Weekend in the Bay Area: 97 insignia, 04 Matriarch, 05 Seven Stones, and much more!

Bay Area
Tasted Monday, June 9, 2008 by hudamang with 547 views

Introduction

My wife and I went up to the Bay Area this weekend to hang out with friends and drink some good wine! What a trip it was! Besides going to The House for lunch, House of Prime Rib for dinner, Willi's wine Bar for dinner the next day, we got to try a lot of wine! Good times!

Flight 1 (11 Notes)

  • NV Domaine Allimant-Laugner Crémant d'Alsace Rosé 89 Points

    France, Alsace, Crémant d'Alsace

    I really enjoy this sparkling wine. Bubbles slowly come up from the middle of the flute. Stawberries, apples, and a lot of cream that foams on the tongue. Very enjoyable and good QPR!

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  • 2003 Havens Wine Cellars Bourriquot 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Very floral nose of violets, blueberries, and leather. Palate is old world style with lots of tobacco and leather in addition to the berries. Interesting wine that is complex.

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  • 1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    What a wine. Thank you Paul and Stacey for sharing. It's still young imo but starting to see some secondary flavors. Lots of cassis, dark fruit on both the nose and palate. The creamy finish on this wine is incredible. Goes on and on and on. Why pay over $200 for the new vintages of Insignia when you can get this wine for the same price? Amazing wine that is complex, well balanced, and what a CA Cab should be like with over 10 years of age.

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  • 2004 BOND Matriarch 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Another bottle brought by Paul and Stacey. Nose was a bit tight at first but started to open up after 30 minutes in the decanter. This wine kept evolving throughout the night but it definitely paired well with the prime rib. Ripe cassis, dark berries, very powerful in style. The Insignia was more elegant but this wine was also excellent. Give this a few years and when everything integrates, it'll be rockin'!

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  • 2004 Mas Doix Priorat Costers de Vinyes Velles

    Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

    What a complete difference to the 97 insignia and 04 Matriarch. Nose consisted of violets, tar, and licorice. Definitely tasted too young as the wine was a bit simple. Roy mentioned this had VA when I poured it for him to try the next day. Prime Rib and CA Cabs go better than Prime Rib and young Priorat.

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  • 2005 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Even from 4 feet away, you can smell the ripe fruit from the decanter. Cassis, blackberries, and chocolate on both nose and palate. Good finish with velvety tannins. I didn't get any green herbs on the finish like Ray but we both would agree this was a well made Cab. The labor going into this wine is one of a kind! Roy Piper is the man.

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  • 2001 Iron Horse Vineyards Blanc de Blancs 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley of Russian River Valley

    Green apples dominate this sparkling wine. Lemons, apples, acidic.

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  • 2000 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut 89 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    I actually enjoyed this. Yellow apples, pears, and a nuttiness on the palate that would make this a bottle I would enjoy.

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  • 2005 Schramsberg Vineyards Brut Rosé 87 Points

    USA, California, North Coast

    Not sure if I had the 05 or 06. Not as good as the Allimant Laugner Cremant D'Alsace but it was easy to drink. Some peach, strawberries, bubbles...simple but nice.

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  • 2006 Hirsch Vineyards Pinot Noir The Bohan-Dillon 86 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    I thought this was a rose being poured into my glass. Strawberry fruit punch color. Nose was showing bright red fruits. Palate full of cranberries. After a weekend full of great Napa Cabs, this one just wasn't that exciting.

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  • 2005 Valdez Family Winery Zinfandel Lancel Creek Vineyard 86 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Definitely Zinfandel. I enjoyed the high octane jamminess but it had too much heat on both the nose and finish. However, I did appreciate it's fruit forwardness. This is no Carlisle though.

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