Stags Leap District, Napa Valley, California
Alcohol 14.2 %
Tasted 2015-08-05
Deep dark cherry red with some light rims. Dark, ripe fruits. Blackberries and black currants paired with sour cherries. In addition a touch of leather. Earthy. Rich and full bodied. The sour cherries are clearly dominating. Tannins are still present, but well integrated and smooth. Medium to long finish with a nice sour and refreshing final. Vibrant - and very pleasant!
Regusci Winery is located in the Stags Leap District at the Silverado Trail directly besides Stags Leap Wine Cellars. I prefer the Silverado Trail to the St. Helena Hwy. It is not so overcrowded and usually the tasting room people are a "little bit" more interested in their vistors - just as at Regusci.
I visited the tasting room in spring this year. The visit was not planned; my wife and I drove down the Silverado Trail and thought it would be a good idea to stop. Totally in contradiction to our visits in this area since ten years. This time a very good decision. Cozy ambience, friendly and competent people, outstanding wines. I bought in total six bottles...
The history of the Regusci Winery is a typical West Coast Story. The family is present in the area since 1932 when Gaetano Regusci bought the nearly 300 acre big estate in Stags Leap District. Gaetano was a farmer, not a winemaker. Of course he prepared some homemade wine, but this was only one part of the whole farm business. Gaetano's son Angelo planted then some Bordeaux varietals in the 1960s but it was the next generation - Angelo's son Jim - who established 1996 Regusci Winery.
Regusci Winery is not very well present in the databases of the wine popes. But I want to cite Mr. Robert M. Parker: "I rarely see these wines, but I have consistently enjoyed them when I have had them at restaurants or at a random tasting." (2006 Patriarch Proprietary Red - the Bordeaux blend of Regusci). Really true for the 2009 Syrah, but also for all others I tasted during my visit. Besides the 2009 Syrah I bought the 2012 Chardonnay Mary's Cuvée and the 2011 Patriarch - both still lying in my wine cellar. By the way: The Chardonnay Mary's Cuvée is not typical for Napa Valley. More mineralic, European style - but that is just an aside.
In the meantime the Syrah develops more peppery notes. This extends the finish and the flavours become more complex. Great. The wine is just at the beginning. It will be on the top in two years and will hold this quality for another three years.
I'm looking all the time for perfect partners for my pulled pork BBQ. This buddy is a perfect candidate.
Monday, August 3. 2015
1997 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (97/100)
Napa Valley, California
93 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot
13.9 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-08-02
Medium-deep cherry red. Enormously harmonic mix of black currant, licorice and some cedar wood. On the palate Cab feeling at its best. Fruity, velvety with a sensational peppery finish - after a very, very long time. The wine doesn't want to leave the mouth.
This wine is a prime example of what a Napa Valley Cab represents. The wine is perfectly aged; the tannins wonderfully integrated. Rarely, very rarely I drunk a wine which was closer to perfection. Perhaps the 2008 Grange. But in contradiction to this Australian masterpiece the Silver Oak has the corners and edges which are needed to transform an outstanding wine to a touching one.
The 1997 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cab is definitely on the top. I would not wait any longer. However it will provide also wine enjoyment on a very high level for the next ten years. But at the moment... it is perfect! Enjoy this diva with a chili oriented beef dish. Asian? Why not.
93 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot
13.9 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-08-02
A Cabernet benchmark - the 1997 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Medium-deep cherry red. Enormously harmonic mix of black currant, licorice and some cedar wood. On the palate Cab feeling at its best. Fruity, velvety with a sensational peppery finish - after a very, very long time. The wine doesn't want to leave the mouth.
This wine is a prime example of what a Napa Valley Cab represents. The wine is perfectly aged; the tannins wonderfully integrated. Rarely, very rarely I drunk a wine which was closer to perfection. Perhaps the 2008 Grange. But in contradiction to this Australian masterpiece the Silver Oak has the corners and edges which are needed to transform an outstanding wine to a touching one.
