Wines Tasted, August 1, 2010

Cameron - Clos Electrique - Red Wine - Willamette Valley - Oregon - 2007 - $40 - (Classic, Ager, Food Wine, Old World) - All sources tell me its 100% Pinot Noir, though the vineyard grows Nebbiolo and Chard as well in its small 4 acres. So I got a couple of these as I've been very interested in tasting it for years.  Earthy funky aromas of: leather, cola, skunky, wet clay, (red berry, cran, rasp-all clumped together like Dig-Dug Characters hidden under all that Earth).  Maybe its that profound, maybe.  Structure-wise, it's med+ acid, alcohol, & m+ complexity, med in tannin, body, balanced and med+ in finish.

Wines Tasted - June 25, 2010

Pinot Days - Fort Mason - San Francisco - 2010 -

The following wines were the standouts of my visit to Pinot Days:

Clouds Rest - Sonoma Coast - Pinot Noir - 2005 - $100 - (Showpiece, Modern-Ager) - These wines are excellent and I'll tell you why.  They are very well balanced yet intense and earthy with deep rooted potential for development.  I started with these wines because I wanted to have a fresh palate to see if they were worth the price and the hype.  I believe they are, especially their second wine at $50.

Clouds Rest - Sonoma Coast - Pinot Noir - 2004 - $100 - (Showpiece, Modern-Ager) - Similar to the 2005 but more weighty and concentrated.  Excellent.

Clouds Rest - "Femme Fatale" - Sonoma Coast - Pinot Noir - 2008 - $50 - (Modern, Balanced) - The Winery's second wine is equally enjoyable, though in a more fruit forward (perhaps due to its youth) style, but a great entry into this small estate's wealth.

A Cote & La Fenetre Wines - 
  I loved the line up here starting with the, A Cote thru the 3 La Fenetre single vineyards.  All very balanced, earthy, clear cut fruit, and medium in structure but with excellent acidity. 
A Cote - Pinot Noir - 2008 - $25 - (Classic, Old World, Food Wines) - A touch of pleasant brett in this wines nose gave me an Old World flashback.  I had to double check the label to be sure it said Central Coast.  It did.  And so i fell in love with this light to medium- bodied pinot of moderate extraction.  Nice ripe red cherry, pomegranate and dried red florals.  Medium+ acid, medium alcohol, medium- tannin & body.  An elegant quaffer with a vast array of foods.  Drink now.
La Fenetre - Los Alamos Vineyard - Pinot Noir - 2008 - $36 - (Classic, Old World, Food Wines) - A few shades more concentrated in ruby than the A Cote, as well as being cut from a similar cloth(sources).  This wine had less to none of the, "brett", I liked in the A Cote, but I liked it even more because of its clean lines.  Darker berry fruit, but still very much in the red fruit camp.  Another medium bodied effort which was my favorite of the line.
La Fenetre - Sierra Madre Vineyard - Pinot Noir - 2008 - $50 - (Classic, Old World, Food Wines) - Again getting darker in color as well as showing a touch more spice, toast and tannin than the, A Cote and Los Alamos wines.  Wild berry and Earth notes were common and the weight increased.  Still medium bodied, medium+ in alcohol, medium in tannin & medium+ in acidity.
La Fenetre - Au Bon Climat - Pinot Noir - 2008 - $50 - (Classic, Old World, Food Wines) - Proprietor & Founder Joshua Klapper worked a number of harvests at Au Bon Climat Winery to hone his skill, so a single vineyard offering of about 2 tons from his former employer's vineyard seems a typical Central Coast vignerons nod to having come-of-age as a winemaker.  This is by far the most concentrated wine of the lot.  The wine's medium ruby color hints at purple but never goes there.  The viscosity is higher that the previous bottlings and the wines fruit structure veers to the same camp.  Blackberry, black raspberry and red cherry notes mingle with forest floor and mossy notes as well as sage and turned dark Earth.
 

