Below are my notes from multiple tastings of Alpha-Omega Winery's best wines. Alpha-Omega lies in Rutherford off 29 in the former Quail Ridge location. A Face lift and more assure us that the former tenants are long forgotten. A great place to relax and enjoy a bottle on the terrace.
Alpha Omega - Syrah - 2007 - Napa Valley - $? - (Modern, Food Wine, Drink Now) - Black berry, black and red currant, black raspberry, light pepper, graham, cinnamon & sweet tea aromas flow rapidly from the glass and transition quickly. Raspberry, red berry, juniper, and sandal wood mesh on the palette with moderate tannin as well as moderate plus acidity. A good food wine that appears and opens brooding in typical Syrah fashion, but reveals a bright almost Grenache like wine later. We had roast striped bass over greens and toasted fresh made tortillas.
Alpha Omega - Proprietary Red - 2005 - $74 - Napa Valley - (Modern, Ager, Drink Now, Stand Alone) - My favorite of the AO line up of wines, and tasted multiple times from barrel to bottle. Caramel, mocha, sweet clove and florals begin the trek through beautiful red and black plum that lies in total harmony with the wood. Hits its high note in the mouth which tells of red and black berries, cherries, currant and sweet ripe round and sexy tannins...like silk and satin in the mouth. Moderate tannins and moderate but well balanced acidity. I just love this wine! A blend of 69% Cab and 31% Merlot. "I recommend not buying this so there is more for me..."
Alpha Omega - Chardonnay - 2005 - $38 - Napa Valley - (Modern, Food Wine) - Chardonnays seldom get the nod from me, but when a wine comes off this well made and balanced, I can't resist. A partially Malo-lactic(30%) and barrel fermented(70%) wine which shows restraint in winemaking. Leesy-apple, lemon peel, light almond toast, and sheer mineral which is often lacking in a Napa chardonnay. Light and airy on the entry making it a good choice with food, yet smoky and dense through the moderately high acid finish. I like this wine for it's more Burgundian framework. I'd recommend: Seared Scallops with Caramelized Shallots, Grilled Shrimp with Tarragon, Chervil & Lemon or Roast Chicken Breast on the Bone with Lemon Thyme.
About Me
- Eric C. Maczko
- I've been part of Pine Ridge Winery's Culinary Staff for 7 years. In 2003 I took over the Executive Chef Position and have been pairing food and wine together in a creative environment every day since. I am a Certified Sommelier through The Court of Master Sommeliers and hope to gain my Advanced in the coming year. My love of wine, food and literature are the fuel behind this little site and sharing my experience is my gift. Each year I take a little time to craft my own wine, so as to humble myself. It is a pleasure to sample the hard work and dedication of these so many talented wine professionals.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
October 18, 2008 - Wines Tasted
Grace Family - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2006 - $265 - (Classic, Ager, Showpiece, Food Wine) - My first time tasting Grace, and I really like this wine's style. Not typical of Napa Valley, and reminded me more of Dunn than anything else. Aromas of black cherry kirsch liquor, cut pine, red plum, black tea and currants. Enters with chalky tannins (a sure sign of an, Ager) up front, then follows through with a wash of black plum and other black fruits. Old World in that aspect only. Retains high acidity through the finish, as well as its chocolate-tea tannins. I used the word, "lean" to describe this wine when comparing it to the others amongst it (Hillside Select, Vise-Versa, Spottswoode), but not a lean wine itself. Hold for 2012 to 2020.
Vise-Versa - Napa Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon - $90? - (Modern) - A "New" Napa Cab, made by Paul Hobbs from 50% Stagecoach Vineyard & 50% Beckstoffer Tokalon Vineyard, so all Oakville but from both sides of the valley(thus the name). These two vineyards don't make bad wine, ever, and rarely does Paul Hobbs. I reviewed it because I'm sure you'll hear more about it in the future. There's a Syrah too (notes to come). Well built in that modern, ripe black cherry, cassis, black plum, chocolate toast, light caramel way. Moderate acidity, but moderate high alcohol. Easily consumable now, but best from 2009 to 2015, I'd suspect. The mouth matches closely the bouquet.
Spootswoode - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2005 - $140 - Tasted for a second time today, this wine was consistent with my previous notes. See: September 29, 2008 Tasting Notes.