The 1997 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cab is definitely on the top. I would not wait any longer. However it will provide also wine enjoyment on a very high level for the next ten years. But at the moment... it is perfect! Enjoy this diva with a chili oriented beef dish. Asian? Why not.
Saturday, August 1. 2015
2009 Hartford Family Old Vine Zinfandel (91/100)
Russian River Valley, California
16.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-07-31
Medium, clear purple red. Intensive fruity aromas. Blackberries, blueberries - all ripe - and surprisingly some cherry notes. Also some white pepper is noticeable. This is obviously a Zin but not a typical one. On the palate the blueberries dance a parade. I never drunk a wine before which was dominated so extremely by blueberries. Incredible. The finish is long, very long with a charming sweetness at the end. Robert Parker wrote "irresistible". Indeed the right adjective. The high alcohol is of course observable but very well integrated.
From my perspective on the top. The wine will be on this level for the next two or three years. After that it will provide a lot of fun for another five to ten years. But on a different level. Damn good job!
Serve this tough guy with the soft core to veal scallops with a creamy mushroom sauce. Delicious!
16.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-07-31
Medium, clear purple red. Intensive fruity aromas. Blackberries, blueberries - all ripe - and surprisingly some cherry notes. Also some white pepper is noticeable. This is obviously a Zin but not a typical one. On the palate the blueberries dance a parade. I never drunk a wine before which was dominated so extremely by blueberries. Incredible. The finish is long, very long with a charming sweetness at the end. Robert Parker wrote "irresistible". Indeed the right adjective. The high alcohol is of course observable but very well integrated.
From my perspective on the top. The wine will be on this level for the next two or three years. After that it will provide a lot of fun for another five to ten years. But on a different level. Damn good job!
Serve this tough guy with the soft core to veal scallops with a creamy mushroom sauce. Delicious!
Thursday, July 23. 2015
2004 Clary Ranch Pinot Noir Grower's Reserve (96/100)
Sonoma Coast, California
14.9 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-07-23
Medium deep ruby red. Intensive Aromas of gentle sour cherry jelly, fruits pickled in rum, a mix of Christmas spices and some flower fragrances. Incredibly young and vibrant. This liveliness is continued on the palate. Fresh and fruity. The youthfulness of this wine is beyond any imagination. Sensational! The very long finish is forced up with a wonderful spiciness. I hate this term because it is very often used wrongly, but this wine is definitely a world-class wine. Kudos, Paul Clary.
This outstanding Pinot is the second wine of Paul Clary I described in my blog. The quality of his wines is amazing. And more and more it becomes clear: I bought too less bottles. Paul: I hope you still have some. Please! Furthermore with this wine the possible quality of the Petaluma Gap is proved. More, more, more.
There are two possibilities to enjoy this Pinot giant. I prefer the following one. It is a cold winter night. You are alone, sitting in a cozy and warm room reading a book of your favorite writer. I promise; after some hours the bottle is empty and you have no idea why. The other possibility? Plum pot with beef.
This wine is absolutely on the top. But this was already the case last year when I tasted it at Paul Clary's house. So I would say on this level it will remain another five years. Total lifetime? 2030+.
14.9 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-07-23
World-class! The 2004 Pinot of Paul Clary.
Medium deep ruby red. Intensive Aromas of gentle sour cherry jelly, fruits pickled in rum, a mix of Christmas spices and some flower fragrances. Incredibly young and vibrant. This liveliness is continued on the palate. Fresh and fruity. The youthfulness of this wine is beyond any imagination. Sensational! The very long finish is forced up with a wonderful spiciness. I hate this term because it is very often used wrongly, but this wine is definitely a world-class wine. Kudos, Paul Clary.
