Hourglass Vineyards bottles two wines, a 100% estate from Blueline and Hourglass Vineyard Cabernet. The Blueline vineyard is located just south of Calistoga. The 2011 Blueline Estate Merlot is 77% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot aged 16 months in 40% new oak. 2011 was a very challenging year for the Napa Valley as the weather was extremely cool.
The initial front palate has notes of allspice and cinnamon with a rounded tannin. The mid palate shows flavors of vanilla cherry cola and firm acidity. The mid palate has good minerality but is a bit overwhelmed by a jamminess quality reminiscent of a cool weather zinfandel. The finish has notes of coffee and chocolate supported by well balanced tannin.
I appreciate Hourglass and their continued attempt to push a standalone Merlot. The positives of this Merlot are outweighed by the jamminess that leaves the wine a touch fruitier than drier. But still a solid offering from a top flight winery in a tough year.
2011 Blueline Estate Merlot is $75 and only available on the mailing list. For fans of Merlot it is worth to invest in two bottles to compare.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
The Hilt Pinot Noir
The Hilt Winery, a sister winery to Jonata and Screaming Eagle, produces two Pinot Noir's and a Chardonnay. The two Pinot Noirs are the Vanguard and the Old Guard. The Vanguard Pinot Noir showcases the more fruit-forward (e.g. "new world")side of the Santa Barbara AVA vineyard sites while the Old Guard highlights the nuances and earthiness of a few select barrels of 40 year old vines.
As a fan of the more fruit forward style of Pinot Noir I selected a bottle of 2010 The Hilt Vanguard Pinot Noir Santa Barbara. A powerful Pinot Noir the front palate gives hints of dark berries, cocoa nibs and dark chocolate notes. The tannin are ever present. This is a big Pinot Noir but not in a negative way. Despite the size of this wine it maintains incredible balance. The mid palate brings notes of allspice and fruit supported by acidity. The tannin carry the notes through to the finish. The finish is medium-long and provides lasting mouthfeel.
2010 Hilt Vanguard, Pinot Noir is $45 from the mailing list which rates very high on the price to quality ratio scale. While this is an extremely big and bold Pinot Noir it is a must try for any fan of California fruit forward Pinot Noir (albeit on metaphorical steroids).
As a fan of the more fruit forward style of Pinot Noir I selected a bottle of 2010 The Hilt Vanguard Pinot Noir Santa Barbara. A powerful Pinot Noir the front palate gives hints of dark berries, cocoa nibs and dark chocolate notes. The tannin are ever present. This is a big Pinot Noir but not in a negative way. Despite the size of this wine it maintains incredible balance. The mid palate brings notes of allspice and fruit supported by acidity. The tannin carry the notes through to the finish. The finish is medium-long and provides lasting mouthfeel.
2010 Hilt Vanguard, Pinot Noir is $45 from the mailing list which rates very high on the price to quality ratio scale. While this is an extremely big and bold Pinot Noir it is a must try for any fan of California fruit forward Pinot Noir (albeit on metaphorical steroids).
Monday, August 5, 2013
Walt Wines - 2011
Walt Wines is the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sister of Hall Wines. Hall Wines purchased Roessler Cellars and renamed it Walt Wines while taking over the entire production and wine making. They source grapes from vineyards in Anderson Valley, the Sonoma Coast, Sta. Rita Hills and Willamette Valley.
Today I tasted the 2011 WALT "Rita's Crown" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. The Rita’s Crown Vineyard is one of three single vineyard Pinot Noir's that are made from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Based on Wine Spectator's ratings this wine scored 90 points on the 100 point scale. James Laube recommended a 2014-2022 drink window but I decided to try one bottle in its youth. The front palate has an interesting mix of organic beef jerky, raspberry and a hint of effervescence. The mid palate has firm tannin which hides the dark cherry, cola and earth notes. The finish is long and coats the entire palate.
Recommendation - A very complex wine which shows many different layers. This wine could benefit from another two-three years in the cellar to let those primary notes overshadow the tannin on the mid palate. Buy a few bottles to store in your cellar. - Retail $60.