Clos Pepe Estate - Sta. Rita Hills - Monterrey - Pinot Noir - 2006 - $56 - (Classic, Food Wines, Agers) - I got to taste 3 vintages of Clos Pepe Estate Pinots with Vineyard Manager & Winemaker, Wes Hagen, and they had such a similar vein, I thought I'd write one review and just talk about the differences.  I like the most mature(2006) wine the most, and i think that sums up the style a little.  These wines are beautiful in that Geverey Chambertin way: a little funky and Earthy, red and dark berry fruited but not exuberantly, and full of mineral/rock/anise/floral notes.  Not very different through the vertical, just more "bratty" and infantile as we got into the 2007 & 2008s.  These wines don't demand cellar time, rather they ask nicely for it in a passive aggressive way.  I highly recommend this Grower/Producer if you are a fan of Classically styled New World Pinot.  

Clos Pepe Estate - Sta. Rita Hills - Monterrey - Pinot Noir - 2007 - $54 - (Classic, Food Wines, Agers) - Buy it, hold it & drink it in 2013.  Stellar.

Clos Pepe Estate - Sta. Rita Hills - Monterrey - Pinot Noir - 2008 - $49 - (Classic, Food Wines, Agers) - Buy it, hold it & drink it in 2014.  Waiting for it to be Stellar.

Cargasacchi - Pinot Noir - Cargasacchi Vineyard - Sta. Rita Hills - Monterrey - Pinot Noir - 2007 - $40 - (Classic, Agers) - I found the bright ruby colored Pinot from Cargasacchi to be of more full tannin structure than some of the others I enjoyed at Pinot Days.  These were brooding examples of moderate+ concentration and extraction.  They were Earthy and dark fruited with moderate purple florals and touches of spice and mocha.
Cargasacchi - Pinot Noir - Cargasacchi-JalamaVineyard - Santa Barbara County - Monterrey - Pinot Noir - 2007 - $40 - (Classic, Agers) - A touch darker, more savory and spicy than the Sta. Rita Hills wine.  A bit more tannic & funky as well.  Give this one 10 more months then revisit.  Both wines were a pleasure to drink.

Point Concepcion - Celestina - Pinot Grigio - Vin Gris - Santa Barbara County - 2008 - $18 - (Modern, Classic, Food Wine) - I usually need to justify a "Modern-Classic" but if you have even heard of the wines of Movia in Slovenia just NE of Italy, or of any of Alto-Adige's emulators of long macerations on classic "white" wine grapes.  Or of those who use no sulfur, no yeast additions and oxygen-rich maturations to raise their wines, then you must stop in with Peter Cargasacchi to try this stunner.  More than a Rose', less than a German Spatburgunder, but somewhere in the tweens.  Of deep pink-red color which is almost hazy.  This wine leads off with loads of ripe red fruits starting with strawberry and maraschino-cherry then gains stone fruit and citric notes.  Nearly no tannin, thus still seemingly Rose' in nature but a long way from Provence!  Great with Antipasti.

Shandels' Oppenlander Vineyard - Mendocino County - Pinot Noir - 2007 - $45 - (Classic, Food Wine, Ager?) - Oppenlander Vineyard is located in Comptche in Mendocino County. It is owned and farmed by fifth generation owners Bill and Norm Shandel.  The Vineyard is just outside the Northern Sector of Anderson Valley AVA.  Mainly Dijon Clones 114 & 115 as well as Pommard.  This is the "Estate" wine from the grower/owners and a trend from Pinot Days for me.  The 2007 was a more generous wine in the mouth than the palate, but time should change that.  Dark cherry, Earth, spice and some savory notes fill the senses of this medium+ bodied Pinot.  Good Medium+ acidity with medium alcohol & tannin.  Much more complete than the 2006, which showed the turned compost and skunk notes I associate with good but not great Pinot.  

This Vineyard supplies a number of other great wines like: Phillips-Hill & Adrian Fog.

