April 8, 2013 – Wine: 2001 Macauley Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

As I am noticing with most of the half-bottles in my collection from California’s 2001 vintage, this bottle is a little past its peak.  While still nicely balanced, and even developing a little power, its lush fruit is waning and becoming secondary on the palette.  The nose is still potent, but the palette is a little fruit-restrained, featuring flavors of leather, sour cherry, plum, cocoa powder, and minerals … even after a three-hour decant.  I expect that the 750ml bottle is now in near perfect form for drinking.

2001 Macualey Cabernet Sauvignon (photo by Christophe Le Rouzo)

Freemark Abbey, March 1, 2013

http://www.freemarkabbey.com/

Wine club pick-ups seemed to set the theme for this trip to Napa Valley.  Three of my four stops were to wineries where I was picking up wine club shipments for myself or for my friend.  Freemark Abbey was no exception.  This was to be my first wine club shipment form Freemark Abbey and I was looking forward to visiting the new tasting room for wine club members.  As I was eagerly walking up the steps to the entry of the members’ tasting room, a staff member gently stopped me and directed my back to the historic tasting room I had experienced during my prior visit.  Alas, the members’ tasting room is closed mid-week during the slow winter months.  I guess I can still look forward to visiting the members’ tasting room when I return in May or June for my next wine club shipment.

Looking up into the old oak at Freemark Abbey winery.

Inside the historic tasting room, I was well tended-to.  I opted to taste four red wines, one of which was just over ten years past its harvest in 2002 (a terrific vintage for Cabernet).  I started with the 2009 Howell Mountain Merlot, followed by the 2002 Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, then the outstanding 2002 Bosch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, and lastly the 2009 Zinfandel.  While the 2002 Bosch Vineyard Cabernet was an incredible wine, its library pricing puts it well beyond my financial reach.  Factoring in the price, my favorite wine of the flight was the 2009 Zinfandel.
 
A full review was written already about Freemark Abbey during my visit on December 28^th, 2012.

April 4, 2013 – Wine: 2000 Ridge Monte Bello

I have to admit … after opening the 2001 Monte Bello, I was curious about the 2000 Monte Bello.  When I first opened a (half) bottle back in 2007, I found that the structure was a little flat.  The wine was wonderfully smooth and balanced with good fruit, but it lacked the structure and power typical of a Monte Bello.  In mid 2010, the wine was doing a little better structure wise.  This time, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  Upon uncorking the wine, it gave off a raspberry nose.  After decanting for an hour, this wine showed much more structure and power than it had previously (more so than the 2001, though not nearly as elegant).  This balanced and complex wine revealed flavors of red cherry, cranberry, pepper, mineral, and leather.  I opened this bottle in honor of my mother’s birthday, and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

April 2, 2013 – Two very nice red wines

It is always fun to compare two wines, regardless of how similar or distinct they may be.  Opening half-bottles makes this easier to do.  In this case, I compared two older wines from the 2001 and 2002 California vintages.  One wine is a blend of classic Bordeaux varietals grown on the mountain tops near Cupertino, while the other is a Cabernet grown in a canyon in the south-eastern corner Napa Valley.  The biggest difference, though, seems to be in the style of each of the wine makers.

2001 Ridge Monte Bello

This mountain wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Verdot.  Wine maker Paul Draper’s style with the Monte Bello is focused on control, elegance, and precision.  The wine has a beautiful nose with a definite note of mint on the nose.  The wine is supremely elegant and sublimely smooth, gliding across the tongue as only silk can do.  While not powerful in the way the other wine was, this wine was perfectly balanced and medium bodied with sweet tannins.  On the palette I noticed red and black currants, cherry, mint, leather, and minerals.  This was the most elegant wine I have ever experienced.


2001 Ridge Monte Bello (red meritage)

 2002 Carter Cellars Coliseum Block Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine comes from the steep slopes of Soda Canyon in the south-eastern corner of Napa Valley.  Nearly all of the grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon.  Wine maker Mark Carter’s style is more intense while retaining balance.  The vintage fruits are also more typical of 2002, with subtle notes of pencil lead starting to develop along with the lush fruits.  I noted sweet plum, blackberry, leather, black currant, mineral, cherry, mint, tobacco and tar.  While substituting power for the Ridge’s elegance, this wine offered up much more complexity.


