Classification of Napa Valley Vineyards - 2010

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Vineyard Ratings

Grand Cru Class A -
Araujo Estate - Pickett Lane, Calistoga
Abreu - Madrona Ranch
Bryant Family Vineyards - esp. Block 4 - Pritchard Hill
Dunn Howell Mountain Estate - Howell Mountain
Detert Estate - Oakville (Cabernet Franc)
Diamond Creek - Diamond Mountain 
Beckstoffer Tokalon - Oakville
Herb Lamb Vineyard - Howell Mountain
Blackbird Vineyard - Oak Knoll (Merlot)
Morisoli Vineyard - Rutherford 
Paloma Vineyard - Spring Mountain (Merlot)
Grace Family  Estate - St. Helena
Kronos Vineyard - St. Helena
Stage Coach Vineyard - Oakville
Bacchus Vineyard - Oakville 


Grand Cru Class B -
Abreu - Thorevilos - Howell Mountain
Abreu - Lucia - Howell Mountain 
Colgin - Estate Vinayard - Pritchard Hill
Hourglass - Estate - St. Helena 
Jericho Canyon Vineyard - Calistoga 
Keyes Vineyard - Howell Mountain 
Poetry Vineyard - Stags Leap District 
Shafer Hillside Estate - Stags Leap District
Sherwin - Estate - Spring Mountain 
Sloan - Rutherford
Sacrashe - Rutherford
Spottswoode - Estate - St. Helena 
Vineyard 29 - St. Helena
 
Grand Cru Class C -
Andrus Estate - Rutherford
Barnett - Estate - Spring Mountain 
Caymus - Estate - Rutherford 
Constant - Estate - Diamond Mountain 
Chateau Montelena - Estate - Calistoga 
Diamond Terrace - Estate - Diamond Mountain 
Eagle Summit Vineyard - Howell Mountain
Foreman - Estate - Howell Mountain/Conn Valley 
Hartwell - Estate - Stags Leap District 
Hewitt Vineyard - Rutherford 
Howell Mountain Vineyard - Howell Mountain
White Rock Vineyard - Soda Canyon
Martin Estate - Rutherford 
Mayacamas - Estate - Mt. Veeder 
Paradigm Estate - Oakville
Pine Ridge - Estate - Stags Leap District
Pine Ridge - Dos Olivos Vineyard - Oakville 
Pride - Estate - Spring Mountain 
Stags Leap Vineyard - Stags Leap District 
Sori Bricco - Diamond Mountain 
Veeder Peak Vineyard - Mt. Veeder 
Viader - Estate - Howell Mountain/Deer Park 

Grand Cru Class D - 
Burgess - Estate - Howell Mountain/Deer Park
Ehlers Estate - St. Helena
Fay Vineyard - Stags Leap District 
White Cottage Vineyard - Howell Mountain
La Jota - Estate - Howell Mountain
Lamborn - Estate - Howell Mountain 
Larkmead - Estate - St. Helena 
Ladera - Howell Mountain
Lewelling Vineyard - St. Helena 
Rubicon - Estate - Rutherford
Reverie - Estate - Diamond Mountain 
Staglin - Estate - Rutherford 
Chimney Rock - Estate - Stags Leap District
Varozza Vineyard - St. Helena
Von Strasser - Estate - Diamond Mountain
Tench Vineyard - Oakville 

Classification of Napa Valley Vineyards - 2010

  Much has been said about the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux, and much has been disputed, such as what the hell happened to St Emilion and Pomerol for God's Sake?!?  And why is Chateau "Whatever", a Third Growth, they make wine half as good as, Chateau "Awsomness", and Chateau "Awsomness" is not even Classified...
  It's these questions that the French, in their stubborness, chose never to answer for.  And it's these questions that Mr. Robert Parker and others have been battling to get rightful answers to for decades thru 100 point rating systems.  I like points, but I hate Point Chasers.  I can't stand watching someone walk in to the winery holding a Buying Guide only to skip on some wines to only taste the, "90 pointers".  That guy holding the scores in his hand isn't RP, so why would he trust only RP's opinion?  I think RP has a very good sense of taste, and an even better sense of "saleability", and this is what makes so many followers become devout in their acceptance of his "truth".
  To me it's the same as say, believing in a religion.  There's one "leader" they all listen to.  They never feel the "leader" is guiding them astray.  They continue to invest mindlessly in their "leader's" opinions and guidance.  They die never knowing the truth, which is the freedom they gave up when surrendering their thoughts to the "leader".
  Now it sounds like I'm placating, and I am.  That's why I don't score wine, I just write up my experiences with the great/memorable juice.  Do you think I only taste three wines a week?  Just think of how much good juice I have to wade thru to get you one great wine review.  Yes. I'm a snob.  But I'm a snob for ME, not for anyone else.  People are agast when I drive them thru Napa only to point out all the Vineyards that, "suck".  They say things like, "How can they all suck?" or " I like their wine!  They don't suck!!".  I just tell them, "No they don't suck, THAT vineyard sucks.  Not that producer...".  Yet they still don't get the concept until I explain that the wine they buy comes from so many other vineyards other than the one right on the Silverado Taril next the the Winery.  Some of the contributing Vineyards are stellar and make up for the failings of THAT vineyard.  Then the light comes on for them.
  This is the light I'm attempting to electrify for YOU with this Classification.

  It may take me some months to piece it all together, but be assured the information I provide will be honest, accurate(for a while at least, huh?), and supported by historical data based on grape prices(thus wine prices).
All I want to do is isolate: THE BEST PARCES OF NAPA VALLEY FOR BORDEAUX VARIETALS.
Sorry Petite Syrah, next time(Vincent Arroyo Greenwood Ranch, you would be a 1st Growth;).

Wines Tasted - January 24, 2010

 

J.L.Chave - St. Joseph - Offerus - 2007 - $30 - (Classic, Food Wine, Ager) - A dramatic young Norther Rhone Syrah, filled with aromas of roasted game, wood smoke, licorice, blackberries and black & white peppercorns.  On the palette it's layered but closed despite decanting.  It is classically Rhone in every way, but just so youthful it's a shame to open it in 2010 at all.  Full bodied, with moderate+ alcohol and tannin, acid was moderate to +, length was long but the finish dhed all its fruit but Earthyness lingered.

I recommend cellaring for 2 to 10 years additionally(not unlike all my 2007 Rhone Experiences thus far).

 

Niepoort - 1991 - Colheita - Port - Porto - (Classic, Food Wine, Ager, Dessert Wine, Aparatif, Digestif) - Well, what do you drink after Araujo Estate Syrah?  Aged Colheita Port of course!  Tasted from 375ml and aged so well in bottle.  Classic Port aromas of caramel, cherry, plum, fig, and chocolate.  Lucious in the mouth and not a bit hot for a 20+% alcohol wine.  Creamy and ripe with bitter spice complimenting sweet black fruit skins.  This wine could be kept for an aditional 20 to 30 years or more!!!

 

Araujo Estate - Eisele Vineyard - Napa Valley - Syrah - 2004 - (Modern Wine, Ager, Showpiece) - $135 - My first experience with this wine and it was quite an evening. OK, get ready for the most expensive Syrah in Napa (Colgin?). 

"My Lord, are you sure this isn't a young Howell Mountain Cabernet?"  That was my impression on this young, young, young Monster of a wine.  Black as night with a deep purple/garnet rim, opaque and of high concentration and viscosity.  A nose of licorice, ouzo, spice, pepper, blueberry liquor and berry jam.  On the palette it was: "Angry at us for opening it, hard to drink since it was so overwhelming with tannin, Mad at us, full of cinnamon stick, like liquid licorice, finished with blackberry liquor and mineral"

A wine that needed 10 more years in the cellar before we should revisit.

