Roanoke Vineyards makes two Cabernet Franc, the cult-like Gabby's and the 'normal' Roanoke Vineyards Cabernet Franc. The 2009 Roanoke Vineyards Cabernet Franc is 83% Cabernet Franc and 17% Merlot. The first notes in the front palate are of cherry-cola. The Cabernet Franc has firm structure with hints of earth and tobacco. The firm mid palate guides the black and red fruit into a long finish.
Recommendation - Roanoke continually proves why they are some of the best producers on the North Fork and the Roanoke Vineyards Cabernet Franc 2009 is another example.
Friday, May 24, 2013
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
What I Drank - 05/22/13
My first choice from last night's wine list was the 2010 HAMILTON RUSSELL Pinot Noir Hemel-en-Aarde Valley but unfortunately it was sold out. After getting over my disappointment and with the waiter waiting for my second selection I decided on the 2010 Leviathan.
Leviathan is made by Andy Erickson and is considered a California Table wine consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. This wine has a very firm/tight structure with dark red fruit notes in the front palate. The tannin's are prevalent but are softened by the touches of Syrah. If you focus on the wine it is possible to note each of the varietals yet they are blended in perfect harmony to make a complete wine. Leviathan was a straight forward (easy drinking) yet complex wine that had a long finish. Leviathan never disappoints and at the price point ($43) is an excellent offering highlighting the blending skills of Andy Erickson.
The second wine for dinner was a 375ml bottle of 2008 RUBICON ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Cask which perfectly blended dark fruit, firm structure with a touch of oak. The mid palate and finish had a dry mouth feel complimented with mocha and cherry. The finish was a bit underwhelming due to the mid length finish but overall a perfect wine for the meat entrees.
For dessert chocolate and cake was skipped in favor of Dolce. The 2007 Dolce is the blueprint for late harvest wine. The complex fruit notes of honey, melon and pineapple give way to a decadent structure. The wine manages all this without any of the syrupy flavors or mouth feel of many other dessert wines.
I would recommend each of these wines.
Leviathan is made by Andy Erickson and is considered a California Table wine consisting of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. This wine has a very firm/tight structure with dark red fruit notes in the front palate. The tannin's are prevalent but are softened by the touches of Syrah. If you focus on the wine it is possible to note each of the varietals yet they are blended in perfect harmony to make a complete wine. Leviathan was a straight forward (easy drinking) yet complex wine that had a long finish. Leviathan never disappoints and at the price point ($43) is an excellent offering highlighting the blending skills of Andy Erickson.
The second wine for dinner was a 375ml bottle of 2008 RUBICON ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Cask which perfectly blended dark fruit, firm structure with a touch of oak. The mid palate and finish had a dry mouth feel complimented with mocha and cherry. The finish was a bit underwhelming due to the mid length finish but overall a perfect wine for the meat entrees.
For dessert chocolate and cake was skipped in favor of Dolce. The 2007 Dolce is the blueprint for late harvest wine. The complex fruit notes of honey, melon and pineapple give way to a decadent structure. The wine manages all this without any of the syrupy flavors or mouth feel of many other dessert wines.
I would recommend each of these wines.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Corkage Fee - Non BYO Restaurants
I enjoy BYOB restaurants as it allows the consumer to decide what they want to drink and/or bring a special bottle (or any bottle) for standard retail price.
But what about restaurants that have a wine list but have a corkage fee. Is it worth it? What is too much to charge? And what does the corkage fee get you?
I was at a famous steakhouse celebrating a friends impending nuptials and wanted to bring some special bottles. The restaurant, which has a large wine list, had two rules. First corkage was $30/bottle (no limit) and second the bottle could not be on the wine list. The second rule I find very fair. The $30 was a bit high but the service provided put my mind at ease. There was a lighter Syrah and two younger California Cabernet's. The waiter immediately brought out two decanters for the Cabernet. The lighter Syrah was immediately poured as the waiter knew the order of wine without having to ask. Each bottle received a new clean glass with the appropriate stemware. Decanter's, appropriate stemware and a knowledgeable staff justified the $30 corkage fee.
