45 minute double decant.The color is deep black with bright purple tinged edges. The nose is cardamom and black cherry/sassafras. The palate attacks, and I do mean attack with plushy black and blue fruits that are just gushing with flair. A very different road for Ric Forman indeed. There is much to pay attention to with this: black currants, black plum, forest floor, some menthol, some soy, some lead pencil, some creme de cassis, and a noticeable dollop of Kirsch Royal. A medium to heavy weight mouth feel, this has a real great sense of balance and structure, but some elegance is hiding amongst the rogue elements. Wonderful intertwined tannins with a lilty acidic base, this is a real stunner. Black and ominous, this is very Californian in its style. Grabbed a few on a deal last month. Well worth $35, hell, well worth $65. Glad I have a few more. Good to go for the next half dozen years or so-- but what the hell do I know? 92 points
Thursday, July 22, 2010
2006 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
45 minute double decant.The color is deep black with bright purple tinged edges. The nose is cardamom and black cherry/sassafras. The palate attacks, and I do mean attack with plushy black and blue fruits that are just gushing with flair. A very different road for Ric Forman indeed. There is much to pay attention to with this: black currants, black plum, forest floor, some menthol, some soy, some lead pencil, some creme de cassis, and a noticeable dollop of Kirsch Royal. A medium to heavy weight mouth feel, this has a real great sense of balance and structure, but some elegance is hiding amongst the rogue elements. Wonderful intertwined tannins with a lilty acidic base, this is a real stunner. Black and ominous, this is very Californian in its style. Grabbed a few on a deal last month. Well worth $35, hell, well worth $65. Glad I have a few more. Good to go for the next half dozen years or so-- but what the hell do I know? 92 points
Friday, July 16, 2010
2005 Realm Cellars The Tempest - USA, California, Napa Valley
Super dark and luxurious, this is pure and precise. Nose has all black-cherry and cassis with some cedar box and soy. Wonderful mouthfeel that is medium in body and plush, kirsch and black plum. Tannins are bulky but aligned and still in need of resolving. I have always been a fan of this one from the Realm 05 lineup, more so than any any merlot heavy vintage on either side of the vintage. As a matter of fact, this is the Tempest with the most (52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 18% Petit Verdot.) Cabernet Sauvignon in the history of the label (source: Coombsville). Some red cherries pop out toward the end of this. Very dimensional with tons of structure. Much more weight than my last time with it. Very nice indeed. 94 points
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Just an average Saturday afternoon at the Pobegas.....
:)
No formal notes taken. Just impressions, or 'snapshots' if you will.
2008 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Thieriot. Fragrant and showy, while being racy and precise. It really is all about the fruit with these. I enjoy the freshness and balance.
2007 (Blind) Scarecrow. Really needed to breath and be served a wee bit cooler (Started out a bit hot, and hot as in heat), but when treated right, this really blew everything else away. Pure, precise and just awesome. Deep and dark, this had creme de cassis, blackest berries, kirsch and cola. Just mind boggling in its plushy mouthfeel. Best showing of a Scarecow for me yet. Makes me wish I had some.
2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon. Great texture, wonderful black fruits. Really first class showing.
2004 Schrader To Kalon. Some greenness and a bit of heat which blew off. Beautiful mouth feel and structure, The greeny thing had me confused a bit though as I never have encountered it in a TRB wine before. Plush and dark. Interesting to watch this one over the last few years.
2005 Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon. A very four square cab style. All the elements I enjoy Shafer for save for maybe a bit of depth and structure. Very nice
2003 Rubicon. Soft, pretty and elegant and maybe just a slight manufactured thing of the vintage I encounter from some 03s and most 00s. Interesting to have on the table.
2001 Axios. Wow, this really had it all and was firing on all cylinders. I have always been a fan on the Egelhoff cab style. This was boisterous and flamboyant while still maintaining the class and structure I expect from the vintage. An early wotn until the second showing of the Scarecrow.
2005 Cliff Lede Cabernet Napa. What an amazing structured cabernet. Great black and red fruits with wonderful balance and style. One I will seek on QPR value alone.
2002 Blair Estate 50% Cab, 27% CF, 23% Merlot. An interesting blend for sure. Style class and bright red and black fruits is all I can remember.
No formal notes taken. Just impressions, or 'snapshots' if you will.
2008 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay Thieriot. Fragrant and showy, while being racy and precise. It really is all about the fruit with these. I enjoy the freshness and balance.
2007 (Blind) Scarecrow. Really needed to breath and be served a wee bit cooler (Started out a bit hot, and hot as in heat), but when treated right, this really blew everything else away. Pure, precise and just awesome. Deep and dark, this had creme de cassis, blackest berries, kirsch and cola. Just mind boggling in its plushy mouthfeel. Best showing of a Scarecow for me yet. Makes me wish I had some.
2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon. Great texture, wonderful black fruits. Really first class showing.
2004 Schrader To Kalon. Some greenness and a bit of heat which blew off. Beautiful mouth feel and structure, The greeny thing had me confused a bit though as I never have encountered it in a TRB wine before. Plush and dark. Interesting to watch this one over the last few years.
2005 Shafer One Point Five Cabernet Sauvignon. A very four square cab style. All the elements I enjoy Shafer for save for maybe a bit of depth and structure. Very nice
2003 Rubicon. Soft, pretty and elegant and maybe just a slight manufactured thing of the vintage I encounter from some 03s and most 00s. Interesting to have on the table.
2001 Axios. Wow, this really had it all and was firing on all cylinders. I have always been a fan on the Egelhoff cab style. This was boisterous and flamboyant while still maintaining the class and structure I expect from the vintage. An early wotn until the second showing of the Scarecrow.
2005 Cliff Lede Cabernet Napa. What an amazing structured cabernet. Great black and red fruits with wonderful balance and style. One I will seek on QPR value alone.
2002 Blair Estate 50% Cab, 27% CF, 23% Merlot. An interesting blend for sure. Style class and bright red and black fruits is all I can remember.
Monday, July 5, 2010
2007 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch - USA, California, Napa Valley
30 minute decant. Deep dark garnet color, almost opaque with the slightest crimson edges. Dark black cherry nose with some sarsaparilla, cardamom, creme de cassis, and clove. A very elegant, but somewhat reticent style of cab. I sensed that for as much was showing itself, another equal dose was hiding. Very plush mouth-feel with some 'almost' gobby black fruits of black currant, black cherry, and plums. A very iron fist/velvet glove cab that I really enjoy. A medium weight cab with some complicated chewy tannins and wonderful balance. The acidity is perfect, the finish commendable. Uncle Bob might have got this one right. Should drink well for the next 6 or so years. Glad I have 2 more. (93 pts.)
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