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Napa Valley Master Class with Robert Parker

Napa Valley

Tasted November 10, 2016 - November 20, 2016 by Collector1855 with 1,333 views

Introduction

I was able to attend a 3-day private event in Napa, co-organized by the Wine Advocate. There were winery visits, dinners, lunches and a 2007 Napa Masterclass guided by Robert Parker and Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW. A really fantastic event and learning opportunity. Robert Parker was, as always, his down to earth, friendly self, spending lots of time talking with participants. I really adore him for not having become even a bit aloof after all the fame and accolades. What a classy guy!

You will notice from my scores that I have not given a 100 points to any wines despite having consumed the peak of Napa during this event. I find the Napa CabSav aromatically a touch below the 3 digit score. Also, some of them are too sweet for my palate (eg, Peter Michael, Hundred Acre) or they are structurally a bit rustic (Lokoya, Abreu). However, they are very consistent vintage in and vintage out, much more so than Bordeaux. I am of course nit picking here, but that is just my taste. So, feel free to mentally add 2-3 points per wine if you are a fan of riper/richer CabSav style.

Flight 1 - 2007 Napa Masterclass (11 notes)

Red
2007 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Nose of dark fruit, earth, quite rustic and heavily charred oak but not uninteresting. Impression gets confirmed on the palate. Ripe fruit with serious tannins, rustic but not drying. A step down from the cult wines in this line up but held its own.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Cardinale USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Ripe nose of cake, bakery, gingerbread, lots of oak, not much secondary aromas. The palate is bold and big, sweet, spicy tones as well adding complexity. Dry finish at the end from the tannins. This looks like a wine that has suffered from hydric stress and warm weather because the volume is rich but the phenolic ripeness lagging behind.
Comment
Red
2007 Colgin Cariad USA, California, Napa Valley
96 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Here we go, the first wine that convinced me. A small 550 case production, 70/30 Cab/Merlot blend. Nose of blue fruit, licorice, gingerbread, aristocratic. Velvety texture on the palate, good finish. Reminds of Dominus stylistically. Modern, but well done.
Comment
Red
2007 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
98 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Very different nose than the wines before, next to blue fruit there is red fruit here, cherry, cassis, ripe but not overripe, ostentatious. On the palate much silkier than the wines before, elegance and volume well balanced. I can see the triple digit here.
PS: After I tasted through 5 red wines from this estate over the next two days, the 2007 was the best of them. Stylistically I would describe the house style as follows: 1. Hallmark is its freshness and silky tannins. These wines are not Napa bruisers. 2. Quality is good but it remains a mystery to me why this has become the cult wine among all Napa cult wines
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Peter Michael Les Pavots USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
93 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Nose of pine tree, oak, cake, cherry, clearly on the ripe side. On the palate there is a sweet impression that confirms the search for ripeness here. I wish for more complexity and structure here.
Comment
Red
2007 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
97 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Nose of blue fruit, some stalky notes, blueberries, touch of licorice. Full bodied palate but not over the top, creamy tannins, really nice. A very complete CabSav front to back.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
96 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. From clay soil. Fantastic nose of dark fruit, cassis, pine, eucalyptus, herbs. Wow. Massive palate, full bodied, lots of layers, a bit too rich for my taste. A touch dry on the finish. 96+
4 people found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
2007 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon "Deep Time" USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Nose of dark fruit, chirstmas cake, blueberry jam, very ripe already in the nose. Palate confirms impression, a rich sweet "vin de confiture" as the French wold say. This is the wine where I differ the most with the WA score, liked it the least in this fantastic line up.
Comment
Red
2007 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
97 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Brooding nose of dark fruit, smoke, pine tree, this is the most Bordeauxesque nose, Latour like. Massive structure on the palate, lots of tannins, masculine, vulcanic, smoky aromas on the finish. Characterful but a tad rustic. Liked this as well.
Comment
Red
2007 Abreu Thorevilos USA, California, Napa Valley
98 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. This wine has apparently lots of CabFranc in the blend and it shows. Leafy nose of underbush, herbs, mint, greens, intermixed with ripe dark fruit, blackberry. Wild on the palate as well, lots of tannis but not drying. I am almost thinking Bandol. A very interesting wine, different to all CabSavs I had this week in Napa. Were it not for the rusticity of the palate it could add a point or two. Definitely worth trying once despite the hefty price.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Harlan Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
97 points
During a Napa 2007 horizontal tasting guided by Robert Parker. Nose of dark fruit, blueberry, touch of smoke and torrefaction. Big wine on the palate, soft and succulent at the same time, structure is just about right for the volume. A very complete CabSav start to finish.
Comment