Suacci Carciere - Suacci Vineyard - Russian River - Pinot Noir - 2006, 2007 & 2008 - $48 - (Modern, Showpiece) - I'd never heard of the producer, but the label was beautiful, so what the 'heck, right?  Great stuff.    I had the chance to taste 3 consecutive vintages and highly recommend them all.

These wines showed plenty of color extraction without going overboard, elegant noses of red and black cherries, plump round textures and rather low acidities and levels of tannin.  That was consistent across the 3 vintages tasted and a pleasant excursion from the Central Coast & Mendocino County wines.  All plush, ripe and soft in an elegant, drink me now style.  If you like Rochioli Estate Pinots, try these, they show similar terroir and structures.  (Yes, Suacci, that is a BIG compliment indeed;-)

Hanzell Vineyards - Sonoma County - Pinot Noir - 2000 - 1.5L - $300 - (Classic, Ager, Showpiece) - A magnum of Hanzell?  Who can say no?  Not me...Also tasted the 2006 in 750ml which is the current release.

The 2000 was showing mild color degradation but was still clear garnet/black at the core and faded to a garnet rim with a hint of brick.  The nose was so savory with pine needles, Christmas cake spice and dried currant, cherry, plum fruit.  The wine had nearly full bodied structure with medium+ tannins and acidity as well as alcohol.  A ripe wine in which the non-fruit notes rung highest.  A great glimpse of an Ultra-Classic Sonoma producer using Old World discipline and restraint while still allowing the Vineyard to pluck the strings of its melody.  This wine could continue to develop in bottle for 10 to 15 more years.

Wines Tasted April 5, 2010

Domaine Vacheron - Sancerre - Loire - France - 2008 - $NA - (Modern/Classic, Food Wine) - A classic Sauvignon Blanc with New World traits of roasted jalapeno, chive, ripe gooseberry, lime and melon rind, yet with that unmistakable edge of ground limestone.  Ripe and rich at 13% alc., an easy transition for a Marlborough, NZ SB fan.
Jamek - Stein Am Rain - Kamptal - Niederosterreich - Federspiel - Gruner Veltliner - 2006 - $16 - (Classic,  Food Wine) - A pale green/straw wine with some gas evident and medium viscosity.  A slightly floral nose with orchard fruits and lemo peel, but with a sea shell/chalky quality.  Acids were moderate+ but since the wine had an underlying sweetness, it seemed less so.  More viscous than its 12.5% alc. label, yet delicate as any GV.  Lacking a bit in the vegetal department, but that should bode well for the fruit-seekers who shun Gruner for precisely such a reason.
Hafner - Alexander Valley - Sonoma - Chardonnay - 2006 - $16 - (Modern, Great Buy) - A rich butterscotch, leesy, orchard fruit-rich wine with obvious ML/Barrel ferment qualitits.  A great buy for any consumer seeking a traditional California chardonnay with these qualities.
Norton - Mendoza - Argentina - Malbec - Reserva - 2006 - $16 - (Modern/Classic, Great Buy) - If Mendoza makes classic malbec, then this is smack dab in the thick of it, and a price that is fair in every way. A black/purple/fucsha wine of considerable viscosity and an opacticity that defines midnight.  Ripe blackberry, black raspberry, black plum fruit leed off for a clean-up crew of: cocoa, melted chocolate ganache and fresh brewed coffee.  Noticable oak presence is integrated and lushly-sweet.  A mouthfull of roasted fruits, cocoa and chocolate layer on until it's almost too much, then the dryness sets in and acidity refreshes the tongue.  A drinkers wine, unless you've got grilled sausage ready to go.
Willamette Valley Vineyards - Willamewtte Valley - Pinot Noir - Barrel Select - 2007 - $25 - (Old World, Food Wine) - Not a favorite of mine, mostly due to what it lacks...it was too Old World for me to believe 2007 could produce such a green, stemmy wine, even in 2007.  That said, it was a pale red wine with a red/ruby rim and low viscosity.  The nose had such a dillyness and tart aromas of early picked strawberries and cranberries that I really thought this was a 2004 Beaune Village wine (tart, green and stemmy, sorry 2004).  Very good if you're a Burg Hound looking into Oregon for the first time or just hate Cali Pinots because they are too ripe and fat.
Castello Banfi - Chianti Classico - Reserva - 2006 - $16 - (Classic, Great Buy) - A beautiful ruby clear color with a ruby rim.  The nose attacks with ripe almost candied red cherry, cherry Life-Savers, red currant and ripe strawberry with limestone, fennel, rose petal and dried herb characteristics.  Turns less ripe on the palette, in the classic Classico way, to tart red fruits and plum pit notes with limestone texture to fine but persistant tannins and fresh acids.  A great bargain for dinner tonight if you plan on pasta with ground beef tomato sauce and basil...as simple as I can make it...

