2004 Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

(USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain)

Soft and velvety with an explosion on the palate. Solid wine and is worth a try at 60 bucks a bottle.  Solid deep purple inky color. A few more years on this 04 and it will be a superstar. The wine is jammy and reminds me of a good bottle of the prisoner. Solid fruits, solid oak, solid tannins.  The wine is balanced and well rounded.  Lush dark berries and dark cherry. The mid palate stayed strong and the finish was medium with a smokey and earthy feel. The palate was much better than the nose.  The nose was good but not eventful with some ceder. Does not mean the overall wine is not good because this is a definite try in my opinion. Give it a little time in the decanter.

From Ladera’s site:

Our 2004 Lone Canyon Cabernet’s were cold soaked for upwards of 5 days before the commencement of fermentation. A combination of multiple strains of commercial and native wine yeasts were used. The average fermentations lasted 12 days. The free run wine was then separated from the skins which were pressed at several intervals of pressure; determined by taste and tannin intensity. The wine was then barrel aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (73% new). The wine was bottled August 23, 2006.

The 2004 Lone Canyon Cabernet is a perfect example of how rich and lush the wines from this property can be. This wine is exuberant in color and the aromas are alive with spicy and herbal fruit. The nose provides earthy, brambly undertones with brilliant dark fruit. A full bodied entry hits the palate with flavors of dark cherry and licorice. The wine is layered with textures that are bold and masculine yet maintain tannins of a velvety character. The dark fruit flavors blend with the complex tannins to produce on extremely long fruit finish.

Tags: Ladera Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, wine review, wine scores

2004 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

This Duckhorn Merlot 2004 was definitely more velvety and softer than the 05 and 03.  Nicely done on this one. Intense yet well balanced. Love the dark fruits and floral on the nose with hints of tobacco. Full bodied with plum, chocolate, mocha, and vanilla on the nose. Nice and powerful.  Solid deep purple in color. The palate is velvety and well rounded right through the mid palate.  Strong black fruits. The finish is not too hot and has length with tobacco mocha and just the right oak and earthly feel.  Plum, blackberry and spices. Although I am not a huge Duckhorn Cabernet fan for the money, I really like this 04 merlot and it’s worth a try.

From Duckhorn site:

June/July 2007

Dense inky purple hue. Scents of blackberry, walnut and mushroom. Spicy on entry with a continued walnut appeal, and more spicy pepper and clove that lead to loads of black fruit flavors with an elegant backing of cedar-laced tannins. Tart notes on the close with hints of maple and tobacco. 90 points

Wine Enthusiast

March 2007

There’s a beautiful Merlot in here but you’re going to have to paddle against the powerful tannins to find it. It brings to mind the old Duckhorn Three Palms Merlots, which were similarly tough and tannic in youth, but aged well. This wine is ripe in chocolate, blackberry, cassis, coconut macaroon and plum sauce flavors, but needs four or five years to begin to come around. 90 points, Cellar Selection

Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

January/February 2007

Ruby-red. Cassis, chocolate, licorice and minerals on the nose; very Napa Valley. Rich, round and oaky, with supple flavors of currant, dark chocolate and spices. Finishes with fairly sweet, fine tannins and a lingering note of medicinal black cherry.

88 points

Restaurant Wine Issue #115

October 2006

A medium rich, supple Merlot, that is full bodied nearly luscious in texture and long on the palate, tasting of blueberry, kola nut, cherry, spicy oak, and roasted nut. Unusually fleshy in style. Four Stars

Dan Berger’s Vintage Experiences

August 31, 2006

Fascinating green tea and spice components; nicely layered fruit of blueberry and red fruits. Graceful tannins, good acidity, and excellent balance to pair with medium-weight red meat.
Very Highly Recommended

Tags: Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot 2004, red wine review, wine review, wine tasting

2003 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)

This wine was a little surprising in that it was one of the better rhones for the price. The nose had green pepper, ceder, coco, and a touch of floral lavender. Had a hit of dirty dippers. The color was a little thin, kind of a lighter purple with lavender around the edge. The palate did not have ay peaks and valleys, it was pretty consistent through the finish where it hit you with black liquorish and the alcohol stayed lingering. The start of the palate was nice and earthy with Blackberry, plumb, bell peppers, white pepper and tobacco. It was tight in the beginning and loosened up in about 30 minutes, especial the nose which got way floral. The palate was spicy and hit the sides of the tong. Overall it was pretty balanced but the alcohol lingered a touch too much toward the mid and finish. Had a good earth and veggie feel to this wine. This wine was level lined and there were no hot spots in it, it was just overall consistent and not tremendously complex. It was enjoyable and worth a try for 65 bones a bottle.

