Staff Tasting Recap – Jan. 2009
By: Eric C. MaczkoOn January 28th I led the first tasting of 2009: the Line up of All Current Release Wines
We had 18 attendees. Most were able to stay the duration. We even had a top referrer join us.
I began the tasting with a comparison of
2007 & 2008 Chenin Blanc Viogniers.
I followed those with a flight of Chardonnays:
2006 & 2007 Dijon Clones and
2006 Le Petit Clos.
The first two reds were:
2005 Carneros Merlot & 2006 Crimson Creek.
Then we covered the Cabernets two by two:
2005 Cabernet Franc & 2005 Onyx;
2006 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon & 2005 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon;
2005 Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon & 2005 Epitome Cabernet Sauvignon;
2005 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon & 2005 Andrus Reserve;
2004 Fortis & 2005 Fortis were the concluding wines.
In revere, I found that both vintages of
Chenin Blanc/Viogniers tasted great, but different due to acid/fruit profiles. But, one could conclude that the wine will age for 3 – 4 years successfully. I also noted that the
Dijon Clones wines were remarkably similar, even now. That did surprise me. I found the
2006 Crimson Creek to be “early” in its bottle development, while the
2005 Carnereos Merlot was excellent, if a bit bulky, now.
The
2005 Cabernet Franc was less expressive than previous vintages as far as raspberry fruit, but more expressive in the bittersweet chocolate, cocoa and black cherry/dry sage arenas. The
2005 Onyx impressed upon me a solid,
Rioja Reserva character, now that is a positive despite some people’s reactions to my observation. It was hearty, toasty, cedary and full of
Zino Platinum Cigar qualities. Spice led fruit in the general state of affairs in the
Onyx, and that’s why I feel it is always a cigar lover’s style or a
Syrah lover’s style.
The
2006 Napa Cabernet was showing its
Malbec component up front, while expressing firm wood based tannins through the finish. The fruit layers were evident as well as being pleasant. The
2005 Oakville was tight and firm with classic Napa character: black and red cherry, cedary toast, rigid tannins and ‘peppery’ spice-box. The
2005 Stags Leap District Cabernet was by-and-long the most fruit driven of the line-up, pumping out ripe black cherry, plum, cassis, and bursting blueberry character astride with fresh tobacco leaf, tannins were caressing yet firm. While it’s “brother”, the
2005 Epitome SLD Cabernet, was atomic with crushed red currant, fresh brewed mocha latte’ and green peppercorns: this is easily my crush for the vintage. The
2005 Howell Mountain Cabernet was a full bodied, massively structured wine laden with black cherry, grilled blueberry, beef carpaccio, coffee grounds, and minerality only Howell Mountain’s Volcanics can deliver. The
2005 Andrus Reserve was so quaffable I had to repour myself! A Rutherford based wine from the vineyard of the same name, it showed elegance in place of power. The red berry mix was both ripe and balanced here. The
2004 Fortis was showing well. The full bodied, layered cuvee was all about cherry pie filling, spice and chocolate, while the highly anticipated
2005 Fortis was more about black cherry and plum with coffee grounds. Both versions of the Flagship
Fortis were highly extracted, full bodied, and balanced while drifting slightly to the ultra modern.
