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Spring Mountain/St. Helena Day Trip
Tasted January 9, 2016 by GoBlue2002 with 488 views
Introduction
This was a day trip for myself, 2 work colleagues, and a wife.
Flight 1 - Pride Mountain (4 notes)
Always a great tour and tasting, although I'm not sure if Pride has great QPR anymore.
White
2014 Pride Mountain Vineyards Chardonnay
89 points
Tasted at winery.
25% new oak, 25% MaloLactic.
As you would expect based on the style - crisp green apple with a lighter finish. Well-made, just not my style.
25% new oak, 25% MaloLactic.
As you would expect based on the style - crisp green apple with a lighter finish. Well-made, just not my style.
Red
2013 Pride Mountain Vineyards Syrah
90 points
Tasted at winery.
No new oak.
Black fruit and pepper. When opened this was fairly tannic, but smoothed out over time. This could use a little bit of time. Overall the boldness was enjoyed by the group.
No new oak.
Black fruit and pepper. When opened this was fairly tannic, but smoothed out over time. This could use a little bit of time. Overall the boldness was enjoyed by the group.
Red
2013 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot
91 points
Tasted at winery.
Powerful up front, but a weak midpalate with a plush mouthfeel, red fruit/cherry.
Quite good - a recommended mountain merlot.
Powerful up front, but a weak midpalate with a plush mouthfeel, red fruit/cherry.
Quite good - a recommended mountain merlot.
Red
2013 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Tasted at winery.
Black/red fruit, mountain bramble with a plush mouthfeel for a Pride cabernet.
Black/red fruit, mountain bramble with a plush mouthfeel for a Pride cabernet.
Flight 2 - Robert Keenan Winery (8 notes)
A new winery for me, and was much better than expected. Our tasting guide was quite generous in negotiating price on the more expensive bottles.
White
2013 Robert Keenan Winery Chardonnay
91 points
Tasted at winery.
Only 25% new oak, but aged on the lees.
The result is a well balanced chardonnay which preserves the fruit yet shows a fair amount of buttery oak. This is my preferred style of chardonnay.
Only 25% new oak, but aged on the lees.
The result is a well balanced chardonnay which preserves the fruit yet shows a fair amount of buttery oak. This is my preferred style of chardonnay.
Red
2012 Robert Keenan Winery Merlot Napa Valley
92 points
Tasted at winery.
80% estate grown and 20% Carneros fruit.
This is a rich merlot, sporting blackberry, a smooth mouthfeel, and a long finish.
80% estate grown and 20% Carneros fruit.
This is a rich merlot, sporting blackberry, a smooth mouthfeel, and a long finish.
Red
2012 Robert Keenan Winery Merlot Reserve Mailbox Vineyard
92 points
Tasted at winery.
Similar in style to the Napa Valley merlot, just more structured and a bit more tannic. At this point in their evolution I slightly preferred the Napa Valley.
Similar in style to the Napa Valley merlot, just more structured and a bit more tannic. At this point in their evolution I slightly preferred the Napa Valley.
Red
2012 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Franc Spring Mountain District
89 points
Tasted at winery.
Quite unlike most cabernet francs I've had -- this was more structured/tight and lacked the distinctive cab franc aromatics.
This was one my least favorite wines in their lineup, whereas for another in our tasting group it was his favorite. Divisive!
Quite unlike most cabernet francs I've had -- this was more structured/tight and lacked the distinctive cab franc aromatics.
This was one my least favorite wines in their lineup, whereas for another in our tasting group it was his favorite. Divisive!
Red
2011 Robert Keenan Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 35th Anniversary
90 points
Tasted at winery.
75% estate grapes, 25% Pope Valley.
Blackberry. Good but not too memorable.
75% estate grapes, 25% Pope Valley.
Blackberry. Good but not too memorable.
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Red
2011 Robert Keenan Winery Mernet Reserve
88 points
Tasted at winery.
Quite a unique wine, with a defining feature of smoke!
This will be a love it or hate it wine, as evidenced by the opinions in our tasting group.
Quite a unique wine, with a defining feature of smoke!
This will be a love it or hate it wine, as evidenced by the opinions in our tasting group.
Red
2012 Robert Keenan Winery Syrah
89 points
Tasted at winery.
Fruit forward, with a slightly offputting medicinal quality. A lighter style of syrah.
Fruit forward, with a slightly offputting medicinal quality. A lighter style of syrah.
