2005 Quintessa

(USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford)

Really solid wine every time I have it.  Has an old world feel that I really like. I like the 04 a little better th

at the 05 just because the 04 was a touch smoother. Dark purple on the color with brown around the fringes. Vanilla and plumb on the nose with a soft silky touch of burnt logs.  This is an elegant wine that gives me the feel of a dark high end New York cigar wine bar. I love the wine but the 05 was borderline on the price.  A couple years more and it will bring this wine to where it needs to be. Berries, plumb, chewy, velvety, and a lavish wine. Give it a try.

From Quintessa Site:

“Quintessa, like all classic wines of the world, bears the same name as the vineyard from which it is made. Our goal is to produce the best expression of this extraordinary vineyard each year. In broad terms, Quintessa is a red meritage wine. The vineyard’s diversity provides us wide stylistic options for the wine. Fruit from each component block of Quintessa is harvested, sorted, then gravity fed into either oak or stainless steel fermentation tanks. Once fermentation and maceration are complete, each block wine is aged separately for up to two years in french oak barrels in our caves. After this ageing period the components are brought together and the final Quintessa blend is created. The wine is then bottled and laid down for yet another year before release. Although each vintage is unique, we have discovered that finesse and elegance best express the character of the vineyard and as such, we blend for harmony, balance, and length of flavors. Above all, our objective is to make Quintessa a delicious wine that is complementary to food.”

Agustin Huneeus
Vintner/Proprietor

Tags: Quintessa, wine review, wine score

1997 Chateau de La Tour Clos Vougeot

(France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru)

This chateau was earthy. Color was on the brownish side from the age and producer.  Pretty typical burgundy that could probably use about 20 years.  However I did not feel like this one would come around.  The nose was smokey and floral with tobacco on the back end.  The start of the palate was very earthy and had lots of minerals.  The fruit was kind of weak compared to a good California Cabernet.  The fruit was dull and most of the late 90s follow this feel.  Its not a bright wine.  You can get a feel of quality but in a subdued way.  The mid palate followed the start and the wine had some hang time.  The finish was a touch bitter and thin.  Good experience but for over 200 bucks I would pass.

From Chateau de La Tour site

Produced from the celebrated Pinot Noir grapes from our best vines, the wines from Clos Vougeot Château de la Tour are classified among Burgundy’s Grand Cru. Their elegant bouquet and flavours of “truffles, liquorice, violet and wild mint” develop harmoniously with age.
Their great quality is unanimously recognized by both wine-lovers and wine journalists.

Tags: Chateau de La Tour Clos Vougeot, Red wine, Wine Reviews, wine tasting

Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve 2004

(USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros)

The Cakebread reserve chard was smooth, well rounded and flavorful.  Nice golden color.  The nose is sweet with pineapple, pear, and a great dose of french oak.  The palate was very balanced and was rounded with butter, oak and light fruits.  A strong wine with some pop to it.  The tannins complimented the flavors nicely.  Full, and rich.  I think a few more years on this wine the tannins will not dance as much and this will be a big winner.  This wine is a define try even at the 125.00 per bottle.

From Cakebread site: Click Here

Winemaking

Our Chardonnay fruit was 100% whole-cluster-pressed to minimize astringency from the skins. Pressing the fruit cold assures even lower extraction of astringent compounds, which also increases the long term aging potential in white wines. Three quarters of the juice was barrel fermented in 35% new French oak barrels at 50-55º F, a slow, cool fermentation that fostered a perfect balance of ripe fruit, yeast, natural acidity and toasty oak. The remaining portion was fermented in stainless steel tanks, with those lots transferred to barrel once fermentation completed. While barrel fermentation promotes complexity and richness, tank fermentation maximizes fruit intensity. Partial malolactic fermentation, primarily of the higher acid lots, further enhanced the harmony of these elements. During nine months of barrel aging, the wines were frequently hand stirred to promote the integration of fruit, yeast, acid and oak, resulting in a beautifully balanced Chardonnay of elegant richness.

Tasting Notes

Our 2004 Napa Valley Chardonnay offers fresh, lovely pear and ripe Granny Smith apple aromas with supporting mineral, baked bread and baking spice scents. Full and richly textured on the palate, the citrusy crisp, spiced-apple and pear flavors are enriched by yeast and toasty oak tones that extend into a very long, rich, minerally finish. Youthfully compact, with superb structure and an ideal balance of fresh fruit, acid and wood tones, this beautiful Napa Valley Chardonnay, one of Cakebread’s very best, should develop in the bottle for another 3 to 5 years.

Tags: Cakebread Cellars Chardonnay Reserve, Wine Reviews

2002 Palmaz Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Gaston

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Nice soft and balanced wine.  No one flavor or characteristic came out which made this feel like a real quality wine.  The nose was mild with light oak, floral and cherry. The color was s mild to dark purple.  The palate had cherry, light tobacco, hints of oak and fell in line with the nose on the floral side.  It took about an hour for it to really open up and sing. This wine was lush and one of the most velvety vines I had.  Not over the top and good quality. I visited this winery and was impressed with the operation.  Not sure if there process makes a major difference but the quality is definitely there.  May be a touch expensive for this wine at 100 bucks a bottle but that does not mean it is not good. Worth a try at about 60 bucks.

From their site:

Lovingly named after our son, Christian Gaston, this wine represents the best lots of Cabernet made in the vineyard. This limited Cabernet Sauvignon is not made every year, and is released only in years where we feel that the vintage is strong enough to warrant a separate Cabernet in the portfolio.

