This is 47% Grenache, 28% Mourvedre and 25% Syrah. It would be tempting to call this a Chateauneuf styled wine, but this is clearly full of California sunshine. Purple with ruby swirls, opaque and bright.
This is a blend of 77% Mourvedre, 19% Grenache and 4% Counoise.
This is the winery that used to be the Hidden Slope Winery. They still make great Cabs. It is a blend of 97% Cabernet Sauvignon with 3% Petit Verdot. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. The nose has nice cassis, slight blueberries, baking spices and minerality. On the palate, this is ripe/sweet and slightly jammy with cassis fruit and underlying minerality. Nice finish. Not quite at maturity, this will continue to develop and broaden out. It should drink well fro ten to fifteen more years. It drinks nicely on its own and will work well with a roast or steak.
This is the second wine from Cheval Blanc, but that doesn't mean it is not a quality wine nor is it inexpensive. It is one of the better second labels out there. Purple in color with ruby swirls. The nose has cherries, tobacco, black cherries, slight mint and cedar. On the palate, this is drinking well. There are slight tannins. A nice complexity with cherries and black cherries over tobacco/earth. Nice finish. This won't get better but should be in this window for another seven to ten years. It works better with food but drinks nicely on its own. It would pair well with lamb.
2001 was a good if not great vintage and the better wines are certainly at peak. That would include this one. It is one of the better Merlot's produced in Bordeaux. Purple in color, ruby at the core. The nose is nice with cherries, slight plums, some cedar and a bit of milk chocolate. Full bodied. The wine has a nice complexity to it. If is mature and on the refined side. Layers of plums, cherries with an earthy/dried fruit base. Moderate finish. This worked well with a stuffed mushroom cap dish. No real hurry at this point, but probably best to drink up within five to ten years.
Another top wine from Cayuse. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has black raspberries, black cherries, burnt rubber (in a good way), black olives and iron. What a great texture. Juicy and velvety. On the palate, the black raspberry dominates with some underlying minerality and a hint of funk/musk. Long finish. This is still young but chugging along. It may still improve a bit over the next few years and then be good for another 15 after that.
Another wine from this new producer. Philippe Melka is the winemaker. purple in color, opaque and bright. More of a claret style of Cab than a fruit bomb. The nose has cassis, graphite, rosemary and slight tobacco. On the palate, there is cassis, camphor with a slight sour cherry note that is interesting. Nice acidity. Good finish. This seems a bit more restrained and in need of air/time. It should get better with about five to seven years of cellaring and then drink well for another seven to ten years. It will work with a wide range of food.
it's always a treat to drink Solaia, especially with a few years on it. It is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Franc. At age 12, this seems to ageing a bit faster than many vintages, but that puts it in a great place now. Purple in color, opaque and bright. The nose has cassis, cherries, chocolate and slight tarragon. On the palate, this has such wonderful balance. A bit on the voluptuous side but enough acidity to balance it off. Cassis and black cherries layered with an earthy/roasted herb quality. Complex. Nice finish. Drinking well now, it sh
it still amazes me that some people say California cabs don't age. This one, at age 21, is gorgeous and still showing youthfully. Inky purple in color. The nose has cassis, tobacco and black pepper. Open and very nice. On the palate, there are light tannins present. It drinks so smoothly. Plenty of cassis, layered with earth and tobacco. Long finish. This wine is beautiful today but should last another ten years. It will work nicely with roasted meats, veggies or fowl.
This is another project from Elaine and Manfred Krankl. Very impressive wine. It is a blend of 53% Mourvèdre, 16% Syrah, 14% Grenache, 9% Petit Sirah, 6% Graciano and 2% Viognier. It comes in a very cool shaped bottle and label, which by the way lists the alcohol at 15.8%. Inky purple in color. The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, some char, plums and mint. What a wonderful texture. Its is big yet dances on the palate with energy. Delicious. The black fruits come thru to the palate but there is an ash quality that is very interesting too. A long finish. This is drink