2002 Carter Cellars Coliseum Block Cabernet Sauvignon

Elizabeth Spencer Wines, March 1, 2013

www.elizabethspencerwines.com

Since I helped to bend my friend’s arm to get him to join Elizabeth Spencer’s wine club, I figured I at least owe it to him to swing by the quaint tasting room in Rutherford to pick up his wine club shipments.  He saves a few dollars on shipping and I get to taste their wines – a win-win situation.  I have always enjoyed the folks at the Elizabeth Spenser tasting room as they make every effort to arrange a tasting flight that suits your interests.  The fact that there isn’t a disagreeable wine offered makes it harder to narrow in on your flight, but they will help you through this part.  When the weather is ideal, you can take your glass out to the patio to enjoy in the fresh afternoon air, too.  I stayed inside today to enjoy the brickwork and wine racks that lend an interesting pattern to the tasting room walls.


The relaxing tasting patio at Elizabeth Spencer Winery

  I limited my tasting flight to just three wines (to make up for the generosity at the previous stop).  I started off with the 2010 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir, then enjoyed the 2007 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon, and finished with the 2009 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon.  I was a little surprised to find that the 2009 Cabernet was my favorite, considering my inclination towards 2007 Cabernets and towards wines grown on Howell Mountain.

A full review was written already about Elizabeth Spencer Wines during my visit on November 2^nd, 2012.

March 21, 2013 – Wine: 2007 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc

When I first saw this on the store shelf last fall in a half bottle, I thought to myself: a 2007 Cabernet Franc … how bad can that be?  I left the store without buying any, but the next time I returned, the wine was still there.  By then I had done a little reading on the wine and decided to pick up two half-bottles to take home.  Since this was a 2007, it already had a couple of years of bottle age, so I decided to open one to evaluate it.  My mom really enjoys Cabernet Franc so I decided to share this wine with her.  This wine offered up very bright, vintage-typical fruits including blueberry, blackberry, black cherry, leather, and tea with a slight note of steel on the finish.  While the wine is still tannic and worthy of another five years of cellaring, it is nicely balanced today and really opened up after a 45 minute decant.


2007 Wolf Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc



March 10, 2013 – Wine: 2005 Elyse Petite Syrah

One of the fun aspects about shopping for wine in Napa Valley is that, in many cases, you can preview what you are about to buy just by swinging by the winery where the wine was bottled.  Back in November of 2007, a half-bottle of 2005 Elyse Petite Sirah caught my eye in a grocery store.  Lacking any experience at the time with this varietal, I wanted to know what I was getting into and how many bottles I should consider getting.  The market was in Yountville, and Elyse winery was just on the other side of Highway 29, so I made a quick run to Elyse.  I was able to preview the wine, get an understanding of its tannins, fruit, structure, and overall quality, and I decided to get a couple of half-bottles.  The winery was sold out in that format, so I had to run back to the grocery store to acquire the wine.

My notes from the initial tasting suggested holding onto the wine until 2012.  By April 2011, my curiosity had piqued and I decided to open the first bottle.  While the wine was nice then, featuring good balance, chocolate notes and great fruits, it still was not quite ready.  Tonight I relented and opened the last bottle and was pleasantly rewarded for having waited.  After 90 minutes of breathing, this wine was smooth, balanced, and very nicely flavored with leather, black raspberry, blackberry, mineral, and unsweetened chocolate.  As a side note, I found all of the wines from Elyse to be well balanced, nicely styled, and quite delicious – well worth a visit.

