2012 22nd Annual Family Winemakers of California Tasting

Festival Pavilion, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California
Tasted Sunday, September 09, 2012 - Monday, September 10, 2012 by Richard Jennings with 674 views

Introduction

image

Of the over 70 producers whose wines I sampled at this tasting, the 23 producers responsible for one or more wines I rated 92 points or higher were Adastra, Ancien, Black Sears, Cain, Culler, Darms Lane, Field Recordings, Freemark Abbey, Keenan, La Jota, Lamborn Family, Mauritson, Merryvale, Paloma, Saxon-Brown, Seavey, Sojourn, Spring Mountain, Tablas Creek, The Terraces, Turley, Vino Noceto and Wallis Family. None of the couple dozen producers that were new to me at this tasting made the list above, although I did taste some good wines from newer producers like Anakota, Cowan Cellars, Galerie, J. Rickards, Patel, Petroni, Tayson Pierce, Trombetta Family and Wait Cellars.

Cabernet and Meritage blends certainly dominated the tasting, as they invariably do at this event. The best Cabernets and Meritages for me, meriting 92 points or higher, were:
2006 Black Sears Red - 92 points
2009 Black Sears Cabernet Sauvignon Estate - 93 points
2008 Cain Concept The Benchland - 92 points
2007 Cain Five 92+ points
2009 Culler La Palette - 92+ points
2009 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvigon - 92 points
2008 Robert Keenan Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 points
2009 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon - 92 points
2009 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 points
2008 Lamborn Family Cabernet Sauvignon - 92+ points
2009 Merryvale Profile - 92 points
2009 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon Caravina - 93+ points
2008 Seavey Cabernet Sauvignon - 93+ points
2008 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 points
2007 Spring Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - 92+ points
2007 Spring Mountain Elivette - 93+ points
2008 Spring Mountain Elivette - 94 points
2010 Wallis Family Cabernet Sauvignon Little Sister - 92+ points
2010 Wallis Family Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 points

Pinot Noirs I rated 92 points or higher were:
2009 Adastra Proximus - 92 points
2010 Ancien Shea - 92 points
2010 Ancien Red Dog - 92 points
2010 Ancien Fiddlestix - 92+ points
2010 Sojourn Russian River Valley - 92 points
2010 Sojourn Wohler - 92+ points
2010 Sojourn Ridgetop - 93 points

Zinfandels I thought merited 92 points or higher were:
2010 Black Sears Estate - 93 points
2010 Mauritson Dry Creek Valley - 92 points
2008 Saxon-Brown "Stonewall" Parmelee-Hill - 92+ points
2010 Turley Pesenti - 94 points
2009 Vino Noceto OGP Grandpere Vineyard - 92+ points

Other varietal reds that impressed, including Merlots, Cab Francs, Petite Sirahs and Petit Verdot, included:
2009 Darms Lane Petit Verdot Bon Passe Vineyard - 92 points
2009 Robert Keenan Cabernet Franc Spring Mountain District - 92+ points
2008 Robert Keenan Merlot Napa - 92+ points
2009 Robert Keenan Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard - 93 points
2008 Paloma Merlot - 92+ points
2009 Seavey Merlot - 93 points
2010 The Terraces Petite Sirah - 92+ points
2010 Turley Petite Sirah Hayne - 93+ points
2009 Vino Noceto Barbera Linsteadt - 92 points

Other red blends that impressed me were
2011 Field Recordings "Fiction" - 92 points
2010 Tablas Creek Côtes de Tablas - 92+ points
2010 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel - 93 points

The only white this year that I rated 92 points or higher was Spring Mountain's exceptional, white Bordeaux-like 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (92+ points).

Flight 1 - Adastra (7 Notes)

image

Flight 2 - Anakota (1 Note)

image

Flight 3 - Ancien (5 Notes)

image

Flight 4 - A-non-ah-mus (3 Notes)

Flight 5 - Black Sears (3 Notes)

image

Flight 6 - Cain (3 Notes)

image

Flight 7 - Carol Shelton (5 Notes)

image

Flight 8 - Cornerstone (4 Notes)

Flight 9 - Corté Riva (4 Notes)

Flight 10 - Cowan Cellars (4 Notes)

image

Flight 11 - Culler (4 Notes)

image

  • 2011 Casaeda Gewürztraminer 91 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino

    (9/9/2012)

    Very light yellow color; aromatic, old roses, floral nose; tasty, tart citrus, mineral, floral palate; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Culler Syrah Casaeda 91 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    (9/9/2012)

    Tart black fruit, light pepper nose; tart black fruit, roasted black fruit, savory palate; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Culler Cabernet Sauvignon Casaeda 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    (9/9/2012)

    Very dark ruby color; tart black fruit, tobacco nose; tart black fruit, tobacco palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Culler La Palette 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Very dark red violet color; tart currant, lightly herbaceous nose; tart currant, pencil lead, tart black fruit palate; needs 2 years; medium-plus finish 92+ points (92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 12 - Darms Lane (4 Notes)