Red
2012 Robert Keenan Winery Zinfandel Napa Valley
91 points
Tasted at winery.
Red fruit, bramble, spice; tannic. This had a long finish but with minimal complexity. Overall quite good!
Red fruit, bramble, spice; tannic. This had a long finish but with minimal complexity. Overall quite good!
Flight 3 - Behrens Family Winery (7 notes)
Robin is always a great host and incredibly knowledgeable. She opened (Coravined) a couple of extra bottles we inquired about. Well done, and these wines seemed better than the last time I tasted here.
Red
2011 Behrens & Hitchcock "The Heavyweight"
91 points
Tasted at winery.
83% cab sauv, 17% petit verdot.
This is definitely a lighter version of this wine, compared to previous vintages; in line with the 2011 vintage.
Fruit forward, smooth, with a long finish.
83% cab sauv, 17% petit verdot.
This is definitely a lighter version of this wine, compared to previous vintages; in line with the 2011 vintage.
Fruit forward, smooth, with a long finish.
Red
2011 Behrens Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Moulds Family Vineyard
93 points
Tasted at winery / tasting room.
84% cab sauv, 16% cab franc.
Black fruit, herbal, smooth, with a super long fruit which just won't quit.
84% cab sauv, 16% cab franc.
Black fruit, herbal, smooth, with a super long fruit which just won't quit.
Red
2011 Behrens Family Winery At the Movies
93 points
Tasted at winery / tasting room.
90% cab sauv, 10% petit verdot.
Beautiful label.
This is a crazy smooth wine, red/black fruit with a tug of tannins. One of the best Behrens I've had in awhile.
90% cab sauv, 10% petit verdot.
Beautiful label.
This is a crazy smooth wine, red/black fruit with a tug of tannins. One of the best Behrens I've had in awhile.
Red
2012 Behrens Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Crowley Vineyard
90 points
Tasted at winery / tasting room.
100% cabernet.
This wine was a far cry from the 2009 I drank about a year ago. Rich, plush black fruit... just not much complexity.
100% cabernet.
This wine was a far cry from the 2009 I drank about a year ago. Rich, plush black fruit... just not much complexity.
Red
2012 Behrens Family Winery Cemetery
94 points
Tasted at winery / tasting room.
100% single vineyard cab.
Rich, buttery, with a long, long finish. The complexity in each sip just made me sit back with a wow and savor...
I look forward to drinking the bottle I purchased soon.
100% single vineyard cab.
Rich, buttery, with a long, long finish. The complexity in each sip just made me sit back with a wow and savor...
I look forward to drinking the bottle I purchased soon.
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Red
2012 Erna Schein Blender Boy
92 points
Tasted at winery / tasting room.
50% cab franc, 10% petit verdot, 10% petit syrah, 10% cab sauv, 5% merlot, 5% lagrin.
A Les blending special!
Well integrated, lacking the overt herbalness of some cab franc (despite being 50% cab franc). Smooth and easy drinking.
50% cab franc, 10% petit verdot, 10% petit syrah, 10% cab sauv, 5% merlot, 5% lagrin.
A Les blending special!
Well integrated, lacking the overt herbalness of some cab franc (despite being 50% cab franc). Smooth and easy drinking.
Red
2012 Behrens Family Winery The Explorer
91 points
Tasted at winery / tasting room.
50% petit syrah, 22% syrah, 14% cab sauv, 7% grenache, 7% merlot.
Flavors of raspberry, chocolate. A good value wine from Behrens. Lacks the wow factor and power, but is just an easy drinking fun wine.
50% petit syrah, 22% syrah, 14% cab sauv, 7% grenache, 7% merlot.
Flavors of raspberry, chocolate. A good value wine from Behrens. Lacks the wow factor and power, but is just an easy drinking fun wine.
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Flight 4 - Orin Swift Tasting Room (6 notes)
Although our pourer was very knowledgeable, the wines paled in comparison to what we previously consumed.
White
2013 Orin Swift Mannequin
90 points
Tasted at tasting room.
Crisp, but not as smooth as I'd like. Cucumber/dill notes.
Crisp, but not as smooth as I'd like. Cucumber/dill notes.
Red
Red
2013 Orin Swift Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head
91 points
Tasted at tasting room.
Black cherry. A bit harsh on entry leading to a smooth finish.
Black cherry. A bit harsh on entry leading to a smooth finish.
Closing
The favorite wines were from Behrens, with Orin Swift the least favorite.