Wines Tasted - March 27, 2010

 

Pine Ridge Vineyards - Howell Mountain - Napa - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2007 - $90 - (Modern-Classic, Ager, Showpiece) - Clear edges but an opaque center to this dark ruby/black wine which fades slightly to a purple/ruby rim.  High concentration, high viscosity and a highly intense nose of blackberry, blueberry syrup and red currants soaked in a mixture of Arabica extract, cocoa beans and cocoa butter.  An Earthy note of liquid iron and ground pomace balance a fruit dominated initial attack, just enough to make you consider St. Emilion.
  On the palette, the wine is dry and rich with dark fruits and coffee/cocoa notes, but with a higher than expected level of acidity.  The tannins are Classic Howell Mountain: ripe, mouth coating and of mineral tinged-skin origin.  These mineral quailities seemed to elongate the finish and were dotted with blueberry and bitter-sweet chocolate.  A real stunner...

For Tomorrow's Lunch, we will host Republic National Distributing Company in our Estate Gardens.

                                       Menu:


Grilled California Halibut with Chive Compound Butter, Braised Fennel and Chanterelle Mushrooms paired with our Pine Ridge 2007 Dijon Clones Chardonnay

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Yukon Gold Whipped Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts and Morel Mushroom Cream Sauce with Fresh Thyme paired with our Forefront by Pine Ridge 2008 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

A Selection of Three Artisanal Cheeses and a Petite Salad of Estate Greens and Local Baguette paired with our Pine Ridge 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Hand Rolled Belgian Chocolate Truffles to end the meal with Coffee or Tea


Photos to be posted on the Pine Ridge Group Page around 2:00PM tomorrow, check it

Wines Tasted - March 12, 2010

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon - Rutherford – Napa Valley - 2000 – (Modern, Drink Now) – Threw minor sediment.  Clear ruby with a slightly burnished rim.  Red cherries, red currants, baked red plums, cassis, cedar shakes, blonde caramel, tea leaves and light bourbon vanilla fill the nose.  It was dry, medium bodied, with medium tannins and a chalky/loamy texture.  Baked cherry, cedar and red plum round out the palette which has medium acid and a moderate length to the finish. 

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – Stags Leap District – Napa Valley - 2000 – (Modern, Drink Now) – Bright medium ruby with a pale ruby rim.  A very enticing nose of black plum, black cherry, deep cassis, cocoa, black pepper, pipe tobacco and creamy vanilla.  Upon the entry the texture was incredibly soft, but built weight through the length of the long finish.  The tannins were sweet and ripe; the mid-palette was chocolaty and rich with black fruits.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Andrus Reserve – Napa Valley - 2000 – (Modern, Drink Now) – A medium ruby core and a pale ruby rim are the segway to a developing wine with mature aromatics of red and Bing cherry, dried red currant and dried plums over coffee grounds, turned loam and cedary notes.  A medium bodied cabernet based claret with medium length, and medium tannins. 

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Andrus Reserve – Napa Valley - 2001 – (Modern) – Medium ruby/purple core leads to a slightly pale red/ruby rim.  This vintage offers up a nose of sweet black cherry, red plums and baked red currants surrounded by cocoa, baking spice, fresh roasted coffee beans, and sweet molasses laced with vanilla.  While the tannins were fine and loamy, the acidity was medium and alcohol balanced at 14.2%, all helping to stretch the finish to medium plus in length.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Epitome – Stags Leap District - Napa Valley - 2000 – (Modern, Ager) – This wine was unfined and unfiltered and thus threw a tremendous amount of sediment; decant prior to service.

A clear medium plus ruby/black with a ruby rim.  A nose of ripe red cherry, red plum and cassis laced heavily with mocha and sweet spruce/vanilin note.  The entry was dry but the fruits were sweet and ripe with all above fruits and non-fruits confirmed.  The tannins were medium plus and rigid, as we’d expect from such a steep Hillside site with an ideal southern exposure.  A full bodied cabernet with a long finish.  I expect this wine to continue to mature for 5-7 more years, at least.

