Napa Valley with Altitude Trade Tasting (Mount Veeder, Spring Mountain and Diamond Mountain wines)
Officers' Club, Fort Mason, San Francisco
Tasted Thursday, April 23, 2009 by rjonwine@gmail.com with 2,657 views
Introduction
This was a trade tasting event spotlighting Napa wineries producing wines from 3 higher altitude appellations: Diamond Mountain, Mount Veeder and Spring Mountain. Over 30 producers were represented, and I tasted through over 90 wines.
Several of these wineries were new to me, and a few of those produced wines that I thought were quite impressive: Kiss Ridge, Rubissow, Vinoce and Yates Family. Kiss Ridge is a very limited production Cabernet Sauvignon wine produced from a 40-year-old vineyard on Diamond Mountain. Rubissow was formerly known as Rubissow-Sargent, and they produce single vineyard Merlot, Cabernet and a Meritage (called Trompettes) from grapes grown on the 45-acre Rubissow estate on the southern hillsides of Mt. Veeder. I thought their '04 Reserve Cabernet was one of the best 2 or 3 wines of the entire tasting. Vinoce is a small family operation growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot on Mt. Veeder hillsides. Yates Family Vineyard was operated until 2005 as Napa Redwoods Estate, and they are producing Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grown on their property in the hills between Sonoma and Napa in the Mt. Veeder appellation.
I was also very impressed with wines from the following more familiar wineries: Diamond Terrace, Hess Collection, Marston, O'Shaugnessy, Robert Craig and Spring Mountain Vineyard.
Flight 1 - Spring Mountain Wineries (33 Notes)
Spring Mountain appellation was represented by the largest number of wines at this tasting. The best, for me, were the Marston '05 Cabernet, Spring Mountain Vineyard's '04 Elviette, and a barrel sample of Vineyard 7 & 8's 2007 Estate Cabernet. I also liked Merlots from Barnett Vineyards, Keenan, Newton and Paloma.
Flight 2 - Mount Veeder Wineries (42 Notes)
As mentioned above, Rubissow was a new find for me, and I found their whole line up to be strong, especially the '04 Reserve Cab and the '04 Trompettes. The Hess Collection also had a strong line up across the board, including their very small production '06 Malbec, the '06 19 Block Cuvee, and the '05 and '06 Cabernets. The single wines poured by O'Shaugnessy and Vinoce were excellent, both '05 Cabernets. An '03 mag of Robert Craig Cabernet was also delicious. And from the Yates Family, I particularly liked the '05 Alden Perry Reserve (a meritage), the 100% Merlot called '05 Fleur de Veeder, and the 100% Cabernet Franc '05 Cheval.
Peter Rubissow (rt) and winemaker Timothy Milos
Yates Family reps
Flight 3 - Diamond Mountain Wineries (18 Notes)
Diamond Mountain was represented by the smallest number of producers, but the Diamond Terrace '05 and '99 Cabernets were quite good, as was the '04 Kiss Ridge mentioned above.
2006 Barnett Vineyards Merlot Spring Mountain District 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Lovely berry, boysenberry and rich dark chocolate nose; tasty, poised, tart berry, boysenberry and plum palate; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Barnett Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Black fruit, dark chocolate and graphite nose; dark chocolate, berry and black fruit palate; medium-plus finish 91+ pts. (with 4% Cabernet Franc)
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Frias Family Vineyard Red Wine 84 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tart plum and oak nose; simple, tart, herbaceous plum palate; short finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Frias Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 86 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Herbaceous tart black fruit nose; tart black fruit, herbaceous, coffee palate; medium finish (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc)
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Guilliams Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Bordeaux-like black fruit and olive nose; tart black fruit, olive and herbaceous palate; medium finish 88+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Guilliams Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Herbaceous black fruit nose; herbaceous black fruit and tar palate; medium finish 88+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Guilliams Vineyards Cabernet Franc 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Herbaceous, bay laurel nose; ripe, herbaceous, tart plum palate with depth; medium finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Marston Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Lovely blackberry, violet and plum nose; tasty blackberry, plum, berry and black fruit palate; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Newton Chardonnay Unfiltered 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa County
Ripe guava, tropical fruit and pineapple nose; tangy lime and pineapple palate; medium finish 88+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Newton Merlot Unfiltered 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Herbal tart plum nose; tart plum, black fruit palate with balance; medium-plus finish 92+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Newton Cabernet Sauvignon Unfiltered 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Tart cassis, plum, mint and herbal nose; herbal, tart cassis palate with green note; medium-plus finish 90+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Paloma Merlot 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Deep ripe berry, boysenberry nose; ripe boysenberry, berry and plum palate; medium finish 92+ pts.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
2005 Peacock Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Blackberry, black fruit, vanilla and caramel oak nose; tight, creamy textured, blackberry, berry palate with depth; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
Focused black fruit, vanilla and lilac nose; tangy, tart black fruit, tart plum palate; medium finish 90+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
Cassis and plum nose; tight, tart cassis, plum palate; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Robert Keenan Winery Chardonnay 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Green apple and oak nose; tart, tangy lime and green melon palate; medium finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Robert Keenan Winery Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Focused black fruit, graphite, savory and olive nose; tart plum, black fruit, charcoal palate, refined but young; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Black fruit, herbal and coffee nose; tart black fruit, plum, coffee and graphite palate; medium-plus finish 91+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Robert Keenan Winery Mernet Reserve 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Dark red violet color; plum, herbal and oak nose; solid tart plum, mineral, black fruit and graphite palate; medium finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Schweiger Vineyards Chardonnay 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Tart citrus and mineral nose; tart, citrus, green apple and mineral palate; medium-plus finish 91+ pts. (no malolactic; 20% new French oak; sur lies for 6 mos.)
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Schweiger Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Blackberry, berry and lavender nose; solid berry, blackberry and black fruit palate; medium-plus finish (97% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot; 32 mos. in oak)
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Sherwin Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spring Mountain District 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Odd, herbal, bay laurel and green note nose; tart black fruit, green and mint palate; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Sherwin Family Vineyards Syrah Dry Creek Valley 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Bacon, smoky, roasted fruit nose; tart black fruit, smoke, bacon fat and tar palate with depth; medium-plus finish 91+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Spring Mountain Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Poised lemon grass and lime nose; tart lemon grass palate; medium finish 90+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Francisco 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Tart red fruit and tart plum nose; focused, tart red fruit, herbal palate; medium finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Nice blackberry, berry and mineral nose; tart blackberry, berry, plum palate with depth; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2004 Spring Mountain Vineyard Elivette 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Refined Bordeaux-like, tart plum and oak nose; tasty, tart plum, black fruit and mineral palate; medium-plus finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Oaky, berry nose; tart black fruit, berry palate; short-medium finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Wurtele 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Black fruit, plum and lavender nose; tart black fruit, herbal, tar and sage palate; medium finish 91+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon Yverdon 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Sexy lavender, floral and black fruit nose; tart black fruit, lavender and bay laurel palate; medium finish
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2006 Vineyard 7 & 8 Chardonnay 8 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Bright medium canary yellow color; oak and tart lemon nose; tart solid citrus palate with oak edges; medium finish 90+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2005 Vineyard 7 & 8 Cabernet Sauvignon 7 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Big herbaceous, olive and coffee nose; tart red fruit, cassis palate with dusty tannins; medium-plus finish 91+ pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
2007 Vineyard 7 & 8 Cabernet Sauvignon 7 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Barrel sample, "Estate" - roasted coffee, black fruit and fig nose; rich black fruit, mocha and graphite palate; medium-plus finish 92-94 pts.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No