pavots it becomes obvious that this personality was passed on from the winery people to their wines. It was my first bottle of the Peter Michael Winery. And it will not be the last one. Drink this beauty now. Don't pair it with any food. Simply enjoy and forget the world around you.
1994 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon (96/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
Extremely dark colour, nearly black. Never saw anything similar before. Lot of balmy notes. A crazy mix of very gentle black pepper and ripe raisins. On the palate incredibly powerful and concentrated. Just at the beginning at most. Terrific.
So far I only drunk a Togni Cabernet Sauvignon from the Tanbark Hill Vineyard. This was in 2011 and it was the 2008 vintage. It was a drastic experience. The wine was too young and nearly undrinkable. Nevertheless I bought another bottle after the tasting - and forgot it in my cellar. After the outstanding experience with the 94 Napa Cab I will open this bottle in the near future to see how it evolves. If you are looking for long-living California Cabs besides Dunn - here it is. Parker recommends to drink from 2005 to 2030. I disagree. Wait until 2020 before opening. And then? 2040+. And never ever eat anything different than burgers to this Cab monster.
2005 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvee "State Lane Vineyard" (100/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
56 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc
Deep cherry red. Wonderful ensemble of balmy notes. Tender blackberries, black pepper in the background and an incredibly gentle moist earthiness. Soft and in parallel very strong; it lies on the palate like a rug of roses and blackberries. Long; extremely long and far at the end again a little bit balmy. A masterpiece of an ensemble wine. Best of the best.
This was the second Kapcsándy wine I was allowed to taste. Same location, same wonderful people, same result - a wine not from this world. And the best: THX to Mr J I have a bottle of this icon in my cellar. And in addition the vintages 2006 and 2007, too. Life is good. Back to the facts. The wine is absolutely on the top and will remain on this quality minimum another eight years. Total lifetime? Difficult. Perhaps until 2035. But why waiting? Pair it with low-temperature cooked venison and chanterelles.
2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon "Peterson Family Vineyard" (97/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
Dark cherry red with some light rims. Aromas of ripe green peppers paired with truffles and a hint of dark chocolate demonstrate the youthfulness of this wine. With some air a strong cassis note takes the leadership. And a little bit later suddenly some vanilla notes arise. A real grab bag in a very positive sense. On the palate fruitiness pur. Also some licorice and mocha notes noticeable. Long, smooth and perfect.
The first Switchback Ridge of my life - and what a glorious experience. I have the 2003 vintage in my cellar. I am really looking forward to enjoy this bottle, too. The 2005 is just at the beginning. The peak will be reached in two or three years. After that it will remain on this level for another five years minimum. I would pair it with medallions of pork in black pepper sauce.
2007 Clark-Claudon Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (96/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
Medium cherry red. Strong cherry aromas paired with rosemary and chocolate with chili scent. Extremely fruity on the palate. Viscid. After ten seconds very strong with a nice fresh acidity.
The 2007 Clark-Claudon Cab was the wine I contributed to this memorable tasting. And I am really happy that it didn't come off badly compared to the other iconic wines. This Cab is currently absolutely on the top and you should drink it over the next three years. The pairing with the burger is absolutely perfect.
2007 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine (94/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
82 % Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Medium to deep cherry red. Strong berry aromas with a tendency to raspberries. In addition classical cassis and a coffee essence. On the palate fruitiness - and nothing else. Definitely the fruit bomb of the evening. Medium to long finish with a pleasant velvety.
For me a typical Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine. I drunk this wine from several vintages. The last one before this 2007 was the 1998. And definitely the same characteristic. Here you know exactly what you get when you buy a bottle. And the good thing is that even in a weaker year you will get a very good quality. My personal opinion is that this wine is sometimes a little bit too mainstream. But this is complaining on a high comfort level.
Summarization: A cult evening - not only because of the cult Reds.
Mr J had subdivided the evening into three flights:
1st Flight
- 1994 Peter Michael Winery "Les Pavots" Proprietary Red Wine
- 1994 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon
2nd Flight
- 2005 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvee "State Lane Vineyard"
- 2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon "Peterson Family Vineyard"
3rd Flight
- 2007 Clark-Claudon Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
- 2007 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine
And as the title implies it was an evening with lots of points. And the first 100 points of this blog. Premiere!
Mrs J decided to pair these vinophile heavyweights with some small delicacies and burgers for the main course. Absolutely perfect! With this selection it was possible to detect the strengths and weaknesses - if any - of the wines in the best way.