Other restaurants have stricter policies including for every bottle brought from the outside a bottle needs to be purchased from the restaurants wine list.
I always prefer to bring my own bottles if possible. How do you feel about corkage fee's.
But what about restaurants that have a wine list but have a corkage fee. Is it worth it? What is too much to charge? And what does the corkage fee get you?
I was at a famous steakhouse celebrating a friends impending nuptials and wanted to bring some special bottles. The restaurant, which has a large wine list, had two rules. First corkage was $30/bottle (no limit) and second the bottle could not be on the wine list. The second rule I find very fair. The $30 was a bit high but the service provided put my mind at ease. There was a lighter Syrah and two younger California Cabernet's. The waiter immediately brought out two decanters for the Cabernet. The lighter Syrah was immediately poured as the waiter knew the order of wine without having to ask. Each bottle received a new clean glass with the appropriate stemware. Decanter's, appropriate stemware and a knowledgeable staff justified the $30 corkage fee.
Other restaurants have stricter policies including for every bottle brought from the outside a bottle needs to be purchased from the restaurants wine list.
I always prefer to bring my own bottles if possible. How do you feel about corkage fee's.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
From my cellar - 5/16/2013
Sojourn Cellars has become one of the premier wineries for Pinot Noir. They source grapes from highly celebrated vineyards in Sonoma and RRV including Sangiacomo, Rodgers Creek, Wohler, Alder Springs and Ridgetop. One of my favorite vineyards for Pinot Noir is Gap's Crown.
Gap's Crown is situated directly east of and overlooks the Sangiacomo Vineyard at an elevation of 300-800 feet above sea level. From the vineyard description "This is an extremely rocky, well-draining site with northwestern exposure, which consistently produces powerful, concentrated Pinot noirs in a New World-style. Its proximity to the Petaluma Gap, from which its name is derived, effectively moderates temperature during warm spells in the summer and fall and enables the crop to hang into late September and October in most vintages."
The 2011 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rich California Pinot Noir. The front palate has great structure, complexity with abundant red and dark berry fruit notes. The mid palate transitions the same structure and fruit notes with a slight hint of vanilla at the very back of the tongue. The finish is long and complex with red fruit and chocolate coating the mid part of the tongue and the structure coating the entire mouth.
Recommendation - This is a flagship wine for California Pinot Noir. The Pinot can stand up to meats yet it is still subtle enough for white fish and chicken. But this is a wine that can truly be appreciated by itself. At $59 this is a must have for any lover of fruit forward style Pinot Noir.
Gap's Crown is situated directly east of and overlooks the Sangiacomo Vineyard at an elevation of 300-800 feet above sea level. From the vineyard description "This is an extremely rocky, well-draining site with northwestern exposure, which consistently produces powerful, concentrated Pinot noirs in a New World-style. Its proximity to the Petaluma Gap, from which its name is derived, effectively moderates temperature during warm spells in the summer and fall and enables the crop to hang into late September and October in most vintages."
The 2011 Gap's Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rich California Pinot Noir. The front palate has great structure, complexity with abundant red and dark berry fruit notes. The mid palate transitions the same structure and fruit notes with a slight hint of vanilla at the very back of the tongue. The finish is long and complex with red fruit and chocolate coating the mid part of the tongue and the structure coating the entire mouth.
Recommendation - This is a flagship wine for California Pinot Noir. The Pinot can stand up to meats yet it is still subtle enough for white fish and chicken. But this is a wine that can truly be appreciated by itself. At $59 this is a must have for any lover of fruit forward style Pinot Noir.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
From my cellar - May 10th 2013
Volnay has a special place in my heart. As I was getting into wine I was introduced to Volnay through a friend of a friend. It was the first wine that I tasted that provided a sense of place. With the weather in the mid 80's today I decided to grab a Pinot Noir and I decided to open a 2009 Maison Roche de Bellene Volnay Taille Pieds. Taille Pieds is classified as a premier cru. Taille Pieds is known for its lighter complex Pinot Noirs.
