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.

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.)

2004 Scholium Project Scythia Donati Vineyards

11:47 AM-Just poured it into my glass. It's still cool, but early indications are to WOW. Stay tuned!

12:05 PM-I don't know much, but what I do know is this is one incredible mother of a Syrah. Its almost alive with fresh creamy fruits, river rock, super balance, and just so much more.
Probably one of the best Cali Syrahs I have ever had in my life.
Note to follow....

1:49 PM-A pleaser as usual. This is dense and dark. The nose is all violets, blueberry cobbler, sun warmed river stones, sassafras, blackberry, pomegranate and more. Poised and almost perfect the delivery is lively and focused, but playful enough for burgers. Acidity somewhat elevated to really carry all forward conveyor belt like all the mentioned goodness. The tannins are structured and evolved, this really has it all. The finish is ultra smooth and pure, and it goes on and on for minutes. Wowser. (96 pts.)

2:31-Gone!

2001 Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark and ominous, this was tight out of the gate (as expected for pop and pour). Within minutes it started shedding its armore and black fruits started emerging. Wow, this is pure and precise with tones of refined black fruits of currant, blackberry and black plum. Some real nice cola notes amidst some tar, cardamom and soy. I kept this in my glass all night. It evolved, but in the super-flight at the end of the night, my new pour seemed a bit tired and fading. Still, all in all a very great Hillside from a classic vintage will always please in my book. 95

2002 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Ready for this? This is one of the most incredible cabernets that I have ever had. It had everything a Napa Cabernet drinker could, should ever want. Depth, elegance, structure, and reverence, all wrapped around some sweet black fruits of macerated currants and black cherries--Bing cherries—maybe maraschino cherries. Stellar and precise, this had lead pencil shavings, soy, worn leather, crème de cassis, kirsch, river stones, and more. Almost mystifying depth and purity that one can make cabernet dreams of. Made me want to find my pillow tout suite. 100 points!

Jones Family Vineyards Retrospective

Last evening I had the pleasure of meeting with Daniel Bailey from Jones Family Vineyards & winery. He brought east with him 6 vintages of his flagship estate Cabernet, as well as 2 vintages of his second wine, The Sisters. Daniel Posner of grapes the Wine Company played host.

I have been a fan of Jones family for some time now, always capitalizing on locating older back vintages whenever possible. The Sisters is a perennial favorite of mine, one I buy by the case every year. It represents what I believe to be the single best deal in the whole valley, year in and out. Daniel Bailey was informative and friendly. Great wines, great time, wonderful people.

Jones Family Vineyards

2000 Jones Family Estate Cabernet: The first thing you notice upon bringing the glass to your face is vegetalness. The second thing upon entering the mouth—same. Disjointed, weedy, sweet, and undrinkable. Possibly an off bottle?

2001 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Deep blackish color with red edges. The nose is pure kirsch and framboise. Some great black currant. All carries to the palate with some amazing precision. There is some black cherry, crème de cassis, cola, tat, leather and cedar. Really shows off a classic styling. The tannins got a bit dusty/gritty as this sat in my glass, not distracting though. This is long and elegant. 93

2003 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: This had some admirable qualities for the vintage. It had a sweet fabricated red fruit profile with some red cherries and ripe red plum notes. Seemed a bit tired. Drink up! 89

2004 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Slightly fatter than the previous. Good structure. Deep red black fruit profile encroaching into the black zone. Soft tannins, nice balance. Some Kirsch and black raspberries in a creamy plush mouthfeel. Decent finish, this is very pretty and delicate. 92

2005 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Loud and boisterous, this is firmly structured with deep red & black fruits of macerated currant, blackberries, pomegranate, and black plum. More delineated than all that came before it, save for the 2001, this is pure and focused with some tightly knitted tannins. 93

2005 Jones Family The Sisters: This seemed a bit more restrained than all my past experiences with it. It still retains some great dark fruit, but the plush mouthfeel has quieted down some. It seems more in line with the 04 than the 05 estates. I always believed this to be one to enjoy young(er). A decent black fruit profile with black cherry reigning. I still have 6, and it will be interesting to see where this goes in the next few years. 91

2006 Jones Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Now we’re talking: sweet red fruits profile with a creamy texture, this has the purity and elegance I want, all supported by the structure and backbone, the strength of the 06 vintage in general, at least in my mind. Cardamom, framboise, kirsch, blackberry, black and red cassis, plums, and so much in here to mention, this is real joy. A hint of black pepper? Maybe. It has super-structured tannins with such a tight-rope act of acidity. A very long pure finish that goes minutes, its palatial omnipresence is just difficult to ignore, this is really a wonderful bottle of Napa Cab. Wow 95

2006 Jones Family The Sisters: Not unlike its older sibling, this really packs it in, save for maybe a bit of elegance and structure, but make no mistake, this is one schnizzle of a $50 cab. Pure, clean, and lively, this has much to offer, and all at $50. Black fruits, plush mouthfeel, elegance, purity, structure and more.The best Sisters I have had, continues to be so. 94