Flight 2 - Winery visits, dinners and Luncheons Day 2 (10 notes)

White
2014 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
92 points
Nose of citrus, not as grassy as NZ SauvBlanc. Rich an fruity on the palate, medium+ body. Enough acidity to support the volume.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2008 Peter Michael Les Pavots USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
91 points
Nose of dark fruit, pine tree. Initially aromatically closed but opened up in the glass. Rich on the palate, lots of alcohol and some heat on the finish, aromatically rather modest.
2 people found this helpful Comment
White
2012 Peter Michael Chardonnay Mon Plaisir USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
87 points
Medium yellow. Nose of oak, vanilla, flowers. Rich and opulent on the palate, no way I can ever like this kind of baroque Chards. Lacks elegance and complexity. A bruiser.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2014 The Hess Collection Orange Muscat Small Block Series USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino
88 points
During a tasting lunch at Hess Collection. Nose of white fruit, flowers, no botrytis aromas. Very sweet on the palate, rather simple.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2014 MacPhail Chardonnay Vine Hill Road Pratt Vineyard USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
93 points
During a tasting lunch at Hess Collection. This is a fresh Chardonnay, Meursault like, aromas of white fruit, oak in the background. I like this fresher style to most Napa Chards.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Bryant Family Vineyard Bettina USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
During a visit of the winery. Nose of dark fruit, reductive. Rich palate, tannins a bit rustic. Difficult to assess at this stage. 89+
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
During a winery visit. Closed nose of dark fruit, some oak, hard to assess, much more closed than the outstanding 2007 we had yesterday. Tannins clearly softer and better integrated than with the Bettina 2014 alongside. This wine definitely needs the additional 7 years if it wants to be on par with the 07. To be revisited. 94+
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2014 Araujo Estate Sauvignon Blanc Eisele Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
96 points
During a wine tasting dinner at 3-Star Michelin Restaurant Meadowood. Subtle and complex nose of lime, citrus, mineral, touch of grass. The palate is very elegant, fresh, light and creamy at the same time. Apparently barrel fermented in Bordeaux style. This is the first vintage that the new owner, the Chateau Latour team. I absolutely loved this. It may well be the best Sauvignon Blanc I have tasted so far.
2 people found this helpful Comment
White
2014 Kongsgaard Chardonnay USA, California, Napa Valley
96 points
During a wine tasting dinner at 3-Star Michelin Restaurant Meadowood. Elegant nose of white fruit, pineapple, touch of oak and yeast. Very fresh and creamy on the palate, Burgundian, nothing buttery and heavy here. A pleasure to drink. The best Chardonnay from USA I had.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
1997 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon To-Kalon Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
96 points
During a wine tasting dinner at 3-Star Michelin Restaurant Meadowood. The wine was picked by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW. The surprise of the night. After having had lots of cult wines and 100 pointers all day the crowd was a bit apprehensive whether this was going to be an anti-climax. Quite the opposite. The wine was fantastic, displaying mature aromas of dark and red fruit, cedar, cherry, autumn leaves. 20 years old, it showed that Napa CabSav can age gracefully.
2 people found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Winery visits, dinners and Luncheons Day 3 (18 notes)

Red
2006 Screaming Eagle Second Flight USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
During a Screaming Eagle tasting session with Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW and the winemaker. Screaming Eagle is typically made of 80/15/5 Cab/Merl/Franc, the second flight wine has more Merlot with a mix of 45/45/10. As for the 2006, the wine maker noted that 2006 was a warmer vintage. TN: Reductive nose with some dark berries, cassis. Silky mouth feel, mid weight, reminds me stylistically of Chateau Canon. Medium length, lacking a bit of complexity for a higher score.
PS: After I tasted through 5 red wines from this estate in the last two days I would describe the house style as follows: 1. Hallmark is its freshness and silky tannins. These wines are not Napa bruisers. 2. Quality is good but it remains a mystery to me why this has become the cult wine among all Napa cult wines
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
96 points
During a Screaming Eagle tasting session with Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW and the winemaker. Screaming Eagle is typically made of 80/15/5 Cab/Merl/Franc. As for the 2006, the wine maker noted that it was a warmer vintage. TN: Lots of cassis in the nose, rum pot, cherry. Medium bodied, silky mouth feel, ripe but elegant and fresh at the same time. Medium+ aromatic complexity, I am missing additional aromas beyond dark fruit.
PS: After I tasted through 5 red wines from this estate in the last two days I would describe the house style as follows: 1. Hallmark is its freshness and silky tannins. These wines are not Napa bruisers. 2. Quality is good but it remains a mystery to me why this has become the cult wine among all Napa cult wines
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Screaming Eagle Second Flight USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
During a Screaming Eagle tasting session with Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW and the winemaker. Screaming Eagle is typically made of 80/15/5 Cab/Merl/Franc, the second flight wine has more Merlot with a mix of 45/45/10. As for the 2011, the wine maker noted that this was a cooler vintage. TN: Elegant and cool notes of blue fruit, pine, eucalyptus. Lighter than the 06 next to it on the palate, same level of quality but different style. Aromas are very primary still. Wait a few more years before drinking this.
PS: After I tasted through 5 red wines from this estate in the last two days I would describe the house style as follows: 1. Hallmark is its freshness and silky tannins. These wines are not Napa bruisers. 2. Quality is good but it remains a mystery to me why this has become the cult wine among all Napa cult wines
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2011 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
95 points
During a Screaming Eagle tasting session with Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW and the winemaker. Screaming Eagle is typically made of 80/15/5 Cab/Merl/Franc, As for the 2011, the wine maker noted that this was a cooler vintage. TN: Cool aromas also here around blue fruit, cassis, eucalyptus. Enters the palate with silky tannins, very fine, teh wine remains light. Aromatically this wine came across as a bit foresquare for me. May be age will make it more complex. Wait 95+
PS: After I tasted through 5 red wines from this estate in the last two days I would describe the house style as follows: 1. Hallmark is its freshness and silky tannins. These wines are not Napa bruisers. 2. Quality is good but it remains a mystery to me why this has become the cult wine among all Napa cult wines
2 people found this helpful Comment
White
2014 Screaming Eagle Sauvignon Blanc USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
90 points
During a Screaming Eagle tasting session with Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW and the winemaker. Here we go, the super rare Sauvignon Blanc that sells for 3000+ USD in the market. So, how does it taste? Look at the score and ask yourself how much money you need to shell out to replicate a 90-Point SauvBlanc experience. To me this tastes like any well made mid tier Sauv Blanc that you can pick up from New Zealand or Loire. Citrus, a touch of grass. This is nowhere near a Haut Brion Blanc, Silex, Eisele, etc., but hey, it's a free world.
5 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2005 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
95 points
During a tasting lunch at Colgin. Lots of blueberry in the nose, some oak and bakery, touch of smoke. Rich on the palate, very soft tannins, creamy mouthfeel. This smells and feels like a Pomerol/Merlot. Aromatically not complex enough for a score beyond 95.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Colgin IX Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
97 points
During a tasting lunch at Colgin. This wine was a winner and a clear step up from the 2005 Tychson hill. Complex nose of dark fruit with cassis, earthy notes. The mouthfeel is great here, the right amount structure and acidity to carry the fruit. Very Napa in a good way. A very complete CabSav structurally and aromatically. Colgin has really impressed me during this Napa visit for making wines that are full bodied Napa yet are also aromatically interesting and do have the right amount of structure, not too sweet/flabby and also not to extracted/drying.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
96 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya with the winemaker and commercial director. Expressive nose of spices, pepper, earth, blue fruit, touch of coconut. Racy on the palate, rich with very good acidity, bold structure that needs to soften.
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Can they soften enough is the question.
2 people found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
2013 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
95 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya with the winemaker and commercial director. Expressive nose of dark fruit, pine, touch of red fruit. Big wine, the fruit is ripe, the acidity good through and there is a touch of minerality. I preferred the Diamond mountain aromatically though. Here the tannins are a bit softer though but still rather demanding.
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Will they soften enough with age is the question.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
94 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya. Expressive nose of dark fruit, pine, touch of pencil shavings, very similar aroma profile than the Spring Mountain next to it. Rich fruit but also here lots of taninns, drying finish. Aroma: 96, Structure: 93
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Having experience with the Bordeaux 1986 and 1988 vintage I am doubtful that they will ever soften enough given where they are now.
3 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
95 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya with the winemaker and commercial director. Expressive nose of dark fruit, lots of cassis, some smoke and meat. Big and bold wine here as well. Entry on the palate is great but then it starts drying out with the masses of tannins. Aroma: 97, Tannin: 93
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Can they soften enough with time is the question.
3 people found this helpful Comments (2)
Red
2005 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
95 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya with the winemaker and commercial director. Nose of dark fruit, touch of dried fruit, licorice, gingerbread, the warmth of the vintage is visible in the aromatic profile. Lots of strawberry as well. Rich on the palate, the tannins are obviously a bit more tame than in the 2013 but still there is quite some dryness at the finish. In an acceptable range for my as a regular Bordeaux drinker but many of the women at the table found it too tannic.
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Can they soften enough with age is the question.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2005 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder
96 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya with the winemaker and commercial director. The winemaker noted that 2005 was a warmer vintage. Expressive nose with lots of licorice, dark fruit, tobacco, great complexity here. Full bodied palate, good acidity and lots of tannins. A touch dry at the finish. Aroma 98, Structure 94.
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Can they soften enough with age is the question.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2016 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
93 points
During a tasting session at Lokoya with the winemaker and commercial director. What, 2016? Yes, 2016! This came fresh off the tank and puzzled many people at the table, since they have never attended an en Primeur tasting. Obviously it is way to early to rate this wine but I did not that the fruit here is awesome, rich and ripe, tannins also much softer than the 2013 in the bottle. Since the draining must be finished by now, I wonder where the rustic tannins come in in the Lokoya wines I just tasted. Is it from the oak? In any case, 2016 seems to be off a very good start here.
PS: My summary for Lokoya is: The wines are really characterful and aromatic but the tannins are too rustic and lead to a drying finish of almost all the wines. Can they soften enough with age is the question.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2010 Harlan Estate USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
98 points
Dinner at Harlan estate with the wine maker and team. It was mentioned that 2010 was a slightly cooler vintage. Nose of blue fruit, oak, mild spices, cedar. Very refined entry on the palate, fantastic mid mouth feel with just the right amount of tannins to carry the fruit. This was my favorite wine in the line up, I liked the elegance in this wine despite the volume. It provided additional freshness vs. the 07 and 01.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2007 Harlan Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
96 points
Dinner at Harlan estate with the wine maker and team. It was interesting to re-vist this wine a day after the masterclass tasting. Similar impression and tasting note. Clearly warmer than the 2010 with riper notes such as dried fruit and Christmas cake as well. The ripe style and how it behaved in the glass suggested that you may want to decant this, or at least not for too long.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2001 Harlan Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
95 points
Dinner at Harlan estate with the wine maker and team. Nose of dark fruit, cloves and gingerbread. Big on the palate with a touch drying tannins may be stemming from the heat/hydric stress in 2001. A bit too sweet for my palate, especially after the 2010 but very nice wine overall.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2014 The Napa Valley Reserve White Wine USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dinner at Harlan estate. Fruity nose with lemon, minerals and a touch of grass. Well balanced palate. Medium complexity.
1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 4 - Other wines tasted during the trip (15 notes)

