On Episode 15 of One Bottle Each Jeff Kralik and I dive into a couple of bottles from de Négoce, Cameron Hughes latest Wine Project. Watch here as we taste and discuss the wines and the project.
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Napa Valley
If you love New World Cabernet Sauvignon, odds are very high that Napa Valley’s Stags Leap District is on your super short list of go to Appellations. Napa is blessed with a handful of distinct areas for growing high end Cab. Even within that small group, Stags Leap stands apart. Tasted side by side with other neighboring AVAs, the Cabernet’s of Stags Leap District are unmistakable.
For a number of years now the Stags Leap District Winegrowers have been assembling the Appellation Collection. It’s a luxury set of one Cabernet Sauvignon from each producer. The 2017 vintage is represented this year by 17 Cabernets in one set. There are a limited number of sets available. They can be purchased exclusively through the Stags Leap District website. The retail price, shipping included is $1999.99.
I’ve been fortunate to visit Stags Leap District many times over the years. I’ve tasted their wines on the regular, and had the opportunity to attend their signature events and spend time with the winemakers and owners. This is a group fiercely proud of their valley, their district, and perhaps most of all their Cabernet Sauvignon. Ample reason exists for their pride; the Cabernet’s of Stags Leap stand up next to any on the world stage turning the comparison not into a competition of quality, but simply one of personal preference.
Over the last handful of years I’ve had a few opportunities to taste the entire Appellation Collection. It was, to say the least, a delicious undertaking. What struck me the most though tasting through is the consistency of quality that exists. Vintages vary of course, but the quality is always there with these wines. This year being a lot different than those before it, I was able to get together over Zoom and taste a quartet of wines from this years collection. The virtual get together and tasting was led by representatives from Silverado Vineyards, Regusci Winery, Clos Du Val, and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. I look forward to getting back to Stags Leap District, but in the meantime the virtual tasting was a great way to hear about current events in the district and taste some great wine.
Silverado Vineyards 2017 SOLO Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker Jon Emmerich has been leading the charge in the cellar for coming up on 30 years. SOLO is entirely Cabernet Sauvignon and the fruit source is the vines surrounding the winery itself. Dark fruit leads the aromatic charge along with wisps of spice. The palate shows off black cherry and raspberry along with bits of chicory A dusting of baker’s chocolate, mineral notes and a a kiss of toast drive the long finish.
Regusci Winery 2017 “The Elders” Cabernet Sauvignon
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon (91%), Cabernet Franc (7%), and Merlot (2%) are bended in. Boysenberry and blackberry aromas lead the way. The flavors are also dark and brooding, with power and grace, Dark chocolate, mission fig and baker’s spices are in abundance on the long finish.
Clos Du Val 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Hirondele Vineyard
This offering is entirely Cabernet Sauvignon and all of the fruit comes from four specific blocks. Black plum and spice aromas lead the charge. The palate has black raspberry, blueberry and a continuing thread of spiciness. Chicory and toasty oak notes are part of the long, textured finish.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 2017 FAY Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
This is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon with a dollop (1.5%) of Cabernet Franc blended in. The aromas and flavors here lean more to red fruits. Fresh strawberries, cherries and plum are of note. Bits of of pie crust and subtle savory herbs are present too. Wisps of darker fruit peek out on the long finish in addition to a gentle kiss of chicory.
These four wines are a terrific snapshot into Stags Leap District. Head over to the website and grab yourself a set before they’re gone. Last I heard there were only a couple dozen left!
I recently tasted a couple of Cabernet’s from Scattered Peaks with Winemaker Joel Aiken over Zoom. Though we’d never met, in any form prior, Joel’s reputation as a Stalwart Napa Valley Winemaker precedes him. He spent close to 30 years making wine for a little outfit known as BV. You’re likely familiar with a number of their iconic wines such as Tapestry and Private Reserve Georges de Latour. These days he works on several projects including his own label and he makes the wine for Scattered Peaks. They’re part of the Purple Wine Company which has a number of brands. Scattered Peaks is their Luxury Cabernet Sauvignon Brand. So as you can imagine, it makes complete sense to hire someone with Joel’s wine-making skill-set, not to mention his gravitas as a major league Napa Cab guy to make these wines.