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 - 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.

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

Domaine Alfred becomes Chamisal Vineyards!

NEWS FLASH: Domaine Alfred Elevates Branding to Represent the Historic Chamisal Vineyard

Beginning with the release of Winemaker, Fintan duFresne's 2007 Vintage wines, the Crimson Wine Group owned property will seek to emphasize the source of it's acclaimed fruit through a beautiful new package.

The Chamisal Vineyard, which it has always been known, has been growing first class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes since 1973. The Edna Valley and Chamisal lie just 4 miles east of Pismo Beach, CA.

Look for the 2007 wines in their new skin beginning in March!

The following Pine Ridge Vineyards wines were tasted with winemaker - Stacy Clark and the winerie's VIPs to predict ageability as well as saleability of some fine older vintage wines. This is the order tasted and my notes from that tasting. (wines that follow were NOT part of the Pine Ridge Tasting)


Pine Ridge Vineyards - Andrus Reserve – 1986 – Napa Valley – (12.8%) – Dusty red berry, dried and fresh cherry nose. Moderate to moderate-high acidity and moderate-low tannin. Leads in with tart red cherry, then follows with dried Bing cherry, dried currant and tea in the mouth. A wine that has held up impressively and offers the drinker a wine meant for food today. Drink now.
Duck breast with dried currant sauce and wild rice.

Pine Ridge Vineyards - Andrus Reserve – 1990 – Napa Valley – (?%) – Opens with rose petals, black plum, black cherry, blueberry and currant aromas. Acid is in the mid range, while tannin remains moderate-low it retains a granular nature. The mouth relives the nose: black cherry, tea smoke, florals and a touch of Earth. Drink now.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Crimson Creek Merlot – 1996 – Napa Valley – (?%) – Aromas of light brown sugar, light brown butter, red plum, red berry, cinnamon stick and hazelnut tell of a wine holding tightly to its French Oak experience. Soundly from a warm vintage with its, chocolate-praline, plum, cedar, and mint flavors. A moderate-high tannin and moderate acid wine which shows moderate alcohol as well. Drink now through 2010.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon - Rutherford – 1998 – Napa Valley – (14.2%) Starts with aromas of red currant, red cherry, vanilla pastry cream, light blueberry, violet, dusty currant and green olives. The fruit in the mouth is very ripe and evocative of black cherry with vanilla, then green olive. With moderate acid, moderate tannin and moderate length, this is a drink now wine.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – Stags Leap District – 1998 – Napa Valley – (14.2%) – This wine took longer than the other 98s to open, but then unleashed: plum, leather, turned Earth, black olive & black currant. On the palette it was mostly: bittersweet chocolate covered black currants, black plums and red berries. Showed moderate-high tannin as well as moderate-high acid. Drink now or hold until 2012.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – Howell Mountain – 1998 – Napa Valley – (14.2%) – Always an impressive wine from Stacy Clark and no exception here: loaded with cola, coffee, black cherry, black berry, light clove, light cinnamon and dried cranberry. Big and brash in the mouth as Howell Mtn. should be. Moderate-high-plus tannin, moderate acid, and moderate-high alcohol here. Full of smoky plum, black currant, black cherry which carry long through the finish sailing side-by-side with the tannin. Drink now through 2015.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – Andrus Reserve – 1998 – Napa Valley – (14.1%) – (My favorite wine in this tasting by far! Formerly the prestige cuvee for Pine Ridge and a stellar example of blending.) Coconut, red currant, red berry, dried red cherries, lightly floral, and sweet with cinnamon and vanilla aromas. A ripe and sweet entrance of red and black cherry, raspberry, framboise and a conclusion of light minerality. Moderate tannin, moderate acid and warm with moderately high alcohol. Drink now for sure, it’s peaking! Or hold until 2012.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon - Rutherford – 2003 – Napa Valley – (14.4%) – (My second favorite.) This wine opened up generously in the glass. It started closed and a touch green with olive and dill, but blew off to reveal the wine which “critics” hailed in its release: all ripe red currant, red berries, very fleshy cherry, red plum and cedar. In the mouth it was sweet and ripe with red berry mix, red cherry, light mineral and Earth, with chalky and dry tannins that lie in the moderate range. Acidity remained moderately low. Drink now through 2015.

