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Napa Valley

Charles Krug 4 to 5
2001 CabSauv - non-defective easy drinking soft flavors 2002 CabSauv - less nose, less overt flavor in the middle, more structure 2003 Chard - only 15% malolactic, not overbearing or oaky like so many California Chard's but no distinction 2003 Zinfandel - smells and tastes like a mild-mannered zin, 14.2% alc keeps the fire down 2001 Merlot - fragrant boysenberry, easy drink This winery is not related in any way to Krug champagne family, but is one of the oldest wineries in the U.S. Peter Mondavi family is current and long time proprietors, winemaker is 30-yr-old ??? who is pushing whole estate to biodynamic within 5 yrs.  (2005-06-17)
Behrens and Hitchcock 8
B&H is one of the premier estates in California, a family-run business next to Pride on the top of Spring Mountain. I visited their open house 6/18/05 and was treated to neighbors barbecuing massive piles of ribs and sausage, huge cheese and fruit spread, and dozens of happy people. Almost all B&H wines are dark and heavy, intensely flavored, and high in alcohol. Almost all other wines are drawfed by these California monsters. All their wines range from $40 to $75, and sell out immediately. 2004 York Creek Petite Sirah - remarkably civilized for a massive unevolved wine, black pepper and spice. My favorite of the day. 2004 Ed Olviera Syrah - beautiful smoky syrah flavor, great length and body. My second-favorite of the day. 2004 Madrona Ranch Merlot - people were going nuts about this; while it was strong and pure, I didn't think it was all THAT. 2004 Claret - gently integrated tannins, nice balance and complexity, I'd drink it next year. 2000 Claret - herbal, oregano and eucalyptus, the only wine at less than 15%, the only wine that didn't burn my nose hairs. 2002 Merlot - 16.2%, I'd say too alcoholic for the fruit (which was still huge) 1997 Merlot Reserve - interesting development in this wine, unleashing a lot of slightly overripe cherry. 2003 Merlot Las Amigas - sale price that day was $30; I wish I'd known before I bought mine for $42. Big and burly, my third favorite of the day. 2002 Chats du Monde - this assemblage had lots of raspberry zing and was maybe the fruitiest wine.  (2005-06-20)
Pride Mountain 8 to 9
Pride Mountain is my favorite winery. The people are so nice and they always make me feel at home. 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon - Great wine, lighter on its feet than previous vintages, still $62 (relatively speaking, a decent deal). Purity on the nose, plenty of currant. 2003 Cabernet Franc - A thing of beauty, blackberry with a hint of pine. 2003 Viognier - quite full bodied, but without the complexity of a Condrieu. Still, lusciously floral and with just enough acid to keep it balanced. Like a chard but without the annoying heaviness on the back. 2002 Merlot - another great merlot, a bit of rhubarb pie. NV Viogner dessert wine - this stole the show, it was so orange blossomy and wildly pure and sweet, but with nothing negative on the finish, which often happens with other sweet drinks. Visited again 12/16/05 2004 Chardonnay - enormous oaky fleshy dense style all malolactic and heavy finishing. 2003 Merlot - nice nose, big chewy earthy body, angry acidic slightly disjointed finish, probably will take care of itself over the next year or so. 2003 Cab Sauv - delicious wine, tannic and dark, not sweet, rugged mountain fruit. Barrel tasted: 2004 Syrah - smells at first like Syrah, bit of smoke and blueberry, then immediately bowled over by huge tannin and ponderous fruit. A 10-year wine, like a concentrated Cote Rotie. 2004 Carolyn's Cab Sauv - very black and very tannic with a bright fragrant currant focus on beginning of the mid-palate, tannins are more soft than fierce but still huge, finish is slightly disjointed but clean 2004 Rockarch Cab Sauv - fiercesome tannins, absolutely black, amazing aromatics and fruit concentration, this thing is so tight it's like it's ready to explode. These two components will be blended into the estate Cab Sauv.  (2005-06-20)
2001 Miner Family Merlot, Stagecoach Vineyard 6
Nice blackberry and _mocha nose, good pure flavors, some blackcurrant - a bit on the cabernet side of merlot. Lush with a very pleasant finish, this represents high finesse California winemaking with emphasis on polished and plentiful fruit character and superb balance. Very approachable right now. Because of its purity, not as much personality as some of the others, but that's the tradeoff sometimes. $25 at Wine Club  (2005-08-05)
Oakville,
2001 Mt Veeder Zinfandel 3
Very small quantity of zin produced from this steep area on the lower westside of Napa Valley. THis winery is much better known for Cab, and this zinfandel, while non-defective, is too earthy and a bit disappointing.  (2005-08-05)
2002 Turley Old Vines 7
grape: zinfandel. Beautiful picnic wine. Very powerful and jammy with clean finish. The alcohol blew off to reveal plenty of strawberry on the nose. Goes with parmagiano reggiano or a grilled italian sausage with roasted peppers!  (2005-08-06)
Rabid Red 6
2003 from American Canyon, smells like red berries, huge fruity mouthfeel, unmistakeable American style, but not heavy. Grenache? Smells like a lot of wines in this field blend, very bright, not super complex nor deep but a tasty, good value quaff. Around $15.  (2005-10-28)
Casa Nuestra 6 to 8
Tasted 2003 and 2002 Meritage (mostly Merlot), 2003 Cab Sauv and 2004 Rosado (rose of Merlot and Cab Franc). Rose had more body than most. Meritage ($40) was plenty tannic and chewy, earthy, not really showing too much. Cab Sauv ($55) was very tannic and delicious. Lots of currant, made in a 1980's Montelena style, not too ripe and tons of grip. I'd love to see how it evolves in a few years. Met Gene Kirkham (owner) and great hospitality by Robert who fixed a fire and opened fresh bottles just for us. This winery is an old school friendly "family" type winery with only 1500 cases on 18 acres next to Duckhorn near Calistoga (Silverado Trail).  (2005-12-18)
Etude 6 to 9
2004 Pinot Gris was pleasant, not extraordinary. Fleshy and graceful with pear notes. 2002 Merlot was very nice, the last of the sourced grape Merlot as next year they go to 100% Estate. Merlot comes from Hare, Hyde, Hudson and Adastra, loamy and herbaceous. Cab Sauv was a sexy thing of beauty, generous and very succulent like blackberry preserves and chocolatey. Low acid and modest tannin make it terrific right away.  (2005-12-18)
Vincent Arroyo 7
2004 Chardonnay is 0% malolactic, finally an American chard to enjoy! Crisp finish, plenty of citrus and tropical fruit, some oak and fairly full-bodied mid-palate. 2003 Cab Sauv smelled alot like an Etude Pinot Noir, more cherry than blackberry, medium-bodied, balanced and pleasant. JJ is Joy's daughter. Joy, Vince's wine-loving dog passed away recently at the ripe age of 16 from hip problems. JJ seems much more interested in tennis balls than wine, but she can climb to the top of the huge stacks of barrels (seems very precarious if you ask me).  (2005-12-18)

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