The Wines OF Roberty Foley--The OC Strikes Again

Antanello's In Costa Mesa (Orange County)
Tasted Saturday, June 16, 2007 by Frank Murray III with 787 views

Introduction

Thank you to Steve and Teddy for pulling this all together. A really fine evening, paired with a nice 5 course meal.

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

Flight 2 (7 Notes)

  • 1999 Switchback Ridge Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    For me, sings three strong notes: cherry, chocolate and toasted oak. But, you know what, seems to work for me. Still fresh and huge. Huh, and the only note in CT is mine, as of today?

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  • 1999 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Black cherry, cedar, tobacco notes and a charred earth feel. I think this wine is about in its sweet spot.

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  • 1997 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Seems to be a bit more restrained, as compared to the 1997 Claret. Black cherry, licorice, bittersweet chocolate, red fruited finish with even and nice balance. Nice stuff but IMO not to the level of the Claret.

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  • 1999 Robert Foley Claret

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Juicy, prominent acidity, charred feel. Licorice, thickness and tight. IMO, let this wine sleep and continue to unfold, as I would assert it is 3-5 years away from being there. Either decant the heck out of it or just be patient for a big smile later.

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  • 1999 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Huge and primary (and this is a 1999?), forward with rich, black and red currant type of flavors, liqueur like, with a finish of espresso and mocha. Cedar fades into the finish about 30 seconds after its covered the palate. As I said to Eric Anderson (E2A) who was seated next to me, reminds me what the Lewis Cabs feel like to me.

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  • 1999 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Huh, another wine with no TN yet in CT--I think this wine came straight from Bob Foley's cellar, as a gift to the group. Of the entire flight of 7 wines that this Hourglass sat in, this wine to me yells the most typicity. As I told Eric, these are all the flavors about Cab I detest, but conversely, this wine for me seemed to be the most varietally spoken, which I appreciated. Olive, cedar, tobacco, cherry, shows some good push and richness but is more classically expressive. For what it is and how it speaks, my runner of for WOTF.

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  • 1997 Pride Mountain Vineyards Reserve Claret

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

    No question about this one, my WOTF and of all the Bdx wines, my WOTN. Toast, wood char, chocolate, licorice, thick currant, long finish, hint of cedar with a tremendous mouthfeel and texture. This wine has a long life ahead of it and drinks oh so well now. Super duper stuff.

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Flight 3 (7 Notes)

  • 2004 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot Vintner Select Mountain Top Vineyard

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Too much for me, with heat, plum sauce, cherries and mocha. Will suit some but I did not like this one.

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  • 2004 Switchback Ridge Merlot Peterson Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    As compared to the 2004 Pride VS, this wine here shows more acidity, more red fruit with a kick of plum, chocolate and I also noted blueberry. I liked this wine. Big yes, but in the right moment, it works.

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  • 2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Juicy, plush, black cherry and black currant liqueur, with a density and some heat. A big boy, maybe too much so.

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  • 2004 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

    Black cherry, and doesn't bowl me over like the other wines in the flight. I called it one dimensional, more light, with some wet stones/minerals, and some dusty tannins on the finish. The least like the other wines of the flight and more subtle.

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  • 2003 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

    Rich (I have the underlined in my notes), chocolate, blackberry liqueur, "transcends itself". The latter remark was my perception as I tried to figure out how the wine was resonating with me. Just seems so huge that the sum of the parts don't allow the parts to talk. Dominated by wood, ripeness.....my notes say "is the fruit going to talk"? Would be interested to see how others felt about this wine.

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  • 2003 Robert Foley Claret

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My WOTF. Was poured from mag. Big wood, primary but conversely, still balanced nicely with blue and black tones and a touch of kirsch liqueur. While big, my notes say "I like the contrast of the wine being delicate, sitting in strength". I also noted that the wine "walks the line" of being too big but for me, seemed to succeed.

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  • 2003 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    A little heavy handed, according to my notes. Dark, dense, perhaps one dimensional and tight. Not sure about this wine and how it was drinking for me at this stage. Would have liked to retry today so have to rely on the other from dinner to see how they perceived it.

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Flight 4 (5 Notes)

  • 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Smells of coffee, dark, with blackberry thickness, melted chocolate and big richness. While it's clear what the wine is aiming for, to me, it lacks some varital qualities that I would have more liked to taste, such as some pepper, game, some more acidity. Nothing wrong with the wine and it will grab the attention of some.

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  • 2003 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tremendous concentration. Just huge, with red and blue push of fruit, a wall of tannins and a wine that my notes say "hold on for your life", as to indicate a fast, pummeling drive ahead. Let this sit for some years or decant the hell out of it and strap yourself in.

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  • 2003 Robert Foley Petite Sirah

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My WOTF, showing as well now as it did back at Eldon's place six months ago and then even further back around XMAS with Greg P. Nose of pepper, leather, black and red fruits that just smahes one in the head with tannins and concentration. Wall of dense chocolate finishes the wine. This to me is what good petite tastes like, without the intrusion of oak and wood. Pure, a head slammer and I love it.

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  • 2004 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    One word: bull-do-zer. This is the same feel I had from the wine at Eldon's. Density to the 10th degree, with giant chocolate, and a huge push of red and black fruits again, a lot like the 2003 Foley PS. Enormous wine, probably the largest single red wine I have ever tasted. Give this wine 5 years, at least, or decant for a day (or more?) and just put on your saftey gear. Love it, baby, love it.

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  • 2004 Robert Foley Petite Sirah

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Chocolate density, liquid chocolate and fruit, a blackberry bomb and like the other wines of the flight, another face smasher.

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