Roessler Cellars - Peregrine - Pinot Noir - St. Rita Hills - 2005 - $43 - (Modern, Food Wine) - Opens with clove, cinnamon bark, brown sugar, black cherry, and red plum. All spice before fruit. A modest 13.5% alc. makes this wine a great choice with food while maintaining balance. Medium bodied with moderate acidity. The fruit drives the palette with boysenberry, Bing cherry and all that spice in the boot. Drink now through 2012. I enjoyed it with duck confit, lentils du pays and frisee with a warm vinaigrette.
Lachini - Pinot Noir - Willamette Valley - $59 - (Modern) - Floral, peppery, spicy, saw dust, leather, ripe blackberry, & light mocha...if this sounds like a something you'd like pick this wine up! I found it a bit too heavy and expensive for it's delivery, but most enjoyed it. A high octane (14.5% alc.) well made wine that was ahead of itself today. Tannin level was high, while the body was full and acid was moderate-low. Best from 2009 to 2017. Note: I detected a bit of TCA here, the bottle may have been a touch off. The staff did not agree...
Friday, October 17, 2008
October 16, 2008 - Wines Tasted
Krug - Grand Cuvee - NV - Champaigne - $40 a Glass! - (Classic, Ager, Food Wine, OMG Wine) - After a smell of this most fine Champaigne, you get the feeling that time has sklipped over you for generations while you were playing in the sandbox. Get out there and try this wine and you will KNOW what greatness is! I've had it once before but the experience ruined the wine, this was not the case last night at, The 5th Floor in SF. Intense aromas of peaches, just melted sugar, yeast, a hoard of apples and pears, toast, and a sense of place found only in the most prestiege cuvees. The wine held me in check with its focus like a still life in the making. And that one minute finish that could make anyone blush. Pure love for this wine. I had: Burbury-Spiced Black Tiger Shrimp Salad with Dried Tapenade and Pea Shoots.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
September 29, 2008 - Wines Tasted
The following 12, 2005 vintage wines were decanted for 8 hours priot to serving. They were tasted double blind out of Riedel Vinum stemware, by a panel of 15 in the Caves at Pine Ridge. The group's results are in the previous blog below. My tasting notes and order of serving are as follows:
Pavilion Rouge de Ch. Margaux 2005 - $100 - (Ager, Classic, Food Wine) - Aromas of red cherry, flint, spice, red berry, coffee, herb stems, and light cassis. On the palette this wine was fleshy with black peppercorn, red berries, and light minerl laced cherry. It showed moderate-high acid, moderate low tannin and a soft plushness not obvious to a Bordeaux. A stellar wine to sample now or thru 2020.
Ch. Rausan Segla 2005 - $175 - (Ager, Classic, Food Wine) - My second time tasting this wine since April, and it was just as impressive. Aromas of plum, Earth, mint, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, cocoa, light red florals, cassis, cedar, and light spice box. In the mouth it was full of mineral, Earth, cocoa & black cherry. It showed moderate high levels of mineral laced tannin which remained firm throughout as well as moderate high levels of acidity. Best in 2015 to 2020 and beyond.
Dominus Estate - 2005 - $130 - (Modern, Stand Alone) - First contact reveals ripe and juicy plums, red raspberry, red cherry, red licorice, green peppers, leafy greens, green beans and peppercorns. What I call two-faced: ripe and green at the same time. In the mouth it was stemmy red berries all mixed up with bitter chocolate. Tannis were moderate but bitter and acid was moderate-low.
Hourglass - 2005 - $135 - (Modern, Showpiece, Stand Alone) - Super ripe with caramel, molasses, plum/pluot, black cherries, pomegranates, and black raspberries. It follows that all up with a mouth full ofminty and herbal plum, layered black fruit, raspberry, almost sweet tannin, but high alcohol and moderatly high tannin. As one would expect from Bob Foley this was a big brash wine with clean lines. I really enjoyed this wine.
Pine Ridge Vineyards - Fortis - 2005 - $140 - (Modern, Food Wine, Ager) - I've tasted it numerous times but it still surprised me with an explosion of black cherry and cassis as well as cinnamon, brown butter, red plum, and light cedar. Past the lips it tells a similar story: vanilla, brown sugar, light cedar, latte', cherry, plum & cassis. For a Napa Cab it displays amazing acidity which remains moderatly high alongside moderate tannin and balanced levels of fruit/alcohol.
Spottswoode - 2005 - $140 - (Classic, Ager) - Even after 8 hours in the decanter this wine remained closed to the group, but it gave up: cinnamon, clove, vanilla, red berry, light Earth, and red plum in the nose. The palette was a mirror to the bouquet: black and red cherry, Earth, dirt, mineral. As far as tannin and acid I found it to be moderat-high in tannin and moderat-low in acid. I'd hold this one until 2012 at least.