Pine Ridge Vineyards – Cabernet Sauvignon – Stags Leap District – 2000 – Napa Valley – (14.1%) – Smoky, dark fruited Cabernet here. All black berry, black cherry, cassis, plum, cinnamon, tea and lightly cedary. The palette reveals more of the same, but with red fruit to boot: red currant, cranberry, tart red cherry, chocolate and cedar. A moderate-high acid, moderate tannin SLD Cab. Drink now through 2012.

Tasted seperately:

Rafanelli Vineyards – Zinfandel – Dry Creek – 2006 - $? – (Classic, Food Wine) – Red berry, floral, black plum, pluot, red apple skin, cocoa and light coconut. Firm tannin & moderate acid. A restrained Bordeaux-like wine built for food and cellar. This is a very classically styled Zinfandel from a “cult” style producer. Closed and tight, this is not a “gobby, juicy, or spicy”, zin. A Cabernet lovers wine. And a great candidate for cellaring, which is not typically in Zins DNA. Hold for 2010.

Whitcraft Winery – French Camp - Lagrien – Santa Barbara County – 2003 -(14.2%) – For those of you who have never tasted or heard about – Lagrien, it’s a grape native to North East Italy(Cool-Climate!), and produces very powerful, dark, tannic, alcoholic and acidic wines. It is the picture of excess!!! If you like PETS, try it. Almost black and opaque, this wine boasts 15.8% alc. Fully floral, red plum, pears & grape like aromas mix with hot coffee, blueberry, pencil shavings and menthol flavors. High to moderately-high acid with high tannin levels and obvious heat from alcohol. Bored with Zinfandel? Try Chris Whitcraft’s Lagrien.

Woodenhead - Pinot Russian River - 2006 - $40 - (Classic, Food Wine) - Unfined & unfiltered opaque ruby garnet. A well balanced, mid-high acid, RR Pinot which flashes it's caramel, vanilla, orange peel, bubble gum, boysenberr y and rasp/red currant red cherry and spiced tea aromas vividly. Not a Power Pinot rather a graceful wine with mid heat (14.7). Ripe and sweet fruit wood in the mouth, with lingering spice and acid...drink now or hold for 5 to 7 yrs. We had pasta with fresh tomato sauce applewood smoked bacon chard and lemon thyme w EVOO!


