November 2008 Napa Trip

4 days, 3 nights with Mike L, Chris and DaveR. Great time. MIke rented a house just off the main drag in St. Helena that was basically perfect for our needs. Despite me procrastinating til the last minute, we were able to pull together a pretty fun, robust itinerary.

Few notes, but did keep general scores for personal reference. Will add in color when appropriate.

Of note, we bought three 1997 Cali Cabernets on the first day and did one each day with dinner. These were definitely the funnest wines, just because of the comparison.

Landed and headed straight to Napa hoping to rendezvous with Daver. Kevin came through for us at the last minute and we ended up with a great "toe in the water" light but fun first day. Started at Kuleto which had a killer view, and then hooked up with Daver and went to Vineyard2 29. A stop at a wine store, then fabulous dinner at Press and we had a great start to things.

• 2007 Kuleto Estate Rosato 82 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/7/2008)

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• 2007 Kuleto Estate Moscato Estate Grown and Produced 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/7/2008)

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• 2006 Kuleto Estate Zinfandel 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/7/2008)

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• 2003 Kuleto Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/7/2008)

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• 2004 Kuleto Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/7/2008)

  Pretty good. Best of the tasting at the estate by far.

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• 2006 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Cru 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/7/2008)

  Superduper tannic. Big fruit, but needs time to balance out.

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• 2005 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (11/7/2008)

  Great wine. Super subtle for being so young. Surprised at how drinkable and balanced it was at this age.

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• 2005 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon Aida Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (11/7/2008)

  Loved this. Huge, huge wine. Massive fruit upfront, big midpalate. Not a great QPR but this is a really awesome wine.

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• 2005 Peay Vineyards Syrah Les Titans 84 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (11/7/2008)

  Eh, this was a little disjointed and disappointing

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• 2005 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (11/7/2008)

  One of the wines of the trip. So, so good.

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• 1997 Vineyard 29 Cabernet Sauvignon 29 Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (11/7/2008)

  The first of three 97's we did a horizontal of on the trip. Definitely time to drink now, now, now. Needs some time to open but has a great mouthfeel, some red fruit, bell pepper, very smooth tannins. Part of the joy was simply drinking a wine that absolutely felt like it was in the prime drinking window.

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Full scale session. Terra Valentine to start, and it was the pleasant surprise of the trip. Last minute appt at Keenan, followed by picinic in the rain and some great Pinot at Barnett. Then on to Pride and dinner at Terra. Terra had a fried quail that was absurdly good.

• 2007 Terra Valentine Viognier 85 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2006 Terra Valentine Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 82 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Yverdon 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

  Tight as a drum, needs serious time.

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• 2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Wurtele 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

  Loved this. Big fruit.

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• 2006 Robert Keenan Winery Chardonnay 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

  Wow, I really liked this. An anti-Cali Chard. Not too much butter, just a hint of oak. Really nice and an absurd QPR.

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Syrah 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Merlot Napa Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2004 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/8/2008)

  Super disjointed. Tons of just great pieces here but doesn't quite come together. If it ever does....could be 93pts.

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Franc Spring Mountain District 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

  Really nice

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Zinfandel Napa Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Robert Keenan Winery Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2007 Barnett Vineyards Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2007 Barnett Vineyards Pinot Noir Savoy Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  (11/8/2008)

  Wow, this was great

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• 2007 Barnett Vineyards Pinot Noir Viento Valle Anderson Valley 89 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  (11/8/2008)

  Very very good wine.

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• 2006 Barnett Vineyards Merlot Spring Mountain District 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2006 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rattlesnake Hill 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/8/2008)

  Just bottled. Great wine, good fruit. A little lacking in complexity to score much higher.

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• 2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay Vintner Select 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2007 Pride Mountain Vineyards Viognier 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 88 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Franc 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  (11/8/2008)

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• 2005 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  (11/8/2008)

  Wow, this was smooth, fruity, balanced, great.

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• 2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  (11/8/2008)

  Not as good as the 2005, but was really good.

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• 1997 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/8/2008)

  This was great. Had with dinner, super ready to drink, great fruit, balanced and ungodly intoxicating nose.

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Ad lib day. Started down south at Stats Leap and that was perfect. Extra pours of the Cask 23 sent us on our way. Then to Pine Ridge, Plumpjack, Cult Wine, Turnbull and Del Dotto as the capper. Dinner at Bouchon was a great way to end our last full day.

• 2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Rancho Chimiles 79 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Stags' Leap Winery Merlot 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay Karia 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay Arcadia Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (11/9/2008)

  Of the 8 wines we tasted at Stag's Leap, this was the only one that stood out. Huge delicious wine, big fruit and chocolate. Terrible QPR at $195 but really was tasty.

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• 2007 Pine Ridge Vineyards Chenin Blanc Viognier 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

  (11/9/2008)

  Best wine we had at Pine Ridge

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• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Fortis 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Epitome 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

  The best of the Pine Ridge reds we tried, which uniformly started off well and kind of fell apart at the end. May be due to youth and needing some time. This was much more balanced however, and appreciated by all 3 of us.

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• 2007 Plumpjack Chardonnay Reserve 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Plumpjack Syrah 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Plumpjack Merlot Rutherford 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (11/9/2008)

  Not as good as it was showing in August.

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• 2005 Cade Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Cuvée 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Pahlmeyer Merlot 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2004 Eponymous Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2003 Jones Family The Sisters 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2003 Napa Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon Temescal Rock Cairn 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (11/9/2008)

  Loved this

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• 2006 Turnbull Sauvignon Blanc 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Turnbull Old Bull Red 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (11/9/2008)

  This is just such a good value.

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• 2005 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 85 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Turnbull Merlot Oakville 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Del Dotto Giovanni's Tuscan Reserve 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

  Barrel tasting

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• 2005 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Cave Blend 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Del Dotto Cabernet Franc Seven Rows 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (11/9/2008)

  Barrel Tasting

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• 2006 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs Series Missouri American Oak 36 Month 887 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Connoisseurs Series Colbert French Oak D254 South 887 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2005 Del Dotto The David Napa Valley 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (11/9/2008)

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• 2006 Lamborn Family Vineyards Zinfandel Serendipity 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (11/9/2008)

  With dinner at Bouchon. Needs lots of air. Nice big spicy zin.

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• 2006 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (11/9/2008)

  With dinner at Bouchon, delicious

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• 1997 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (11/9/2008)

  Is this really 11 years old? Huge fruit left, as if it were a 2004. Years go do and likely not at its peak yet as the fruit up front and tannins on the back still haven't fully integrated. A shade sweet for my taste, but would love to try again in 5 years. Had with dinner at Bouchon.

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Swung by Sherwin Family on the way out of town. Very cool as we not only got to taste the current release, but also had a tour by Steve of the cellar, including a barrel taste of 2006 and a sample of 2008 that was not quite done fermenting (sitting at 2 brix). The 2008 stuff was a cool blend of super sweet grape juice with the undertones of actual wine able to be tasted. Very neat.

• NV Sherwin Family Vineyards Cellar Scraps #3 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/10/2008)

  Drinking pretty well.

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• 2005 Sherwin Family Vineyards Syrah Dry Creek Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  (11/10/2008)

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• 2005 Sherwin Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spring Mountain District Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/10/2008)

  Had some funk on the nose and tasted so totally different than any other bottle of Sherwin Cabernet I've ever had that I am 100% convinced this was flawed.

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• 2006 Sherwin Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spring Mountain District 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (11/10/2008)

  Barrel Sample.
  
  Great nose, big sweet fruit with a huge oak presence. Needs time to integrate and hopefully the oak settles down a bit.

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