Robert Biale Vineyards, March 1, 2013

Winery - 7 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Interesting history in Oak Knoll.  Well made Zinfandels and Rhone-style wines, reservations required.
www.robertbialevineyards.com


The Robert Biale "Black Chicken"

I first discovered Robert Biale wines while browsing half-bottles at a South San Francisco wine shop.  The shop owner recommended the 2003 Zappa Napa Red Wine (a Zinfandel blend) that I thoroughly enjoyed.  I returned twice more for a 2003 Napa Ranches Zinfandel and a 2005 Black Chicken (Zinfandel), each as enjoyable as the first.  So, I decided it was time to visit the winery and taste more of the Robert Biale lineup.  One of the first stories they tell during your visit is the history of the name “Black Chicken”.  The winery began as a farm operation with a winery operation hidden in the barn.  Although this was years after Prohibition, the wine maker was only 15 years of age at the time and had to hide his operations.  Folks would visit the farm and order the usual items: carrots, eggs, onions, and a black chicken, which was the code name for a jug of Zinfandel.  Today, they sell wines made from the same old grapes that were already producing wines 70 years ago.  And while you can still order a Black Chicken, you can order any number of their other wines too.

Outside Robert Biale Vineyards

Driving up to the Robert Biale winery in Oak Knoll, you arrive at the winery operations building which is styled after a well-made barn, with touches of elegance around the rounded doors.  The use of woodwork in finishing the building enhances its barn-like appearance.  There is a small covered patio on two sides of the tasting room overlooking the vineyards where you are welcome to sit and enjoy your flight.  I opted for this arrangement because the weather was a spectacular 72F degrees with a very gentle breeze.  Large French doors admit both patrons and natural light to the tasting room, which is decorated with warm golden paint on the walls, treated concrete floors, and naturally finished woodwork.  In the center of the tasting room is a bar fashioned from two barrels with a beautiful section of hardwood made into a countertop.  The accommodations are on the smaller side, so the winery asks that guests make a reservation in order to taste there.

Inside the Robert Biale tasting room

The tasting menu features five red wines.  The winery does not offer any white wines.  My tasting flight began with the 2011 Varozza Zinfandel, followed by the 2011 Moore Zinfandel, the 2010 Monte Rosso Zinfandel, the 2007 Kiger Syrah, and the 2008 Estate Petite Sirah.  I was a little disappointed with the two 2011 Zinfandels, but that I attribute to the climate during the vintage (other 2011 reds from other wineries have been equally uninspiring).  The 2010 Zinfandel was delicious, as was the 2008 Petite Sirah.  I was torn between which to buy and ended up with the 2010 Monte Rosso Zinfandel in my trunk on the way home.

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 7 and the wines offered as a 7.

March 6, 2013 – Wine: 2003 Rudd Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (white label)

Back in March of 2007, my coworkers and I attended a week-long training session in Roseville, CA.  I brought along a six-pack of half-bottles to share with folks in the evenings.  The wines ranged in price from $10 to $60 a half-bottle, and spanned the entire range.  To thank me for sharing these wines, they bought me this bottle of 2003 Rudd Cabernet Sauvignon, which I let slumber in my cellar.  Tonight, two of those same coworkers were joining me for dinner, so I brought along this bottle.  While still years from its peak potential, the wine has an incredible nose, good balance, developing richness, and a persistent finish.  In this very complex wine I detected flavors of sour cherry, sweet black prunes, tea, cranberry, and minerals.  Everyone enjoyed this wine as we fought over the last sip.

2003 Rudd Oakville Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

March 5, 2013 – Wine: 2005 Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir

I remember first tasting this wine during an intimate tasting seminar at Etude Winery back in 2008 (before they opened their tasting bar).  My French friend with a passion for red Burgundy was with me and we both were impressed by this wine.  I suggested that it had the makings of growing into something fantastic in four years.  Over five years later, we finally opened the one bottle that I bought.  While I expected great things from this wine (well made from a great vintage), I was still surprised by how well this wine delivered.  The wine features good intensity, exquisite balance, near elegance, a good nose, and a persistent finish where a note of richness expresses itself.  I noticed an array of flavors, primarily stones, sour cherry, baking spices, pomegranate, and minerals.  The minerals remained in balance during the two hours that the wine was open.  This wine could have improved in the bottle another three to five years.  Very nicely done.