1994 Peter Michael Winery "Les Pavots" Proprietary Red Wine (98/100)
Sonoma, North Coast, California
70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 16 % Cabernet Franc, 14 % Merlot
Dark ruby red with nice, slowly enlightening rims. Very earthy, but still lot of fruits. Mainly plums. Also some cold tobacco and cardamom. On the palate subtle with an outstanding berry, tartish freshness. Extremely soft finish. Simply wonderful - and a high-end starter.
The Peter Michael Winery is one of the best addresses in California - no matter if you are looking for Chardonnays, Pinots or Bordeaux-style blends. Certainly this has something to do with the founders Sir Peter and Lady Michael - both esteemed personalities in the Napa wine society. But if you drink this wonderful Les Pavots it becomes obvious that this personality was passed on from the winery people to their wines. It was my first bottle of the Peter Michael Winery. And it will not be the last one. Drink this beauty now. Don't pair it with any food. Simply enjoy and forget the world around you.
1994 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon (96/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
Extremely dark colour, nearly black. Never saw anything similar before. Lot of balmy notes. A crazy mix of very gentle black pepper and ripe raisins. On the palate incredibly powerful and concentrated. Just at the beginning at most. Terrific.
So far I only drunk a Togni Cabernet Sauvignon from the Tanbark Hill Vineyard. This was in 2011 and it was the 2008 vintage. It was a drastic experience. The wine was too young and nearly undrinkable. Nevertheless I bought another bottle after the tasting - and forgot it in my cellar. After the outstanding experience with the 94 Napa Cab I will open this bottle in the near future to see how it evolves. If you are looking for long-living California Cabs besides Dunn - here it is. Parker recommends to drink from 2005 to 2030. I disagree. Wait until 2020 before opening. And then? 2040+. And never ever eat anything different than burgers to this Cab monster.
2005 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvee "State Lane Vineyard" (100/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
56 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 4 % Cabernet Franc
Deep cherry red. Wonderful ensemble of balmy notes. Tender blackberries, black pepper in the background and an incredibly gentle moist earthiness. Soft and in parallel very strong; it lies on the palate like a rug of roses and blackberries. Long; extremely long and far at the end again a little bit balmy. A masterpiece of an ensemble wine. Best of the best.
This was the second Kapcsándy wine I was allowed to taste. Same location, same wonderful people, same result - a wine not from this world. And the best: THX to Mr J I have a bottle of this icon in my cellar. And in addition the vintages 2006 and 2007, too. Life is good. Back to the facts. The wine is absolutely on the top and will remain on this quality minimum another eight years. Total lifetime? Difficult. Perhaps until 2035. But why waiting? Pair it with low-temperature cooked venison and chanterelles.
2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon "Peterson Family Vineyard" (97/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
Dark cherry red with some light rims. Aromas of ripe green peppers paired with truffles and a hint of dark chocolate demonstrate the youthfulness of this wine. With some air a strong cassis note takes the leadership. And a little bit later suddenly some vanilla notes arise. A real grab bag in a very positive sense. On the palate fruitiness pur. Also some licorice and mocha notes noticeable. Long, smooth and perfect.
The first Switchback Ridge of my life - and what a glorious experience. I have the 2003 vintage in my cellar. I am really looking forward to enjoy this bottle, too. The 2005 is just at the beginning. The peak will be reached in two or three years. After that it will remain on this level for another five years minimum. I would pair it with medallions of pork in black pepper sauce.
2007 Clark-Claudon Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (96/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
Medium cherry red. Strong cherry aromas paired with rosemary and chocolate with chili scent. Extremely fruity on the palate. Viscid. After ten seconds very strong with a nice fresh acidity.
The 2007 Clark-Claudon Cab was the wine I contributed to this memorable tasting. And I am really happy that it didn't come off badly compared to the other iconic wines. This Cab is currently absolutely on the top and you should drink it over the next three years. The pairing with the burger is absolutely perfect.
2007 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine (94/100)
Napa Valley, North Coast, California
82 % Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec
Medium to deep cherry red. Strong berry aromas with a tendency to raspberries. In addition classical cassis and a coffee essence. On the palate fruitiness - and nothing else. Definitely the fruit bomb of the evening. Medium to long finish with a pleasant velvety.
For me a typical Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red Wine. I drunk this wine from several vintages. The last one before this 2007 was the 1998. And definitely the same characteristic. Here you know exactly what you get when you buy a bottle. And the good thing is that even in a weaker year you will get a very good quality. My personal opinion is that this wine is sometimes a little bit too mainstream. But this is complaining on a high comfort level.