Diamond Creek - Red Rock Terrace - 2005 - $175 - (Classic, Showpiece, Ager) - The first wine to show light levels of brett, but that I sometimes like alot, this was the case here. Very ripe plums, vanilla, mint, herb mix, black cherry, spicy plum, light floras, turned Earth. The mouth was even better with eucalyptus, cola, spice, red plum, light florals, red cherry, clay and Earth qualities on the lightly minty finish. I detected a very dry wine with firm tannins and moderate acid. Fine to consume now, but 8 to 10 years wil never hurt a DC Cabernet.
Schrader Cellars - Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard - 2005 - $235 - ($125 mailing list) - (Modern, Showpiece, Stand Alone) - Plums, cola, spice, and rich Cassis liquor, herbal in a cassis syrup way, tea leaf, almond, resin and nutty toast aromas are full and layered. In the mouth I used the term "lovley" to describe its red fruit, bittersweet chocolate, plum & cherry. With moderate acidity and moderate tannin this wine was soft and elegant and easy to drink. Not an ager in my mind, so drink away.
Melka Wines - Metisse - 2005 - $145 - (Modern, Showpiece) - A super ripe, almost "porty", fruit driven nose of ripe and dried Bing cherries, plums, black figs and florals. Add to that the cinnamon stick, and cassis (but no herbal nature to that), and you've got it. The mouth unloads the same fruits as the nose, with the addition of: spice and pepper, coffee and bitter chocolate. I found it very dry for such a ripe wine, a touch hot in alcohol, and moderate high in tannin. A big extracted wine which will age to and beyond 2015 but I would never risk that.
Joseph Phelps - Insignia - 2005 - $205 - (Modern, Showpiece, Ager) - One of the most closed wines in the group, but the nose did give up: ripe plum, black cherry, cinnamon, light mocha and spice. The palette was decisive with toasty caramel, brown butter, molasses, "closed" fruit, red berries, currants and red plums. (You'd think it were opened up by my notes, but it was hard to get this squeezed out. Like a lemon picked too early it just needs more bottle time to acumulate its juice.) I'd keep this locked in my cellar until 2010 at least.
Revana - 2005 - $130 - (Modern, Showpiece) - Not as stellar as the very impressive 2004. This wine opened with black fruit and florals, spice and vanilla, currants, coffee beans, and bayleaf. The mouth is filled with mint, chocolate, cherries, and obvious alcohol. A bit rough(compared to 2004s sweetness) in tannin, which was moderatly high with moderate acid. I felt the nose belied the palette. Give it a year or two to see if it softens and levels out.
Switchback Ridge - Peterson Family Vineyard - 2005 -$175 - (Modern, Showpiece) - Another Bob Foley wine that was more different than similar to the Hourglass. Very ripe and loaded with vanilla, black cherry, plum, cassis, macerated cherries, kirsch and observable alcohol. In the mouth it was warm and ripe, and very much like the nose: kirsch, plum, cassis, b. cherry, etc. Add to that some mineral and stemmyness and you've got it. The tannins were in the high level range while acid remained moderate.
Pavilion Rouge de Ch. Margaux 2005 - $100 - (Ager, Classic, Food Wine) - Aromas of red cherry, flint, spice, red berry, coffee, herb stems, and light cassis. On the palette this wine was fleshy with black peppercorn, red berries, and light minerl laced cherry. It showed moderate-high acid, moderate low tannin and a soft plushness not obvious to a Bordeaux. A stellar wine to sample now or thru 2020.
Ch. Rausan Segla 2005 - $175 - (Ager, Classic, Food Wine) - My second time tasting this wine since April, and it was just as impressive. Aromas of plum, Earth, mint, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, cocoa, light red florals, cassis, cedar, and light spice box. In the mouth it was full of mineral, Earth, cocoa & black cherry. It showed moderate high levels of mineral laced tannin which remained firm throughout as well as moderate high levels of acidity. Best in 2015 to 2020 and beyond.
Dominus Estate - 2005 - $130 - (Modern, Stand Alone) - First contact reveals ripe and juicy plums, red raspberry, red cherry, red licorice, green peppers, leafy greens, green beans and peppercorns. What I call two-faced: ripe and green at the same time. In the mouth it was stemmy red berries all mixed up with bitter chocolate. Tannis were moderate but bitter and acid was moderate-low.
