We went to wine country for 3 great days of food and wine in November. Unfortunately the weather was chily and rainy/drizzly but we still had a great wine-drinking time!
Day #1
Acme Fine Wines, St Helena- referred by Bressler and Les Behrens- what a great visit, picked up some wines we had ordered (The Prisoner and Abiouness Pinot) and got an addtl. mixed case of some great Cabs, Merlots, Syrahs. Had them sign up for vinocellar.com while we were there- think they are going by afw as their screen name.
Tasting on Main- new tasting room in St Helena:
Broman Cellars 2001 Sauv Blanc- flat, simple, $19- 84 pts.
Schweiger 1999 Merlot- lt-med bodied, not much fruit- 85 pts- $35
Saddleback 2001 Zinfandel- fruity, raisins, spice, 89 pts- $30
kelham Vineyards 2000 Cabernet- stinky sulfury nose and taste, very old-world French style- did not care for at all- $45
Richard Partridge 2000 Cabernet sauvignon- a rich, full-bodied and balanced Cabernet- $50, 92+ pts.
Oakville Ranch 1999 Roberts Bland- med bodied, smooth, $75- 91 pts.
Robert Keenan Mernet Bordeaux Blend- $75
Schweiger PORT III- awesome, smooth, balanced, like liquid chocolate-a big yum- $39.50= 92+ pts.
Next we went to Stephen and Sue Parry's house (of Parry Cellars) for lunch. What wonderful, nice people- we had home-made Butternut Squash soup and Grilled roasted vegetable and cheese sandwiches- (one of the best sandwiches of my life) with a bottle of the 2000 Parry Cellars Cabernet and the 2001 (not yet released) Cabernet. The 2000 was very good, but the 2001 was great- black fruit, rich, smooth and balanced. $40/bottle, limited production. Their small Cabernet Vineyard is in the front of their home on the Silverado Trail. After lunch, we followed them up Spring Mtn. to Schweiger, where Andy Schweiger makes their wine. Barrel tasted the 2002 Parry (wow- loads of blueberry fruit) and the 2003, still in malo-lactic fermentation. These wines have great potential.
While there, we tasted some of the Schweiger wines as well:
2002 Sauvignon Blanc- crisp, fruity- 89 pts
2001 Chardonnay- really nice and balanced- 89 pts
also tasted the 1999 Cabernet (did not care for) and the Port (yummy)
Next stop was a visit to Behrens and Hitchcock (next door to Schweiger)- did not get to taste, as they were still busy punching down grapes from an especially late harvest.They said their 2003 grapes were better than ever and are very excited about the wines they will make.
On the way back we made the usual pit-stops at Dean and Deluca and Oakville Grocery did not buy anything,- but still fun to look!
Dinner was at Bistro Don Giovanni with Les Behrens and his wife Lisa Drinkward.We had not been there in years, the atmosphere was cozy, we sat near a fireplace and the food was excellent. We shared a Sine Qua Non (can't remember which one, a grenache, I think) and a 2000 Termanthia. Both wines were excellent! We were too tired to take any notes, I'd give the Termanthia a mid-90's rating (vs Parker's 99 pts)... I am sure we opened it too soon, but we just had to try it and Les loves Spanish wines. Les and Lisa were very excited about their last Parker visit and are expecting some great scores in the next issue. |