Sunday, April 18, 2004
Last week I renewed my appreciation with California Cabernet. Cabernets which for the most part have aged.nicely in the cellar. My early days of wine collecting, back in the 1980's are now showing the benefits of patience as some of the best wines I've tasted in a long time were the wines I acquired, and for many reasons, let reside offsite in high quality, temperature controlled storage or my own home based cellars or from cellars of friends who do the same thing.
1984 Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley George de La Tour Private Reserve
The best BV I ever had has consistently been the 1984 and most recent bottle was another example. The cedar, eucalyptus, black cherry, plums were all there. What was gone was the tannin, leaving only the purest of fruit, glycerin and flavors.
1982 Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley George de La Tour Private Reserve
This wine was drunk head to head with a 1982 Lynch Bages. The BV blew it off the table. It revealed a deeper, more aged flavor profile than the 1984, but was still every bit as good. Showing more tar and some saddle leather, but still had the gorgeous fruit that made BV in the eighties the wine of choice.
1984 Grgich Hills Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Mike Grgich has always made great Cabernet and the 1984 was no exception. Here's a wine that, like the BV from the same vintage, showed all the right stuff that with a silky palate of cherry and plums, a hint of raspberry and currants. Charming and still going.
1993 Fisher Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
More new school style, the thick and chunky entry level Fisher is never a disappointment. At age 11 the wine is showing great class, but will not age the way the BV's or Grgich has. Here's a multidimensional wine that has vibrant levels of black cherry and currants, a hint of cedar and some vanilla from the oak.
2001 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the Central Coast's longest and most established wineries, Rancho Sisquoc is better known for Pinot Noir and Syrah (see below) but their most recent Cabernet Sauvignon shows that gifted and experienced winemakers can turn out a wine from a good vintage. This sappy, rich, easy to drink red has nice Cabernet fruit flavors, some crème de cocoa, mocha and cassis.
2001 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara County Syrah
Darn is this good wine. I really was blown away, as the dark colored wine has the right stuff to age. Made not to different that what makes Qupe one of my favorites, the style is very similar, with blueberry, black pepper, tarry fruit with a long finish of pie filling blueberry flavor and raspberries.
2001 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Pinot spice is evident here, and the velvety palate of red cherries, raspberries and strawberry fruit really makes the wine a wonderful drink over the next five to seven years. Smooth, easy, vibrant with a deep cool center. Given the quality of the higher end wines from this winery, they are certainly one to look for.
2001 Villa Creek "The Avenger"
A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, this red wine made by long time friend Cris Cherry is one of the best $20.00 wines on the market. Made like a wine from the Languedoc, the blackberry, black raspberry, cola, cocoa, tar and hints of garrigue spice makes this wine a charmer from start to finish. Still showing some hedonistic, primal fruit, the wine continues to evolve in the bottle and will age for a few more years.
1991 Rosenblum Michael Marston Vineyard Zinfandel
I forget if this was Sonoma or Napa, but what I do remember is how terrific the wine was. When Zin hits a point in its life cycle, it seems to take on an almost Bordeaux like quality. This was no exception as it showed great charm, grace and elegance. The jammy Zin is gone, leaving nothing but pristine fruit of black plums, black raspberry and black cherry. Perfect now.
2000 David Hill Estate Riesling Oregon
I continue to be impressed by the wines from this producer. The clean and high concentration in the half dry Riesling is full of lemon, orange, lime and grapefruit flavors. The long and elegant finish, with the right degree of acid balance shows what a talent the winemaker at David Hill really is.
Wines from Friends:
1993 Dalle Valle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
In the opposite direction, the wine is built for the long haul. Jammy, concentrated, the dark purple colored red wine has all the makings of a wine that will easily age twenty years. Loaded with cassis, ripe black cherry and crème de cocoa, the black plums are all melding nicely.
1992 Dalle Valle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Totally different than the 1993, this wine is soft, forward and precocious with lush bing cherry, black cherry and red raspberry. This wine is at peak, but will likely stay there for about four or five more years.
1996 Clos Mimi Schell Vineyard
I was disappointed in this wine. While it had the color and pedigree, it seemed to poop out in the glass. One dimensional, nothing standing out. While the wine carries a big reputation, it didn't live up to the words the person who brought it or I had heard.
1990 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Oregon
Amazing. 14 year young Pinot Noir, it still had the stuff that makes me realize that Oregon really does make Pinot like they do in Burgundy. While there was a hint of stewed tomato, it blew off and showed a spicy bouquet, great color and dynamite taste.