2005 Etude Heirloom Pinot Noir

March 2, 2013 – Wine: 2005 Tor Mast-Cimarossa Cabernet Sauvignon

I have always had an affinity for the 2005 Napa Valley Cabernets, especially those that managed to extract the beautiful red fruits while keeping the coffee and mineral components in check.  This Tor wine was recommended by a dear friend who manages a wine shop in San Francisco.  We were looking at half-bottles in a market in St. Helena when we stumbled upon this and he encouraged me to get one.  That was four years ago.  Having opened this bottle, I’m wishing I had bought two.  The wine features all of the best characteristics of the 2005 vintage, including a plush feel to the tannins, a potent nose, and an intense, well balanced palette of beautiful red fruits like cranberry, red currant, black cherry, fascinating baking spices (reminded me of the 2008 Conn Valley Cabernet, only better integrated), and well-controlled minerals.  And the finish persisted long enough to enjoy this wine slowly.  I’m looking forward to opening a bottle of the 2009 vintage in a couple of years.


2005 Tor Mast-Cimarossa Cabernet Sauvignon



La Rochelle Tasting Room, February 16, 2013

Winery - 5 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Sit-down tasting paired with cheeses.  Elegant Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the state’s best areas.
www.lrwine.com

If you enjoy a fine glass of Pinot Noir and you are in the east bay, then this is the place for you.  The wine makers at La Rochelle know where to get good grapes and they know what to do with them.  They source grapes from many of California’s best areas:  Russian River, Santa Lucia Highlands, Sonoma Coast, and Carneros to name a few.  All these grapes eventually find their way to Tesla Road in Livermore Valley, where you can taste them at the La Rochelle tasting room.  I was introduced to the La Rochelle winery by my sister on a my first Livermore Valley tasting trip and I immediately sensed the quality of the winemaking here.  I have been back a number of times since and have found the experience and the wines to be consistent each year.

The tasting room at La Rochelle

In contrast to the McGrail tasting room, the La Rochelle tasting room is positively humble.  While comfortably laid out and decorated, the tasting room itself is fairly minimalist, albeit well lit.  French doors and large windows admit ample amounts of natural light.  Hardwood floors reflect a warm glow on the honey-mustard colored walls of the tasting room.  An array of tables awaits tasters to come, sit and enjoy a flight of wines.  Tables are covered with linens to soften the feel and lend the place the feeling of a café.  By contrast, the outside of the building looks just slightly more stylish than a manufactured home.  The walls are plain with wood siding, simple trim around the doors, and a porch roof extending about 8 feet outwards.  Fortunately, the winery’s investment goes into the wines rather than the façade of the building.

Inside the La Rochelle tasting room

In partnership with Steven Kent wines, the La Rochelle tasting room offers two flights.  You can opt for the Bordeaux varietals in the Steven Kent lineup, or the Burgundian varietals in the La Rochelle lineup.  I opted for the La Rochelle flight, which started with a 2010 Chardonnay, a 2005 Pinot Noir from the library, a 2009 Russian River Pinot Noir, and a 2009 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir.  Although the 2005 was in a lovely state for drinking now, my favorite for its flavor profile was the Dutton Ranch.  Each flight of wines is paired with a plate of cheese samples to experience the food/wine pairing possibilities.  Also, each wine is poured into varietally-appropriate stemware, depending upon the wine flight selected.

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 5 and the wines offered as a 7.  This is consistent with my previous visits.

February 23, 2012 – Wine: 2008 Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon

After tasting the 2007 Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon at the winery, I sought out a case of half-bottles for my collection.  The price-quality ratio was outstanding, mostly because of its price.  I attempted to order four more and instead was delivered four 2008’s.  I opened one right away to determine whether I wanted more.  My impression last February was that this wine was thin, restrained, off-balance, and lacking any of the qualities that endeared me to the 2007.  So, I let the remaining three bottles rest.  Tonight I opened another.  What a difference a year makes!  This wine has gained body, complexity, some restrained but rich black fruits, like blackberry, sweet black prunes, leather, a hint of smoke, and the balance is remarkable (after an hour’s decant).  Now I’m wishing I had a few more.