September Wines

Just a few before I describe the 2 verticals I had on Oct 1

2011 Atalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA

2011 Atalon, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, CA

Brilliant, dark garnet in color. Rich black cherry, blackberry, plum and currant with hints of spice and toast. Sweet oak and cocoa nib integrates into the juicy black fruit. Soft and velvety texture accentuates a luscious, round mouth feel. Great depth of fruit and spice with hints of mineral, dried herbs, milk chocolate and rose petal. Great on its own, but better with grilled meats.

Critical Acclaim

TP91  Tasting Panel - "Juicy and bright with deep plum and earth; spicy, intense and neatly structured; balanced and stylish with finesse and a long finish. "

A Bordeaux-style blend, predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, from vineyards throughout the Napa Valley. This red is made in a more robust style, the tannins still a tad dry, the fruit earthy in sage and cedar with black cherry and chocolaty spice at the fore.

87 points, Wine Enthusiast (Nov 2014)

Very nice bottle of Cabernet from Napa. Not overly big, very approachable with good fruit balance and a good finish. 2011 was a tough year and this wine needs to be drunk over the next two years. Got a good deal, can be found for around $20.

2009 San Pedro de Yaco chuya, Malbec, Salta, Argentina

Winemaker's Notes

Notes of ripe plum, spice and and light toasty oak. The body is medium with good structure and a long finish.

Coquena Malbec is sourced from high altitude Malbec vines (5400 ft) coming from the Tolombon Estate, just 7 miles south of Cafayate. This was the last estate acquired by the Etchart family in Cafayate.

The grapes are 100% hand-harvested and sorted. The yields are dramatically limited by the extreme conditions. The wine has just a light touch through oak casks previously used for Yacochuya.

The wines are bottled with minimum fining and filtration.  Only 1600 cs made.

Critical Acclaim

RP90  The Wine Advocate - "Good Malbec is grown in the north too; roasted character, dense black fruits, drink now – 8 years. "

Nice bottle of Malbec – still a little tight, though not really very tannic.  Loosened up to have very good fruit and an expressive finish.  Good buy from Argentina. Available around $20.

2007 Vitanza "Tradizione" Brunello di Montalcino

93 points James Suckling

 Rose petals and plums on the nose. Full body, with round and chewy tannins and a ripe finish. Tannic, yet polished texture. Give it two to three years of bottle age. This wine is clearly better in 2007 than 2006.  (1/2012)

93 points Wine Enthusiast

 Thick and dark, with generous fruit, spice, leather and tobacco. This is a wine that does not hold back from an aromatic point of view. Mouthfeel is tight, firm and ends with polished tannins.  (5/2012)

92 points Wine Spectator

 A sinewy, muscular red, hinting at mint and licorice, with a core of cherry and plum flavors. Stiff tannins corral everything on the moderately long finish. Best from 2014 through 2026. B.S.  (6/2012)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino Tradizione saturates the palate with layers of dark red cherries, rose petals, spices and licorice. It shows gorgeous mid-palate pliancy and depth all the way through to the finish. The Vitanza wines always have an element of rusticity, but the 2007 Brunello is especially polished. This will always be a fairly full-bodied wine marked by firm, incisive tannins. The 2007 spent 36 months in Slavonian oak. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.  (4/2012)

This wine could age longer, but is in a good place right now. Not a lot of tannins, but the black and red fruit make it a sumptuous wine – finish is still long. Well balanced, goes wonderful with a meal or by itself. You can find it for about $30...

2014 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley, Washington

The Columbia Valley blend is made from numerous vineyard lots resulting in a complex, layered Chardonnay.  Malolactic fermentation follows yeast fermentation for added richness and complexity.  47% tank fermented Chardonnay was added to the blend to make a fresh style of Chardonnay.

 Sur lie aged for more than six months in a mix of French and American oak barrels (15% new) with regular stirring to soften the wine and integrate fruit and oak flavors.

“The Columbia Valley Chardonnay is a pleasurable, food-friendly Chardonnay. This is a fresh, soft style of Chardonnay with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex, interesting wine. The sur lie aging gives it an appealing softness.”

Just a cheap bottle of Chardonnay (my sister-in-laws favorite grape) that was really a very nice little white wine. It was very smooth and creamy, with hints of citrus and green apple without being a big old butterball.  Worth the $10-12 spent on it.

Also had another bottle of 2011 Terra Prima Red from Spain - had it last in February. Last bottle of my $100 case from Jacobs.  Hope you enjoy - I've got to write up notes from a vertical tasting of Kathryn Hall and Chimney Rock - years 2009 - 2012. Until then, keep popping those corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines.