Quintessa 2011 Quintessa, like all classic wines of the world, bears the same name as the vineyard from which it is made. In broad terms, Quintessa is a red meritage wine. Each year, it is a blend that can include some or all of the five varietals grown on the estate: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. The vineyard’s diversity provides a wide stylistic options for the winemaker. Fruit from each component block of Quintessa is harvested, and upon completion of fermentation, each block of wine is aged separately for up to two years in french oak barrels in their caves. After this aging period the…
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Darioush 2011 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Nowhere is the connection between wine and culture more evident than in the history of Persia. Discoveries dating to 5,000 B.C. in the Zagros Mountains of Northern Iran show that winemaking emerged as permanent communities replaced nomadic life and a new age of wine culture began. Darioush Khaledi was instilled at an early age with the winemaking craft of his father, inspired by wine culture in the literary city of Shiraz – in modern day Iran – and the ancient city of Persepolis. He became a lifelong collector, seeking out old world wines infused with tradition and energized by modern technique. Aspiring to the ideals…
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Frank Family Vineyards 2011 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon First constructed as the Larkmead Winery in 1884, the building was refinished with native sandstone from the nearby hills in 1906 and still stands tall today. The massive stone edifice is considered an archetype of California’s wine country; it appears on the National Register of Historical Places and is listed as a Point of Historical Interest in the state of California. The Frank Family Vineyards focuses their energies on making superb wines, producing Chardonnay, Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Pinot Noir, Petite Syrah and several distinctively different Cabernet Sauvignons. Today I am tasting their Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. I noticed a vivid deep ruby color and concentrated…
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Darioush 2008 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Nowhere is the connection between wine and culture more evident than in the history of Persia. Discoveries dating to 5,000 B.C. in the Zagros Mountains of Northern Iran show that winemaking emerged as permanent communities replaced nomadic life and a new age of wine culture began. Darioush Khaledi was instilled at an early age with the winemaking craft of his father, inspired by wine culture in the literary city of Shiraz – in modern day Iran – and the ancient city of Persepolis. He became a lifelong collector, seeking out old world wines infused with tradition and energized by modern technique. Aspiring to the ideals…
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Clos Du Val 2010 Stags Leap District Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Clos Du Val, French for “small vineyard estate of a small valley,” was founded in 1972 in the now legendary Stags Leap District of Napa Valley by Franco-American entrepreneur John Goelet. After a worldwide search to purchase vineyard properties from which to craft world-class wines, 150 acres in Stags Leap and 180 acres in Carneros were chosen, solidifying Clos Du Val’s iconic stature and formidable place in Napa Valley history. Today, Winemaker Kristy Melton, handcrafts wines to reflect the classic style, finesse and grace Clos Du Val is known for. The Three Graces, Splendor, Mirth and Joy have adorned Clos…
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Robert Mondavi 2010 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Robert Mondavi winery, located in Oakville, CA, makes a number of outstanding and consistent quality wines and established his winery in 1966 with a vision to have his Napa Valley wines to be among the world’s finest. Robert Mondavi also believed his wines should reflect its “roots” and be a signature creation from a combination of the soil, climate and production techniques, both new and old, which transforms the grapes into a fine wine. Opening a bottle of 2010 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon, I noticed a dark purple, almost inky color with blue and black fruit aromas. The wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet…
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Chateau St. Jean 2010 Cinq Cépages The estate of Chateau St. Jean is located at the foot of Sugarloaf Ridge in the Sonoma Valley near Kenwood, California. The estate was founded in 1973 and recognized as a true leader in “Vineyard Designated” wines. The winemaker, Margo Van Staaveren, brings with her 30 years of experience and draws out the best that Chateau St. Jean vineyards has to offer. I opened a bottle of Cinq Cépages, which is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, and noticed a deep ruby color with aromas of complex dark black fruit, cacao and spice with oaky notes. The attack…
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Gemola 2007 Colli Euganei Rosso Merlot Cabernet Franc Vignalta was founded by Lucio Gomiero in 1980 who proclaimed that he could produce wines as good as anything in Bordeaux. Colli Euganei is located in the Northwest region of Italy and shares the same lines of latitude with Bordeaux. The estate is spread over 123 acres on the south facing slopes of Colli Euganei, an area with unique soil and varietal combinations. Colli is Italian for “hills” and Vignalta translates to “high vines”. The Colli Euganei, with their volcanic origin, has terrains rich in minerals, a mild climate and good thermals producing extraordinary grapes. Their wine cellar is completely dug into…
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Ramey 2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Ramey Wine Cellars crafts outstanding quality wines that are both delicate and magnificent and comes from some of the finest vineyards in Napa and Sonoma. Ramey selects vineyards for their ability to continue producing the highest quality fruit. David and his wife Carla founded Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996 after spending time at Matanzas Creek, Chalk Hill, Dominus and Rudd. Ramey Wine Cellars is located in Healdsburg, in the heart of the California wine country. Ramey’s varietals are basically Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Syrah. Today I will review their Napa Cabernet. The Ramey Wine Cellars 2009 Napa Valley, consists of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon with small…
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Sequoia Grove 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Who would have guessed Napa Valley, a small pioneer community established during the gold rush days would flourish into one of the most prestigious wine growing regions in the world today? Surrounded by its purple hued mountains, Sequoia Grove Winery sits on 22 acres right in the heart of the valley floor in a region referred to as the “Rutherford Bench”. Here the alluvial soil, rich in minerals, combined with the fog from the bay, mingling with the warm inland temperatures create the ideal location to produce Cabernet Sauvignon. Michael Trujillo, the Director of Winemaking and President, has been with Sequoia Grove since its…