One of the most memorable offlines in some time, Bob & Stacy Bressler did a fantastic job of coordinating and arranging the guest list to make this a truly fantastic evening. It was a real pleasure to meet the Kpak's, as well as
The Keevers and the
Stotesberys, as well as the always delightful
Lambs. The wines were stunning, but as always it is the people that make an event like this. Here are my notes:
2003 Aubert Chardonnay, Ritchie Vineyard (Magnum)
Always outstanding, this was no exception. The wine displays a wonderful minerality on the nose, with a touch of taste (or “paine grille”, if you prefer
). Complex, pure and focused on the palate, with broad tropic fruit flavors and a persistent wonderful finish. Outstanding.
NV Rockford Black Shiraz Sparkling Shiraz
Always a wine to split people, either you love it our you hate it – I loved it, and this was the best sparkling Shiraz I have ever had. Really interesting, with wonderfully sweet fruit, sweet tannins, and (obviously) a lively palate. Notes of cherries and dusty raspberries, a fun wine and a real delight – thanks Bob!
1997 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon
Some funk on the nose, slightly bretty but not to the point of objectionable, this wine to my palate tasted older than a 1997 – I would have guessed it from the early 1990s. Still a pleasant wine, with a nice claret quality about it, it might just blend in well as a ringer in a Bordeaux tasting.
2000 Neal Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
My last bottle, time to hit Mark up for some more! This remains my favorite Napa Cabernet from the 2000 vintage, with laser-like purity, bright cassis and blackberries, smooth rich tannins, and a long fine finish. A gorgeous wine, with a long life ahead if it still.
2002 L’Aventure Cote-a-Cote (60% Grenache/40% Shiraz)
A somewhat controversial wine, it cannot be denied that this wine is edging toward the pruney, over-ripe side, and shows some nail polish notes, but with that said I still loved it, with a tremendous wealth of fruit, a dense rich palate with enough acidity to carry it along. It doesn’t completely hide its 16.6% alcohol, but makes a decent attempt at it. I don’t, however, see Parker’s 96 points for this, I’d rate it in the 90-93 range.
2001 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Almost Howell Mountain’
The Lamb’s “house pour”, this wine never makes it to retail or for sale on the list. I wish my house pour could always be this tasty! Excellent mountain fruit character, with dark fruits, good backbone, fine balance, a very tasty wine.
2002 Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon, EII
Drinking really well right now (as I’ve found with many, if not most of the 2002s), the EII shows blackberry and dusty current notes, while the palate shows moderate tannins that are ripe and round. I wouldn’t be in any hurry with this wine, but if you want a nice taste of classic Herb Lamb vineyard while waiting for the Estate this is a good choice now.
2003 Keever Cabernet Sauvignon
A real winner! This was one of the top wines of the night for me (not to mention the Keever’s were wonderful people to sit and chat with over dinner). Showing lush cassis and blackberry notes framed by a touch of chocolate, the wine shows excellent balance, plenty of bright acidity, fine ripe tannins, and excellent structure. Finishing medium in length, a very impressive first wine from the Keever’s, I’ll be a buyer!
1997 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon
A touch green on the nose, with a simple, rather boring palate and slightly harsh tannins. A wine that is undoubtedly well on the decline.
1997 Merryvale Profile
No notes taken, but a good, well balanced wine that may be in a bit of a middle stage between primary and secondary cab flavors. I’d hold for a couple years and see where this goes.
2002 Grace Family Cabernet Sauvignon
Every time I taste a Grace Family wine I sooo want to be blown away by it, but sadly it has yet to happen. A very nice nose, showing a nice perfume and floral notes, but the wine falls flat on the palate, with a light mid-section, and a short finish. Overall a fairly boring wine.
2003 Behrens & Hitchcock Old Gravelly
An interesting wine that seemed to split people. Someone mentioned that this wine must have some residual sugar, and I tend to agree with that assessment. Nonetheless I very much enjoyed it, the wine is very ripe, lush, and forward – definitely wide open for business! Good Cassis and plum notes, very broad in the mouth, with tannins well concealed by the wealth of fruit, finishing long and fine. I’m not so sure I’d be interested in aging this wine however, as it might go the way of many of the high alcohol, very ripe 97s.
NV Vineyard 29 Hurricane Cuvee
100% Petite Sirah, $25/btl, with 100% of the proceeds going to Hurricane Katrina relief, this wine was surprisingly (being 100% Petite) forward and approachable, with delightful notes of sweet red fruits, raspberries. Soft and smooth on the palate, quite broad, with nice balance. You could do far worse for $25, plus it’s for a good cause – I bought a half case already.
1999 Justin Siena Audace
One of the few wines I didn’t get around to.
2004 Noon Shiraz, Eclipse
WOW, what a wine! For a 2004, with no decanting, this was simply amazingly open for business, with a beautiful, lingering nose that showed dense but perfumed fruit. Notes of black cherries, kirsch, and asian spices, while on the palate the wine is fantastically integrated and balanced. I know there are tannins in this wine, but they are so wonderfully concealed by the fruit that they are impossible to find. Complex, the epitome of balance, finishing long and delicious. A truly outstanding wine.
1993 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon, Herb Lamb Vineyard
WOW, my WOTN, this Colgin was nothing short of outstanding. Those that have concerns with highly extracted Turley wines aging should find an opportunity to taste this wine. No sign of bricking whatsoever, this could have passed for newly released wine if it weren’t for the additional complexity and nuance that can only be obtained with age. The nose shows amazing complexity, with wonderful blackberry and cassis notes, along with tremendous minerality and a touch of menthol. On the palate the wine shows velvety tannins, tremendous structure, and fantastic balance, finishing very long and very fine. On a point scale I’d probably give this 97-98 points.
2001 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon, Lone Canyon
2002 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon, Lone Canyon
2002 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain
I don’t quite know why I didn’t take any notes at the time on these wines, perhaps I was too busy chatting with the Stotesbery’s and complimenting them on these excellent wines. Of the group, my favorite was the 2002 Howell Mnt, which tasted side-by-side with the 2002 Lone Canyon just stepped things up several notches, with classic mountain fruit. All three wines were outstanding, showing classic Napa Cab. Character, balance, and finesse. Now I need to get up to Ladera and conduct more in-depth reseach!
2002 Onyx Kroon (South Africa)
I was really hoping to like this wine, not generally being impressed with what South Africa has to offer. Sadly this didn’t turn me around. The wine had ripe lich fruit, but was fairly tannic and showed some herbal notes that I didn’t care for. On the palate it was fairly lean, finishing short.
1999 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
An excellent Aussie Cabernet, ripe, lush, and forward, with tons of sweet fruit, ripe round tannins, and a long finish.
2004 Vinos Sin-Ley G4 Garnacha
No notes taken, but a delicious Grenache, ripe and full, good Grenache character.
1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia (magnum)
Again, no notes taken, but showing extremely well. Secondary aromas are starting to emerge from this wine, but it retains a wealth of fruit, with excellent complexity on the palate. Delightful!