From thier web site:

* Eye : Deep dark red.
* Nose : Spices and mature red fruits.
* Palate : Round tannins with powerful complexity. A rich unctuous wine with notes of mature plums, hazelnuts and red fruits.
* Overall : Very rich wine full of harmony and balance.

Tags: E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Red wine, rhone wine, Wine Reviews, wine tasting

2005 Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

(USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley)

This Lancaster was a serious contender.  Very solid and complex wine.  Strong earthy feel to it.  The color was deep purple hinting on brown.  The nose was very dark and mysterious with strong notes of black olive, blueberry and ceder/oak.  The palate was smooth and velvety and consistent to the earthy feel.  Black olive and blueberry were prominent.  The palate was long and the finish stayed dark and held the quality feel with burnt log and charcoal. This wine has character and is far from a table wine.  A couple more years will do this 05 well.  Solid, complex, mysterious.  This bottle was tight and deep when first opened up.  The concentration really rounded of in about 30 minutes.  This is a definite try for 75 bucks.

From Lancaster site:

2005 Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker’s Notes
Estate grown, produced and bottled, our 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon has lush ripeness, with deep black cherry and cassis characters, accented by anise, cacao, vanilla and bittersweet chocolate. Supportive tannins and layers of complexity extend over the long finish. Aged 22 months in French oak barrels, the wine was bottled unfiltered to retain purity of expression. 4,100 cases produced.

Lancaster Estate
Founded in 1995, Lancaster Estate is a family owned winery, dedicated to crafting wines that are Estate grown, bottled, and produced. Situated on 53 hillside acres at the southern tip of Alexander Valley, near the confluence of the Knights Valley and Chalk Hill appellations, this location enjoys the warm climate, depleted soils, and rugged hillsides uniquely suited to growing Bordeaux varieties.

2005 Vintage
Budbreak began early with warm temperatures in March, followed by rains in spring and early summer. A long, consistent growing season with temperatures warming in October led to clusters that were full and plump, with excellent flavor development and complexity. Yields were larger than average, showing excellent structure, with dense, full flavors.

Composition & Analysis
90% Cabernet Sauvignon
5% Malbec
2% Merlot
2% Cabernet Franc
1% Petit Verdot
22 Months French Oak Barrels
Titratable acidity 0.55 g/100mL
pH 3.75
Alcohol, by volume 14.4%

Tags: Lancaster Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Red wine, wine review, wine scores

Medium color, off nose but good taste.  I’m not really a huge Sterling fan but the reserve is worth a try.  I found it a little off from a typical Cabernet in that it was more of a earthy and Bordeaux style.  The nose was subdued with vegetable and ceder.  The palate hit the ceder strong.  The balance was a little off in that the heat and flavors were somewhat of a departure from each other. This was a little boring for a reserve. Palate was ceder, blackberry, chocolate and green pepper. Given all that, the taste was unique and is worth a try because it may be your style.

Tags: Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, wine review, wine tasting

2004 Pahlmeyer Jayson

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Nice wine overall right from the start. The Jayson Bordeaux bled red wine was dancing in every category. Although it is more of a new world red wine with a fruit explosion. The color was a deep thick purple and very viscus. Solid fruit nose with a little charcoal or tobacco and a hit of mering. At the start of drinking this bottle (we did not decant it) it had a little edge to it but the flavors of blueberries, dark fruit and spices were balanced. Medium body and the transition to the finish was quality and had about a mid hang time. The finish was solid and enjoyable. 60 bucks a bottle and this is a staple you should have on hand. I would give the Jayson 2004 a couple more years though. Definite try. It reminded me of the Prisoner Cabernet.

Composition: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec

Tasting Notes: The 2003 Jayson is an intense wine that exhibits aromas and flavors of deep black fruit, dark chocolate and finishes with focused tannins.

