July 30, 2008 - Wines Tasted

Ehlers Estate - 1886 Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 - St. Helena - $75 - (Ager, Stand Alone, Modern) - By far the coolest package Ever for a Cab. Bottle or no bottle, this wine rocks! Tasted from bottle and from decanter separately, this wine offers up bright red and black cherry, light red flowers, cassis and black plum. Bitter sweet chocolate, cocoa and vanallin notes from time spent in French Oak are beefed up by moderately high tannin. Opened well before its time, we decanted the second half of the bottle while enjoying another wine. The air helped only slightly as this wine continued to descend into the dark, firm side rather than be nudged open. A 100% Cab from the Biodynamically farmed Estate vineyard outside the old stone winery. I'd recommend drinking in 2011 till 2018. Had it with Grilled Rib-Eye with coarse Hawaiian Sea Salt & Roast Squash with Toasted Garlic.

July 29, 2008 - Wines Tasted

Bryant Family Vineyards - Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - $NA - (Ager, Modern) - A rare inside-track wine that's just gone to bottle, so this wine was a touch dumb and muted.  A full -bodied, moderately tannic and alcoholic big mountain Cabernet from the rim around Lake Hennessy, east of Rutherford.  Black cherry, cassis, plum and loads of spice mark the nose of this Cult Classic.  The palette is similar and fully dry, with vanilla accents and well integrated bitter chocolate tones to boot.  Great length, without ever being exaggerated or syrupy.  Will likely age for 12 to 18 years easily.  It's hard to recommend a food pairing, but we had spaghetti with garden squash, tomatoes, freshly grated Parmesan and sea salt. 

July 26, 2008 Wines Tasted

Pine Ridge Winery - Epitome Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $100 - (Ager, Stand Alone, almost Modern)  For those of you who love black cherry, cassis, rose petals, mocha and coffee grounds in their Napa Cab, praise the Lord because this wine delivers on all fronts.  A full bodied, moderately Tannic wine comprised of 99% Cab(half a percent each of Petite Verdot and Malbec), from mature hillside vines of Clone 7, it will age gracefully for 10 to 15 additional years.  A terrific effort from Stacy Clark who has been at the helm for 25 years now. (380 Cases)

I had it with chilled, mesquite-grilled New York strip loin snadwiches; sliced thin over melted Fiscalini Cheddar and Arugula with plenty of Sel Gris.

July 24, 2008 Wines Tasted

Raymond Vineyards - Generations 2004 -Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon - (Stand Alone, Ager) - A gift for my 33rd, the Generations has always been my favorite Raymond wine by far.  While not as forward and balanced as the winery's 2002, this wine shows a deep and sweet nose typical of the label.  The wine opens with black cherry, cinnamon, bitter chocolate and sweet perfumed French Oak notes, but fails to deliver on the palette, which is more acidic and angular than expected.  The ship is "righted" by the finish which sweetens up the tannins and fruit.  A touch dumb right now, I'd recommend 2 to 3 more years of bottle age - since it didn't change too much from 1st to last glass.  We had it with Rabbit Stew, Texmati rice pilaf and basil, but the wine won easily on the palette.

July 22, 2008 Wines Tasted

Iron Horse - Wedding Cuvee 2005 $38- (Food Wine, Celebratory Wine) Great nose of strawberry and white raspberry as well as pear and mineral.  Pair with poached lobster salad with mango and wild Californian arugula.

Iron Horse - Russian Cuvee 2003 $33- (Food Wine) Sweet vanilla and creamy peach, nectarine and quince.  Extra dosage = soft and fruity yet classic.  Pair with paprika dusted scallops and summer squash to curb the subtle sweetness of this just-dry Cali sparkler.

Iron Horse - Thomas Road Pinot Noir 2005 $75 - (Food Wine, Stand Alone) Pure Russian River nose of spiced red and black cherries and well integrated oak.  A touch pricey at $75 though.  Stood head and shoulders above the Estate.  Grilled duck empanadas with charred tomato sauce and fresh basil.

Martinelli Winery - Charles Ranch Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 2006 $40 - (Food Wine, Ager) While I hate to agree with Parker too often, this time I certainly do.  A remarkable chardonnay that offers up finely tuned coastal acidity and soft oak with tons of mineral and white fruit notes.  A touch of matchbook and more fruit and mineral lace the very long finish.  Like great Stony Hill Chard with more French oak notes, but never heavy.  Keep for 10 to 15 years easily.  Today with oysters or parsnip soup.

Martinelli Winery - Terra Felice Syrah Russian River 2004 $45 - (Stand Alone, Food Wine) Well, as many times as Martinelli has let me down, today I'm a fan and it's the Syrah(which is the first of theirs I've had) that has secured my faith.  Floral, lightly grilled bread, forest floor and a slew of dark berries.  Another long and generous finish; the kind a Rhone fan would respect in a medium full bodied Cali version.  Not hot, nor exhausted as some can be.  I like pork and tomato stew in a broth with morels and Chanterelles.