Hourglass - 2005 - $135 - (Modern, Showpiece, Stand Alone) - Super ripe with caramel, molasses, plum/pluot, black cherries, pomegranates, and black raspberries. It follows that all up with a mouth full ofminty and herbal plum, layered black fruit, raspberry, almost sweet tannin, but high alcohol and moderatly high tannin. As one would expect from Bob Foley this was a big brash wine with clean lines. I really enjoyed this wine.
Pine Ridge Vineyards - Fortis - 2005 - $140 - (Modern, Food Wine, Ager) - I've tasted it numerous times but it still surprised me with an explosion of black cherry and cassis as well as cinnamon, brown butter, red plum, and light cedar. Past the lips it tells a similar story: vanilla, brown sugar, light cedar, latte', cherry, plum & cassis. For a Napa Cab it displays amazing acidity which remains moderatly high alongside moderate tannin and balanced levels of fruit/alcohol.
Spottswoode - 2005 - $140 - (Classic, Ager) - Even after 8 hours in the decanter this wine remained closed to the group, but it gave up: cinnamon, clove, vanilla, red berry, light Earth, and red plum in the nose. The palette was a mirror to the bouquet: black and red cherry, Earth, dirt, mineral. As far as tannin and acid I found it to be moderat-high in tannin and moderat-low in acid. I'd hold this one until 2012 at least.
Diamond Creek - Red Rock Terrace - 2005 - $175 - (Classic, Showpiece, Ager) - The first wine to show light levels of brett, but that I sometimes like alot, this was the case here. Very ripe plums, vanilla, mint, herb mix, black cherry, spicy plum, light floras, turned Earth. The mouth was even better with eucalyptus, cola, spice, red plum, light florals, red cherry, clay and Earth qualities on the lightly minty finish. I detected a very dry wine with firm tannins and moderate acid. Fine to consume now, but 8 to 10 years wil never hurt a DC Cabernet.
Schrader Cellars - Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard - 2005 - $235 - ($125 mailing list) - (Modern, Showpiece, Stand Alone) - Plums, cola, spice, and rich Cassis liquor, herbal in a cassis syrup way, tea leaf, almond, resin and nutty toast aromas are full and layered. In the mouth I used the term "lovley" to describe its red fruit, bittersweet chocolate, plum & cherry. With moderate acidity and moderate tannin this wine was soft and elegant and easy to drink. Not an ager in my mind, so drink away.
Melka Wines - Metisse - 2005 - $145 - (Modern, Showpiece) - A super ripe, almost "porty", fruit driven nose of ripe and dried Bing cherries, plums, black figs and florals. Add to that the cinnamon stick, and cassis (but no herbal nature to that), and you've got it. The mouth unloads the same fruits as the nose, with the addition of: spice and pepper, coffee and bitter chocolate. I found it very dry for such a ripe wine, a touch hot in alcohol, and moderate high in tannin. A big extracted wine which will age to and beyond 2015 but I would never risk that.
Joseph Phelps - Insignia - 2005 - $205 - (Modern, Showpiece, Ager) - One of the most closed wines in the group, but the nose did give up: ripe plum, black cherry, cinnamon, light mocha and spice. The palette was decisive with toasty caramel, brown butter, molasses, "closed" fruit, red berries, currants and red plums. (You'd think it were opened up by my notes, but it was hard to get this squeezed out. Like a lemon picked too early it just needs more bottle time to acumulate its juice.) I'd keep this locked in my cellar until 2010 at least.
Revana - 2005 - $130 - (Modern, Showpiece) - Not as stellar as the very impressive 2004. This wine opened with black fruit and florals, spice and vanilla, currants, coffee beans, and bayleaf. The mouth is filled with mint, chocolate, cherries, and obvious alcohol. A bit rough(compared to 2004s sweetness) in tannin, which was moderatly high with moderate acid. I felt the nose belied the palette. Give it a year or two to see if it softens and levels out.
Switchback Ridge - Peterson Family Vineyard - 2005 -$175 - (Modern, Showpiece) - Another Bob Foley wine that was more different than similar to the Hourglass. Very ripe and loaded with vanilla, black cherry, plum, cassis, macerated cherries, kirsch and observable alcohol. In the mouth it was warm and ripe, and very much like the nose: kirsch, plum, cassis, b. cherry, etc. Add to that some mineral and stemmyness and you've got it. The tannins were in the high level range while acid remained moderate.
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