Red
1999 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Tasted at the winery. Lovely secondary aromas intermixed with earth, dark fruit. Medium- on the palate, airy.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2014 Corison Gewürztraminer Corazón USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
90 points
Tasted at the winery. Expressive nose of herbs, floral notes, white fruit. Medium bodied, quite rich for a Gewurtz, enough acidity though.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
92 points
Tasted at the winery. Nose of dark fruit, some oak and earthy. This is also quite light on the palate. An elegant CabSav but needs more depth for a higher score.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
95 points
Tasted at the winery. A step up from the normal wine, more dark fruit, deeper aromas. The palate is very Medoc in style, elegant and balanced.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2000 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
94 points
Tasted at the winery. Served from Magnum via Coravin. Fragrant nose of dark fruit, blue fruit, touch of gingerbread, vanilla. Delecate palate, medium bodied. Good finish too. I slightly preferred the 2012 for its freshness.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2010 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
flawed
Corked
Comments (1)
Red
2014 Failla Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
92 points
Medium garnet. Expressive nose of red fruit, vanilla and spices. Medium+ bodied on the palate, a bit too sweet but still within borders, nice stalky finish.
Comment
White
2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Fumé Blanc Reserve To-Kalon Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Almost white in color. Fresh, grass nose. Elegant and light on the palate. Nothing too deep aromatically but I liked the freshness and mouthfeel. Good food wine.
Comment
Red
2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Pinot Noir Reserve USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
88 points
Nose of spicy oak, dried fruit, vanilla. Rich and modern on the palate, Could be a Longuedoc wine and not a Pinot. I don't think Pinot works with this ripeness from a warm growing climate. Not sure they do it as well as in the past. I had the 1998 a few years later with 13.5% and it was sublime.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2013 Robert Mondavi Winery Pinot Noir Changement USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
89 points
Light garnet. Nose of bright red fruit, touch of spices. Fresh and elegant palate, not overly deep but much more pleasant than the thick/ripe reserve. 89-90
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 BRAND Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
90 points
Dark purple. Nose dark fruit, mainly blueberry, jam and again blueberry. Rich and sweet on the palate. Little aromatic depth, no elegance. I think this wine is a good example that ripeness and extraction without aromatic depth is a concept that appeals to wine starters who are transferring in from palate schooled by orange juice and Coke. I left that place a long time ago.
2 people found this helpful Comment
Red
2012 David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147 USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dark purple. Nose of dark fruit, blueberry, vanilla, very modern. The palate is again very ripe and aromatically rather foresquare. At least there is enough structure to carry the ripeness. Nice wine for orange juice drinkers but not for a refined Burgundy/Bordeaux schooled palate.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2006 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Dark purple. Aromas around dark fruit, lots of cassis, a bit fore square. Massive tannins and sweetness. Concentration and hydric stress visible here. Opulent. Finish a bit short.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White
2009 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
89 points
Oh boy, buttery, rich Napa Chard here we go! This is very heavy on the palate with lots of alcohol, volume and fruit. Well made but not my style at all. Score higher if you like these types of Chard.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
2014 Occidental Pinot Noir Cuvée Catherine Occidental Station USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
92 points
Medium-dark garnet. Nose of red fruit with some spices and a touch of stalks. Rich and opulent on the palate but enough structure to buffer it. Acidity is there too. Relatively short finish. As with many warm climate Pinots, mid mouth volume goes at the expense of elegance and length. If you are switching from Merlot/CabSav to Pinot, this may be a good starting point for your journey. If you are a Burg drinker and looking for overseas gems New Zealand is a safer bet.
Comment
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