Scattered Peaks 2017 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
The fruit for this wine came from Pope Valley (50%), Gordon Valley (29%), and Rutherford (21%). 11,000 cases were produced and it’s entirely Cabernet Sauvignon. The Purple Wine Company purchases a lot of fruit each year and that buying power allows them to make a pretty remarkable Cabernet Sauvignon for $40. Red and black fruits are joined by savory herbs from the nose to the toes. Black cherry, red raspberry, and a fine core of spices are all present. A gentle kiss of toast and baker’s chocolate are evident on the finish. This Cabernet is incredibly approachable now with a softness that makes it hard to resist. It does however have the bones to improve for a few years and drink well for at least ten. That’s certainly an impressive achievement in its price tier.
Scattered Peaks 2017 “Small Lot” Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $125)
Their Small Lot Cabernet is true to its name with a mere 450 cases produced. It too is 100% Cabernet with all of the fruit coming from two spots; Morisoli Vineyard in Rutherford and Sage Ridge Vineyard just south of Howell Mountain. “Small Lot” Cab is hugely aromatic with black cherry and savory herbs leading the way. Black raspberry, blueberry, and oodles of spice drive the palate. The finish is long and persistent enough to be impressive. Tannins are firm but yielding. If you’re drinking this now, I‘d decant it for at least a couple of hours so it’ll express its charms more readily. Otherwise. I’d lay it down for 8-10 years and drink it in the 5 or so that follow.
I went back to both of these wines when they had been open for just more than 24 hours. The “Small Lot” was far more ready to show off all it had than it was the day prior. And the Napa Cab was also a bit more beguiling and certainly holding its own. These are both rock solid in terms of being fine expression of Napa Cabernet. The lineage impresses too, with more than terrific fruit sources and a winemaker whose pedigree is beyond reproach. Scattered Peaks, I recommend giving them a shot if you dig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Watch clips of Joel speaking about these Cabernet’s and a lot more below:
few things tie this group of wines together. First and most importantly they’re delicious. They’re all appropriate for Spring. Regardless of their price point they represent excellent or better value. And finally with just a couple of exceptions, most of them are widely available on store shelves. All of them can certainly be ordered online, which is where many of us are purchasing our wine these days.
Raymond Vineyards in Napa Valley has undergone a renaissance since being purchased by Jean-Charles Boisset in 2009. The winery was founded in 1970; but the Raymond Family has a history in the valley that goes back much further than that. 2014 marked the 40th anniversary of the family’s first harvest. So this year they’ve released a special Reserve 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon adorned with a red velvet label to commemorate that anniversary.
Raymond Vineyards 2014 Reserve Selection 40th Anniversary Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon (92%), small amounts of Petit Verdot (4%), Petite Sirah (2%), and Malbec (2%) were blended in. Most of the fruit was chosen from estate vineyards in St. Helena and Rutherford; additional grapes came from a handful of local growers. Barrel aging was accomplished over 19 months in entirely French oak; 30% were new. Red raspberry and violet aromas are laced with bits of vanilla bean on the nose. The palate is stuffed with an explosion of black and red cherry flavors. Earth, baker’s chocolate, and crushed cherries are all layered on the long, velvety finish along with intermingling bits of spice. Firm tannins and acid provide excellent structure. This Cabernet Sauvignon is certainly enjoyable now but it’ll improve with some bottle age. I’d lay it down for 5-6 years and drink it in the 6-7 years after that.
Obviously there’s a ton of Cabernet Sauvignon being produced in Napa Valley. Styles, price points and more vary wildly, to say the least. For $40 this offering from Raymond Vineyards provides lots of drinking pleasure and a more than reasonable level of complexity. You can even lay it down for a while if you want.