Mayacamas Vineyards - Napa Cabernet Sauvignon - Mt. Veeder - 1997 - $? - (Classic, Ager, Food Wine) - Tight, focused and floral in the nose. Raspberry, red currant, lavander and green tea. Dusty black cherry. This wine us showing beautifully now but can still linger for 5-8 yrs


Coroson Winery - Kronos Vineyard - Cabernet Sauvignon - 2003 - $98 - (Classic, Ager, Stand Alone) - (13.8% alc.) - Black berry, red cherry, lt cassis and strong blueberry character. Light plastic aroma as well as red florals.. Mid-high tannin mid-high acid. Long mineral tannin chalky tnin that are chewey and persistant. Almost red apple skin thru finish. 1971 or 1972


Aubert - Reuling Vineyard - Sonoma Coast - Pinot Noir - 2006 - $? - (Modern, Showpiece) - My first time tasting Aubert wines and I have to say, "These are a BIG deal, so if you don't like huge wines stay away". Mushroom leads off, then: black currant, red plum, raspberry, herb tea leaf, pine and clay. Full bodied and 15.6% alc?! Tamarind, raspberry, sweet and ripe with a touch of plastic. Mid-high tannins with earthy persistence. Pleanty of fruit and heat. Raisin-like final note which lingers on the breath.

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...

September 2, 2008 Wines Tasted

Domaine Alfred - Chamisal Vineyard - Pinot Noir - Edna Valley- 2006 - $40- (Modern, Food Wine) - Nose of bright red berry, red cherry, Earth, turned clay, hints of black cherry. Fresh and spicy in the mouth as well as being ripe and fully dry, featuring: clove, cinnamon stick, red apple skin, firm tannins, moderate acidity, moderate length. Clean and fresh through the finish, good balance for 14.5%.

Domaine Alfred - Califa - Chamisal Vineyard - Pinot Noir - Edna Valley - 2006 - $60 - (Ager, Modern) - If I had to say how this was different from the above wine, I'd sum it up by suggesting that it's just MORE...Boysenberry, red cherry, adobe clay, sweet vanilla. Ripe and sweet, yet very dry. The Califa tends towards Red cherry, red apple skin, light coffee grounds; firm tannin, moderate high acidity, great length in the finish with a slight warmth (14.5%) and a sense that much more is yet to come. I refered to it as: "Dense & rich with enclosed fruit waiting to escape".

We enjoyed canapes including, Antelope Empanadas and Filet Tenderloin Wrapped with Applewood Smoked Bacon and Black Plum Sauce.

August 25, 2008 Wines Tasted

Domaine Alfred - Chamisal Vineyards - Pinot Noir - Edna Valley - 2005 - $40 - (Classic, Ager, Food Wine) - As promised. Upon opening this wine leads off with earthy mushroom, spice, sweet basil, mint, leather, red cherry and boysenberry aromas. Complex and changing quickly from forest floor components to saddle and spice cabinet. On the palette: warm and ripe(14.5% alc) the leather and bloomy-rind elements carry on, as do the garnet-hued berries and red cherry pie spices like cinnamon, clove, anise, allspice. A medium bodied wine with moderate acid, this pinot will be right at home in the hands of a Burgundy fan, as it lies squarely in their model(though with true Californian ripeness). Watching the Napa sunset we had peppered salami and great laughter as our dinner.

BREAKING NEWS !!!!!!!!!!!!! Pine Ridge Acquires Domaine Alfred

The Gag-Order is off and the news is out! Just announced officially at 3:30PM today, The Crimson Wine Group (Pine Ridge Vineyards-Napa, CA; Archery Summit Winery-Willamette Valley, OR & Double Canyon Vineyard-Horse Heaven Hills, WA) has added Domaine Alfred of Edna Valley, CA to its portfolio of "World-Class Wine Estates".
CEO, Erle Martin made this announcement to the staff just minutes prior to this posting, and is excited to see a top notch Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Vineyard, The Chamisal Vineyard(Edna Valley's Oldest, 1972) included in the Group's holdings.
I too am excited to see the future-in-the-bottle of this incredible Estate. Notes and pairings to follow shortly, now somebody tell me where I can find a bottle of Chamasal Vineyard Pinot...!!!?

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.