Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Napa / Sonoma Day Trip
Tasted March 18, 2016 by GoBlue2002 with 416 views
Introduction
This was a single day trip of tasting in Napa & Sonoma.
Flight 1 - Altamura Winery (5 notes)
Far off the beaten path but well worth the drive!
White
2012 Altamura Sauvignon Blanc
92 points
Tasted at winery.
~ 300 cases made.
Barrel fermented and aged in mostly new oak for 12-14 or 16-18 months (depending who told us), this is a "chardonnay-esque" sauv blanc, lacking the heavy grass/hay of most sauv blanc. So not quite varietally correct... but wow it's good!
This has a distinct mushroom characteristic as well as a round, lengthy finish.
~ 300 cases made.
Barrel fermented and aged in mostly new oak for 12-14 or 16-18 months (depending who told us), this is a "chardonnay-esque" sauv blanc, lacking the heavy grass/hay of most sauv blanc. So not quite varietally correct... but wow it's good!
This has a distinct mushroom characteristic as well as a round, lengthy finish.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2011 Altamura Sangiovese
92 points
Tasted at winery.
~ 300 cases made.
Black fruited with a touch of red, herbal, tart acidity and a touch of tannins. This is an easy drinking good food wine without enough structure to stand up to many different menu items.
A very, very good domestic sangiovese.
Me - 91, Wife - 93
~ 300 cases made.
Black fruited with a touch of red, herbal, tart acidity and a touch of tannins. This is an easy drinking good food wine without enough structure to stand up to many different menu items.
A very, very good domestic sangiovese.
Me - 91, Wife - 93
Red
2008 Altamura Nebbiolo
89 points
Tasted at winery.
~100 cases made.
PnP, and then re-tasted after ~30 minutes air. In that time this remained closed and tight.
This spends 5-6 yrs in barrel, and the result is a fragnant floral wine with leather and dried fruit. This was tight, tart, and tannic and recommended as a food wine. Not a bad wine, but I'd prefer a nice barolo at this price point.
Me - 90, Wife - 89.
~100 cases made.
PnP, and then re-tasted after ~30 minutes air. In that time this remained closed and tight.
This spends 5-6 yrs in barrel, and the result is a fragnant floral wine with leather and dried fruit. This was tight, tart, and tannic and recommended as a food wine. Not a bad wine, but I'd prefer a nice barolo at this price point.
Me - 90, Wife - 89.
Red
2009 Altamura Negroamaro
91 points
Tasted at winery.
~ 150 cases made.
Teeth staining good!
Dark in color, yet almost zin like in profile, with additional tart acidity. The grape meaning of "black bitter" is appropriate, but not in a bad way.
Pair with mushroom dish.
Me - 90, Wife - 91
~ 150 cases made.
Teeth staining good!
Dark in color, yet almost zin like in profile, with additional tart acidity. The grape meaning of "black bitter" is appropriate, but not in a bad way.
Pair with mushroom dish.
Me - 90, Wife - 91
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2012 Altamura Cabernet Sauvignon
93 points
Tasted at winery.
~4,000 cases made.
PnP -- This is dark, young, and tight; yet shows so much already. From vines at 800-1000 feet elevation over Napa valley floor, this has gobs of flavor yet a fairly silky structure. The finish goes on and on.
Well done, and I look forward to see how this one ages -- I expect a long life ahead!
Me - 93, Wife - 94
~4,000 cases made.
PnP -- This is dark, young, and tight; yet shows so much already. From vines at 800-1000 feet elevation over Napa valley floor, this has gobs of flavor yet a fairly silky structure. The finish goes on and on.
Well done, and I look forward to see how this one ages -- I expect a long life ahead!
Me - 93, Wife - 94
2 people found this helpful
Comments (2)
Flight 2 - Bedrock (6 notes)
We tasted with Morgan in the Bedrock vineyard -- an absolutely lovely setting among the old vine zinfandels. My wife and I were in town for a wedding and our reserved tasting for 2 ballooned into a tasting for 9 with the addition of many long lost friends. Morgan was very accommodating, especially as they peppered him with question after question.
We thoroughly enjoyed this tasting.
White
2015 Bedrock Wine Co. Sauvignon Blanc Staves of Waidhofen
90 points
Tasted in Bedrock vineyard with Morgan, PnP.
An interesting and unusual sauv blanc, although not for all. The spicy oak is evident in the palate and shows a high, bright palate. This rounds the fruit, herbs, and grass. However, at this point the finish is fairly clipped and too dominated by the oak.
