August 31, 2013 – Wine: J. Lohr Cabs

I have been holding onto a small vertical of J. Lohr Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon for a few years now, waiting for an opportunity to share them.  Even three half bottles makes for a lot of wine for just two people, so I was waiting for an appropriate event with enough wine drinkers.  Today my sister-in-law celebrated her birthday, so I brought out these three half-bottles.  The first was the 2006, which had become completely smooth but lacked any noticeable structure.  The second was the 2007 which offered plenty of structure, complexity, and tasty fruit.  The third was the 2008, which is still resolving its tannins.  My mom and I favored the 2007, while others preferred the softness of the 2006.  The 2008 simply needs more time.

Follow up on the Break-resistant Champagne Flutes

I just got off the phone with Wine Enthusiast.  What a great experience this is.  I had dallied a bit in ordering the replacement stems that my sister had done in, giving her ample time to demolish the remaining two stems.  So, all four stems now require replacement.  I explained that my sister was using the glasses outdoors and they are now all broken.  It took about half a minute to look up my order, a couple of questions about which shipping address to use, a quick thank you, and we were done.  The only question remains … should I commit the remaining stems to a certain death at my sister’s house, or give them a safe haven in my home and bring them out when she visits?  (If she breaks them again, it will cost $8 a stem to replace, which is not cost-effective.)  What would you do?

August 19, 2013 – Wine: 2008 Boëte Cheval Rouge

While looking for a decent party wine, I stumbled upon this (sub-$20) red blend that was rated 91 points by Wine Enthusiast, so I bought a bottle.  A week later, the wine was part of a tasting lineup at the same store, so I returned to try it.  (I had become skeptical after noticing the Carmel Valley designation, where the consistency of winemakers is not up to the par of better known regions.)  To my delight, this wine was remarkably tasty and well balanced, so I bought a second bottle.  Tonight I opened a bottle to share with friends and everybody enjoyed it.  Although I drank my wine after a palette scorching meal of Thai food, I could tell that it was a nicely balanced fruit-forward blend of red and dark fruit influences, complex, and very easy to drink.  I think I’ll head back to the store for a few more while I can.

2008 Boëte Cheval Rouge

J. Lohr Vineyards and Wine, July 27, 2013

On my last trip to recycle corks at the J. Lohr tasting room near downtown San Jose, I learned that the new 2011 Seven Oaks Cabernet had been released.  While I didn’t have time to taste it that day, it piqued my curiosity until today I finally relented and stopped in.  (I believe two weeks had elapsed.)  I had just finished a tasty lunch at a nearby taqueria and decided to drop in to check out the new lineup.  The weather was perfect and I did not mind the short extra walk to the winery.  The big surprise today was how well the 2011 Seven Oaks Cabernet is performing.  The wine is very nicely balanced, smooth, and ripe.  This is one of the first 2011 California reds that I have tried that actually tastes like it was ripe when harvested.

I started my tasting lineup with the 2011 Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon to experience it with a clean palette.  Next I tried the 2010 Highlands Bench Pinot Noir, then the 2010 Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon.  I was going to move onto the Tower Road Petite Sirah, but the black-label cuvee wines caught my eye.  So, I opted to try the 2008 Cuvee Pom (a Merlot-based blend) and the 2005 Cuvee St. E (a Cab-Franc-based blend).  I have a couple of the 2005’s still in my cellar and was glad to get a progress report.  Of all the wines poured, my favorite was the 2010 Carol’s Vineyard Cabernet for its richness and depth.

A full review was written already about J. Lohr Vineyards during my visit on March 25^th, 2012.

August 10, 2013 – One White, One Red

When asked if I could bring a white for dinner instead of red, I asked “how about one of each?”  I brought two half-bottles, both from the 2007 vintage.  The Chardonnay was ready to be opened, while the Pinot Noir had been a curiosity inspired by a film made several years ago.  Both wines come from California’s central coast, the Chardonnay from Santa Lucia Highlands (south of Salinas) and the Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County.

2007 Testarossa Castello Chardonnay

This wine is a beautiful golden color in the glass, but I recall it being more pale when I bought it back in 2009.  Once you get past the color, you notice the beautiful bouquet filling the glass.  This wine is far from delicate or light-weight.  It is smooth and balanced, delivering flavors of green apples, under ripe mango, mineral, pears, and a sweet, caramel note on the finish.  I recall tasting this when young and noticing its potential – tonight I got to appreciate that and more.  And for the price, this wine is an amazing deal for the quality it delivers.

2007 Hitching Post Highliner Pinot Noir

Having watched the movie Sideways a few times, you have to wonder about the wine the star chooses to drink when he goes out by himself to the local (Buellton) watering hole.  In this case, he chose the Highliner, a Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County.  A couple of years back I placed an order for an assortment of wines online and tossed in this bottle to satisfy my curiosity.  While lacking the wow! factor of the Chardonnay, this wine was indeed nice and true to its varietal.  I noticed flavors of blackberry, dark cherry, baking spices, minerals, and plums all delivered with good balance and restraint.

