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Napa Trip
Napa Valley, CA
Tasted January 1, 2016 - January 3, 2016 by aagrawal with 299 views
Flight 1 - Night 1 (4 notes)
White - Off-dry
2014 Kruger-Rumpf Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Spätlese
90 points
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
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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White - Off-dry
2014 Weingut Jakob Schneider Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese
87 points
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
Improved substantially with a few hours of air in bottle, but overall judgement the same. 86-88
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Red
2011 Altocedro Malbec Reserva
76 points
High toned ripe blueberry fruit, slight VA; palate is high alcohol, modern, slightly unbalanced; short finish. 76
Red
2013 Domaine Sérol Côte Roannaise Les Vieilles Vignes
88 points
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
Flight 2 - Smith Madrone Vineyards (4 notes)
White
2013 Smith-Madrone Chardonnay
88 points
Lemon, aromatic, slight oak; excellent acid, full body, nice finish. Well balanced for a Napa chardonnay. 88
Red
2012 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon
91 points
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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Red
2009 Smith-Madrone Cook's Flat Reserve
92 points
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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White
2013 Smith-Madrone Riesling
85 points
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)
Red
2008 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon
90 points
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
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)
Red
2012 Freemark Abbey Merlot
81 points
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
White
2014 Domaine Allimant-Laugner Riesling
87 points
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