The 2009 Maison Roche de Bellene Volnay Taille Pieds is much darker than expected and provides much more intense flavors than in previous years. The front palate has light effervescence which gives way cherry and subtle holiday spice notes. The mid plate palate has firm structure, light tannin, root beer and cola flavors. The best part of this is the finish. The finish has great length and a myriad of complex flavors.
Recommendation: The 2009 Maison Roche de Bellene Volnay Taille Pieds is a bit more intense in flavor than previous vintages and is reminiscent of a New World wine. The sense of place and restraint that I love of Volnay takes a back seat. I attribute this to one of the great things about Volnay which is vintage variation. This is a wonderfully complex Pinot Noir and should cellar for another decade (price $100+)/
The 2009 Maison Roche de Bellene Volnay Taille Pieds is much darker than expected and provides much more intense flavors than in previous years. The front palate has light effervescence which gives way cherry and subtle holiday spice notes. The mid plate palate has firm structure, light tannin, root beer and cola flavors. The best part of this is the finish. The finish has great length and a myriad of complex flavors.
Recommendation: The 2009 Maison Roche de Bellene Volnay Taille Pieds is a bit more intense in flavor than previous vintages and is reminiscent of a New World wine. The sense of place and restraint that I love of Volnay takes a back seat. I attribute this to one of the great things about Volnay which is vintage variation. This is a wonderfully complex Pinot Noir and should cellar for another decade (price $100+)/
Sunday, May 5, 2013
From my cellar - May 5th 2013
I have decided to use the section 'What I drank' to document wines I explore outside my house. For wines I try inside the house a new section 'From my cellar' will be used.
For the first edition of 'From my cellar' I opened a 2008 Fantesca Cabernet from Spring Mountain. The owners of Fantesca, Duane and Susan Hoff, are wonderful people who open their cellar and home to wine club members a few times a year for intimate events. The last event we attended, hands on harvest, had use picking grapes from a designated row followed by a push down and lunch on their deck. They are amazing people and it shows in their wine. They have three offerings, a RRV Pinot, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet. Both the Chardonnay and Cabernet are made by Heidi Barrett who is one of the resident rock-star winemakers of Napa Valley.
To celebrate breaking my personal record in the Broad Street Run I opened the 2008 Fantesca Cabernet which is estate fruit from their Spring Mountain vineyard. The wine is a beautiful deep purple when poured. The 2008 is restrained, refined and elegant. The front palate has dark fruit and nice structure. The structure carries well into the mid palate with hints of chocolate. The finish coats the entire mouth and is medium in length. This is an approachable wine now but I feel it will continue to evolve over the next 3-6 years. This wine would pair very well with red meat as the structure can hold up to any 'big' food.
Recommendation: A big bold well structured wine that shows great finesse and restraint. It is a beautiful wine that showcases what Spring Mountain fruit can deliver. A must have for the cellar ($120).
For the first edition of 'From my cellar' I opened a 2008 Fantesca Cabernet from Spring Mountain. The owners of Fantesca, Duane and Susan Hoff, are wonderful people who open their cellar and home to wine club members a few times a year for intimate events. The last event we attended, hands on harvest, had use picking grapes from a designated row followed by a push down and lunch on their deck. They are amazing people and it shows in their wine. They have three offerings, a RRV Pinot, a Chardonnay and a Cabernet. Both the Chardonnay and Cabernet are made by Heidi Barrett who is one of the resident rock-star winemakers of Napa Valley.
To celebrate breaking my personal record in the Broad Street Run I opened the 2008 Fantesca Cabernet which is estate fruit from their Spring Mountain vineyard. The wine is a beautiful deep purple when poured. The 2008 is restrained, refined and elegant. The front palate has dark fruit and nice structure. The structure carries well into the mid palate with hints of chocolate. The finish coats the entire mouth and is medium in length. This is an approachable wine now but I feel it will continue to evolve over the next 3-6 years. This wine would pair very well with red meat as the structure can hold up to any 'big' food.
Recommendation: A big bold well structured wine that shows great finesse and restraint. It is a beautiful wine that showcases what Spring Mountain fruit can deliver. A must have for the cellar ($120).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)