Many members of the Mondavi Family have been involved in the California wine industry for generations. Their two largest and best-known wineries are Charles Krug, part of the Peter Mondavi family, and the Robert Mondavi Winery, which was started by Peter’s brother Robert. While these are tentpoles in Napa Valley, various Mondavi family members have started and maintained all sorts of other projects of varying scope
One of those projects is Aloft,. created by Marc Mondavi and his family. Marc, one of Peter’s sons, conceived this wine with the help of his wife and daughters. All of the fruit comes from their own Cold Springs Vineyard, which sits on Howell Mountain in Napa Valley. I recently sat down with Marc’s daughter Alycia and tasted the 2009 vintage of Aloft. Head over to The Daily Meal to read the rest.
There are literally hundreds of ways to taste wine in Napa Valley. The classic tried and true way is to bump up to the bar and enjoy a range of current offerings. Napa started doing that way back when and allowed Vintners to showcase their wares. The idea was and still is that if you liked one or more of their wines you’d take some home to enjoy later. At most wineries you can still do this. Many tasting rooms, all over now, also offer additional ways to enjoy wine. This can be as simple as a wine and cheese pairing or as involved as a helicopter flight to a mountain top tasting.
Round Pond Estate has chosen to allow guests to enjoy the bounty of their property and all that encompasses in a number of ways. Depending on how much time you want to commit and what parts of Round Pond you’d like to see you can spend as little as half an hour there, or as much as a day. For my recent visit I cut it right down the middle and spent more than 2 hours there. My guest and I took part in Round Pond’s Il Pranzo Lunch ($120). Head over to The Daily Meal to read the rest.
On a recent trip to Napa Valley, I scheduled time with producers I’ve never visited and a handful I have been to previously. In one case I’d been several times prior, but not in a few years, and it was time to correct that and see what they were up to. That particular producer is Darioush, a fairly small winery in terms of production size. In all, they make about 20,000 cases of wine each year and roughly half of that is their best-known wine, a cabernet sauvignon.
Darioush sits towards the southern end of Napa Valley’s Silverado Trail. Of the two main thoroughfares in Napa, Silverado is the less densely populated, slightly quieter one. Darioush’s physical structure is one of the more lavish and ostentatious in the valley. It was founded by Darioush Khaledi, an Iranian immigrant who made his fortune with a family-owned grocery store chain in Southern California. As you drive up, it’s difficult not to be enraptured by the gorgeous property and winery building. In fact, the building is so incredible that you... Head over to The Daily Meal to read the rest.
If you’re not sure what to get someone as a gift this year, consider a good bottle of wine or spirits —‚ always in season. Anyone who drinks alcohol will certainly appreciate a well-chosen bottle to enjoy, be it alone or with friends (my hope is that it’s with you). Throughout the year, I’ve tasted a number of the best bottles in both the wine and spirit categories and compiled a list of my 24 favorites — any of which would make excellent gifts for a variety of budgets. A few of the bottles are particularly great values, while others are luxury beverages that will really impress the lucky person who receives them; no matter the price, every selection in this guide is delicious and well made. Head over to The Daily Meal to read the rest.
Thanksgiving is less than a week away! That means we all need some wine to serve our guests or ourselves, preferably both. Spending top dollar to get good wines is fairly simple. Finding value driven offerings that get the job done is a bit more challenging. Here are some delicious selections that will work well for your Thanksgiving meal. With one exception they all clock in under $25. Even at lower price points it’s nice to have one splurge wine to consider.
Espirit du Rhone 2013 Cotes du Rhone AOC ($11.99)
This wine blends together Grenache (60%), Syrah 30%), Carignan (5%), and Cinsault (5%). 1,000 cases of this wine have been imported to the US. Hints of anise and rhubarb aromas present on the nose here. The palate is studded with purple fruits, dry currants and Montmorency cherry. Bits of finely ground espresso join nutmeg and cinnamon on the finish. Medium tannins soften with a little bit of air. This acid rich, food friendly wine will pair with everything on your Thanksgiving table.