Today I tasted the 2011 WALT "Rita's Crown" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. The Rita’s Crown Vineyard is one of three single vineyard Pinot Noir's that are made from the Sta. Rita Hills AVA. Based on Wine Spectator's ratings this wine scored 90 points on the 100 point scale. James Laube recommended a 2014-2022 drink window but I decided to try one bottle in its youth. The front palate has an interesting mix of organic beef jerky, raspberry and a hint of effervescence. The mid palate has firm tannin which hides the dark cherry, cola and earth notes. The finish is long and coats the entire palate.
Recommendation - A very complex wine which shows many different layers. This wine could benefit from another two-three years in the cellar to let those primary notes overshadow the tannin on the mid palate. Buy a few bottles to store in your cellar. - Retail $60.
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
From My Cellar - 07/30/2014
Kosta Browne is one of the elite producers of Pinot Noir. They make three Pinots from Sonoma Coast, Russian River and the Santa Lucia Highlands. Tonight I opened the 1 of 2 bottles of 2011 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that I was allocated as a first time wine list member (wait time - almost 4 years). The Sonoma Coast Pinot is sourced from three vineyards; Walala, Gap's Crown and Terra de Promissio.
The initial front palate is full of ripe Oregon fruit (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry). While fruit forward the front palate is balanced and complex. The fruit is carried to the mid palate with firm but soft tannin. The mid palate explodes with flavors of black cherry with the smallest hint of vanilla. The tannin carry the extremely long and complex finish. All the fruit notes become much more subtle as the long finish engages all the taste buds.
Burgundy snobs may stick up their nose at the "lack of finesse" but this wine expresses its terroir which includes abundant sun. A well balanced wine that carries fruit notes, well integrated tannin' complexity and a long finish.
Recommendation- A must have for any fan of California Pinot Noir. The price point is excellent for the quality. The only drawback is the wait time on the wait list
The initial front palate is full of ripe Oregon fruit (blueberry, blackberry, raspberry). While fruit forward the front palate is balanced and complex. The fruit is carried to the mid palate with firm but soft tannin. The mid palate explodes with flavors of black cherry with the smallest hint of vanilla. The tannin carry the extremely long and complex finish. All the fruit notes become much more subtle as the long finish engages all the taste buds.
Burgundy snobs may stick up their nose at the "lack of finesse" but this wine expresses its terroir which includes abundant sun. A well balanced wine that carries fruit notes, well integrated tannin' complexity and a long finish.
Recommendation- A must have for any fan of California Pinot Noir. The price point is excellent for the quality. The only drawback is the wait time on the wait list
Sunday, July 28, 2013
From My Cellar 07/28/2013
Hall Wines is one of the premier producers of Cabernet in the Napa Valley. Their offerings include many single vineyard sources from Stags Leap, St. Helena, Diamond Mountain, Mt. Veeder and famous blends such as Kathryn Hall and Jack's Masterpiece.
The 2009 HALL Bergfeld St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% sourced from the Bergfeld vineyard which was originally planted in 1859 and now the home to one of Hall's tasting rooms.
The first trait of the wine is revealed when it is poured into the decanter. As with most other Hall Cabernet's the wine is a deep purple. The front palate has notes of red fruit and a subtle notes of Maui sugar cane. The red berry and slights hints of oak are joined by velvet tannin's at the mid palate. The soft and velvet tannin's carry the finish to an extended length that coats the entire mouth giving added layers of complexity.
The 2009 HALL Bergfeld St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon retails for $100 and can be enjoyed now but has the structure to lay in the cellar for another decade. I recommend to buy two, one to drink and one to hold.
The 2009 HALL Bergfeld St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% sourced from the Bergfeld vineyard which was originally planted in 1859 and now the home to one of Hall's tasting rooms.
The first trait of the wine is revealed when it is poured into the decanter. As with most other Hall Cabernet's the wine is a deep purple. The front palate has notes of red fruit and a subtle notes of Maui sugar cane. The red berry and slights hints of oak are joined by velvet tannin's at the mid palate. The soft and velvet tannin's carry the finish to an extended length that coats the entire mouth giving added layers of complexity.