Check out what the Wall Street Journal says about my Cooking Class and other great wine events:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703699204575017203742783236.html

Wines Tasted Blind in Group - Monday, January 4, 2010

 

2005 - Cape Mentelle -Shiraz - Margaret River - Western Australia - (Modern, Ager) - One look at  (certainly not thru) this wine and we see a dark opaque purple/black wine with a garnet rim.  Viscosity is very high as is concentration.  Aromas are intense and clearly Australian: Chocolate, mint, brown spice, caramel, leather, plums, blueberries, blackberry pie filling and raw coconut/coconut shell.  This wine is dry, highly tannic, moderatly acidic and highly alcoholic in the classic Aussie paradigm.  It was the tannin structure which led me away from South Australia, but not away from Shiraz!  Thick and viscous in the rich, syrupy midpalette thru to an extended finish of sweet and bitter chocolate and fig paste.

Wines Tasted Blind in Group - Monday, January 4, 2010

 

2oo8 - Schloss Gobelsburger - Kamptal - Trocken - Riesling - $18 - (Classic, Mineral Wine, Food Wine, Ager) - Well, if you love riesling and you love heavily mineral-laced wines, then pick up a few of these.  A pale straw/green wine with suspended gas and a low viscosity, yet with a slightly reserved but potentially intense nose of liquid white-rock, mineral and peach-pear-lime fruit as well as a faint hint of green herb and petrol.  On the palette is all acid, lime, tinned peach and that resounding wet mineral loop.  This doesn't compare to the layerd fruit of a Mosel, but no one would make such a mistake in blind tasting.  So if German Riesling is, "too sweet or too fruity", steer the glass in this direction, because it is in every way a, Classic Dry Austrian Riesling, just waiting for a Sausage sandwich with kraut, grilled onions and pungent mustard!

 http://www.gobelsburg.com/index.html

Wines Tasted Blind in Group - Monday, January 4, 2010

 

2006 - Domaine Lignier-Michelot - Morey Saint Denis - Vielles Vignes - Red Burgundy - $50 - (Classic, Ager, Food Wine) - A medium ruby wine with a purple/ruby rim, moderate concentration and viscosity.  Upon opening this wine reaked of dark soy-sauce and plum paste, but further decanting for 30 minutes revealed a nuanced wine of classic stock: red and black cherries, soy, blackberry, turned dark Earth and cola/birch aromas.  Acidity was nearly high, tannin was moderate+, alcohol moderate and body medium and balanced.  Finish was longish but not overtly complex.  Best if allowed to rest for 4 to 8 years.

Cave Sonoma Trip - January 5, 2010

Thanks to Thomas and the Staff at The Cave Sonoma. Great Dinner!
And Thanks to Melisa & Scott J. at Cellars of Sonoma. Great wines and great visit, I love the DuNah Sangiacomo!
100 points on my scale.

 http://www.cellarsofsonoma.com/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=78

A Chef's Guide to Wine - January 2010
Join me every Sunday at 11:00 am for my, Cooking Demonstration/Food & Wine Pairing Class. This Month's Theme: White Fish and Red Wine? Absolutely!
I'll pair our 2006 Merlot, 2006 Cab Franc & 2006 Cabernet with:
Pan Roasted Blue Nose Bass over Braised Napa Cabbage with Applewood Smoked Bacon.
Pancetta Wrapped Monkfish with Laurel Sauce.
Seared Monterey Bay Scallops and Parmesan Gnocchi with Hen of the Woods Mushrooms and Porcini Broth!

Click here: Pine Ridge Vineyards Culinary Programs

Happy New Year! 2010!!!
2005-Bodegas Sierra Salinas-Mira-Alicante-Spain-$18-(Modern, Food Wine) - A clear, deep ruby wine with a ruby rim and high concentration as well as viscosity. Boasts a clean, highly intense nose of ripe blueberry, pluot mix, cherry, chocolate and sweet baking spice and light brown sugar. Oak is mixed but sweetly aromatic. While the wine's alcohol is high(15%), it is still balanced and rich. Fully ripe fruit on the palette, with an emphasis on plum, spice and dried purple flowers. The earthy tannins are ripe, modern and sweet; the glycerols are extreme so the length of the fruit rich finish sails.
This is NOT for those of you looking for a classic old world style, though it held on happily with: Pot Roast, Parmesan roasted asparagus, carrots and salt crusted baked potato.