Trying to keep up - time slips by so fast...

2005 Hafner Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, California

From the Winery:

2005 was an ideal growing season with our coolest Summer in 25 years. It was a vintage winemakers dream of because moderate temperatures allowed the grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. Our Cabernet harvest began on October 11.

Following the Bordeaux tradition of extended maceration, the wine stayed on the skins for another two weeks to soften the young tannins. We then moved the Cabernet into our caves where it was aged in French (80%) and American (20%) oak barrels. During its first Winter, the wine underwent malolactic fermentation which lowered its acidity and added richness. In its second year, this Cabernet was aged in both oak barrels and tanks. After many blending trials, we added 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec to this Cabernet to increase the wine’s depth and richness. The wine was bottled in August 2007.

At our Annual Vertical Tasting in February 2015, we tasted the 2005 and here are our notes: Lovely, well-balanced. Blueberries, black pepper, mint and spice aromas. Supple on the palate with flavors of dark chocolate and toast that add richness and depth.

A gift, bought from the cellar collection, this wine was drinking wonderfully. Decent nose, real nice flavors with layers. Nice finish – wasn’t even close to its end time.  Small family winery that produces Cabernet and Chardonnay. Worth seeking out.

2012 Perseverance Cabernet Sauvignon, California

Winemaker's Notes:

Rich and full with black cherry flavors followed by hints of exotic spices and plums. Nicely balanced with backbone. The finish is full and satisfying allowing it work well with red meats, red-sauced pasta dishes and chicken sausages with sautéed onions and green peppers.

 Pretty nice for a 10 buck cabernet. Decent flavors, some backbone and a modest followthru on the flavors.  Good BBQ/Pizza wine, school night wine. Not something you’d seek out, but OK in a package deal.

2012 SPICE BLOCK CABERNET  Mendoza, Argentina

Spice Block Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from individual selected vineyard blocks to exemplify the structured fruit flavors of an artisan Cabernet Sauvignon from Mendoza. This wine exhibits robust flavors of black fruits, cassis and cherry compote with a hint of vanilla mocha yielding a velvety finish of very fine and supple tannins refined by oak aging for 7 months.

Another typical inexpensive Cabernet, this one has nice fruit, some aftertaste.  Adequate school night wine, wouldn’t go hunting for it…

2008 Lagar de Robla  Mencia Robla Catilla Y Leon, Spain 

Robert Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate:  Rated as An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. "The 2008 Lagar de Robla Premium Mencia spent 18 months in American oak. It is the most complex of these Mencia offerings displaying density, opulence, and length. This pleasure-bent effort can be enjoyed now but will drink well for a decade."  Jun 2011

New York Times:  "Most wine drinkers, I suspect, have never heard of Bierzo, but word is getting around. And if you get the oppurtunity to taste a good bottle, with its haunting, exotic wildflower, licorice and fruit flavors, you can't help but remenber it." Eric Asminov

Winery:  "The 2008 Lagar de Robla Premium is made with 100% Mencía grapes produced by old vines in the region of Bierzo with an average age of 50 years. This big red spent 18 months in American oak and a year in the bottle before its release.  This is the most complex wine made by Vinos de Arganza. "

Yes, another Mencia from Bierzo – this was another great example of a wine made from grapes that used to make only rustic, harsh, local swill; the wine is made in a modern style and shows good fruit, nice balance and a good finish.  Really nice…

1999 St Supery Meritage, Elu,  Napa Valley Ca                   

Very well made wine – holding up very well, with layers of flavor and nice aftertaste. Berry and cigar box, without the vegetal green pepper. Very nice, touch of browning around the edges but still drinking well.

•           Winemaker's Notes

The deep reds and purples in this Cabernet Sauvignon reflect the wines depth and rich character. The bold aromas offer classic blackberry and currant Cabernet character, complemented by an undercurrant of oak and cedar with wisps of vanillin. The inticing flavors of briar and berry, toasted oak and a hint of licorice, combine with well-intergrated tannin for a complete and fulfilling wine. This wine will only get better with time in the bottle.

Napa Valley

82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot

2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

54% New French Oak, 41% New American Oak

Bottled March 13-15, 2002

2014 Copain  Rose of Pinot Noir       Tous Ensemble North Coast ,CA

Very enjoyable Rose, with good Pinot flavors, hints of cherry and raspberry.  A pink for red wine drinkers

Winemaker's Notes:

With a gorgeous hue of pale pink, our 2014 Rosé jumps out of the glass with crisp red fruit flavors. The supple texture is backed by a vibrant freshness and appealing acidity, making this a wonderfully versatile food wine. The 2014 vintage started dry but abundant February rain came just in time to break the winter draught. Warm spring temperatures encouraged an early budbreak that kept vineyard development ahead of schedule through the entire season. Our harvest was condensed beginning September 3rd and concluding on September 24th. For the first time our Pinot Noir and Syrah harvest overlapped. Abundant sunshine and cool evenings created near ideal conditions for ripe and balanced wines with yields falling in the normal range. As the name, “all together”, suggests, Copain’s Tous Ensemble series offers a perfect complement to any gathering, from a casual meal to an impromptu party. Approachable, balanced and ready to drink, these wines pair beautifully with almost any food, any day of the week. Tous Ensemble wines reflect a classic blend of fruit sourced from select vineyards throughout Mendocino County.

2011 Nickel & Nickel Syrah Darien Vineyard, Russian River Valley, CA

SENSORY EVALUATION

The 2011 Darien Vineyard Syrah opens with lovely violet and floral notes along with the juicy meatiness inherent to the varietal. Flavors of berry and plum blend beautifully with earth and spice, creating a well-rounded medley of flavors on the palate. The wine’s texture is rich and balanced allowing for a satisfying progression from front to finish.

This wine was deep, dark and almost brooding. The nose was a big – fruit and floral and hints of the spice. The flavor was real big, red fruits, spice and some herbs popping in. Stayed with you for some time; quite a follow-thru of flavor. What a real nice bottle of wine – it could have been kept for several years without losing any of its flavors.