This outstanding Pinot is the second wine of Paul Clary I described in my blog. The quality of his wines is amazing. And more and more it becomes clear: I bought too less bottles. Paul: I hope you still have some. Please! Furthermore with this wine the possible quality of the Petaluma Gap is proved. More, more, more.
There are two possibilities to enjoy this Pinot giant. I prefer the following one. It is a cold winter night. You are alone, sitting in a cozy and warm room reading a book of your favorite writer. I promise; after some hours the bottle is empty and you have no idea why. The other possibility? Plum pot with beef.
This wine is absolutely on the top. But this was already the case last year when I tasted it at Paul Clary's house. So I would say on this level it will remain another five years. Total lifetime? 2030+.
Sunday, July 5. 2015
2010 Chasseur Chardonnay Durell Vineyard (91/100)
Sonoma Coast, California
14.2 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-07-04
Deep golden yellow. Ripe yellow nectarines paired with dark forest honey. Already very broad and ripe. On the palate strong and claiming attention. Some petrol notes noticeable, but in total the ripe yellow fruits are dominating.
Seems to be in a difficult phase. The "juvenile" freshness is already gone and the wonderful ripeness of aged Chardonnays not totally reached. I have another bottle. I will wait another two years before opening it; at least this was my opinion at this moment.
The next day. Now the petrol notes are totally gone. Using the wine vacuum the wine developes overnight dramatically. Some very gentle vanilla notes become noticeable somewhere in the far end. And the dark forest honey tones are more subtle. Also on the palate a change. Suddenly the wine is fresher and definitely cool.
So a total different view now. The wine needs air, so decanting for minimum four hours is necessary. Then the Chasseur provides a lot of pleasure. And I could bet (now) that this will be the case over the next four to six years.
I would pair the wine with a terrine with almonds like you get it very often in the Alsace.
14.2 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-07-04
Deep golden yellow. Ripe yellow nectarines paired with dark forest honey. Already very broad and ripe. On the palate strong and claiming attention. Some petrol notes noticeable, but in total the ripe yellow fruits are dominating.
Seems to be in a difficult phase. The "juvenile" freshness is already gone and the wonderful ripeness of aged Chardonnays not totally reached. I have another bottle. I will wait another two years before opening it; at least this was my opinion at this moment.
The next day. Now the petrol notes are totally gone. Using the wine vacuum the wine developes overnight dramatically. Some very gentle vanilla notes become noticeable somewhere in the far end. And the dark forest honey tones are more subtle. Also on the palate a change. Suddenly the wine is fresher and definitely cool.
So a total different view now. The wine needs air, so decanting for minimum four hours is necessary. Then the Chasseur provides a lot of pleasure. And I could bet (now) that this will be the case over the next four to six years.
I would pair the wine with a terrine with almonds like you get it very often in the Alsace.
Saturday, July 4. 2015
2011 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon (94/100)
Napa Valley, California
14.8 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-30
Deep and clear. Medium cherry red. Still very present tannins. Explicit cedarwood aroma. Cold coffee ground paired with an aromatic tobacco tone; also young black currants. On the palate at the beginning aggressive, but only for a very short moment. Then extremely fruity paired with a bunch of spices culminating in a wonderful fresh finish with a touch of vanilla. A masterpiece for this difficult, but in my opinion underestimated vintage. Cudos!
The next day. One small glass left. I used a wine vacuum the day before. Now all aggressive and bitter tones are gone. The Darioush is wonderfully smooth and velvety. Extremely balanced. A real pleasure to taste this Cab which obviously finds the perfect balance between the high alcohol and aristocratic elegance.
In 2011 I visited the winery the first time. We had an outstanding tasting presented by wine historian Nina Wemyss. The great thing was to taste the 2006 and 2007 Cabernets in parallel over more than two hours. And at this time I observed something similar for these two wines as for the 2011. The Darioush Cabernets interact more with air than the most other Cabernets I drunk so far. During our tasting at the winery we changed every half an hour our opinion. Sometimes we liked more the 2006, then the 2007. No final decision at this day.
