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This past weekend we celebrated my wife’s birthday.  No I will not discuss age, I still want to see another day.

Dinner was a magnificent treat made by some new, dear friends as a surprise.  Pork chops and broccoli.  Literally the best chops I had ever eaten.  Fresh hand cut chops straight from the butcher, brined in seasonings including molasses.  Wow what a treat.

I picked the wine for the evening.  I wanted something special, I chose a 2007 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet.  I had been saving  this one, oh was it well worth the wait.  David Tate is the winemaker at Barnett, and man what an artist he is.  Tongue-gasms (yes my made up word, but you get the meaning).  The wine opens a bouquet that just fills the room.  Oh my.  The anticipation of the things to come.  The color-rich, deep, dark purple.  Just adds to the magnificence of the wine. (big words now).  Big words are indeed needed to express the flavor of this wine.  The lush juice immediately hits your tongue, all kinds of berry.  Blackberry, cherry, currant and licorice with a very long finish, a very long finish, let me say again, a very long finish.  Little notes of spice, pepper and very light tannins-yes it is 10 years old.  The exceptional fruit forward but very balanced style of this wine is well-EXCEPTIONAL.  One of the best wines you will ever have at any price.

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Usually this is where I end.  I am after all a wine blogger, (well I try to be).  But tonight, even with this magnificent specimen before me, one of the best wines I have ever had, from one of the most spectacular vineyards your eyes could ever behold, (if you have the chance to visit the vineyards- it is as close to the garden of Eden that a mere mortal will ever have-please go).

But tonight, Sorry Mr. Tate, you were upstaged by a 14 year old and a purple cake.  As I stated before it was my wife’s birthday celebration.  Our friends had prepared the fore mentioned meal.  Too top it off their 14 year old son (yes 14) made her a birthday cake.  A wondrous sight to behold, three colors of purple, 3 tiers of chocolate.  Extraordinary.  I am not a baker, so I cannot do justice to the intricacies of creating such a piece of art.  I can only say that it was the most beautiful cake I have ever seen, and one of the most delicious too.

I hope that someday the two artists of this evening will have the chance to meet and share their respective art.  But until then, I will.

Enjoy

 

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If you are an Old World favorite follower you know that the wines’ distinction comes from the vineyard,chateau….dirt.  More recently some New World wines are adapting this philosophy, but by and large they are still known by the winemakers.

Terroir is a word that does not easily translate into the New world philosophy. An easy way to think about it is just to think about the dirt, each area has differences in the soil.  But, it is much more than that.  It is the soil, minerals, water that make up a particular vineyard.  But, it is also the air, total climate, farming techniques…history that make up terrior.

I am a firm believer that a great winemaker can do wonders with any juice given, but great wines come from great vineyards.  Many  think only of the winemaker as being important to the end result.  The truth is that the the vineyard manager, the farmers who tend the crops and the winemaker all play important parts in the final product.

In a recent discussion with one of these “Rock Star” high end winemakers, he admitted that he is only as good as the grapes he can contract in each vineyard.  Some very famous vineyards contract down to each vine.  Think To-Kolon,

Recently I was given a couple bottles from the Gasparini-Beals vineyards, Dry Creek, Sonoma.  Lambert Bridge Cab Franc and Cuvee Wine Cellars rose (from cab franc).

The Rose was light, crisp with hints of cherry and strawberry.  A little bit hardier than most domestic Rose’.  A compliment in my thinking. Soft and elegant.  Thomas Pichon and Patrick Smith are the winemakers, both  with  long histories in California wines.

Lambert Bridge Cabernet Franc 2012, was an extraordinary treat.  The minute the bottle was opened the fragrances filled the room.  Violets and roses meld into the  senses.  The dark, luscious juice sends tingles down your spine.  The rich, ripe fruit – full of plum, dark cherry and hints of chocolate and tobacco.  What a thrill.

Jennifer Higgins is the winemaker, she also has a very illustrious history.  Studying under some famous names such as Zelma Long, Jill Davis and David Ramey.  What a lineup.

Gasparini-Beals continues to grow quality grapes. (Prayers to everyone in Sonoma and Napa).  With these two wines the fame of this vineyard will certainly continue to grow.

Enjoy

 

Montes winery produces some of the top rated South American wines, think La Finca.  Hailing from the Colchagua Valley in central Chile-Clos D’ Angel is a new label from the Montes group.

This is the Malbec, 2014.  A heavenly delight that is 85% malbec and 15% syrah.  Malbec has had a storied existence.  French Malbec was almost completely wiped out from disease, but thrived in South America, it is still one of the 6 Bordeaux grapes (including Carnere) but honestly in all my tasting (to put it politely) I have rarely come across. Now when asked about Malbec 99% will automatically think South America.  This big robust purple grape with a distinct ink color provides a plummy-dark fruit taste that verges on “sweet”  but not. 

Clos D’ Angel is produced from grapes from the El Arcangel Vineyard.  Handpicked.  The juice produces the much sought after, full bodied fruit with light tannins that so many strive for and never reach .  The raspberries, plum and coffee with hints of tobacco and cocoa just explode.   Thirsty yet?  The finish is long and satisfying-if you are willing to stop at one.  But I am never willing to stop at one, that is why I am ususally very satisfied. HA. 

The Montes group has done a fantastic job with this one.  Beautuiful. 

Enjoy this one with red meat, or by itself as I often do.  I wish I had another right now.  

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20170831_192019Oh What a Night.  Everything about this wine is spectacular.  First it is from the Pessac-Leognan appellation.  (Do not confuse with Chateau Haut-Brion, the only 1855 classified red wine from the appellation).  But, for a much more economical substitute -and I certainly cannot drink Haut-Brion on a regular basis, this is one to go with.  And of course it is a 2009 vintage.  One of the top 5 vintages in the last 20 years.

The aroma bursts from the bottle immediately after opening.  Violets and roses.  Hints of cinnamon and spices.  Delightful, inviting.  You must let this one sit for awhile.  This just adds to the intense anxiety you have to jump in and drink immediately.  It is sorta like going on a blind date and arriving an hour early, (Carly Simon singing anticipation starts going through your head.

Once you pour the opulent juice in your glass your body starts tingling with excitement.  The dark raven wing color is just-well -beautiful.  As you sip some of the juice in your mouth , first the tip of the tongue starts trying to decipher all of the elements.  Then as your cheeks start noticing the wine, automatic mouth watering begins.  A very well balanced, fruit forward wine.  Plum, ripe cherry, smoke and earthiness and cedar.  Notes of pepper.  OMG  give me more.  Tannins are so very soft and elegant-silky.  The wine is soft,  a more medium body.  Ripe red fruits are plentiful with a smoky after.  The finish is loooonnngggg.   This is a perfect wine for a cheese dinner.

I am going to leave you now and finish this bottle!!!!!

Enjoy

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