Two Burgundy lovers and their weekend in Napa Valley

SF/NAPA
Tasted Wednesday, August 22, 2012 by clayfu with 1,112 views

Introduction

Edson Gonzalez and I had a weekend open so we planned a trip up to Napa Valley to hang out and meet up with some of the locals. We stayed at the lovely Best Western Premier like bosses. We each trucked up a nice handful of Burgundies and also sampled some of the local fare. Here's a list of our adventures.

WOTW: Definitely the 08 Dujac CDLR. Killer freaking wine. Need to get more of it as I only have two bottles left =( Don't know how I'll keep my hands off it!

We made a few stops while in Napa.
1) Napa Valley Wine & Cigar
2) Chateau Segui
3) Envy Winery (Carter/Myriad)
4) Alpha Omega
5) Chateau du Pott
6) RM Headquarters

Flight 1 - Hog Island Oysters @ Ferry Market Place (1 Note)

Prior to meeting up with Edson, I met up with a high school buddy for oysters. I ran next door to grab a bottle of wine and saw the PYCM. Ridiculously overpriced at $90 (based on purchasing it for sub $70 in so cal) but a very good start to the trip with a dozen primo oysters.

  • 2010 Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gains

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

    PYCM is absolutely killing it in 2010. From his basic village stuff to this mid tier 1er, he is rocking house. There is this intense bright lemon fruit on the initial attack that just explodes through the palate with boatloads of acidity and minerality. As it sat in the bottle over the hour, the acidity died down a touch (good thing as it was very strong) and the wine started to flesh out a bit but that intensity never stopped. If you love powerful rich big white burgundy, this is it.

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Flight 2 - Visiting Napa Valley Wine and Cigar (2 Notes)

On our way up the 29, we stopped at NVWC to say hi to Carrie and Randy. Little did we know we'd run into Mr. Piper and pop a few bottles.
Also popped a 2010 Henri Boillot Corton Charlie. I've written a few notes on it already and it's pretty similar. Just really heavy reduction on this bottle but it blew off by dinner time.

  • 2010 Kosta Browne Chardonnay One Sixteen

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Not surprising that this wine would have a boat load of vanilla oak on it. Really big pear and apple on the palate that's fleshy and round with a clipped short finish. Didn't change much over the hour.

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  • 2009 Anthem Winery Cabernet Sauvignon konrad vineyards

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    Very big and deeply structured wine. Sweet blue and black cool fruit that balances well with the acidity. The fruit is ripe but it makes sense with the tannins and structure of the wine. Definitely one to hold for a bit to let those tannins resolve but it has the body to hold for awhile.

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Flight 3 - Dinner @ Chateau Segui (5 Notes)

We originally had dinner plans at Farmstead but after a few people fell through, me, Piper, Segui and Edson decided to just grill up some local steaks. Some great 42 day dry aged Rib eyes to go along with these wines. Too bad on the corked Rousseau =(
We also ravaged a box of It's It, which might be the greatest ice cream sandwich ever made.

  • 2008 Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

    Intensely powerful wine on the palate throwing off a boatload of stem spice and floral on the nose. The acid and tannin are already balanced and runs beautifully along the backbone. There is this very tasty bright fruit that intermingles with the spice. Everything mixed together puts forth this long finish of cool fruit that just lingers on the palate. Must find more.

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  • 2007 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    Pinpoint pure yellow fruit with zinging acid running along the backbone. Tons of minerality rushing all over the finish and picks up a bit of shell on the backend. Definitely needs time as the fruit lifts and that chalk balances in but an enjoyable drink now.

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  • 1996 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

    decanted as the wine was giving up very little but sulfur and reduction initially. After about thirty minutes in the decanter it opened up completely. Subdued honey and lemon fruit on the palate, the chalk limestone was integrated into the fruit to give that little kick to the back end of the palate. The palate while not as rich as the 07, is very full and expansive as the flavors are all expressing themselves nicely at the moment. A touch of hazelnut with the fruit on the finish, so it's leading me to believe that it might be a good time to start drinking up.Really wish I had some oysters as that brine would have killed it with this wine.