The production volume of these wines are limited, this wine is reserved for our wine family member and visitors.

Tags: Palmaz Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Gaston, wine review, wine tasting

Chateau Boswell Winery - Chateau Boswell Website

Hi everyone. Ok, I did not want to put this video out originally but I’m going to now. Why you ask? Well I am floored at the amount of hits to my blog for Chateau Boswell Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Jacquelynn Cuvèe Blanc. Since I posted the reviews for their wine there has been allot of buzz. This was a great boutique winery run by the family and is putting out wine that you could compare to Harland Estate and Colgin. They just built a new cave that is very contemporary and something to be seen. I got a private tour by the owner Josh Peoples and he was generous enough to walk me around and barrel taste some of the up and coming Estate vintages. Outstanding. There is not much produced so get as much as you can and lay it down. This wine will double or tipple in value very quickly. By far one of my favorite wines from my 2008 trip to Napa.

Chateau Boswell Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Boswell Beckstoffer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Jacquelynn Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Boswell Chardonnay
Jacquelynn Cuvèe
Jacquelynn Cuvèe Blanc

Tags: chateau boswell, Chateau Boswell Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Jacquelynn Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvi, Red wine, wine review

2005 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve

(USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

I felt the regular Bosswell cab was a bit more exciting. The reserver was good quality and softer but not as BANG as the regular cab. Dark purple. Blackberries, chocolate on the nose and palate. Tannins are there but not as hot as the cab. I liked this wine but I would try the Bosswell Beckstopper cab for less money. The wine was together, soft and a good paring wine. Still had me thinking Harland estate on this wine. Nice but not a reserve.

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Tags: cabernet, chateau boswell, napa, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2005 Château Boswell Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon & Dr. Crane

(USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena)

Nice old world feel. Rich with mouth coating flavor and the tannins were perfect. Complex with black berry and coffee espresso and a bit earthy. AWESOME nose that is inviting with balanced oak and herbal. Great character in the palate with a finish lasting. This wine reminds me of Harland estate for much less money. Right about 90 bucks and if you like wines for an experience try this out. Not an everyday wine and a really nice old world tasting and feeling. Quality all the way.

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Tags: chateau boswell, napa, Red wine, wine review

2004 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Dark purple with aromas of jammy berry. Nice nose. Nectar with medium tannins. Thick wine with loads of chocolate, raspberry, blackfruit, vanilla, and a hint of citrus. The finish is long but a little disjointed. I like the Duckhorn merlot but I still feel the cabs are over priced at 100 Bucks. If you like this wine, try a Chateau Boswell for 95 bucks and taste the quality difference.

Tags: duckhorn, napa, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2004 Two Hands Grenache Aerope - 90 points

(Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)

Very good wine but I thought it was a little thiner than expected. Red fruit on the nose. Blueberry and raspberries on the palate with hints of cream and butter. The spice hits nice on this,the alcohol seemed a tad high for me. I like Two Hands wines but this was a bit overpriced for me. $102.00 per bottle was not worth it but don’t get me wrong. It was a nice experience. Probably would say pass for the money.

Tags: grenach, Red wine, two hands, Two Hands Grenache Aerope, Wine Reviews

2004 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - 89 points (USA, California, Napa Valley) Very nice nose and has an old world to it. Lots of smoke and oak on the nose. Red fruits on the palate with a medium length on the finish. The transitions and consistently full of flavor. Good quality and well balanced wine. Tannins are a plenty. Give it a few more years, or decant for a few hours. Definitely try for 30 bucks.

From Mount Veeder’s Website:

Rugged mountain conditions produce grapes with intensely concentrated fruit and big, rich tannins. Taming these tannins and preserving flavor are the high-altitude winemaker’s biggest challenge. Because Mount Veeder’s growing season starts late and often stretches well into November, harvest is a waiting game.  But patience is rewarded with fully-developed flavors and ripe, rich tannins in the skins and seeds. We handle Mount Veeder Winery grapes as little as possible, using tested techniques to bring out the concentration and power that mountain grapes reveal.  All lots are given a cold soak and frequent punch downs to achieve maximum extraction of fruit flavors and color, while extended contact with the skins encourages the tannins to soften and meld. Finally, aging in finely-grained French oak barrels promotes harmony and integration, and blending enhances the strengths of each varietal to achieve balance in the final wine.

Tags: Mount Veeder, Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon, napa, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2003 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley

California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

Ok now everyone is going to give ma a hard time on this one but I was not impressed. Pretty bad week so far on the tastings. In Phoenix at Ruth Chris trying this wine. This Cab is not worth the money. I would much rather have a bottle of Staglin. Medium purple and not very dark. The nose has blueberry and sour cherry with some peppers. I did like the French oak and vanilla. The taste had some raspberry, and loads of oak. I did not get much more from this, maybe a hint of some vanilla. The pallet was short in my opinion and was a little off on the finish really kind of a bad oak bitterness to the finish. It transitioned very quickly through the mid pallet.

Tags: cabernet, Red wine, Silver Oak, Wine Reviews

Solid “old world” red wine. Tons of Berries and very aged smelling oak. Very together nose that is plentifully and balanced. The palate had nice balanced oak, blackberry’s, and black current and still have a nice “old world” taste to it. Nice long finish and the mid palate was still screaming. Overall a very good experience. Higher priced wine but if you like old world you will like this.

Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chateau Montelena, napa, Red wine