Christopher Carpenter produced wines

Tasting organised by Ian Lindsey from Vinsense that brought out Christopher Carpenter from the States to talk about his wines.

I enjoyed the Cab sauv and the Hertage Cab Sauv.

• 2009 La Jota Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Ruby coloured with slight rim fade and plenty of tears. On the hose there is some alcohol heat, muted (medium minus intensity) red fruit - plum, subtle biscuit and toast. In the mouth there is medium plus acidity, juicy red plum fruit, medium tannin that is slightly talc like, medium plus alcohol that is intrusive on the finish. Cedar, oak, good but not for me.

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• 2009 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Ruby coloured. Medium minus intensity aromas of biscuit, toast, slight alcohol heat, spice, red and black fruit that is quite muted, cream, vanilla and spice. In the mouth there is medium plus acid, blackcurrant fruit, the tannins are fine and silky, balanced, long. Fruit stronger in the mouth than on the nose and diminishes slowly. Well made.

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• 2008 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Heritage Release Howell Mountain

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Deep ruby coloured. Medium plus intensity aromas of bramble, blackcurrant, black berry, very slight herbaceous notes - mint rather than eucalypt, biscuit, smoky and some cream. In the mouth the wine has medium plus acid, medium plus tannin with front of mouth grip, course but not unripe and on the cusp of being too drying but just the right side of that fine line for me. Blackberry, bramble, spice, built to age but a bit out of whack at the mo'.

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the Mount Brave was a bit meh, interestingly Chris said that this is the wine he makes to meet the American palate, with plenty of ripe fruit and oak. The Cardinale's were, though, fantastic, glorious.

• 2009 Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Deep ruby coloured. Aromas of slightly jammy red and black fruit, some cherry notes, vanilla, chocolate and spice. Medium acidity, chocolate, blackberry, spice, vanilla. Meh.

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• 2009 Cardinale

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Ruby coloured with some tears. Medium minus intensity aromas of mint/herbal notes, cream, vanilla, black fruit, toast. In the mouth the wine has medium plus acid and tannin that is fine but very firm. Black currant, long finish that carries fruit, spice, very good - well constructed. Years ahead.

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• 2006 Cardinale

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep ruby with considerable tears. Medium plus intensity aromas of concentrated, but not jammy, black fruit - quite savoury in fact. Slight bacon fat/sulphur notes, some oak but under rather than over the fruit. In the mouth the wine is medium plus acid and pronounced tannin that have massive grip, ripe and chewy. Black fruits carry on the long finish. The fruit is nestled under the tannin for the duration, spice notes. Needs a long, long time...Glorious, absolutely wonderful.

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Just one wine in the flight.

• 2009 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Ruby with some tears. Slight meaty notes, cream, vanilla, black currant fruit with touches of mint and pyrazine. Medium acid, front of mouth phenolic tannic grip that is robust and chewy but talc textured that dominates the fruit though both carry on the long finish. Very good but not quite right for me.

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I do like tasting wine but most presenters are, effectively, sales people which, sometimes, gets on my nerves. Christopher was not like this at all but instead charming, interesting, enthusiastic and erudite. And the wines were pretty much fantastic.