2006 Holdredge Syrah - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Great vibrant see-through color. The nose is a bit closed at first. After about an hour this really sings: There is warm bluberry pie, blood orange, wild flowers & black cherry. This really showed well/better with food. (Wild Boar sausages, wild mushroom couscous, black berry reduction). Fragrant and pretty beautiful, this belied its price-point by 2x. Palate has all the goodness and then some: Blueberry, white pepper, some bacon fat, soy and river stones. Great medium to light weight mouthfeel, it almost reminded me of Pinot early on, but by hour 1, there was no mistake. Great long finish. What really sellls this wine is the fragrance of the blood orange, blueberry & wild flowers. Very Northern Rhone-like indeed. What a great QPR. (91 pts.)

2006 Bacio Divino Cabernet Sauvignon Janzen Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley

Color is dark amber with purple tinged edges. he nose reveals very little. After 2 hours:A quiet but confident reddish black fruit profile of black cherry, cassis, and black berry. Some Cola comes through as well. The palate initially shows a slight hollowness and alcohol. After 2 hours: This really has come together nicely. The hole has been filled: Deep dark cassis driven. This has some sassafras, creme de kirsch, leather, pencil shavings, a hint of cocoa powder and cedar. Very medium weight with a plush silky mouthfeel. It's amazing how this has evolved in the glass. Its now balanced with some finely aligned tannins. Very pretty & very promising, I might open another in 2 years. Surely not before. The finish is long and elegant. Well worth the $29 I paid from WTSO, but I might not have thought so 2 hours ago, Miraculous recovery! (92 pts.)

2006 Louis Jadot Chambolle-Musigny (France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny)

Not one to ever be pigeon holed as a cab only guy, I like to venture out of my comfort zone from time to time, and yes, although those times are far and few, I can live with that.
This has wonderful powdery red color with the almost imperceptible brick edges. The nose gives very little, but what little there is is joyous. Pretty spring flowers amidst some wonderful huckleberry, sassafras and sun warmed river rocks. Some red cherry, some black cherry, and a hint of soy that really never lets up. Gorgeous and elegant, this is really a 90 degree turn or my regular drink, but I can appreciate the change-up. It's balanced with such a lilthy acidic bounce, the tannins are meshed and complicated well beyond what I would have expected. A super long finish that last minutes, this really is a pretty wine. For $29, I can see how well it fits into my repertoire for summer enjoyment. (91 pts.)

2004 Jones Family The Sisters - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/30/2010)

45 minute decant. Immediate impression: Just Beautiful.
Vibrant crimson red with a black core, almost opaque. The nose is all pure cassis driven black fruits, black cherry, flowers and cardamom. The palate continues the theme. Creme di cassis, kirsch, black cherry, Cola, black currant, black plum, wow. Pure, elegant and regal, this is just really showing so nice. Deftly balanced with gobs of plushy stuffing. A medium weight wine that flows across the tongue with such ease, it will be hard not to finish this bottle within an hour. It is intense and focused. Tannins are in check. The finish goes on and on 'and don't stop 'until the break of dawn'. A super QPR indeed, the peicepoint of this wine defies its showing--2 to 3 fold.

I ...have...run .......out....... of ..............things .....to........ say. (94 pts.)

1998 Peter Lehmann Mentor (Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley)

Tasted blind. Brick color, browned edges of wine its age or older. The nose has some black cherry and black olives. The palate has some lushness that is very comforting. As this sits it builds its red fruit profile quickly: some currant, some black cherries, and some sassafras. Some soy, leather, and a hint of vanilla are in there too, as is just the hint of faded vegetalness. There is a hint of elegance proving these can really benefit from some bottle age. The tannins are fully resolved (last had this about 2 years back) and shows an overall deft balance. A clean and smooth finish that goes on for more than a minute. What a nice drop from down-unda'.

2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Morisoli Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/22/2010)

Tasted blind. A beautiful dark crimson color. A nose of black cherry, sassafras, and creme de cassis. An incredible purity and balance, this wine really showed its breed early, and evolved into something almost other-worldly in the 2 and and a half hours I sat with it. A black fruited medley led with the black cherry. There was some kirsch, leather, & graphite. The tannins are fully resolved, but a long life remains, this had a coy almost inperceptable acidity, again emphasizing the balance and structure--but then, that's what you signed up for with these, and this did not disappoint. One of the single best Cabernets I have come across. Phenomenal. (98 pts.)

2002 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/22/2010)

A carmine brickish color. This was much showier and blowsier than anything else on the table. A very intense nose of flowers and red fruits, the palate continued the theme, which was strange to me as it seemed much 'darker' profiled last time I had it. The tannins were somewhat raw and not lined up as I remember either. The acidity seemed elevated and the overall feel was somewhat 'fat' for a Forman, which I always expect elegance from-- it really showed the vintage characteristics like a big red letter. Others liked it better than I on this showing. (91 pts.)