Flight 13 - De Tierra (5 Notes)

Flight 14 - Domaine Le Mieux (3 Notes)

Flight 15 - Dragonette (6 Notes)

image

Flight 16 - Elizabeth Spencer (3 Notes)

Flight 17 - Field Recordings (6 Notes)

Flight 18 - Field Stone (4 Notes)

Flight 19 - Field Vineyards (2 Notes)

Flight 20 - FiftyRow (3 Notes)

Flight 21 - Frank Family (3 Notes)

Flight 22 - Freemark Abbey (2 Notes)

image

Flight 23 - Galerie (1 Note)

  • 2011 Galerie Sauvignon Blanc Naissance 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Light yellow color; smoke, lemon grass nose; tasty, smoke, lemon grass, mineral palate; medium-plus finish 91+ points (50/50 stainless steel and neutral oak; clones 1, 317 and 376)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 24 - Guarachi (3 Notes)

  • 2010 Guarachi Chardonnay 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    (9/10/2012)

    Light yellow color; tart pear, floral, almond nose; tart pear, floral, almond palate; medium finish 88+ points (11 mos in new French oak, 50% new)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Guarachi Pinot Noir 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    (9/10/2012)

    Dark cherry red color; lifted, ripe cherry, oak nose; tart cherry, tart raspberry palate; medium finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Guarachi Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Very dark red violet color; brett, cinnamon, tart red fruit nose; brett, cinnamon, tart red fruit palate; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 25 - Idle Hour (3 Notes)

Flight 26 - J. Rickards (4 Notes)

image

Flight 27 - Jones Family (3 Notes)

image

Flight 28 - Justin (4 Notes)

Flight 29 - Kathryn Kennedy (1 Note)

image

  • 2009 Kathryn Kennedy Lateral 91 Points

    USA, California

    (9/9/2012)

    Very dark red violet color; cedar, tart plum nose; cedar, tart plum, tobacco palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 91+ points (45% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Cabernet Franc, 14% Malbec, 7% Pinot Noir; Kathryn Kennedy is spinning this off as a separate label)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 30 - Keenan (5 Notes)

image

Flight 31 - La Jota (3 Notes)

  • 2009 La Jota Merlot 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    (9/10/2012)

    Very dark purple red violet color; ripe plum, berry nose; tasty, ripe black fruit, berry palate; medium-plus finish 91+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    (9/10/2012)

    Opaque red violet color; tart black fruit, menthol nose; tasty, tart black fruit, menthol palate; medium-plus finish (w/12/% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

    (9/10/2012)

    Very dark purple red violet color; appealing, black currant nose; tight, ripe black currant, blackberry palate; needs 2-3 years; medium-plus finish (w/5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc)

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 32 - Ladera (4 Notes)

image

Flight 33 - Lamborn Family (2 Notes)

image

Flight 34 - Larry Hyde & Sons (4 Notes)

Flight 35 - Lavender Blue (4 Notes)

Flight 36 - Mario Bazan (2 Notes)

image

Flight 37 - Mario Perelli-Minetti (3 Notes)

image

Flight 38 - Maroon (3 Notes)

Flight 39 - Mauritson (4 Notes)

image

Flight 40 - Merryvale (4 Notes)

  • 2010 Merryvale Chardonnay 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    (9/10/2012)

    Light yellow color; lifted, pear, white jasmine nose; ripe pear, white jasmine, peach palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points (43% new French oak)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Merryvale Pinot Noir Carneros 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    (9/10/2012)

    Medium dark cherry red color; lifted, ripe cherry, raspberry nose; ripe cherry, raspberry palate; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Merryvale Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Dark ruby color; ripe cassis, black currant, light menthol nose; tasty, cassis, black currant, menthol palate; medium-plus finish (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Merryvale Profile 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Very dark red violet color; appealing, ripe black currant, cassis nose; tasty, cassis, black currant, menthol palate; medium-plus finish (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc; 14.8% alcohol)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 41 - Mitchell Katz (4 Notes)

image

Flight 42 - Montage (4 Notes)

Flight 43 - Naumann (2 Notes)

image

Flight 44 - Paloma (1 Note)

image

  • 2008 Paloma Merlot 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    (9/9/2012)

    Dark ruby color; tart plum, black fruit, baked plum nose; tasty, poised, tart black fruit, tart plum palate; will go 15 years; medium-plus finish 92+ points (w/15% Cabernet Sauvignon)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 45 - Patel (3 Notes)

image

  • 2009 Patel Proprietary Red 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Dark maroon color; appealing, black currant, French oak nose; plush, black currant palate; medium-plus finish (70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Malbec)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Patel Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Very dark red violet color; ripe black currant, berry, vanilla nose; ripe black currant, berry, vanilla palate; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Patel Proprietary Red 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Dark red violet color; herbs, black currant nose; tasty, herbs, black currant palate; medium-plus finish 91+ points (68% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, with Malbec and Petit Verdot)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 46 - Peter Paul (7 Notes)