The wine is of course too young. But the described behaviour gives you the opportunity to drink a wonderful young Cabernet without the "child murderer" thing in your mind. The wine will remain two more years on this level. And then you will have a perfectly balanced Cab for another five years. Pair it with lamb steaks. Delicious!
14.8 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-30
Deep and clear. Medium cherry red. Still very present tannins. Explicit cedarwood aroma. Cold coffee ground paired with an aromatic tobacco tone; also young black currants. On the palate at the beginning aggressive, but only for a very short moment. Then extremely fruity paired with a bunch of spices culminating in a wonderful fresh finish with a touch of vanilla. A masterpiece for this difficult, but in my opinion underestimated vintage. Cudos!
The next day. One small glass left. I used a wine vacuum the day before. Now all aggressive and bitter tones are gone. The Darioush is wonderfully smooth and velvety. Extremely balanced. A real pleasure to taste this Cab which obviously finds the perfect balance between the high alcohol and aristocratic elegance.
In 2011 I visited the winery the first time. We had an outstanding tasting presented by wine historian Nina Wemyss. The great thing was to taste the 2006 and 2007 Cabernets in parallel over more than two hours. And at this time I observed something similar for these two wines as for the 2011. The Darioush Cabernets interact more with air than the most other Cabernets I drunk so far. During our tasting at the winery we changed every half an hour our opinion. Sometimes we liked more the 2006, then the 2007. No final decision at this day.
The wine is of course too young. But the described behaviour gives you the opportunity to drink a wonderful young Cabernet without the "child murderer" thing in your mind. The wine will remain two more years on this level. And then you will have a perfectly balanced Cab for another five years. Pair it with lamb steaks. Delicious!
Monday, June 29. 2015
2010 Buccella Merlot (92/100)
Napa Valley, California
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-28
Deep dark cherry red with black-purple reflexes. Extremely fruity aromas where blackberries are dominating. Also cherries, cinnamon sticks and the classical dark chocolate tones. On the palate strong with a lot of muscles. Very young; the tannins are still aggressive. Medium to long finish with some bitter notes far at the end due to the present tannins.
We prepared a wild boar stew with bread dumplings and red cabbage. The sauce of the stew was dark and strong and needed a corresponding partner. From the structure the wine was perfectly chosen, but Merlot was not really the right grape. Here a Syrah e.g. from Lillian would be a better solution. Then the surprise. My wife baked some snickerdoodles and together with these rich cookies the aromas of the wine exploded. Indeed I would either serve it directly after dinner shortly before dessert to allow an appropriate pairing if wished or simply enjoy the wine with a wonderful Havanna cigar.
As I already said: The wine is too young. I would minimum wait for another two or three years. Then it will be on the top for around five more years.
14.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-28
Deep dark cherry red with black-purple reflexes. Extremely fruity aromas where blackberries are dominating. Also cherries, cinnamon sticks and the classical dark chocolate tones. On the palate strong with a lot of muscles. Very young; the tannins are still aggressive. Medium to long finish with some bitter notes far at the end due to the present tannins.
We prepared a wild boar stew with bread dumplings and red cabbage. The sauce of the stew was dark and strong and needed a corresponding partner. From the structure the wine was perfectly chosen, but Merlot was not really the right grape. Here a Syrah e.g. from Lillian would be a better solution. Then the surprise. My wife baked some snickerdoodles and together with these rich cookies the aromas of the wine exploded. Indeed I would either serve it directly after dinner shortly before dessert to allow an appropriate pairing if wished or simply enjoy the wine with a wonderful Havanna cigar.
As I already said: The wine is too young. I would minimum wait for another two or three years. Then it will be on the top for around five more years.
