Napa Trip

Napa Valley, CA
Tasted Friday, January 1, 2016 - Sunday, January 3, 2016 by aagrawal with 296 views

Flight 1 - Night 1 (4 Notes)

  • 2014 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Spätlese 90 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    (1/1/2016)

    Pale lemon color; nose has minerality, slight underlying petrol, some lemon-lime; palate is light bodied, a good dose of RS balanced by high acid, tingly, lemon-lime, not much depth through the midpalate; finish is medium-length. The balance on this is excellent, and it has a good level of sweetness for a spatlese, though it needs a bit more complexity and depth of flavor. Very nice for the price ($20). 90
    With a few hours of air, this gets a bit simpler, acid falls a bit. Still nice but not as impressive. 89

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  • 2014 Weingut Jakob Schneider Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese 87 Points

    Germany, Nahe

    (1/1/2016)

    Light lemon in color; nose is a bit reticent, closed down; palate is light bodied, balanced sweetness and acid, lacks depth or complexity; finish is short-medium. For the price ($25), this is disappointing, and it wasn't as good as the $20 Kruger-Rumpf 2014 Munsterer Dautenpflanzer that I had alongside it (especially on the nose). Easy to drink, not much more. 85-87
    Improved substantially with a few hours of air in bottle, but overall judgement the same. 86-88

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  • 2011 Altocedro Malbec Reserva 76 Points

    Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco

    (1/1/2016)

    High toned ripe blueberry fruit, slight VA; palate is high alcohol, modern, slightly unbalanced; short finish. 76

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  • 2013 Domaine Sérol Côte Roannaise Les Vieilles Vignes 88 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Côte Roannaise

    (1/1/2016)

    Pale ruby; nice cherry fruit, slight floral aromatics, slight apple, elegant; palate is light bodied, medium acid, light tannin, cranberry, simple palate; medium finish. Very nice for the price, everyday wine. A gamay that I like... 87-88

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Flight 2 - Smith Madrone Vineyards (4 Notes)

  • 2013 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    (1/2/2016)

    Lemon, aromatic, slight oak; excellent acid, full body, nice finish. Well balanced for a Napa chardonnay. 88

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  • 2012 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    (1/2/2016)

    Ruby-purple; aromatic, blackberry, blackcurrant, herbal aromatics, lots of pyrazines and bell pepper but these decreased with time; palate is full bodied, medium tannins, balanced alcohol probably 13.5%, solid blackberry fruit, good complexity; medium finish. Very nice. 91-92.

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  • 2009 Smith-Madrone Cook's Flat Reserve 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    (1/2/2016)

    Ruby-purple; dense concentration of riper blackberry fruit; palate is full bodied, dense black fruit, huge concentration of fruit; medium finish. Well made but I kind of appreciate the pyrazines of the estate cab and this is much more expensive. 91-92.

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  • 2013 Smith-Madrone Riesling 85 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

    (1/2/2016)

    Slight petrol, moderately aromatic nose, slight peach, pear; palate is light bodied, dry, still some petrol, medium acid, simple; short-medium finish. Decent but expensive for its quality at $27. 85

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Flight 3 - Dinner at Redd (1 Note)

  • 2008 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (1/2/2016)

    Deep ruby color; aromatic nose with blackberry, rich ripe black fruits, slight smoky spice, bay leaf; palate is full bodied, smooth approachable tannins, ripe black fruit, somewhat elevated alcohol seems higher than the labeled 14.2%, possibly 15%; medium length finish. Nice in the modern style, but could use a bit better balance to be excellent. 88-89
    With just 30 minutes of air, this balances out significantly. Alcohol is somewhat better integrated, dense black fruit, very nice. 90

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Flight 4 - Night 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2012 Freemark Abbey Merlot 81 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    (1/2/2016)

    Deep ruby-purple; moderately aromatic nose, ripe purple fruit; palate is full bodied, high alcohol, hollow midpalate, not much fruit. Not great in the spectrum of wine. 80-82

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  • 2014 Domaine Allimant-Laugner Riesling 87 Points

    France, Alsace

    (1/2/2016)

    Lemon-green color; nose is aromatic with lemon-lime, mineral soil; palate is dry, medium acid, tart lemon-lime, simple palate but well balanced; finish is medium length. Good but nothing special. 86-88

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