Tied Down With Taste,…Tether Napa Red 2014

And along comes flavor. Kimberly Jones is a well-known wine broker. She has put together some of the most sought after craft wines ever. When I found out she had partnered with – perhaps my favorite wine maker of all, Anna Monticelli, I just had to find a bottle and try. Anna makes wines for several wineries but one of my faves is of course Pina. It took awhile to find a bottle, they are in high demand and not in many places.

The 2014 is, well, a slide into decadence. The fruit bursting flavor that pops when you open the bottle, dark cassis, blackberry, chocolate-continues to pop inside your mouth. Just the perfect balance of fruit and acid that makes the mouth water uncontrollably. Rich textures of velvet and satin coat the mouth and throat. The rich dark fruit of blackberry, chocolate with notes of toasted oak. Light tannins that just aide and enhance the experience. WOW what a wine. All of this and under 50$. It is way too easy to drink the whole bottle, but just settle in and do it. Believe me you will not regret. Just stay put though..

Enjoy this wine with a fine meal or just by itself.

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Philippe-Lorraine Cabernet, Napa 2011; Slap your Momma and bring me the Wine

Sometimes you just run across a wine that you want to marry, or at least keep as a mistress. Sex with wine-don’t pretend, you know you have thought about it. Well this is one of those.

Once you pull the cork you are automatically hit with oh the Garden of pleasure, violets, roses and plumeria, ( I was just in Hawaii). Smell is actually 90% of taste. All of my senses are in overdrive now, and I am already tasting, my mouth is flowing juices like an excited virgin. The immensely dark juice pours into the glass. So intriguing, inviting and yet mysterious.

As I pour the wine into my mouth I am hit with WOW just amazing amounts of fruit. Succulent and supple. The intense concentrated flavors that are packed in here are so hard to define individually. But, man oh man, you definitely get the plum, black cherry, licorice. On the end you will note coffee and chocolate. The pleasures of the body all in one bottle. The rich velvety touch of the juice touches my soul. I feel a euphoria coming over me. The long finish with ever so light tannins envelops me, taking control. I am entranced now, my body is begging for more. And more it shall have. I must go now I am about to have a relationship with my wine.

On a more serious note. The Baxter family continues to provide excellence. Phil Baxter Jr. has followed in his fathers footsteps-providing some of the best wines in Napa. Some old world nuances mixed with new world style. Beautiful.

This is one of the best wines you will ever have. Not much on the market so if you find it buy it.

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Enjoy

Bringin down the House,…Moone Tsai Cabernet, 2009

The Holidays require me to open up the cabinets and put out the best for dinner. This year brought about a dilemma, choosing one. After careful consideration and consultation with the wife (who enjoys researching the wines), I chose Moone Tsai Napa cab 2009. Needless to say it was a good choice. Known as one of the “Rock Stars” of the wine world, he has solidified his reputation with Moone Tsai and his own Melka brands. He studied under some of the great wine makers of Bordeaux and Napa. Now he produces some of the best and highly sought after wines in Napa.

2009 was by all known as a great year-pretty much world wide. Moone Tsai exhibits all of the reasons why. Full bodied, highly aromatic balanced and intense. I decanted for three hours–just as an FYI.

As soon as I opened the bottle I thought I had been transported back to the Garden of Eden. Wow, just wow. the aromas took over the house, who needs pot pouri. I could close my eyes and feel that I have been transported.

The dark juice that pours into the glass only hints at what is to come. Slowly the juice draws into my mouth. Instantly the saliva flows. Oh my my. So many flavors all at once. Licorice, cassis, and oh so many berries. My right leg started to shake. Raspberry, blueberry, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, coffee, it just seemed as the kitchen pantry of spices and the fruit keeper were all passing through my senses at once. The finish was long and in depth, never missing a single flavor note. (I think I can still taste it). By decanting for so long I had reduced the tannins and really opened up the flavors. I took a single sip when it was first opened and it was definitely tight. But the decanting process really just opened it up and softened it all around. Pairing it with rare prime rib was just the ticket.

Hope you all had a joyous Christmas. Cheers and

Enjoy

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you see my choices. All very very very good wines, and of course the prime rib.

Ceja….vu

So before I talk about the #ceja wines let me tell you a little bit about their history. A family of immigrants (yes I am going there Trump), who through hard work, perseverance and the desire to live the American dream have succeeded in building one of the most respected and hi end wineries in Napa. Working in various jobs in Napa the family literally learned the business from the ground up. A true American success story..Amelia Ceja was named woman of the year in 2005, she and her daughter, Dalia, have graced the cover of many magazines and continue to build the brand in powerhouse fashion. From the beginning with the first 15 acres purchased by Amelia and her husband Pedro and family members Pablo, Armando and Juanita. Armando is now the winemaker at Ceja (and doing a magnificent job). OK enough gushing about the family and their success. (Just for the record.. I visited the vineyards a couple of years ago and was treated to a winetasting and food prepared by the matriarch yummmmm.

Now to three of their wines.

Ceja Chardonnay Carneros;

First that beautiful color, golden straw, sunset, you take your pick. Aromas that revel with citrus and green apple. The mouth is coated in refreshing light crisp citrus notes, followed by notes of tree fruits, pear and apple. Very well balanced. A perfect summer refreshing white.

Ceja Pinot Noir Carneros

A light ruby color. The nose is very floral, with hints of ripe red fruits. The wine coats your mouth with so many flavors wow the depth of complexity is amazing. Ripe red fruit flavors, plum and cherry followed by a spicy finish. Beautiifully balanced with elegant soft tannins.

Ceja Vino de Casa Red Napa

Everyone loves a great red blend, a common table wine. But this is anything other than a common wine. Dark red, not quite garnet. The bouquet erupts with aromas of violets and cherry. Very fruity on the palate. Rich red fruit, a long finish

Fruit and spice and everything nice.

….e.