1995 Far Niente Cabernet

This was outstanding. Blockbuster. Burst of currant and berry on the nose with a lovely deep garnet color. The flavor was great with sweet tannins resolved beautifully into the strong fruit flavor. This wine will be great now and for at least a couple of more years, but I do not believe it will ever be better. It is rich with a hint of chocolate and great blackberry flavor. Can you tell I liked it?

Far Niente has a long history of excellent wines. It built its reputation on an excellent string of Chardonnays and extended it with the rest of its lineup. It also has a beautiful winery in the heart of Napa Valley, which is a great stopping point.



Back in awhile.

leh

1987 Caymus Cabernet

Opened, decanted and tasted right away. It was dark blackberry color, with a burst of fresh raisin (I know sounds odd, but think of the smell of raisin when you open a new bag) and dusty pencil lead. The taste was a very nicely resolved set of flavors. Unlike the Montelena (had it at the same time), it was not dominated by the acid. Everything seemed to have blended nicely together and the flavor included a nice combination of dried fruit, soft berry, and a dry mineral. The finish was not over long, but very nice. All in all, this was a nice glass of wine.

This bottle did raise the old wine/new wine questions. Even with the flavor and taste of this very nice glass of wine, I can’t help but think it would have been even better five years ago. I always have a hard time with this issue. Older equals, subtle, sublime, refined. Newer equals fruit, tannins, flavor power.

A link to Caymus.

The label is the 1994 year, looks alot like the 1987.


Back in awhile.

leh

1987 Chateau Montelena Cabernet

Opened, decanted and tasted right away. It was ruby, muddy, with the expected residual bits from the bottle. It had the dusty slightly porty scent of an older Cabernet. It had flavors of raisin and prune. The wine was slightly bitter/acidic. Usually those tastes have softened by this time in a California cab, twenty years in the bottle. The fruit was mostly gone. All in all not a special experience. I suspect ten years ago this would have been great. (See the notes on the Far Niente 1995 which I had at the same time, a completely different experience.)

Chateau Montelena is an absolutely gorgeous wineery. If you are in Napa Valley and you have not been it is highly recommended.

A link to their winemakers notes for the 1987 year release.

Back in awhile.

leh

Been Offline for Awhile, but ...

... I am always drinking wine. So, I have a backlog of posts to make up. Some will be very great wines. Plus, a couple of Roses that I have tried and enjoyed during our hot weather lately.

Back in awhile.

leh

2003 Ruffino Riserva Ducale Oro

Ruffino Chiantis are always solid. This one was no exception. Excellent structure with the right blend of acid, fruit and finish. I enjoyed this with a rib eye steak and it was great. It is the top end Ruffino Chianti, so you expect it to be good. The great thing about Ruffino is the wine is available, has a range of price options and is consistent in its delivery.

A link to Ruffino.

Back in awhile.

leh

2006 F Magnien Criots-Batard-Montrachet 6 of 9

Could not really figure this one out. It was a nice sip of wine, but even blind without the price, it was not what I look for in a Burgundy. It started with the nose. Refreshing blend of fruit, but with a flavor of orange. Not what I am used to at all. The taste was very tight. The finish turned floral in nature and was long and satisfying.

Bottle $235.00, taste $20. At that price, I just can't see the attraction.

Back in awhile.

leh

2006 Antonin Guyton Corton-Charlemagne 1 of 9

Nose was a fruit blend with what was a very faint nose of port. Others were said to have thought Cognac. But while an odd flavor smell when you read it, on the nose it very much enhanced the wine. The taste was steel, dry gravel, dusty mineral, but in the good way that fine Burgundies deliver in that way, which explains its ranking at number 1 of the flight. This would be good anywhere at any time.

Bottle $119.99, taste $12.

Back in awhile.

leh

2006 William Fevre Chablis "Les Preuses 2 of 9

Lovely wine. Great nose, of pear, apple and lemon. Wonderful flavors in the mouth with a deep satisfying finish. Very competitive for favorite of the tasting. A great combination of fruit but well balanced with acid and the result was a very satisfying fully integrated wine.

Bottle $79.99, taste $8.

Back in awhile.

leh

2006 William Fevre Chablis "Les Clos" 4 of 9

The nose was very light, a slight wafting of fruit. The initial sip was closed, but it then opened into a very classic style steely, minerally French Chardonnay. Just what you would expect in a well made Chablis.

Bottle $94.99, taste $9.

Back in awhile.

leh

2006 Bernard Morey Chassagne Motrachet "Vide Bourse" 9 of 9

I think this was me. I heard another couple of guys talking and they liked this. To me the nose was closed and the wine was over dry, almost parching on the tongue. The fruit got lost somewhere, but I can't figure out where. One of those things. I did re-taste again at the end to see if it had changed at all, but could not detect anything. By then my taste buds were getting shot. I am not a professional so I start to lose my taste after 7 or 8 wines. The nose holds nicely, but the mouth just shuts down.

Bottle $69.99, taste 7.

Back in awhile.

leh