Decopas 2013 Malbec ($12)
All of the fruit for this wine comes from the Mendoza region of Argentina. It’s comprised entirely of estate bottled Malbec. This deeply colored hue of this wine is striking in the glass. Plum, violet, and a little hint of vanilla bean wafts from the appealing nose. The palate is loaded with sumptuous and juicy black fruit flavors such as blackberry and raspberry. Bay leaf characteristics, sour black cherry and a hint of dark chocolate mark the lip smacking finish. Decopas Malbec will pair well hard cheeses, meat based stuffing, ham and the bird itself. Decant this one for an hour and it’ll really pop.
Esporão Verdelho ($12.99)
The fruit for this wine was sourced from vines with an average age of 10 years on them. It’s composed entirely of Verdelho. It was fermented in a temperature controlled environment, stabilized, filtered and bottled without any oak influence. Hints of lemon and lots of fleshy yellow melon jump from the nose here. The palate has loads of green apple flavors, more citrus and lemon characteristics, as well as a dollop of white pepper. Grapefruit and lemon zest light up the crisp and refreshing finish. Hand your guests a glass of this when they walk through the door on Thanksgiving, they may drink it all day and never switch to red.
Georges Dubeouf Chateau les Capitans Julienas 2011 ($18.99)
All of the fruit for this wine was picked by hand. It’s composed entirely of Gamay. It was fermented in a temperature controlled environment using native yeast. Red cherry and cranberry fill the nose along with hints of toast. A cornucopia of dried red fruits and savory spices fill the flavorful, medium bodied palate. The finish lingers with continued red fruits, black tea, minerals and warming spices. This wine is tasty on it’s own but really shines with food.
Esporão Reserva Red ($24.99)
This offering blends together Aragonês, Trincaeira, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet. Each grape was harvested and vinified separately. Barrel aging occurred over 12 months in American (70%), and French (30%) oak; 12 months of bottle aging followed prior to release. This red blend has a beautiful deep, dark purple color. Red and black fruits mix with copious spices on the welcoming and heady nose. There’s an inherent earthiness that leads the palate. Red and black fruits join in along with lots of spices. Cherry, strawberry, and black pepper are all joined by bits of roasted coffee bean on the above average finish. This wine has medium tannins and terrific acidity. Esporão Reserva Red is just begging to be paired with food. It’ll excel with just about anything you throw at it, making it a natural for the day of the bird.
Flora Springs 2012 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ($40)
All of the fruit for this wine came from Napa Valley. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon (95%), small amounts of Malbec (3%), and Petit Verdot (2%) were also blended in. It was aged over 22 months in a combination of French (71%), and American oak (29%). Black Currant, cherry and Mexican Vanilla bean aromas are omnipresent on the nose. Black cherry with a splash of a liqueur dominates the palate which is plush and lush in its easy drinking, smooth nature. Crushed velvet, continued black and red cherry, earth, espresso and chicory are all present on the finish along with a hint of bitter chocolate. This is a fine example of Napa Valley Cabernet that drinks impeccably right out of the bottle. It does down easy and also has good depth and complexity.
Most every moment I spend in wine regions I’m on the hunt. Of course I’m looking for excellent wine, but when I’m on the ground somewhere I’m searching for brilliant tasting experiences too. They come in every shape and size, offering everything from just wine, to light pairings, all the way to full on meals accompanying wines. I just spent 10 days split between Napa Valley and Sonoma County; and on this trip alone had a huge variety of experiences. Many of them were quite good and well worth mentioning. One, however, stood above the pack. To say my tasting at Clif Family Winery was a homerun would be to sell the experience short. The tasting at Clif Family Winery is a Hall-of-Fame-caliber tasting, easily in the top five tasting experiences available in Napa Valley. Head over to The Daily Meal to read the rest.