Posting here, since I don't really feel that my notes are extensive enough to post as offical "Tasting Notes"...
Even though I eschewed my normal role of note taker, I thought I would kick off a thread with at least some brief impressions from memory. I know a few others, such as Scotty and lenehanbill were taking notes, so hopefully we will see a more complete list of wines.
It’s been said over and over again on these forums, but cannot be stressed enough – the Cave tour at Del Dotto is a Napa valley MUST DO. The hospitability of the cave crew is second to none, the wines are all outstanding, and the enthusiasm if Cave Girl and Cave Man is infectious.
So, in no particular order:
Before the Cave tour, we enjoyed
Saddleback Pinot Gris (refreshing & yummy), a
1999 Magnien Morey St. Denis, but I did not catch the specific designation (nicely extracted, no stink, good clean Pinot), and
2000 Crocker & Star Cab Franc (always a favorite)
2001 Del Dotto Estate Cabernet from three different types of Oak, Missouri, Minnesota, Marsannay French oak. Of these, the Marsannay produced a wine with tremendous fineness and complexity over the other two. The two American Oak samplings were very good, just not as elegant and complex as the Marsannay.
2001 Del Dotto, ‘Lot C’, from three different types of oak (American Demptos, a Colbert French blended oak barrel, and an Eastern European barrel). I am a nut for this stuff, and for me the Demptos wins out (though to be fair, we didn’t taste the other 47 different barrels this is in). This is a huge, complex, fruity, spicy, wine with an espresso-like finish. The Blended French barrel was still mighty yummy, more restrained, subtler. The East European barrel showed a lot of fineness and elegance. All three are flat out awesome wines.
2001 “The Bob” Field Blend. This is Cave Girl & Cave Man’s project that in all likelihood won’t ever make it to market. There are only two barrels of this field blend of about 5 different varieties, 8 months in new oak before being transferred to neutral oak where it’s been for 22 months. Tremendously fun and delicious, a fruit driven wine with that is a joy to sip.
2002 Del Dotto Cabernet Franc – This is going to be some incredibly good juice. Tightly wound right now, compact super-ripe, extracted fruit, huge tannic structure, super-long palate.
2001 Del Dotto Sangiovese – Simply delicious – rich, extracted, and spicy.
2001 Del Dotto Merlot – This Merlot is just huge. If the restrained, subtle style of Merlot is what you are looking for, look elsewhere, this is a full throttle powerhouse that needs some time for the oak to integrate. I loved it.
2000 Bond Matriarch – You’ve all heard about it, is it all hype? Or is there substance? The answer is: I may have to see if I can’t get some of this stuff after all. At $50, this actually represents a good value for such a fine, elegant wine. Refined, elegant fruit with silky, fine tannins, and offering a kaleidoscope of interesting flavor sensations on the palate. What a treat, thanks Vista!
2000 Bear Ursa – From Washington State, I purchased this solely on the recommendation of QoH – and now I am tremendously glad I did. A beautiful wine, soft, elegant, fruity, and complex. Not one for aging, but built for immediate appeal, drink this over the next 2-3 years. An amazing value priced in the mid-$20s.
2000 ZinAlley Vicolo Della Zinfandel Riserva – Another wine that I brought, this is a one man project out of Paso Robles. Frank Nerelli runs the whole show single handedly, from the vineyard to the bottle. This is an old world, almost rustic Zin and that is exactly what Frank was after. Muscular, brawny, big, and full. I love it.
2000 Brown Estate Zin (from Magnum) – I’m a big fan of Brown Zins, and this continues to perform beautifully. Soft sweet tannins, packed with tons of fruit and glycerin, a tremendously satisfying wine with layers upon layers of fruit. Super stuff.
1993 Brunello di Montalcino Frescobaldi-Ferré Riserva (from Magnum) – An excellent Brunello with several years of development ahead of it. Elegant soft fruits, plums and cherries, with notes of tea leaves. Rich and integrated tannins, very impressive stuff.
2001(?) Forgeron Cabernet – Many thanks to Sir Willy for providing this outstanding Washington wine for our tasting. I had never heard of this winery, but will seek it out now – an outstanding Cab, not sure if I got the vintage right.
2001 Mitolo G.A.M. – This one has gotten a lot of recognition on the boards already, and it is well deserved, this is great stuff. Ripe brambly fruit, pure sweet tannins, excellent length.
1998 Saltram Shiraz – Wow, what the heck is this? Never heard of Saltram, but it’s on my radar now, this is an outstanding wine – rich sweet fruit, tremendous structure and depth, stunning stuff.
1999(?) Showket Sangiovese – a big Sangiovese, harsh tannins, I didn’t care so much for this one.
1997 Heitz Bella Oaks – Poured out of the “correct” bottle, this was excellent stuff as you would expect. I have no tasting notes on the “other” bottle of Heitz
2000 Texier Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Very Stinky nose, better palate, needs some time, but the stink is a bit overwhelming.
1999 Lewelling – Always a winner, and this one was no exception. Excellent stuff.
2000 BV Signet Zinfandel – did not get a chance to try
1999 Pride Merlot – did not get a chance to try.
1999 Del Dotto Giovanni’s Tuscan Blend – Excellent, rich, spicy, and vibrant.
NV Trever Jones Tawny – I’m not so into to Tawny, but this was pleasant enough.
NV Buller fine Muscat – As you would expect, awesome stuff - rich, sweet, and spicy. Love it.
Well, that’s as far as my memory is going to take me. I know there were other wines present that I have omitted, so hopefully others will chime in with their additions as well as their tasting notes or impressions.
What a fantastic time! Thanks again Cave Girl for putting up with us, and for the numerous trips back into the cave