So not quite what I expect from a sauv blanc, but if you taste with an open mind you might really enjoy this one!
An interesting and unusual sauv blanc, although not for all. The spicy oak is evident in the palate and shows a high, bright palate. This rounds the fruit, herbs, and grass. However, at this point the finish is fairly clipped and too dominated by the oak.
So not quite what I expect from a sauv blanc, but if you taste with an open mind you might really enjoy this one!
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Evangelho Vineyard
90 points
Tasted in Bedrock vineyard with Morgan, PnP.
The lightest in color and structure from the zin lineup. The sandy soils create an amazingly spicy aromatic wine, but with minimal structure and less fruit than expected.
This is an easy drinking flavorful wine for when you are not in the mood for a serious zin.
Me - 91, Wife - 89
The lightest in color and structure from the zin lineup. The sandy soils create an amazingly spicy aromatic wine, but with minimal structure and less fruit than expected.
This is an easy drinking flavorful wine for when you are not in the mood for a serious zin.
Me - 91, Wife - 89
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard
90 points
Tasted in Bedrock vineyard with Morgan, PnP.
From vines planted in 1886. This showed leather, blackberry, and dark dried fruit with a long and somewhat simplish finish. This is a wine which needs some time... at least some air time after opening.
Note that we preferred the 2013 Monte Rosso tasted in a blind tasting, although the difference may have been more air time and not vintage differences.
Me - 90, Wife - 89.
From vines planted in 1886. This showed leather, blackberry, and dark dried fruit with a long and somewhat simplish finish. This is a wine which needs some time... at least some air time after opening.
Note that we preferred the 2013 Monte Rosso tasted in a blind tasting, although the difference may have been more air time and not vintage differences.
Me - 90, Wife - 89.
3 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. The Bedrock Heritage
92 points
Tasted in Bedrock vineyard with Morgan, PnP.
The middle of the lineup in terms of structure, this wine benefitted greatly from 30 minutes of air time.
On opening - Me - 91, Wife - 90; after 30 minutes -- 92 pts each.
The middle of the lineup in terms of structure, this wine benefitted greatly from 30 minutes of air time.
On opening - Me - 91, Wife - 90; after 30 minutes -- 92 pts each.
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Pagani Ranch
93 points
Tasted in Bedrock vineyard with Morgan, PnP.
Just wow. This is a big juicy delight, and seemed the "sweetest" of the lineup (without RS of course).
Of all the zins in the lineup this was the one most ready to go on opening.
Me - 93, Wife - 94
Just wow. This is a big juicy delight, and seemed the "sweetest" of the lineup (without RS of course).
Of all the zins in the lineup this was the one most ready to go on opening.
Me - 93, Wife - 94
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2014 Bedrock Wine Co. Heritage Wine Nervo Ranch
91 points
Tasted in Bedrock vineyard with Morgan, PnP.
Dark, black fruit -- a big and brooding wine.
Dark, black fruit -- a big and brooding wine.
3 people found this helpful
Comment
Flight 3 - Carlisle (4 notes)
Sarah was very accommodating with our delayed schedule, and the change in group size from 2 to 9. This was a winery tasting and barrel room tour.
White
2014 Carlisle Compagni Portis
92 points
Tasted at winery.
This wine is always an absolute delight. Peach, floral -- an amazing summer sipper which would also go well with Thai food.
Me - 92, Wife - 92/93.
This wine is always an absolute delight. Peach, floral -- an amazing summer sipper which would also go well with Thai food.
Me - 92, Wife - 92/93.
Red
Red
2014 Carlisle Zinfandel Monte Rosso Vineyard
91 points
Tasted at winery.
Strong entry but weak mid-palate, aromatic.
We compared the Bedrock 2014 Monte Rosso we brought from our tasting with Morgan and found the Bedrock having more zip, and we preferred the Bedrock. However, more of the group preferred the Carlisle.
Strong entry but weak mid-palate, aromatic.
We compared the Bedrock 2014 Monte Rosso we brought from our tasting with Morgan and found the Bedrock having more zip, and we preferred the Bedrock. However, more of the group preferred the Carlisle.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2014 Carlisle Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard
91 points
Tasted at winery.
This is a beast -- give it 5 yrs+.
Dark black in color, jammy.
Great potential here.
Me - 89 (current wine) - Wife - 92.
This is a beast -- give it 5 yrs+.
Dark black in color, jammy.
Great potential here.
Me - 89 (current wine) - Wife - 92.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Closing
Great wines!