An Update on Break-Resistant Stemware

While attending a backyard barbecue at my sister’s home, I accidentally soccer-kicked her champagne glass that was standing on the concrete patio.  The glass faced certain destruction at the hands of my foot.  After sweeping up the chards of glass, I decided to give her a set of the Wine Enthusiasts’ break-resistant champagne flutes.  Since I started using the Cabernet glasses from the same product line in 2009, I have only broken one stem, so I figured she might benefit from these stylish, sturdy stems.  I ordered a set of four to replace the one stem that I had demolished and left the package at her house.


Now, about 1 month later, she has already broken two of the stems.  Each time, the flute was resting on the concrete patio and somebody unknowingly gave the glass a decent soccer kick.  (At least this time it wasn't me.)  So, now I have to call Wine Enthusiast and try to get the glasses replaced.  Their policy allows for one free replacement, while subsequent replacements require that the purchaser pay for shipping costs.  If she breaks any more, I think I’ll recommend acrylic flutes, or perhaps, wrapping the glass flutes in bubble wrap.

August 9, 2013 – Wine: 2010 Uppercut Cabernet

I know the winery that makes this wine.  I was first introduced to the 2007 vintage during a winery visit.  This wine was brought to market to fill the sub-$25 gap that the recession had made popular.  As I started to entertain more, I was kicking myself for not having bought some of that 2007 wine.  Then, last fall I was browsing the Sunset Magazine annual wine list and noticed that this wine scored a gold rating as a terrific value Napa Valley Cabernet, so I bought a few.  Tonight I brought this bottle to dinner, but most of the guests enjoyed a cold beer instead.  I was able to work my way through a couple of glasses and found the wine to be quite nice.  It tasted like it was made from $20 wine grapes, but the signature style of the winemaker was evident in this wine.  Nice balance and a good finish frame the flavors of blackberry, leather, dried cherry, sweet black prunes, and minerals.  Let this breathe for at least 30 minutes to allow the tannins to settle.  I’m hoping another year in the cellar will help this young wine get even better.

2010 Uppercut Cabernet Sauvignon

Gary Farrell Winery, July 5, 2013

www.garyfarrellwinery.com

While traveling in the Russian River area, I had time again for a visit to just one winery.  I know I should branch out and explore more, but when I have time for just one visit, I want a sure thing.  And, the tasting room at Gary Farrell Winery provides a “sure thing” experience.  Of course, another reason to visit is to keep up with the latest vintage of wine and to check out what’s new at the winery.  In this case, the winery has changed its tasting experiences.  In the past, tasters were offered a choice of flights including a standard flight and a reserve flight.  Last year they did away with the standard flight and just have the one.  This year, they added attended outdoor (or indoor at the beautiful cherry-wood tables) tastings for a small premium.  Given the wonderfully warm weather this day, there was plenty of demand for the outdoor tastings, so I opted to taste at the counter inside.  The good news is that inside has nearly the same view of the Russian River valley below as the outdoor tables have.

The handsome cherry tabletop inside Gary Farrell's tasting room

The tasting flight consists of two Chardonnays, two Pinot Noirs, and a Zinfandel.  I started with the 2010 Rochioli-Allen Vineyards Chardonnay followed by the 2010 West Side Farms Chardonnay.  I preferred the sweeter edge of the Rochioli-Allen to the West Side Farms.  Next came the red wines, starting with the 2010 Stiling Pinot Noir, and followed by the 2010 Ramol Pinot Noir.  I was a little uninspired by both, although they were each well made (the Stiling being unusually light bodied).  Then I was offered an off-menu pour of the 2010 Hallberg Pinot Noir, which was bar far my favorite of the day.  (I purchased the 2009 vintage of this wine last year.)  Finally, I tasted the 2010 Bradford Zinfandel, which I gave some serious thought to purchasing.


A full review was written already about Gary Farrell Winery during my visit on July 25^th, 2012.

August 5, 2013 – Wine: 2010 Provenance Estate Sauvignon Blanc

If you prefer a little acidity to your matured Sauvignon Blanc, I may have found the formula.  Take a medium bodied Sauvignon Blanc (that may have slight exposure to oak) and age it for three years.  In contrast to the almost creamy 2009 I opened at the end of June, this wine still retains some of its crisp acidity which befits warmer weather and lighter dinner fare.  (I paired it with a chicken stew.)  The subtle flavors of grapefruit, green apple, and pear along with grassy notes are woven together nicely, with terrific balance and weight without a harsh edge to be found.  I actually preferred this bottle to the 2009, but when released I believe my preference leaned the other way.