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  • 2009 The Vineyardist Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain

    Big ripe bold sweet napa cab. Tons of sweet black fruit that's textured and lush on the palate. If you like fruit this is the kind of wine you want. Not sure how it'l develop as it ages, but why wait

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  • 2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Mazy-Chambertin Flawed

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Corked =( =( =(

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Flight 4 - Tasting at Envy Winery (3 Notes)

Mike Smith got a hold of me and invited Edson and I up to Envy to taste some of the stuff he's making. Carter and Myriad are firing on all cylinders right now. Big bold wines but balanced with cool fruit. Nothing gobby and fat with minimal oak presence. If you're gonna make a big napa cab why not make it in this style?

Flight 5 - Tasting at Alpha Omega (6 Notes)

Jean put together quite the spread. They converted part of their former barrel room to a tasting area that was gorgeous. The winery knows how to treat its guests. There is even complimentary valet!
What I enjoy about the wines at AO is that they aren't obsessed with doing just pure cabernet. Not shy about blending in merlot, PV, CF into the wines and it brings out a really nice balance where in almost all the wines you pick up earthy tones you'd typically think of from Bordeaux. The 2010's are built to last as the tannins and acid are very powerful and should drink well for a really long time.

Flight 6 - Party up at Chateau du Pott (6 Notes)

Aaron Pott hosted a party where each person had to bring a bottle of Domaine Du Vieux Telegraphe and their own bottle. Had a guy come up and cook a MEAN seafood paella. The one negative was that quite a few couples came in bringing wine not according to the party guidelines... oh well. I can't say I was terribly impressed by the Vieux Telegraphe and I had quite a few more vintages, just none of them really inspired any memorable notes. The two burgs we killed outside with the paella as we met a few other burg lovers.

Aaron hosts a killer party for 80 people. Largest Paella pan I've ever seen, live music, kids swimming, people putting up tents.. man is a champ.

Flight 7 - Crashing the RM headquarters party (4 Notes)

A little birdy told us that there was a house in Callistoga on Saturday night that had the executive chef from (*) Solbar catering a small party for a certain superstar winemaker. A near full keg of beer, tons of wine opened with a bunch of great food.. nothing like it to cap off the night. Got to meet Chris Maybach, who was an absolute pleasure to hang out with and also got to raid TRB's cellar. The highlight of the night was probably when one of the RM interns grabbed the bottle of 93 Bachelet Corbeaux and started to empty a giant glass for himself and Mr. Segui grabbed the bottle from him and said "no". Gave the kid his first lesson in tasting fine wines.. no pouring 8 oz pours for youself ;).

  • 1998 Claude Dugat Charmes-Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    Very nice wine, sweet dark berry fruit mixed with gamey meat (as much as burgundy can be gamey) and mossy forest floor. Tannins are resolved now and the acid is clear and precise leading to a nice cool texture that runs through the palate.

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  • 1993 Domaine Denis Bachelet Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux Vieilles Vignes

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru

    Oldest Bachelet I've had and really shows how much the flavor profile from Bachelet has changed. As one of the prior notes stated, very austere and fading fruit and the dominating flavor on the palate was this savory meaty fruit that just tasted tired. Not that typical dark brutish fruit I was expecting from this wine.

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  • 1996 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Villero di Castiglione Falletto

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Come to papa! Popped into the decanter (for all 15 minutes before it was drained) and the moment it hit the decanter the bouquet just exploded with rose and red fruit. On the palate it had this deep almost savory earthiness to it but it was mixed in perfectly with the strawberry, leather and gritty tannins. I love it when a wine is in that perfect place where the savory elements and sweet elements meet right in the middle. Like a great sea salt caramel ice cream ;)

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  • 1996 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Saint-Vincent

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Piercing harsh acidity on the palate with a touch of citrus. The acid was so overwhelming and intense and it covered up whatever other things are going on with this wine. Let it sit!!

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Closing

We departed the next day for SFO, munched on some dimsum in SF and chalked up another great weekend of wine and friends!

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