Summarization: A cult evening - not only because of the cult Reds.
Friday, August 26. 2016
Maal VI: x.xi.xii Maal Wines paciencia (95/100)
Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.6 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-21
Medium cherry red. Fleshy aromas. In addition lots of cocoa and cassis. Together a very harmonious composition of a classical fruit-oriented blockbuster with some nice sideways which raise the wine to a higher level than the usual fruit bombs. This is confirmed on the palate: A concentrated, strong attitude paired with lots of black fruit notes. The finish is long and absolutely beautiful. A high-end wine for nearly any occasion - if you have the money and the relationships to buy enough bottles of this rare beauty.
Paciencia is the icon wine of Maal. It is a Malbec blend of the vintages 2010, 2011 and 2012. During these vintages the Maal people picked the best barrel of Malbec and from the blend of those three barrels the "paciencia" was created. After another year in the bottle the wine was released - only 900 bottles. This means also that this wine is only made every three years.
The potential of the Maal flagship is incredible. Even if the paciencia is already very well drinkable I am quite sure that you can hold it for another ten or fifteen years. For the moment pair it with classical Tournedos Rossini. The relationship between the paciencia and the beef tournedos as well as the foie gras will be amazing.
The next day. A little bit is left in the bottle - and to drink this rest is gorgeous. Now perfectly balanced the paciencia offers in addition a shy velvety. Wonderful.
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.6 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-21
Medium cherry red. Fleshy aromas. In addition lots of cocoa and cassis. Together a very harmonious composition of a classical fruit-oriented blockbuster with some nice sideways which raise the wine to a higher level than the usual fruit bombs. This is confirmed on the palate: A concentrated, strong attitude paired with lots of black fruit notes. The finish is long and absolutely beautiful. A high-end wine for nearly any occasion - if you have the money and the relationships to buy enough bottles of this rare beauty.
Paciencia is the icon wine of Maal. It is a Malbec blend of the vintages 2010, 2011 and 2012. During these vintages the Maal people picked the best barrel of Malbec and from the blend of those three barrels the "paciencia" was created. After another year in the bottle the wine was released - only 900 bottles. This means also that this wine is only made every three years.
The potential of the Maal flagship is incredible. Even if the paciencia is already very well drinkable I am quite sure that you can hold it for another ten or fifteen years. For the moment pair it with classical Tournedos Rossini. The relationship between the paciencia and the beef tournedos as well as the foie gras will be amazing.
The next day. A little bit is left in the bottle - and to drink this rest is gorgeous. Now perfectly balanced the paciencia offers in addition a shy velvety. Wonderful.
Thursday, August 25. 2016
Maal V: 2013 Maal Wines bestial (94/100)
Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20
Medium, clear ruby red. Intensive aromas of black cherries, black tea and pepper. In addition a touch of smoke coming from the smoker. Very, very fruity. And also in this wine a certain acidity is recognizable. Medium to long finish. Perfectly balanced.
"bestial". What on earth shall this now mean? It's a synonym - for "brutal and tremendous". That's the wines presentation after fermentation. Trying to tame the beast is every year's challenge. Were Matias and Alfredo successful? Yes. As you probably recognized, in contradiction to the Maal wines II to IV and VI, this bottle was tasted only at one day. The reason is simple. I presented to some friends the wines II to VI. And the bestial bottle was totally empty. After 30 minutes...
Only 2,820 bottles were produced from this beautiful beast. The Malbec grapes come from vines that were abandoned for years. It seems that the grapes only wait to rise. You can drink it now or during the next eight years. This is a wine for meat prepared in the "barbarian" way on the BBQ grill.
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20
Medium, clear ruby red. Intensive aromas of black cherries, black tea and pepper. In addition a touch of smoke coming from the smoker. Very, very fruity. And also in this wine a certain acidity is recognizable. Medium to long finish. Perfectly balanced.
"bestial". What on earth shall this now mean? It's a synonym - for "brutal and tremendous". That's the wines presentation after fermentation. Trying to tame the beast is every year's challenge. Were Matias and Alfredo successful? Yes. As you probably recognized, in contradiction to the Maal wines II to IV and VI, this bottle was tasted only at one day. The reason is simple. I presented to some friends the wines II to VI. And the bestial bottle was totally empty. After 30 minutes...
Only 2,820 bottles were produced from this beautiful beast. The Malbec grapes come from vines that were abandoned for years. It seems that the grapes only wait to rise. You can drink it now or during the next eight years. This is a wine for meat prepared in the "barbarian" way on the BBQ grill.