Saturday, June 27. 2015
2012 Michael David Winery Zinfandel "Rage" (94/100)
Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County, California
15.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-26
Medium deep and dark cherry red. Almost explosive smell of a big fruit basket consisting of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and even more. In addition a touch of dark chocolate. The smell consistency is very thick and fleshy. On the palate extremely velvety paired with a little bit acidity which makes the wine even better. Then the fruit notes take over and remain infinitely. Finally far, far at the end certain liqueur-like sweetness. A fascinating wine - and one of the best (young) Zins I drunk so far.
Even if this Zin (blended with Petite Sirah) is from Dry Creek Valley, the Michael David Winery is located in Lodi in the Central Valley - an area which I didn't visit so far. The reason for this is the distance from Sonoma and Napa. Nearly an hour to drive from this area prevented until now a tasting tour. This I will change when I will visit the valleys again in fall. My very good friend Brian tells me all the time that I have to go over there, and this wine is a very good recommendation.
However you should be careful. This is definitely not a main stream wine and some wine purists will claim that it is too fat and too jammy - even too "full-bodied". I see that differently. With this nice acidness the Rage has some dark, mystical characteristics. Definitely not the wine for every day, but for the very special moments - for instance if you are in "rage" and want to come down. Food? Duck with cranberry sauce! How long? No idea! I bought this bottle half a year ago in a nice wine shop named Holiday Wine Cellar (http://www.holidaywinecellar.com/) north of San Diego. There they have a tasting station similar (but smaller) to the one at Hedonsim where for a reasonable price all-day tasting is possible. I tasted the "Rage" and bought immediately one bottle for taking home. Now the wine is even better. I would say in the current condition the wine will remain another three years. After that? Let's see.
15.5 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-06-26
Medium deep and dark cherry red. Almost explosive smell of a big fruit basket consisting of blackberries, blueberries, strawberries and even more. In addition a touch of dark chocolate. The smell consistency is very thick and fleshy. On the palate extremely velvety paired with a little bit acidity which makes the wine even better. Then the fruit notes take over and remain infinitely. Finally far, far at the end certain liqueur-like sweetness. A fascinating wine - and one of the best (young) Zins I drunk so far.
Even if this Zin (blended with Petite Sirah) is from Dry Creek Valley, the Michael David Winery is located in Lodi in the Central Valley - an area which I didn't visit so far. The reason for this is the distance from Sonoma and Napa. Nearly an hour to drive from this area prevented until now a tasting tour. This I will change when I will visit the valleys again in fall. My very good friend Brian tells me all the time that I have to go over there, and this wine is a very good recommendation.
However you should be careful. This is definitely not a main stream wine and some wine purists will claim that it is too fat and too jammy - even too "full-bodied". I see that differently. With this nice acidness the Rage has some dark, mystical characteristics. Definitely not the wine for every day, but for the very special moments - for instance if you are in "rage" and want to come down. Food? Duck with cranberry sauce! How long? No idea! I bought this bottle half a year ago in a nice wine shop named Holiday Wine Cellar (http://www.holidaywinecellar.com/) north of San Diego. There they have a tasting station similar (but smaller) to the one at Hedonsim where for a reasonable price all-day tasting is possible. I tasted the "Rage" and bought immediately one bottle for taking home. Now the wine is even better. I would say in the current condition the wine will remain another three years. After that? Let's see.
Monday, May 25. 2015
1996 Jarvis Cabernet Sauvignon Cave Fermented (93/100)
Napa Valley, California
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-05-25
Dark ruby red with medium depth. Very clear with some nice reflexes. Reluctant smell of ripe blackberries, wet oaktree trunk and some bacon. On the palate a wonderful harmonic interplay between the black fruit notes and the still present, very smooth tannins. Neverending. An incredible experience. Especially due to the fact that the last bottle five years ago (from a different trader!) was in really bad condition.
The wine is wonderful to drink at the moment. At least this bottle. I am sure it will hold this quality for another five years. Pair it to pork medallions with glazed chestnuts. A dream.
