Believe Jeff may have gotten the varietal composition switched around somewhat. My information is that their CdP cepage for 2016 was 15% Mouvedre , 12% Syrah, then 3% Cinsault; majority of course Grenache. The Domaine reportedly makes an effort to place the Mouvedre contribution ahead of Syrah with this particular cuvee. I too find that I often favor this unique blend. Great expectations with this example from a superb southern Rhone vintage, though I've not yet opened one.
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My comments pertain only to the Lapostolle 2015 Sauvignon Blanc "Grand Selection", none of the labels shown accompanying the listing to this date appear correct. I cannot post a picture of the correct label as this bottle was returned immediately to PLCB store for credit toward a suitably dry SB from a European producer. Correct label is pale or all light beige against a clear glass bottle and noticeably states Sauvignon Blanc - Grand Selection. Those with "CASA" appearing in bold script on the label denote merely their "house" bottling and theoretically of lesser pedigree than Alexandre's Grand Selection.
Good light straw gold color indicating somewhat low-yielding, ripe fruit and good extraction. Nose of appropriate tropical fruits, apple & pear with some mild herbal overtones. Taste closely follows profile of the bouquet with substantially pleasing character, then it suddenly all goes in the toilet. Especially disappointing is the high level of noticeable residual sugar with off-putting sweetness up front that kicks it out of all consideration for enjoyment with food other than a sweet slice of pie... Tastes like it was crafted to follow a profile exploited by Kendall Jackson and all their endlessly wretched chemistry experiments in a wine bottle... Proof positive that Casa Lapostolle winemaking has artificially stopped the fermentation prior to natural dryness, sterile filtered, then likely further sulfited the heck out of it to prevent potential refermentation in the bottle during equatorial transit.
Good concentrated ripe fruit character here, like better vintages of Loire valley models of Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé (without the Oak), then they go and ruin it all by attempting to blatantly pander to the Americans sweet soda-pop palate. Really a shame, could have been something really drinkable had they only refrained from modern interventionist winemaking technology. Should you enjoy high RS in your wines, tasting above 8 gr/L, you'll likely enjoy this Sauvignon Blanc.
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This review concerns the Havens 2013 Black & Blue only, I've not recently tasted others. Well familiar with prior Havens Vineyards wines, they've made excellent Reserve Merlot previous vintages.
B&B; allegedly a blend of mostly CA Cabernet & Syrah was delightedly received as a gift untried from my sister (she too remembered the Reserve Merlot). Plenty of simple bright red juicy fruit & jam character here, but little bouquet. Lacking varietal recognition or terroir influence, little warmth nor oak influence that might otherwise beckon another taste. Mostly heat, fruit jam with some palate burn, a brief sweet, unmemorable finish. Little appreciable complexity nor sophistication to the relatively simple flavors. Especially disappointing is the high level of noticeable residual sugar contributing a cloying sweetness right up front that kicks it out of consideration for enjoyment with a meal. Tastes more representative of a Kendall Jackson chemistry experiment... This clues me in they've likely artificially stopped the fermentation prior to natural dryness, sterile filtered, then sulfited the heck out of it to prevent potential refermentation in the bottle during warmer months. Believe I noticed the back label boasts of 14% AC; clearly this may indicate it has been over-chaptalized with sucrose and artificially acidulated to achieve that figure (though technically they might just sometimes "CYA" should it hit a more natural level around 12.5%)
What's been going on recently at Michael Havens Cellars; or should I say "Smith Anderson Wine Group", apparently since 2011?.. Decidedly "interventionist" wine making now being practiced here; likely in a laboratory as opposed to the risk of assuring physiologically ripe low-tonnage quality fruit from their vineyards at harvest and simply letting nature take its own course, with some timely assistance from toasted Oak barrels... Michael Havens used to be a consistently reliable quality grower & producer. Havens winery own website along with others, currently reports the MSRP at an intolerable $60 for this Black & Blue bottling (equivalent to their established top-end Bourriquot)!!! For $20 you might care to give it a try if you're known to prefer off-dry fruity reds or "pink" Zinfandel... I returned this bottle Immediately (within 2 hours of opening) to the local PLCB for credit towards a traditionally dry WA red wine that I rather prefer with meals.
If the Havens brand and readily recognizable label has recently changed style that dramatically, better to warn off reliable prior customers with something on the label suggesting that you've given up on traditionally dry wines intended to accompany meal time. Unfortunately, this incident also calls into question the palate expertise of those "anointed" ones who supposedly taste and choose our featured "Chairman's Selections"; we had come to expect better professionalism from that department. Nuf said...