Wednesday, August 24. 2016
Maal IV: 2014 Maal Wines imposible (92/100)
Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-23
Deep, dark cherry red. Animalistic mix of bacon, blackberries and cherries. In addition some cocoa beans. On the palate warm and fruity. Nice stimulating acidity. Long, very long.
This wine is now the story about the impossibility to produce great and outstanding wines without using traditional oak barrels. Is this really impossible? Maal Wines masterminds Alfredo Merlo and Matias Fraga solved this problem in their very own style: Using French oak staves inside their cement vats! The Escher style label shall exactly symbolize this impossibility as an illusion. OK. Nice idea and story. But does it work?
Definitely. Especially on the third day after opening! Yeah, of course I used the preservation system. Stupid question:-). When you drink the wine now everything is harmonic and very well balanced. You have really the illusion to drink a wine with lots of very well integrated tannins coming from the barrels.
Even if no barrels were used. I believe this impossible wine has a huge potential. Minimum five to six years. Pair it with a BBQ lamb shoulder. Yes, with rosemary.
100 % Malbec (Vistaflores West)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-23
Deep, dark cherry red. Animalistic mix of bacon, blackberries and cherries. In addition some cocoa beans. On the palate warm and fruity. Nice stimulating acidity. Long, very long.
This wine is now the story about the impossibility to produce great and outstanding wines without using traditional oak barrels. Is this really impossible? Maal Wines masterminds Alfredo Merlo and Matias Fraga solved this problem in their very own style: Using French oak staves inside their cement vats! The Escher style label shall exactly symbolize this impossibility as an illusion. OK. Nice idea and story. But does it work?
Definitely. Especially on the third day after opening! Yeah, of course I used the preservation system. Stupid question:-). When you drink the wine now everything is harmonic and very well balanced. You have really the illusion to drink a wine with lots of very well integrated tannins coming from the barrels.
Even if no barrels were used. I believe this impossible wine has a huge potential. Minimum five to six years. Pair it with a BBQ lamb shoulder. Yes, with rosemary.
Monday, August 22. 2016
Maal III: 2015 Maal Wines biolento (91/100)
Mendoza, Argentina
100 % Malbec (Altamira)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-22
Bright, medium ruby red. Dried red fruit rotates with intensive blackberry aromas. Also a touch of half-sweet drops is noticeable. The taste is amazingly spicy. I didn't expect that from the nose. Certain notes of tea are given which lead to a nice and spicy cassis finish. Really good.
"biolento". What does this mean? It is a funny play of words. The wine honors the small and violent creatures that attack the vineyard and give the winemaker a hard time (and life). With this in mind it makes absolutely sense that the grapes came from non-tilled vineyard where no fertilisers or pesticides are used. I should mention that this vineyard is 95 years old!
Two days later. Now I recognize one of the secrets of the Maal wines. All these wines need time after opening. Really! When we uncorked the wine on Saturday evening the bottle was open for nearly four hours before I closed the bottle again using the preservation system. Now the wine is perfectly balanced. The sweet drops touch is gone and the spiciness together with the blackberries offers a wonderful aroma carpet. Great job, Alfredo and Matias. Drink this beauty over the next five years: Pairing? During my US trips I found a recipe for Chicken Wings with Molasses Barbecue Sauce. An unbelievable pairing.
100 % Malbec (Altamira)
14.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2016-08-20 & 2016-08-22
Bright, medium ruby red. Dried red fruit rotates with intensive blackberry aromas. Also a touch of half-sweet drops is noticeable. The taste is amazingly spicy. I didn't expect that from the nose. Certain notes of tea are given which lead to a nice and spicy cassis finish. Really good.
"biolento". What does this mean? It is a funny play of words. The wine honors the small and violent creatures that attack the vineyard and give the winemaker a hard time (and life). With this in mind it makes absolutely sense that the grapes came from non-tilled vineyard where no fertilisers or pesticides are used. I should mention that this vineyard is 95 years old!
Two days later. Now I recognize one of the secrets of the Maal wines. All these wines need time after opening. Really! When we uncorked the wine on Saturday evening the bottle was open for nearly four hours before I closed the bottle again using the preservation system. Now the wine is perfectly balanced. The sweet drops touch is gone and the spiciness together with the blackberries offers a wonderful aroma carpet. Great job, Alfredo and Matias. Drink this beauty over the next five years: Pairing? During my US trips I found a recipe for Chicken Wings with Molasses Barbecue Sauce. An unbelievable pairing.
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