14.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-05-25
Dark ruby red with medium depth. Very clear with some nice reflexes. Reluctant smell of ripe blackberries, wet oaktree trunk and some bacon. On the palate a wonderful harmonic interplay between the black fruit notes and the still present, very smooth tannins. Neverending. An incredible experience. Especially due to the fact that the last bottle five years ago (from a different trader!) was in really bad condition.
The wine is wonderful to drink at the moment. At least this bottle. I am sure it will hold this quality for another five years. Pair it to pork medallions with glazed chestnuts. A dream.
Friday, May 1. 2015
2006 Clary Ranch Syrah "Shazzam!" Grower's Reserve (94/100)
Sonoma Coast, California
14.1 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-30
Medium to deep ruby red with some light rims. Extremely concentrated aroma of forest fruits and high percentage dark chocolate (60 % to 80 %). A touch of cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate at the beginning some bitter tones which are very quickly converted into fresh fruit notes. The mouth feeling becomes more and more intensive and suddenly far, far at the end of the nearless neverending finish the spices take over. Not a blockbuster; more a long-distance runner for a wonderful evening with friends at the chimney. The only problem: You need definitely more than one bottle for an evening .
This wine is a congenial food pairing wine. We drunk it to grilled venison filet with spaetzle, sweet-chestnut sauce and sautéed green asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Wonderful! Especially the harmonization of the strong but sweet chestnut sauce's aromas with the extreme fruitiness of the Syrah is looking for their equals. Sensational!
We met Paul Clary in October 2014 at his home in Petaluma and the tasting was remarkable. All the wines Paul presented were from outstanding quality and yet half a year later this was confirmed thousands of miles away on a cold April day in Germany. Hail Tabitha!
14.1 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-30
Medium to deep ruby red with some light rims. Extremely concentrated aroma of forest fruits and high percentage dark chocolate (60 % to 80 %). A touch of cinnamon and nutmeg. On the palate at the beginning some bitter tones which are very quickly converted into fresh fruit notes. The mouth feeling becomes more and more intensive and suddenly far, far at the end of the nearless neverending finish the spices take over. Not a blockbuster; more a long-distance runner for a wonderful evening with friends at the chimney. The only problem: You need definitely more than one bottle for an evening .
This wine is a congenial food pairing wine. We drunk it to grilled venison filet with spaetzle, sweet-chestnut sauce and sautéed green asparagus and cherry tomatoes. Wonderful! Especially the harmonization of the strong but sweet chestnut sauce's aromas with the extreme fruitiness of the Syrah is looking for their equals. Sensational!
We met Paul Clary in October 2014 at his home in Petaluma and the tasting was remarkable. All the wines Paul presented were from outstanding quality and yet half a year later this was confirmed thousands of miles away on a cold April day in Germany. Hail Tabitha!
Sunday, April 26. 2015
2000 Lail Vineyards J. Daniel Cuvée (93/100)
Napa Valley, California
70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot
14.2 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-26
Medium ruby red. Clear with some light rims hinting at ripeness. Compote of plums, a little bit of eucalyptus, cedars and perhaps a touch of cold cigar smoke. But very pleasant and in total complex. On the palate at the beginning the fruit notes are dominating followed by some freshness (the eucalyptus!) which results in a medium to long harmonic finish where all the components come together with a very charming sweetness. One of these wines who tell you after a sip: More, drink more! Again a wonderful example for this underestimated vintage in California.
We opened this wine for a dinner with friends; we had a "Gumbo-style" soup with bush beans, chorizo (Spanish spicy sausage) and prawns and as second course pork burrito with mole sauce. With both dishes the wine harmonized perfectly. Indeed I believe that the J. Daniel Cuvée is a wonderful food pairing wine. With its silent elegance it adapts wonderfully to a wide range of food - may it be more spicy like the Gumbo or a very special "flavor bomb" like the mole burrito. The J. Daniel Cuvée punctuates the dishes, not overwhelming them.
