• Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Cellar Selection,  Merlot,  Napa,  Petit Verdot

    Cellar Selection

    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…

  • Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Malbec,  Merlot,  Napa,  Petit Verdot,  Weekend Selection

    Weekend Selection

    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…

  • Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Exceptional Red,  Merlot,  Napa,  Petit Verdot,  Petite Sirah

    Exceptional Red

    Clos Du Val 2011 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 Du Val’s labels…

  • Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Cellar Selection,  Napa,  Petit Verdot

    Cellar Selection

    Silver Oak 1998 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon When Raymond T. Duncan first visited the Napa Valley in the late 1960s, he was taken by the region’s rugged beauty.  He was also wise enough to understand the potential of the fledgling wine industry.  In the 1970’s, he began to buy land in both Napa and Alexander Valleys with the goal of planting vineyards. But with his home and business in Colorado and no viticulture expertise of his own, Ray approached Justin Meyer, whom he had met through mutual friends, and asked him to plant and manage the vineyards.  Then working at Christian Brothers, Justin agreed with one condition: in addition to managing…

  • Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  Cellar Selection,  Merlot,  Petit Verdot,  Washington State

    Cellar Selection

    Andrew Will 2008 Champoux Red Andrew Will began in 1989 with a simple building (10×60), that is still standing today, where they made their first five vintages for a total of 2000 cases.  They loaded 2 trucks (that’s all they had) and moved to Vashon in 1994 and within an hour became ready for the 1994 harvest.  They harvest fruit from several areas, this wine was from Champoux vineyards, one of the first two vineyards used by Andrew Will. Opening a bottle of the 2008 Champoux, which is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, I notice deep ruby color with a bouquet of aromatic…

  • Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Carneros,  Exceptional Red,  Merlot,  Petit Verdot

    Exceptional Red

    Rombauer 2009 Carneros Merlot I recently commented on the Rombauer 2012 Carneros Chardonnay, see Sept. 30, 2014 review, and indicated that Koerner Rombauer was born and raised in Southern California, later became a commercial pilot with Braniff until the airline ceased operations in 1972, moved his family, two horses, and five dogs from Dallas to the Napa Valley, where they purchased 40 acres of hilltop land on the Silverado Trail, near St. Helana.  What was interesting was that the Rombauer’s had no intention of starting a winery.  They did, however, have a great appreciation for the role of wine in the fine dining experience.  Koerner’s great aunt Irma Rombauer was…

  • Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Exceptional Red,  Malbec,  Merlot,  Napa,  Petit Verdot

    Exceptional Red

    Joseph Phelps 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Joseph Phelps Vineyards is a family-owned winery founded in 1973 when Joe Phelps purchased a former cattle ranch near St. Helena, the Stags Leap District, Oakville, Rutherford, Oak Knoll District, Carneros and South Napa Valley. In 1999, the Phelps family added 100 acres of vineyard property near the town of Freestone on the Sonoma Coast, where Phelps now grows Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Phelps is best known for its flagship Napa Valley blend of red Bordeaux varietals first produced in 1974. The blend known as “Insignia” is widely regarded as a qualitative benchmark for California winemaking. Over the years, Phelps’ goal was to have its…

  • Cabernet Franc,  Cabernet Sauvignon,  California,  Cellar Selection,  Merlot,  Napa,  Petit Verdot

    Cellar Selection

    Niebaum Coppola 2001 Rubicon Various holidays always seem to creep up and recently my brother-in-law Steve came over for dinner and brought a wonderful bottle of wine from his cellar, a Niebaum Coppola 2001 Rubicon.  Rubicon is the image of what was once the historic Inglenook property located in the heart of the western Rutherford Bench in Napa Valley’s prime Cabernet Sauvignon appellation.  In 1975, Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased a majority of the Inglenook Estate and introduced the Niebaum-Coppola Estate Winery with the plan to revitalize its Cabernet heritage.  In 1978 Coppola’s plan became a reality and launched the first Rubicon vintage that became the Winery’s flagship wine.  Much…