Flight 47 - Petroni (4 Notes)

image

Flight 48 - Pietra Santa (3 Notes)

Flight 49 - Pride (4 Notes)

Flight 50 - R & B Cellars (3 Notes)

Flight 51 - Robert Biale (1 Note)

Flight 52 - Rua (1 Note)

  • 2009 Rua 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/10/2012)

    Opaque red violet color aromatic, tart berry, black fruit, menthol nose; tasty, tart black fruit, menthol, tart berry palate; medium-plus finish (Merlot & Cab Franc, co-fermented; 2/3s to 1/3)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 53 - Saxon-Brown (5 Notes)

image

Flight 54 - Seavey (3 Notes)

Flight 55 - Sempre Vive (2 Notes)

Flight 56 - Smith-Anderson (2 Notes)

Flight 57 - Smith Madrone (3 Notes)

Flight 58 - Sojourn (3 Notes)

image

Flight 59 - Spann (3 Notes)

Flight 60 - Spring Mountain (5 Notes)

image

Flight 61 - Tablas Creek (3 Notes)

image

Flight 62 - Tayson Pierce (3 Notes)

image

Flight 63 - The Terraces (6 Notes)

  • 2010 The Terraces Riesling 90 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa County

    (9/9/2012)

    Light yellow color; aromatic, tart peach, baked pear nose; oily textured, tart peach, poached pear palate with minerality; medium-plus finish (no malo)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2011 The Terraces Chenin Blanc 88 Points

    USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

    (9/9/2012)

    Light yellow color; pear, tart green apple nose; spicy pear, green apple palate; medium-plus finish 88+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 The Terraces Zinfandel 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Very dark red violet color; tart berry, spicy plum nose; tasty, tart berry, spicy plum palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 The Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Opaque purple red violet color; tart black fruit, charcoal, graphite nose; tasty, tight, tart black fruit, charcoal palate; needs 3 years; medium-plus finish 91+ point

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2011 The Terraces Chardonnay 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

    (9/9/2012)

    Light yellow color; tart pear, tart apple nose; tasty, tart pear, tart apple palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish 90+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 The Terraces Petite Sirah 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Opaque black red violet color; appealing, rich, tart black fruit, savory, light herb nose; tasty, chewy, tart black fruit, savory, dried herbs palate; long finish 92+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 64 - Trombetta Family (1 Note)

Flight 65 - Turley (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Turley Zinfandel Pesenti Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    (9/9/2012)

    Dark ruby color; aromatic, ripe berry, black cherry nose; tasty, tangy, tart black cherry, tart berry, graphite, mineral palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish (vineyard planted in 1920)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2010 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    (9/9/2012)

    Very dark purple red violet color; rich, ripe black fruit, chocolate, chocolate cake nose; rich, creamy textured, tart black fruit, tart berry, black plum palate; medium-plus finish 93+ points

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 66 - Veedercrest (5 Notes)

image

Flight 67 - Vena (2 Notes)

Flight 68 - Vino Noceto (7 Notes)

image

  • 2011 Vino Noceto Pinot Grigio 90 Points

    USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

    (9/9/2012)

    Pale pink yellow color; ripe apple, light peach nose; juicy, tart peach, palate; medium finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2011 Vino Noceto Moscato Blanco Frivolo 89 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Pale yellow color; ripe peach, fruit salad nose; rich, sweet, peach, fruit salad palate with some acidity; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Vino Noceto Sangiovese 89 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Medium dark cherry red color; tart red fruit, red berry nose; tart red fruit red berry palate with good acidity; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Vino Noceto Sangiovese Riserva 90 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Medium dark red color; tart red fruit dried red fruit nose; tasty, very tart red fruit palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Vino Noceto Sangiovese Dos Oakies 91 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Dark red color; tart red fruit, cranberry nose; tasty, tart red fruit, cranberry, cherry palate with medium acidity; medium-plus finish (Brunello clone)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Vino Noceto Barbera Linsteadt 92 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, California Shenandoah Valley

    (9/9/2012)

    Dark cherry red color; appealing, tart cherry, red fruit, oak spice nose; tasty, ripe cherry, tart cherry, red berry, raspberry palate; medium-plus finish (probably the best California Barbera I've tasted)

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2009 Vino Noceto Zinfandel OGP Grandpère Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, California, Sierra Foothills, Amador County

    (9/9/2012)

    Dark cherry red color; baked berry, plum, maple syrup nose; tasty, tart plum, baked berry, tart black fruit palate; needs 2-3 years; medium-plus finish 92+ points

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 69 - Wait (3 Notes)

image

Flight 70 - Wallis Family (2 Notes)

image

Flight 71 - Yeilding (5 Notes)

image

×
×