2000 Venge Family Vineyard Zinfandel
While I don't think this is a wine for the ages, the wine is drinking beautiful right now. The wine is silky and elegant, not big and brawny. It has delightful fruit and wonderful body.
Cheers,
Andy
1984 Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley George de La Tour Private Reserve
The best BV I ever had has consistently been the 1984 and most recent bottle was another example. The cedar, eucalyptus, black cherry, plums were all there. What was gone was the tannin, leaving only the purest of fruit, glycerin and flavors.
1982 Beaulieu Vineyards Napa Valley George de La Tour Private Reserve
This wine was drunk head to head with a 1982 Lynch Bages. The BV blew it off the table. It revealed a deeper, more aged flavor profile than the 1984, but was still every bit as good. Showing more tar and some saddle leather, but still had the gorgeous fruit that made BV in the eighties the wine of choice.
1984 Grgich Hills Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Mike Grgich has always made great Cabernet and the 1984 was no exception. Here's a wine that, like the BV from the same vintage, showed all the right stuff that with a silky palate of cherry and plums, a hint of raspberry and currants. Charming and still going.
1993 Fisher Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
More new school style, the thick and chunky entry level Fisher is never a disappointment. At age 11 the wine is showing great class, but will not age the way the BV's or Grgich has. Here's a multidimensional wine that has vibrant levels of black cherry and currants, a hint of cedar and some vanilla from the oak.
2001 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara Cabernet Sauvignon
One of the Central Coast's longest and most established wineries, Rancho Sisquoc is better known for Pinot Noir and Syrah (see below) but their most recent Cabernet Sauvignon shows that gifted and experienced winemakers can turn out a wine from a good vintage. This sappy, rich, easy to drink red has nice Cabernet fruit flavors, some crème de cocoa, mocha and cassis.
2001 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara County Syrah
Darn is this good wine. I really was blown away, as the dark colored wine has the right stuff to age. Made not to different that what makes Qupe one of my favorites, the style is very similar, with blueberry, black pepper, tarry fruit with a long finish of pie filling blueberry flavor and raspberries.
2001 Rancho Sisquoc Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
Pinot spice is evident here, and the velvety palate of red cherries, raspberries and strawberry fruit really makes the wine a wonderful drink over the next five to seven years. Smooth, easy, vibrant with a deep cool center. Given the quality of the higher end wines from this winery, they are certainly one to look for.
2001 Villa Creek "The Avenger"
A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre, this red wine made by long time friend Cris Cherry is one of the best $20.00 wines on the market. Made like a wine from the Languedoc, the blackberry, black raspberry, cola, cocoa, tar and hints of garrigue spice makes this wine a charmer from start to finish. Still showing some hedonistic, primal fruit, the wine continues to evolve in the bottle and will age for a few more years.
1991 Rosenblum Michael Marston Vineyard Zinfandel
I forget if this was Sonoma or Napa, but what I do remember is how terrific the wine was. When Zin hits a point in its life cycle, it seems to take on an almost Bordeaux like quality. This was no exception as it showed great charm, grace and elegance. The jammy Zin is gone, leaving nothing but pristine fruit of black plums, black raspberry and black cherry. Perfect now.
2000 David Hill Estate Riesling Oregon
I continue to be impressed by the wines from this producer. The clean and high concentration in the half dry Riesling is full of lemon, orange, lime and grapefruit flavors. The long and elegant finish, with the right degree of acid balance shows what a talent the winemaker at David Hill really is.
Wines from Friends:
1993 Dalle Valle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
In the opposite direction, the wine is built for the long haul. Jammy, concentrated, the dark purple colored red wine has all the makings of a wine that will easily age twenty years. Loaded with cassis, ripe black cherry and crème de cocoa, the black plums are all melding nicely.
1992 Dalle Valle Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Totally different than the 1993, this wine is soft, forward and precocious with lush bing cherry, black cherry and red raspberry. This wine is at peak, but will likely stay there for about four or five more years.
1996 Clos Mimi Schell Vineyard
I was disappointed in this wine. While it had the color and pedigree, it seemed to poop out in the glass. One dimensional, nothing standing out. While the wine carries a big reputation, it didn't live up to the words the person who brought it or I had heard.
1990 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Oregon
Amazing. 14 year young Pinot Noir, it still had the stuff that makes me realize that Oregon really does make Pinot like they do in Burgundy. While there was a hint of stewed tomato, it blew off and showed a spicy bouquet, great color and dynamite taste.
2000 Venge Family Vineyard Zinfandel
While I don't think this is a wine for the ages, the wine is drinking beautiful right now. The wine is silky and elegant, not big and brawny. It has delightful fruit and wonderful body.
Cheers,
Andy
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