The wine is wonderful to drink at the moment. It will hold this quality another three years minimum.
70 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 % Merlot
14.2 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-26
Medium ruby red. Clear with some light rims hinting at ripeness. Compote of plums, a little bit of eucalyptus, cedars and perhaps a touch of cold cigar smoke. But very pleasant and in total complex. On the palate at the beginning the fruit notes are dominating followed by some freshness (the eucalyptus!) which results in a medium to long harmonic finish where all the components come together with a very charming sweetness. One of these wines who tell you after a sip: More, drink more! Again a wonderful example for this underestimated vintage in California.
We opened this wine for a dinner with friends; we had a "Gumbo-style" soup with bush beans, chorizo (Spanish spicy sausage) and prawns and as second course pork burrito with mole sauce. With both dishes the wine harmonized perfectly. Indeed I believe that the J. Daniel Cuvée is a wonderful food pairing wine. With its silent elegance it adapts wonderfully to a wide range of food - may it be more spicy like the Gumbo or a very special "flavor bomb" like the mole burrito. The J. Daniel Cuvée punctuates the dishes, not overwhelming them.
The wine is wonderful to drink at the moment. It will hold this quality another three years minimum.
Sunday, April 19. 2015
2011 Nicholson Ranch Estate Pinot Noir (90/100)
Sonoma Valley, California
14.3 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-18
Deep, dark ruby red; almost purple. Very rich color. Classical, fine but discreet Pinot nose. Almost mystic mix of cassis, some blackberries and freshly cut flowers. At the beginning on the palate a touch of sweetness induced by strawberries. This is very quickly changing to an austere cassis note which remains incredibly long. A Pinot Noir with a very special personality. For me: Very good!
It was Saturday night after a tough week at work. I was looking for a nice bottle of red wine for an afternoon chill-out. In the cellar I found this Nicholson Pinot - and I was a little bit surprised. Usually I buy at this wonderful place only the outstanding Chardonnays. Hm. But during the tasting nearly two years ago the wine was obviously very good. Otherwise I wouldn't have taken it with me at home. And indeed it was. It was the perfect selection for an evening to hang around.
This Pinot will hold its current quality two years minimum. After that it will change its style to a more ripe one. At the moment wonderful with a nice Hanger Steak - I mentioned earlier that Steak and Pinot is one of the most underestimated pairings. Try it!
14.3 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-18
Also great Reds from Nicholson
Deep, dark ruby red; almost purple. Very rich color. Classical, fine but discreet Pinot nose. Almost mystic mix of cassis, some blackberries and freshly cut flowers. At the beginning on the palate a touch of sweetness induced by strawberries. This is very quickly changing to an austere cassis note which remains incredibly long. A Pinot Noir with a very special personality. For me: Very good!
It was Saturday night after a tough week at work. I was looking for a nice bottle of red wine for an afternoon chill-out. In the cellar I found this Nicholson Pinot - and I was a little bit surprised. Usually I buy at this wonderful place only the outstanding Chardonnays. Hm. But during the tasting nearly two years ago the wine was obviously very good. Otherwise I wouldn't have taken it with me at home. And indeed it was. It was the perfect selection for an evening to hang around.
This Pinot will hold its current quality two years minimum. After that it will change its style to a more ripe one. At the moment wonderful with a nice Hanger Steak - I mentioned earlier that Steak and Pinot is one of the most underestimated pairings. Try it!
Monday, April 13. 2015
1998 Turley Wine Cellars Zinfandel "Hayne Vineyard" (94/100)
Napa Valley, California
16.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-10
Deep garnet red with some tile-red rims. Hm. Did I wait too long?
Earthy notes are dominating paired with ripe compote of black berries, dark chocolate and cold black tee. On the palate very fruity with a wonderful persistently redcurrant flavor. Incredibly long finish: smooth, animating and fleshy. Perfect!