Wines Tasted - February 8, 2010

 Chateau Durfort-Vivens - Margaux - Bordeaux - 2004 - (Classic, Classified 2nd Growth, Ager, Food Wine) - $36 - An absolute stunner at this price or any price under $100.  I'd seek this wine out on Wine Searcher myself, if you don't.  Deep garnet color with a medium garnet rim.  Classic BDX nose of crushed wet gravel, and turned compost with ripe plum, cassis and curranty cherry blossoms and rose petals.  Ripe and soft on the entry, yet always Bordeaux.  Moderate tannins with moderate+ acid and a balanced-medium+ length to the finish.  The fruit was equally well developed on the palette with obvious Merlot ripeness and structure traits.  It was my first experience with this 2nd Growth from Margaux, and I was more than impressed with it's poetic nature.  

Wines Tasted - March 1, 2010

 

Hauts de Pontet-Canet - Pauillac - Boudeaux - 2006 - (Classic, Ager, Food Wine, Earthy Style, Best Buy) - $26 - A deep clear garnet/black fading to a deep garnet rim. Opened with a nose of scorched earth, new shower curtain and rubber tires, not that it's a bad thing, just classic BDX qualities.  But as it opened the bluberry rush came on, as did the currant and chocolaty qualities, and once truely aired, it was ripe crushed plums.  That is what we expect from great Merlot dominated blends with Cabernet should evolve to.  I loved this, but my Modern wine drinking friends felt less intimate with it.  It had medium tannins for a young 2006, but with a ton of earth and gravel to each pound of fruit.  Great with a bit of Braised Pork Shoulder, as the tannins and moderate+ acidity were instantly cut by the mented fat, yum!  A great QPR on this.

Wines Tasted - March 3, 2010

Had 2008 Forefront Willamette Valley Pinot Noir w/ Moroccan Rubbed Chicken & Bread Salad with Marinated Tomatoes.

Forefront by Pine Ridge - Willamette Valley - Pinot Noir - 2008 -  (Classic, Food Wine, Best Buy)  - $24 - A bright clear ruby with tinges of purple at the rim.  A nose of pure red fruits and Earth: Raspberries, red currants and pomegranite with turned earth, musk and nearly animale scents.  Very floral.  The entry is full of moderate+ acidity, and confirmed red fruit mix as well as the earthy notes and florals.  Oak is of moderate expression but showing a touch of spice.  Alcohol was moderate, tannins were fine and well structured, body was moderate and finish was quite long.  A balanced style which lets fruit shine while keeping the sense of place totally in Oregon.  Great Food Style.

Wines Tasted - March 1, 2010

Lucien Albrecht - Alsace- Gewurztraminer - Reserve - 2008 - (Classic, Food Wine) - $20 - Bright green straw, with some density visable. A classic nose of jasmine, honeysuckey and lavander with pear and apricot stewed in cardamom and chamomile. Alcohol was moderate+ (13%), and an off dry finish made for a ripe, rich glass of pure Alsace.

Wines Tasted - February 28, 2010

J. Rochioli - River Block - Russian River - Pinot Noir - 2007 - $90 - (Modern, Ager, Showpiece) - A bright clear ruby with hints of blue,slightly stained tears and a moderate plus viscosity. Coming in at 14.4% alc. this wine is a huge rush of black & red licorice whip, Ranier cherry, bluberry and red plum jam. But in the mouth it's smoky cherries, green tea and loads of spice and licorice. All in balance with integrated mYers of new oak and a touch of turned earth. The wine is ramped up but not at all clumsy, more sexy than brawny, it just makes you want it. These are wines of exclusive allure, like fine silk mixed with nappa leather, near perfect for their style: Modern & Ripe but balanced and Ageworthy.