1997 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/22/2010)

Tasted blind. Some sediment afoat, but did not detract. A darkish purple edged wine with tons of cassis and cherries flowing out into the nose. A black and red fruit wine of red & black currants, plums, bing cherries and some chinese apple. There was a streak of vanilla with a hint of cardamom, this was fully resolved and nicely balanced. A good start on an evening that just never let up. A meium body wine with a long balanced finish rthat kept some soy and leather on the line. Interesting (92 pts.)

2005 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Barrel Select Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (5/22/2010)

After the '01 Morisoli, this sure had to hold up. It did. It was super dark almost opaque. A somewhat blackish red fruit profile with cassis, pomegranate, plums, and black cherry, this did not show quite the balance and intensity, but the mark had been set early, so fairness may not be on its side. It was intense with a plush mouthfeel. A bit showy, this showed its To-Kalon lineage. A finish that was long and clean, with the black fruit lingering. Very nice indeed. (93 pts.)

No notes, no photographs, yes a good time.

Sometimes its more than the tasting note. Sometimes it’s just a few (or more) glasses of wine with some friends over some good grub. That’s the 'sometimes' it was this past Saturday when a few friends converged on my home for homemade pizzas and wine. While the wines were great, I did not take detailed notes. Heck, I took no notes at all! But I can tell you what I enjoyed--with friends--sans notes.

2001 Justin Vineyard Isosceles was amazing. Precise and focused with very dark and character filled black fruit profile. 93
2004 Schrader TKL Cabernet Sauvignon. A very blowsy type of cab with tons of cocoa powder, crème di cassis, and vanilla. Pretty much in line for how I remember it to be. Not for everyone, but sure for me. 91
2004 Beringer Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright and very fruit forward this was beautiful and focused. More so than the Schrader. Black and red fruit profile with some wonderful depth and purity. 92
2002 Quintessa. About my 6th time with this and probably the best showing yet. Glad I have 3 more; sad my other 9 are behind me. Blackish fruits with kirsch and leather. Some pretty floral notes. Wow. 93

The pizzas were pretty good as well. I did my usual traditional round cheese and San Marzano tomato pie (almost Neapolitan), the Grandma’s pie with flat dense crust, 3 cheese combo of mozzarella, Scamorza and provolone, all with some red wines vinegar marinara sauce and basil infused olive oil drizzle. Thirdly was the Palermo pie, my newest creation of thick square dough (almost 1.5 inches thick!) with fresh mozzarella, sautéed sweet Vidalia onions and the San Marzano sauce. (My favorite on the night), and lastly the Great Kills pie: round crust with provolone cheese, cooked until slightly charred and then topped with prosciutto, Arugula, and sweet aged thickened balsamic vinegar.

Between the pizza and the appetizers, it was a tough day for my Lipitor, which sure worked overtime.

All in all a nice evening.

2006 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Some Days Are Diamonds - USA, California, Napa Valley (4/23/2010)

Having had all three available Two Hands Charlie's Patch Cabernets withing the last 6 weeks or so, I was very curious to try this which is ostensibly the 'second wine' of the Charlie's patch. Vinified and cellared/bottled at Outpost winery under the umbrella of Thomas Rivers Brown, how could I not be interested? Especially when I was offered it for $17.91 earlier this week.

Super deep and dark brooding color. The nose has much black cherry, currant, and creme de kirsch. The palate is all black fruits clumsily arranged in the cornucopia. Its somewhat reminiscent of its older brother, but lacks the class and elegance. Keeping in mind the price point: this is burly and big boned with some back end oak and a hint of heat, but with a grilled steak, it sang. It was round and full bodied with much 'oomph'. So there you go: save the 'Charlies Patch' for company but open that 'Some Days' before you hit the deck with your grilling tools, and for $18 per, its gonna be a good summer. Warning: Not for the faint of heart-- or the 'haters' :) (90 pts.)

2005 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Marjorie’s - Premiere Napa Valley

Wholly crap! This was super fragrant of all things good: blackest cassis, chocolate covered cherries, spring wild flowers, leather, some pomegranate and more. It was deep and elegant with layers upon layers of cabernet goodness. The tannins were brawn hidden by flash, but never did it out flash itself. Phenomenal. 95

2005 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

I was interested in trying this just having the 06 a week previous. Wow. Super dark in color with brooding viscosity, this had such a medley of mixed fruits. Currant, black and red cherry, kirsch, fresh ground coffee, camphor, leather, and more. All nicely balanced within a super structure of tannins, true to the vintage. Long and elegant with food, pure and precise. 94

2001 Pride Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

Wow, pure and elegant with some wonderful lush blackish-red fruits. There were some hints of creamy vanilla, soy, and leather. A finely meshed tannin base with perfectly balanced acidity. Wonderful medium weighted mouthfeel, super long finish. What a treat. 94