Bryant Family Vineyards - Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley - 1997 - $NA - (Ultra Modern, Ager, Showpiece) - A 100 Point Robert Parker Wine...and yes, it deserves it. Threw heavy sediment, was opaque black/garnet and concentrated in every facet. It opened with a monster blast of dry and fresh sage(a Pritchard Hill Hallmark), light menthol and fresh rolled sweet tobacco leaf, bolstered by ripe black cherry and cassis along with creamed raspberries. It was thick and viscous on the palette with high alcohol in balance with moderate tannin and moderate acid. The finish was long with herbed plum and cherry fruit. Perfect now thru 2014.

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.

August 22, 2008 Wines Tasted

Bryant Family Vineyards - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2005 - $390 - (Ager, Modern, Stand Alone, Showpiece) - The 2005 Bryant was made by Philippe Melka and is clearly in his style: black cherry, cassis, smoky currant, barnyard, espresso and bitter chocolate lace the nose of this high octane Cabernet. Upon entry, the wine's earthiness diffuses to ripe and lightly minty currant and pure cassis syrup. A dense, full bodied wine which has both high alcohol and, "gladiator-like" tannin. A long firm finish with moderate acidity for such a ripe wine. A wine built for the cellar, it should age effortlessly until 2025. Believe it or not, we had grilled chicken drumsticks, summer squash with garlic, and baked potatoes with squab confit and butter.

-Mark Aubert has made the wine from the 2007 vintage, and preliminary exposure has foretold of greater things to come at Bryant Family Vineyards. Stay posted.


Ramey - Jericho Canyon - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2005 - $110 - (Classic, Ager, Stand Alone) - First whiff of the nose simmers up: black olives and very ripe currants, plums and cassis. More air releases the vanallin, spice box, and tarry tobacco qualities I'd expect more from the Oakville Bench rather than Calistoga's northern reaches. The vineyard had supplied Rudd for years with it's produce, but former Rudd winemaker David Ramey steals the show and the prestige with this almost, "classically" styled Cabernet. The mouth is full and lush, with medium full tannin and medium acidity. Fruit is a player in this game, but not the the soul of the wine. Secondary chocolate, olive, and earth also rise to be counted in. Should age well into 2020.

August 17, 2008 Wines Tasted

For those of you who aren't familiar with Rochioli, there is a 6 year waiting list for their single block wines. They are some of the first to EVER plant Pinot and Chard in the Russian River and are considered by most to be THE Cult wineproducer of Sonoma. These wines age very well and are classically styled with balance and site as guiding principles.

Rochioli Vineyards - Little Hill - Pinot Noir - 2006 - $70 - (Ager, Classic, Showpiece) Just received my allocation and look at me, just can't keep my hands off! That's Rochioli. Another great wine from a great producer. Classic Russian River Pinot nose of: spiced black and red cherries. Rather simple now, but aeration leads to a more nuanced wine that is packed with potential. The mouth reveals: tightly wound and focused red cherry and shades of black cherry, moderate high acidity and moderately high levels of tannin and alcohol. Not a shy 14.5%. I recommend consumption from 2010 to 2020.
I made fresh pizzas with basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, caramelized onions and julienned peppered salami. The tomatoes were just a little too sweet for a wine with this much tannin and heat, so I left them off pizza number 2.

August 8, 2008 - Wines Tasted - Double Blind

The following wines were all fantastic examples of Napa Cabernet at the highest level and I'd love to savored each and every one over the course of hours, we had 60 minutes.
They were tasted double blind, side by side, allowed to air for 1 hour, out of Riedel-Vinum stemware. A panel of 8 all judged one wine as their favorite, the Pine Ridge Fortis.

Pine Ridge Winery - Fortis 2005 - $135 - (Modern, Showpiece, Stand Alone, Ager) - The unanimous winner with 8 out of 8 firsts. Aromas of caramel, spice, currant, black cherry, pepper, cinnamon, and light cedar. A full bodied wine with moderate high tannin. The palette revealed brown butter, black cherry, currant, milk chocolate and anise. I easily picked this out as the PRW wine and judged it (3rd on nose and 2nd on palette) 1st overall.

Caymus Vineyards - Special Select - 2005 - $150 - (Modern, Showpiece, Stand Alone) - By far my favorite in the nose: profound black cherry, black raspberry, plum; super-clean well integrated wood notes.
Pure disappointment on the palette: very ripe, juicy red berry and currant, almost sweet, with a short finish and obvious heat(but not super hot). I found it to be two faced. I thought either Staglin or Caymus. Selected it (1st on nose and 5th on palette) 5th overall.

Colgin Vineyards - IX - 2005 - $400 - (Showpiece, Modern, Stand Alone) - The "ringer" of the tasting, and my first time tasting this wine. The nose blew up with spice box, black currant, plum, and heavy cassis liquor. Well perfumed and elegant in the nose. On the palette I found it a touch minty, with plum, cassis, and resin on a long finish. Definitely the hottest wine in the group in nose and mouth. Firm in tannin and moderate in acid, I thought it could be Shafer Hillside but alas, I was not prepared for a Colgin in the mix. Selected (4th in the nose and 3rd in the mouth) 3rd overall.

Dominus Estate - 2005 - $140 - (Classic, Showpiece, Ager, Food Wine) - Easily identified in the tasting due to its "differences": caramel, spice box, Earth, granular mineral notes, herb & cocoa notes all intermingle in the glass. The palette confirms this with firm tannin, bitter-sweet chocolate, cassis, plum, and a sauvage nature purely attributed to a winemaking style which embraces the Old Guard of Bordeaux more than the fruit expressive "Moderns" that adorn store shelves all throughout Napa. Selected (2nd in nose and 4th on palette) 4th overall.

Quintessa - 2005 - $135 - (Modern, Stand Alone, Ager, Showpiece) - I surely expected this wine to be sweet and hot after one whiff of its nose: cassis, plum, and very ripe almost jammy fig and pluot aromas laid heavily over light cedar and warm chocolate. Belied by a palette which was fully dry as well as being loaded with red currant, cassis, light mint and obvious french oak notes. The finish was a bit firm, chalky and warm(not hot). Selected (5th on nose and 1st on palette) 2nd overall.

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.