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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 Germany, Nahe
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
2 people found this helpful Comment
White - Off-dry
2014 Weingut Jakob Schneider Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese Germany, Nahe
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
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Altocedro Malbec Reserva Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco
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 France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Côte Roannaise
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 USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
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 USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
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.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2009 Smith-Madrone Cook's Flat Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
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.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2013 Smith-Madrone Riesling USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
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
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Dinner at Redd (1 note)

Red
2008 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
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
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - Night 2 (2 notes)

Red
2012 Freemark Abbey Merlot USA, California, Napa Valley
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 France, Alsace
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
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