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2016 Domaine Albin Jacumin Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Begude Des Papes
3/28/2020 - Morey St. Denis Likes this wine:
Believe Jeff may have gotten the varietal composition switched around somewhat. My information is that their CdP cepage for 2016 was 15% Mouvedre , 12% Syrah, then 3% Cinsault; majority of course Grenache. The Domaine reportedly makes an effort to place the Mouvedre contribution ahead of Syrah with this particular cuvee. I too find that I often favor this unique blend. Great expectations with this example from a superb southern Rhone vintage, though I've not yet opened one.
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2015 Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc Grand Selection
8/26/2017 - Morey St. Denis wrote: 85 Points
My comments pertain only to the Lapostolle 2015 Sauvignon Blanc "Grand Selection", none of the labels shown accompanying the listing to this date appear correct. I cannot post a picture of the correct label as this bottle was returned immediately to PLCB store for credit toward a suitably dry SB from a European producer. Correct label is pale or all light beige against a clear glass bottle and noticeably states Sauvignon Blanc - Grand Selection. Those with "CASA" appearing in bold script on the label denote merely their "house" bottling and theoretically of lesser pedigree than Alexandre's Grand Selection.
Good light straw gold color indicating somewhat low-yielding, ripe fruit and good extraction. Nose of appropriate tropical fruits, apple & pear with some mild herbal overtones. Taste closely follows profile of the bouquet with substantially pleasing character, then it suddenly all goes in the toilet. Especially disappointing is the high level of noticeable residual sugar with off-putting sweetness up front that kicks it out of all consideration for enjoyment with food other than a sweet slice of pie... Tastes like it was crafted to follow a profile exploited by Kendall Jackson and all their endlessly wretched chemistry experiments in a wine bottle... Proof positive that Casa Lapostolle winemaking has artificially stopped the fermentation prior to natural dryness, sterile filtered, then likely further sulfited the heck out of it to prevent potential refermentation in the bottle during equatorial transit.
Good concentrated ripe fruit character here, like better vintages of Loire valley models of Sancerre or Pouilly Fumé (without the Oak), then they go and ruin it all by attempting to blatantly pander to the Americans sweet soda-pop palate. Really a shame, could have been something really drinkable had they only refrained from modern interventionist winemaking technology. Should you enjoy high RS in your wines, tasting above 8 gr/L, you'll likely enjoy this Sauvignon Blanc.
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2013 Havens Wine Cellars Black and Blue
1/4/2017 - Morey St. Denis wrote: 83 Points
This review concerns the Havens 2013 Black & Blue only, I've not recently tasted others. Well familiar with prior Havens Vineyards wines, they've made excellent Reserve Merlot previous vintages.
B&B; allegedly a blend of mostly CA Cabernet & Syrah was delightedly received as a gift untried from my sister (she too remembered the Reserve Merlot). Plenty of simple bright red juicy fruit & jam character here, but little bouquet. Lacking varietal recognition or terroir influence, little warmth nor oak influence that might otherwise beckon another taste. Mostly heat, fruit jam with some palate burn, a brief sweet, unmemorable finish. Little appreciable complexity nor sophistication to the relatively simple flavors. Especially disappointing is the high level of noticeable residual sugar contributing a cloying sweetness right up front that kicks it out of consideration for enjoyment with a meal. Tastes more representative of a Kendall Jackson chemistry experiment... This clues me in they've likely artificially stopped the fermentation prior to natural dryness, sterile filtered, then sulfited the heck out of it to prevent potential refermentation in the bottle during warmer months. Believe I noticed the back label boasts of 14% AC; clearly this may indicate it has been over-chaptalized with sucrose and artificially acidulated to achieve that figure (though technically they might just sometimes "CYA" should it hit a more natural level around 12.5%)
What's been going on recently at Michael Havens Cellars; or should I say "Smith Anderson Wine Group", apparently since 2011?.. Decidedly "interventionist" wine making now being practiced here; likely in a laboratory as opposed to the risk of assuring physiologically ripe low-tonnage quality fruit from their vineyards at harvest and simply letting nature take its own course, with some timely assistance from toasted Oak barrels... Michael Havens used to be a consistently reliable quality grower & producer. Havens winery own website along with others, currently reports the MSRP at an intolerable $60 for this Black & Blue bottling (equivalent to their established top-end Bourriquot)!!! For $20 you might care to give it a try if you're known to prefer off-dry fruity reds or "pink" Zinfandel... I returned this bottle Immediately (within 2 hours of opening) to the local PLCB for credit towards a traditionally dry WA red wine that I rather prefer with meals.
If the Havens brand and readily recognizable label has recently changed style that dramatically, better to warn off reliable prior customers with something on the label suggesting that you've given up on traditionally dry wines intended to accompany meal time. Unfortunately, this incident also calls into question the palate expertise of those "anointed" ones who supposedly taste and choose our featured "Chairman's Selections"; we had come to expect better professionalism from that department. Nuf said...
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