The 2009 HALL Bergfeld St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon retails for $100 and can be enjoyed now but has the structure to lay in the cellar for another decade. I recommend to buy two, one to drink and one to hold.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
What I Drank 07/16/2013
RN74 is a Wine Spectator Grand Award Winner with a wine list as thick as an Atlas. RN74 is self described as "...San Francisco urban wine bar and restaurant by Michael Mina, Rajat Parr and Adam Sobel featuring modern interpretations of refined American and regional French cuisine with an extensive wine list highlighting the Burgundy region of France."
The wine list has the usual list of heavy hitters from Napa, Bordeaux and Burgundy. The group decided on a Pinot Noir and I was delegated the task of picking the bottle.
I settled on 2011 CERITAS "COSTALINA" SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR. Costalina is sourced from two vineyards near Occidental which is western Sonoma Coast.
Sonoma Pinot Noir tends to fall into one of two categories, either fruit forward or 'nuanced'. The 2011 CERITAS "COSTALINA" has the best features of both categories. The wine is elegant, complex and long on the palate. The initial palate has subtle notes of Christmas spices and light raspberry flavors. What differentiates this wine from many others is the elegance and balance in which the spice notes and fruit hit the palate. With fears of being redundant this wine is the epitome of balanced. The mid palate has firm structure that holds the spice notes without over-powering the palate. The finish is long, complex and coats all parts of the tongue.
Recommendation- The 2011 CERITAS "COSTALINA" SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR is truly perfectly made with fruit notes, earth notes, acidity and tannin all in perfect balance. The wine is truly unique is the fact that it straddles the fruit forward and balanced category without falling into either one. A must try!
$42 from the website, $102 at RN74.
The wine list has the usual list of heavy hitters from Napa, Bordeaux and Burgundy. The group decided on a Pinot Noir and I was delegated the task of picking the bottle.
I settled on 2011 CERITAS "COSTALINA" SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR. Costalina is sourced from two vineyards near Occidental which is western Sonoma Coast.
Sonoma Pinot Noir tends to fall into one of two categories, either fruit forward or 'nuanced'. The 2011 CERITAS "COSTALINA" has the best features of both categories. The wine is elegant, complex and long on the palate. The initial palate has subtle notes of Christmas spices and light raspberry flavors. What differentiates this wine from many others is the elegance and balance in which the spice notes and fruit hit the palate. With fears of being redundant this wine is the epitome of balanced. The mid palate has firm structure that holds the spice notes without over-powering the palate. The finish is long, complex and coats all parts of the tongue.
Recommendation- The 2011 CERITAS "COSTALINA" SONOMA COAST PINOT NOIR is truly perfectly made with fruit notes, earth notes, acidity and tannin all in perfect balance. The wine is truly unique is the fact that it straddles the fruit forward and balanced category without falling into either one. A must try!
$42 from the website, $102 at RN74.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Airport Part 2
After my uneventful tasting flight I decided to upgrade to a full glass rather than attempt another tasting.
I settled on the 2009 Long Shadows Feather which is a Washington Cabernet made by Napa Valley veteran Randy Dunn.
The front palate explodes with earth, currant and tabacco flavors. Well integrated tannin pull the earth notes and raspberry flavors to the mid palate. Th mid palate has a complex dryness which is unique.
The finish is long, complex and strong. The dark fruits and tannin coat the entire mouth adding to the 'bigness' of the wine.
This is a great representation of Washington Cabernet and the top shelf wines that can created from top vineyards.
I settled on the 2009 Long Shadows Feather which is a Washington Cabernet made by Napa Valley veteran Randy Dunn.
The front palate explodes with earth, currant and tabacco flavors. Well integrated tannin pull the earth notes and raspberry flavors to the mid palate. Th mid palate has a complex dryness which is unique.
The finish is long, complex and strong. The dark fruits and tannin coat the entire mouth adding to the 'bigness' of the wine.
This is a great representation of Washington Cabernet and the top shelf wines that can created from top vineyards.
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