Winemaking Notes: The 2003 Jayson is a “declassification” of the wine originally intended for the Merlot and the Proprietary Red. We do not grow or seek out fruit in order to produce wine for the Jayson label. The 2003 Jayson Red was harvested and vinified in the same manner as the Proprietary Red and the Merlot; the whole berry fruit was from hand picked lots and fermented in short, open-topped stainless steel tanks and cold soaked, using native yeasts. The wine then continued fermentation in 100% new French oak barrels and was bottled neither fined nor filtered.

Pahlmeyer Website

Tags: cabernet, Pahlmeyer Jayson, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2006 ZD Wines Pinot Noir Rosa Lee

(USA, California, North Coast, Carneros)

Tasted this Reserve Pinot Noir at the winery in Napa and this wine first hit me with “I want more.” I felt it was a solid syrah and a better quality than most Pinot Noirs I had. Lots of plumb and sour cherries but it did also have a healthy level of oak. On the verge of too much oak. The palate definitely exploded right away and it was crisp with the fruit coming through strong. I liked the overall quality but it was bordering on industrial and fake. It is limited and its worth a try but on the high side for price. 70 bucks a bottle. If you are a pinot fan this is one you should try.

The winery was nice. Very professional and clean and it was a new feel and not the feel of an older chateaus type of place. I did feel a little un-special in the tasting room though. It was kind of like “movem in movem out” and they really pushed the sale.

Tags: pinot noir, Red wine, Wine Reviews, ZD Pinot Noir Rosa Lee

2005 Château Boswell Chardonnay Dutton Ranch/Sebastopol Vineyard

I’m not a huge chard fan but this wine was a good time. Has an old world feel to it and I feel overall this winery is all quality and produces nice tasting wines. This chard has a nice gold color but not too dark. The tannins were just right and a hint of sweetness rounded it off. The palate hung on for a bit longer than most chardonnays. Burnt sugar, melon, citrus, and smoke on the taste. give it a try

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Check out this other Chateau Boswell video

Tags: Chateau Boswell Chardonnay, white wine, wine rating, wine review

Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five

(USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District)

This is a new world feeling wine with black fruits, berries with flowers, and chocolate. Rich and weighty on the palate with soft tannins and a touch of acidity. Very fruity on the nose and a dark purple color. The wine had some good hang time on the finish and was not bitter. This wine was crisp and clean with a refreshing feel which to me gave it a very new world feel. Overall good quality and balance.

From the Shafer web site:

“The 2005 One Point Five is a meatier, more structured wine [than 2004] but slightly deeper, with broad black currant fruit flavors intermixed with some spice box, crushed rock, and spring flowers. It is characteristic of Stags Leap in its elegance and finesse. The wine has good acidity and freshness, but is long and seamless.”
– Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate

“Rich, deep and complex, with a complex mix of fleshy currant, dried berry, anise, sage and mineral, framed by light cedary oak. Gains depth and complexity on the finish. Elegant and stylish.”
– James Laube, Wine Spectator

“Good deep bright ruby. Complex aromas and flavors of cassis, leather, earth, game, tobacco and sexy smoky oak, with a minty nuance emerging with air. Creamy-sweet and expansive in the mouth, with an almost exotic character to the intense fruit. As lush as it is, it maintains firm shape. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins and impressive lingering sweetness.”
– Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar

“Deep plum, cherry and cassis aromas show hints of lavender, black olive and oak spice.  Quite ripe and plump on the palate, there is enough brisk acidity to keep it tasting fresh, and the tannins are round now, yet substantial enough for short-term cellaring.”
– Linda Murphy, WineReviewOnline.com

“… nicely extracted and showing highlights of loam and woodsy spice in its ample aromas, this rounded and fairly full-bodied effort is all about the ripe cherries on the palate … plenty of firming Cabernet Sauvignon tannins on the back end …”
– Connoisseurs’ Guide to California Wine

“Yum. Yum. Yum! … This cab rocks – with rich, juicy, mouth-filling black fruits, silky tannins, hints of violet chocolate and spice, and remarkable length. Supple and drinkable now, it still has the structure and depth to age beautifully … it’s gorgeous!”
– Robert Whitley, syndicated columnist

Tags: Red wine, Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five, Wine Reviews, wine tasting

2004 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

2004 was still a touch young but screamed of potential. A few more years and this Caymus will be right on. It was edging toward it’s big brother Caymus Special select in taste but was just not as mature and it did not have the nice old world feel that the special select has. However the nose was coming through with old world. Nice fruit flowers and earthy. Deep purple with hints of bright red around the edges. The dark fruit on the palate was juicy and had substance. Loads of a deep purple plum in the background. Wine was very tight upon opening. The cherry came through strong but the tobacco was too strong on the mid palate and finish. The finish was a little disjointed from the rest of the wine but you got the feeling it will mature. Overall a really nice wine but we paid about 100 bucks for it and I would say overpriced at that level. I would give this about a 40-50 dollar thumbs up. Although worth a try if you have not had it.

From Gary Vaynerchuk:

(CAYMUS NAPA CABERNET SAUVIGNON) #1; NOSE-sweet oak, black cherry, blackberry, chocolate, mocha; TASTE-black currant, big tannin structure, very dark, luscious, long finish, blackberry; this ROCKS!; RP-91/93; GV-93 93 points

Tags: Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley, wine review, wine tasting

2004 Chateau Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)

(France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien)

Decanted for about 30 minutes. Dark red color. Old world nose with floral and fruit. This Chateau Branaire wine tasting did not knock my socks off but it was balanced and a quality nose. Palate was sour cherry and solid espresso. This wine seem to go stale a little fast. 15 minutes in the glass and went dead. The palate had hints of chocolate and tobacco notes. Wine had quality but not outstanding. Try if you like the bordeauxs but don’t run out to get it.

FROM THE WINE DOCTOR:

Chateau Beychevelle is one of the Medoc’s finest constructions, an 18th Century affair built in the style of Louis XV. The estate lies at the south-eastern tip of the St Julien commune, close to the town of Beychevelle, with near neighbours including Chateau St Pierre and Chateau Gloria. Its regal demeanour and luxuriant flowerbeds are fine viewed either from the road or from the Gironde, which is less than a mile away to the east.

The origins of the estate are ancient and lie in the seigneurie of Lamarque, this being one of the locations Of the numerous fortified houses that lined the Gironde. In the early 15th Century it was in the hands of the de Grailly family, passing from them in 1446 to the Foix-Candale family, who also owned Chateau d’Issan. Under the tenure of this family the property was known as the Chateau de Médoc. In 1587 the land and property came into the hands of the Duc d’Epernon, Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette, when he married the heiress to the estate, Marguerite de Foix-Candale. It is said that it was this duke that was responsible for the renaming of the estate as Beychevelle. As well as ruling the locals with an iron rod as Governor of Guyenne, the Duke also became an admiral of the French navy, and French ships sailing on the Gironde - of which there must have been many, Bordeaux being a significant port - were required to lower their sails in respect. This act - baisse voile in French, bacha velo in the Gascon tongue - led to the name Beychevelle. It’s a fanciful story, one that bestows some honour on Nogaret, and unsurprisingly there are doubts about its authenticity. After all, it seems likely that ships would lower sails as they approached the port of Bordeaux anyway, regardless of the presence of a nearby chateau-dwelling admiral.

With the passing of time both the estate and the title was passed to the next generation, and it was the son Bernard that became the next Duc d’Epernon. Like his father before him he paid little interest in in viticulture at the estate, and when he died in 1642 he left behind him a handsome collection of unpaid debts. In order to satisfy the demands of his creditors, his estate was sold off. What was to become Chateau Beychevelle was purchased by the Duc de Rendan, before passing to the Abbadie family who seemed to continue the theme of neglect, although it was probably under their direction that the vineyard was established. Nevertheless they also sold the estate, this time the new owner was Marquis François-Etienne de Brassier. The marquis was responsible for today’s fine chateau, completing in 1757 a reconstruction and development of what previous owners had erected during the previous century. He also reunited much of the estate, purchasing parcels of land which had been sold off after the Duc d’Epernon’s death, and had a healthy interest in horticulture and viticulture. The former is evidenced by the fine gardens, on which every visitor seems to comment, and the latter by the construction of a vat house during his tenure.

Tags: Bordeaux, Chateau Branaire Duluc-Ducru, Red wine, wine review

2002 Schramsberg Vineyards J Schram Schramsberg web site

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

I stopped in at the Schramsberg vineyards to do a wine tasting and a tour. I highly recommend a visit when in Napa Valley. Great tour of miles of caves and millions of bottles of Sparkling wine. Schramsberg is the main supplier to the White House and for good reason. We did a 6 glass tasting and the J Schram was the last tasting. It’s one of their finest. Great experience, Excellent quality. Very solid sparkling wine. A nice toast feel and taste with hints of apricot, lemon, and peaches. It was crisp and well rounded. Light gold on the color and the finish lingers. Well made and worth the money and I suggest a try at about 90 bucks per bottle. I joined the club as a result, especially so that I can get the J Davies Cabernet.

From Schramsberg’s website

J. Schram

From the inception of our efforts in 1965, we have sought to achieve the greatest elegance and individuality possible in our sparkling wines. J. Schram epitomizes our philosophy to create a wine in which no effort has been spared and no care has been omitted. This wine is a fine expression of American individuality and innovation.

Wine grapes from the finest vineyards of Northern California are nurtured throughout the ripening process, before they are hand-picked. Complexity is gained through fermentation in both oak barrels and stainless steel tanks. Some small lots undergo malolactic fermentation to enrich aromas and infuse creaminess on the palate. The wine is then aged in our historical mountainside caves for over five years.

Dedicated to our founder of 1862, Jacob Schram, this special bottling has been a great success since its first
release in 1992. J. Schram reflects Schramsberg’s continuing role as a pioneer in world class sparkling wines. It is our nominee when you want an American statement of international excellence. J. Schram is appealing as an aperitif or enjoyed with fresh shellfish, caviar, smoked salmon, mild cheeses, seafood brochettes and risotto with prosciutto.

Tags: J Schram, Schramsberg, Schramsberg Vineyards, Sparkeling wine, Wine Reviews

1998 Duckhorn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

(USA, California, Napa Valley)

Visited the winery in late June to do a tour and tasting. Deep red color. Strong nose of cedar, black current and a hint of leather. Nose was more exciting than the palate. Tannins were pretty balanced, cherry and plum come through in the mouth. Disappointing short finish and a little disjointed with bitterness. After a half hour, the wine did not improve with the additional air. Overall a nice wine but overpriced. There are many more complex wines for 65 bucks. Try but don’t load up on it. Duckhorn Goldeneye

From Duckhorn’s site:

Winemaker’s notes:
A classic Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this elegantly balanced wine combines generous fruit-forward structure with age-worthy tannins and a long, satisfying finish. From its layered aromatics to its lush palate of flavors, this wine brings together an array of red and black fruit elements, including red currant, baked plum, blackberry and sweet black cherry. Adding further depth to this core of ripe fruit are notes of vanilla, molasses, allspice, fresh herbs and black olive.

Tags: california wines, Duckhorn review, Duckhorn Vineyards, Red wine, Wine Reviews

2002 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Home Ranch

(USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains)

Deep purple in color with lots of Draper perfume. Good hints of cream and black currant, blackberry and blueberry on the nose. Liked this wine because it was bold and had an explosion on the palate. The rich flavors had lot of fruit that is more than approachable, a good quality, silky tannins, balanced acidity and a finish that lingered with some nice tannins.

:

From the Ridge Site:

A surprisingly warm spring triggered early budbreak on Monte Bello, but cool summer temperatures extended the growing season. Several weather systems passed through during harvest, bringing anxiety, but little moisture. Three-quarters of the grapes were in when, on the weekend of October 18, heavy rain brought harvest to a halt. Fortunately, the following week was sunny and windy. The fruit dried, sugars recovered, and we continued picking each parcel as full flavor developed, finishing on October 23. After natural primary and secondary fermentations ended, we began assembling the Monte Bello and this outstanding Santa Cruz Mountains. Based on blind tastings, we included selected portions of the early-ripening merlot and the last-picked cabernet, all of the first press, and the richest of the second. By April, assemblage was complete. Twenty-two months in air-dried american oak has integrated the wine. It is beautifully balanced, and can be enjoyed now, yet will develop still greater complexity with five to ten years of bottle age.

Tags: Cabernet Sauvignon, Red wine, Ridge, Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Wine Reviews

2001 Schramsberg Vineyards Reserve - Schramsberg web site

(USA, California)

Deep golden color,soft and smooth with a rounded feel. Citrus with green apple notes. a little short but clean, very crisp.

Tags: napa, Schramsberg, Sparkeling wine, Wine Reviews, wite wine