So to answer the question at the beginning: No - I didn't wait too long. From color perspective this wine is perhaps a little bit over the time. But that's all. For me it is absolutely on the top and will hold this quality for a lot of additional years. It is a privilege to drink such wines. Thanks, Helen Turley.
Pairing with food? Alba truffles. Definitely!
16.4 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-04-10
Deep garnet red with some tile-red rims. Hm. Did I wait too long?
Earthy notes are dominating paired with ripe compote of black berries, dark chocolate and cold black tee. On the palate very fruity with a wonderful persistently redcurrant flavor. Incredibly long finish: smooth, animating and fleshy. Perfect!
So to answer the question at the beginning: No - I didn't wait too long. From color perspective this wine is perhaps a little bit over the time. But that's all. For me it is absolutely on the top and will hold this quality for a lot of additional years. It is a privilege to drink such wines. Thanks, Helen Turley.
Pairing with food? Alba truffles. Definitely!
Sunday, April 12. 2015
2012 Paul Lato Chardonnay "Le Souvenir" (93/100)
Sierra Madre Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, California
14.2 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-03-06
Bright golden yellow with green reflexes. Appears heavy in the glass. Ripe but firm to the bite pears. Crisp. Furthermore aromas of mild lemon drops paired with a touch of butterscotch and pineapple.
In the mouth an incredible diversity of flavor nuances: The pears are clearly present, followed by a creamy acidity of lemons and pineapples. This acidity is slowly converted to a floating "fruit carpet". Never ending.
Already wonderful to drink. Remains on this level for further three years. After that? Difficult to say at the moment.
Pairing Asian food with US chardonnay is always, as is well known, a very difficult thing. But when I drank this wonderful Chardonnay it came immediately to my mind that for a well-balanced (not too sweet, not too hot) Asian dish this could be a partner worth to try.
14.2 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-03-06
Bright golden yellow with green reflexes. Appears heavy in the glass. Ripe but firm to the bite pears. Crisp. Furthermore aromas of mild lemon drops paired with a touch of butterscotch and pineapple.
In the mouth an incredible diversity of flavor nuances: The pears are clearly present, followed by a creamy acidity of lemons and pineapples. This acidity is slowly converted to a floating "fruit carpet". Never ending.
Already wonderful to drink. Remains on this level for further three years. After that? Difficult to say at the moment.
Pairing Asian food with US chardonnay is always, as is well known, a very difficult thing. But when I drank this wonderful Chardonnay it came immediately to my mind that for a well-balanced (not too sweet, not too hot) Asian dish this could be a partner worth to try.
Saturday, April 11. 2015
2008 Maybach Cabernet Sauvignon Materium (94/100)
Oakville, Napa Valley, California
16.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-03-08
Wonderful purple with medium color depth. Fir, cinnamon, wild berries, sweet smoked bacon? This wine offers a whole basket of flavors. And every minute a different one dominates. Extremely fruity and nearly endless. A monster in an absolutely positive sense.
This bottle was a present of my wife for my birthday. I want MORE...
The 2008 Maybach Materium is just at the very first beginning. Decantation for an hour is momentarily a must. Then it will provide lots of pleasure. However it is worth to hold for another five, ten or even twenty years. In this phase pair it with lamb chops.
A typical Cab - I don't know. A terrific wine - YES.
16.0 % Alcohol
Tasted 2015-03-08
Wonderful purple with medium color depth. Fir, cinnamon, wild berries, sweet smoked bacon? This wine offers a whole basket of flavors. And every minute a different one dominates. Extremely fruity and nearly endless. A monster in an absolutely positive sense.
This bottle was a present of my wife for my birthday. I want MORE...
The 2008 Maybach Materium is just at the very first beginning. Decantation for an hour is momentarily a must. Then it will provide lots of pleasure. However it is worth to hold for another five, ten or even twenty years. In this phase pair it with lamb chops.
A typical Cab - I don't know. A terrific wine - YES.
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