August 2, 2013 –Wines: Tres Pino(t)s

I have to admit that I enjoy comparing and contrasting wines.  In this case, I was comparing three Pinot Noir wines from different price levels.  Two were from the same vintage and remarkably different.  The third was a bit younger but shared a flavor profile and body with one of the older wines.  I am thankful that a long-time friend showed up unexpectedly and provided this opportunity to explore.

2007 J. Lohr Fog’s Reach Pinot Noir

I started out with leftovers from the day before of the J. Lohr Pinot Noir.  I had decanted most of the bottle and immediately corked up the remainder.  The next day, the wine retained most of its body and all of its flavor profile.  I remember tasting this wine when it was released and falling for its vintage-typical lush palette.  While the vintage-typical fruits (blueberry and blackberry supported by baking spices) remain in abundance, this wine is just too jammy to be considered a great Pinot Noir.  Still, it was delicious.

2007 Gary Farrell Russian River Selection Pinot Noir

This wine made it nearly impossible for any other wine to shine.  While the most expensive of the three, the quality and elegance that one expects from a fine Pinot Noir were abundant in this wine.  This wine featured flavors more typical of a Pinot Noir, with a nod towards the vintage’s expression, starting with black cherries, blackberries, baking spices, and slight minerals, all delivered in exquisite balance.  But the elegance and clarity were what won me over.

2010 Frei Brothers Russian River Pinot Noir


As the least expensive of the three wines, I had the lowest expectations for this wine.  As it turns out, it was nearly identical to the J. Lohr Pinot Noir (except for the blueberries).  The body, while three years younger than the J. Lohr, was almost equally as jammy, with delicious fruits featured above subtle baking spices.  My guess is that this wine won’t keep as long as the J. Lohr considering its young softness.  Still, it is drinking nicely today.

Better late than never?

As a matter of practice, I type up my reviews of wines I open and wineries I visit and keep them in an electronic notebook.  I then publish regularly from my notebook.  While reviewing my notes for Elizabeth Spencer winery, I noticed that I had neglected to publish my initial review of the winery last November.  What follows should be the full review from that date.  I offer my apologies for taking so long to get the material uploaded here.

Here is the post:  Elizabeth Spencer

Elizabeth Spencer Wines, November 2, 2012

Winery - 6 / Wines - 7
Range:  1 to 9 (9 is best, 5 is average)
Quaint, cozy, brick tasting room.  Reds, whites, and rosé wines.
www.elizabethspencerwines.com

There are two things that I like about Elizabeth Spencer.  The first is the consistent quality to be found in all of their wines.  The second is the fact that their tasting room stays open a bit longer than most in Napa Valley – until 6:00 during the spring and summer.  Of course, like most places, if you haven’t started to enjoy your first pour by 5:30, you won’t be able to get started.  My wine-tasting buddy first recommended Elizabeth Spencer to me just over a year ago as a new place to check out.  He adores their wines, and I appreciate that they bottle their wonderful Napa Valley Cabernet in half bottles.  This time, my friend felt compelled to join their wine club.
 

The charming entrance to Elizabeth Spencer

The Elizabeth Spencer tasting room is tiny, but don’t let that stop you from visiting.  They have an ample patio where they usually pour their wines.  If you choose to taste inside, you can hang around the U-shaped tasting counter and admire the brickwork, the woodwork, and the wine rack that lines one complete wall of the room, with all the wine bottle capsules neatly arranged in a tidy grid.  Although the main source of natural light faces north, the tasting room does get a good dose of light from the windows and French-door that make up the wall.  These folks really have made the best of a small situation, creating an environment that feels more cozy and intimate than cramped.  Of course, nothing beats the curb-appeal of this place – the brick exterior just sings charm as you walk up to the door.

The Elizabeth Spencer tasting room.

The tasting menu varies with each visit, depending upon which wines have recently been released.  They will offer you more than four pours, so be sure to count what you are poured if you will be driving afterwards.  (If you’ll be heading across the street to the Rutherford Grill afterwards, enjoy it all and sober up over some food.)  On my visit, they poured a Chardonnay, a Pinot Noir, the Knights Valley Merlot, and the Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon.  I enjoyed every wine, but the Mount Veeder Cabernet was my favorite.

Based on this experience, I would rate the winery as a 6 and the wines offered as a 7.  This is consistent with my previous visits.

July 24, 2013 – Wine: 2003 D’Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz

I bought this wine twice.  The first time was back in 2007, and I opened it in August of 2010.  At that time I noted a well styled, balanced and tasty Shiraz that was in need of a few more years of cellaring.  I happened upon a second half bottle last March and decided to try it again.  This time, the wine was still fairly tannic, but it was very nice, rich, and balanced.  On the palette were flavors of pomegranate, tobacco, blackberry, tomato, and mineral.  If I come upon another of these, I think I’ll wait until 2016 (or so) to open it.

 

2003 D'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz