Time tested

While perusing my cellar oldies the other night I decided the time had come to drink the last of the 1999 Caymus Cabernet. When I am down to my last two bottles it is always hard to finish off the end of a vintage, especially a particular vineyard or vintage favorite. But I do have my ten-year California rule and am suspect that any 1999s will still be drinkable, at least not as drinkable as they would have been a couple years ago.

The 1999 looked good, the label was clean and wine was high on the shoulders. Without seeing the vintage date there would be no way of distinguishing the bottle from a 2007. Of course those are relatively easy tests compared to what came next... The cork came out with a very solid closure that showed no leakage over the past ten years, again no different than pulling a 2007.  The nose from the bottle was fine, therefore the wine was not corked or oxygenated. So far so good! The pour into my Reidel did not have the vibrant ruby colour one expects from a young California Cabernet; rather it showed a brown and rusty colour that would be typical of an aged Bordeaux.

I put the color scare out of my mind and gave the wine a first sip. Delicious! This highly rated bottle initially (back in the early 2000s) showed cigar box, cedar, tobacco, vanilla, mint, and nice bright fruit. My aged bottle still had fruit and vanilla as well as the cedar and tobacco. The tannins and oak have faded since my last taste and I certainly enjoyed the wine more a couple years ago but this is one of the more ageable California Cabernets I have experienced. If I could not see the colour in the glass I would have guessed the wine at five years old, not eleven. Great stuff, I do not know when I will dare to pop the last bottle.

Giddy Up!

Each year during the Holiday season I am fortunate enough to receive gifts from people in the wine business. You can probably guess what people in the wine business give to people who own wine stores. Yep wine. I am very easy to shop for because even though I work among thousands of bottles of wine, on a daily basis, I still get excited every time someone gives me a bottle to try. Whether it is a gift or another sales sample I have yet to get tired of trying new wines. While sampling a cabernet from this years bounty I believe I came up with a new wine description (at least in my limited wine vocabulary) Cowboy Wine.

The "Old West" wine in question is: J. Lohr 2006 Hilltop Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. J. Lohr's website describes this particular vintage as toasty vanilla oak with black cherry and current. The grapes picked from their Paso Robles vineyard just as they developed a doughy berry pie flavor. The description is mouth watering and my personal review was very similar to the wineries.

My words to my wife as I took my third sip of this delicious cabernet were, "Lots of black cherry and coffee. Big tannins, honey do you know what this wine is? This is cowboy wine!" She looked at me and rather than mocking my silly new wine term agreed instantly. "Yes this is a cowboy cabernet," she replied, "you hit it right on the head." As much as we enjoyed the glass we stopped at one and saved the second half of the bottle for the next evening. On night two the wine settled a bit, still showing its cherry flavors but in a more elegant fashion. The coffee had faded and tannins calmed, it lost its cowboyness and tasted like a different more laid back cabernet. Fresh or decanted this wine is delicious, when trying a bottle I suggest giving it some time to taste the evolution from old west to big city.

"Le Beaujolais Nouveau est arrive!"

Yes it's that time of year. The new Beaujolais is coming to town which means it is the 3rd Thursday in November and time for us Americans to celebrate Thanksgiving! This wine is particularly suited for Thanksgiving due to the fact that it pairs quite well with turkey. Although the consumer will get a better wine usually at a better price by purchasing a standard Beaujolais, most cannot resist the celebratory hype of the Nouveau. 

Beaujolais is wine that comes from Burgundy France. Made from the Gamay grape it is the far more affordable cousin to the famous Pinot Noir grape that comes from Burgundy often selling for hundreds and even thousands of dollars per bottle.  Nouveau is often referred to as the "cash flow" wine of Burgundy as it is only about six weeks old by the time it hits your glass. It never sees any oak aging, is basically tannin free really inexpensive wine to produce. I believe that the largest cost in drinking a bottle in Minnesota is the shipping. With all that said we still look forward to this time each year as a beginning to our holiday season. Drinking Nouveau has been compared to eating cookie dough, and who hasn't rejoiced in a bit of cookie dough? Many may argue that the dough is more fun than the cookie! Enter Nouveau Beaujolais.

Stop in at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits this Thursday afternoon as the shipments begin to arrive.  Commence another holiday season with a fun glass of wine that is intended for simplicity and celebration.

Cabernet, Chardonnay..............

Yes there are other varietals to sample and for me to write about. Although I am guilty of sticking to the above, in the month of November I am atoning and focusing on non-traditional wines (at least in my world).  We actually have "winery of the month" that does not include a Cabernet or Chardonnay. We will also be tasting these strange non-Cabernet wines all month at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits.

November is focused on Cline Cellars of Sonoma California. I have visited this winery and had a wonderful time in their laid back Sonoma atmosphere. They do not make $100 or even $50 wine, which is almost unheard of from that part of the world. They focus on fine wine at a good value and deliver.

Stop in and try a bottle of Cline:

Zinfandel - Their signature wine

Viognier - For those of you looking for a change from Chardonnay

Pinot Gris - (AKA Pinot Grigio)

Cashmere - A blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mouvedre

Ancient Vine Zin - Clines premium Zin. One of the best you will find under $20.

So many wineries, so little time.

In my continued effort to visit every winery in the Napa Valley I was in wine country last week for a few days. This trip did take a rather large detour to Amador County. This is because I had never visited the area and I received the most generous offer from Terra d' Oro Winery to put my group up for a couple nights. Amador was not even on my radar for a visit simply because I did not think there was much out there to see. I was wrong! It is a beautiful country side without the crowds and congestion of Napa and Sonoma. While Terra d' Oro does offer all the major varietals in their line up, it is definitely Zinfandel country. The majority of their vineyards are planted to Zinfandel, the grape that thrives best in that part of the state and has seen success since the gold rush.

We did taste through all the wines they offer and while we enjoyed everything, there was one variety that beat out the big Amador Zins: Barbera! All four of us seemed most impressed with the Barbera. Possibly because we get to try all the others frequently and have not had a great deal of opportunity to taste this most refreshing wine. The wine-maker/tour-guide who spent the day showing his facilities, vineyards, and wines was most generous to send us up to our house for the weekend with more wine than we could possibly finish. I did notice when packing for our next leg that the Barbera was indeed all gone. Look for Terra d' Oro Barbera and Montevina Barbera (secondary label) next time you visit Glen Lake Wine and Spirits.

 The final day and night of the trip found us back in Napa Valley. After a couple snow falls and some really dismal weather in Minneapolis the past couple weeks, arriving in this lush valley was a sight to behold. Green trees, flowers, and rows of vineyards that still had grapes hanging. Ah! I'll be remembering the images while shoveling snow for the next six months.

Our first stop was Grgich Hills. Where we actually saw Mike Grgich hanging around the front of his winery signing bottles and chatting with his customers. Next we headed up Howell Mountain to visit O'Shaughnessy. This hard to find, hidden up a mountain winery was breathtaking. It is a small operation that only produces Cabernet and does it well. They spared no expense building the winery and cave that includes a spectacular tasting room. Our final stop of the day was the new Trinchero facility in the heart of the valley. This winery was recently completed and built as a tribute to the Trichero family patriarchs. A very inviting and comfortable facility that again spared no expense. I recommend stopping at Trinchero for a tasting next time you visit Napa. Make sure to try the Cabernet Franc; it is one of my favorites.

 Heading back to the Sacramento airport we found ourselves thirty minutes ahead of schedule and approaching Chandon. A sip of bubbles seemed an appropriate way to finish off this most relaxing and enjoyable trip. When we found our way to the tasting room it was absolutely packed with visitors. We thought our luck had run out, but I decided to give it a shot and found a most polite and helpful staff member. After explaining that I do sell their wine but did not make an appointment for a visit, he took us to a private tasting table and offered us the finest sparkling wines they produce. Well done Chandon!

Apostrophe S or S Apostrophe

I was enjoying a glass of 2005 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Artemis Cabernet tonight and became inspired to tell the tales of the Stag's Leaps' as I've heard them from the two neighboring wineries.  I've been a guest at both wineries and am not going to take sides.  I enjoy them equally and cannot wait for my next invite to either. That said I give you the stories as I have heard from both fine establishments.

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars:

200-acre vineyard located in the heart of the Stag's Leap District of the Napa Valley.

Winner of the 1976 Paris tasting that put Napa Valley "on the map" as the finest wine producing area in the world (for Cabernet and Chardonnay.)

Super cool wine cave that includes the only Foucault Pendulum in the Napa Valley and I believe only one of two in North America.

Recently aquired by Chateau Ste. Michelle Estates. A truly solid winery holding company.

Stags' Leap Winery:

 240-acre vineyard located in the heart of Napa Valley's Stag's Leap District.

Non-stop vineyard operations since 1880.

Country Resort and Spa (for the wealthy of San Francisco) in the early to mid 20th century.

Historic Stone manor house built in 1892.

Owned by Beringer Blass.

The two vineyards battled for years over the right to the name Stags Leap.  In 1986 the California Supreme Court ruled that Stag's Leap was an area not a vineyard.  And ordered "Cellars" to place the apostrophe before their s and "Winery" to place the apostrophe after their s.  Neither winery objected to the ruling, the lawyers made large sums of money.

As to the name Stag's Leap, I have heard two different versions to the story.  I can't remember which winery told which story and since I have been to both twice, they may have told different versions each time.  Anyway, there is a giant cliff at the top of the mountain in Stag's Leap.  Both stories tell of a Native American hunting a great stag to the end of the cliff.  In one the proud animal plunged to his death rather than being taken by the hunter.  In the other version the stag makes it safely to the other side of the cliff.   I have looked at that cliff and distance many times and find the first version of the story more plausible.

Colorado?

Some friends recently returned from a trip to Colorado. As their trusty dog sitters they often bring us a bottle of local wine from their travels. I know there are wineries in all fifty States, but am always curious and anxious to try wines from non-traditional wine growing climates.

 Book Cliff Vineyards 2006 Reserve Cabernet Franc is... interesting! Cabernet Franc from Colorado?? While this is a preferred grape on my list, I really did not ever think it could be cultivated in Colorado. Coming from a small 33 acre vineyard, Book Cliff is aged in 100% new French oak for 18 months; not bad. They are definitely making a heavy investment in their grapes. French oak barrels do not come cheap. To use 100% new is putting Book Cliff on a cost basis with the big boys of expensive wine country around the world.

 The wine was pleasant, although not typical of the domestic and European Cab Francs I am accustom. The alcohol is right in line at 14.3%, though it is certainly not a "hot" wine. It has smooth tannins and bright fruit flavors as opposed to the darker fruit typical of this variety. Rather than the usual tobacco, raspberry, and cassis, it has more of a light and lively violet flavor. A fun cab franc!

 Next time you pass through Colorado, grab a bottle. It's worth a try.

Twice with different results

In the past couple weeks I have had opportunity to try 1997 Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet on two occasions.  One bottle had been stored in my dark cool basement for the past eight years. The other spent six years in that climate and the past two on the shelves at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits. I decided to pull and drink the store bottle with a wine-drinking buddy who loves to stop by the store to try and discuss wines. The second bottle I tried with a good customer, who also makes wine, whom I look to for an opinion whenever we are trying wine in the store. I initially decided to pull the wine based on my ten year California rule: I believe that most California Cabernets are best consumed within ten years. The 1997's, which I had in good supply, were dwindling and it is time to finish them. 

The 1997 Alexander Valley Silver Oak is comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. According to the folks at Silver Oak the wine should drink until 2022 with proper cellaring. I still have a couple bottles left and will certainly wait to see what happens thirteen years from now. In the mean time, I'm glad I tried a couple in 2009. 

 The first bottle coming from the basement cellar was old and a bit tired in my opinion. The other gentlemen tasting with me appreciated it much more than I and thought it was quite decent considering its age. Another reason I believe in drinking California Cabernets in ten years or less is: Why would you want to make excuses for wine that was once great? i.e. "it's still holding up well." This particular wine was absolutely delicious five years ago; perhaps we should have drunk it all up in its prime. The second bottle coming from store display was much better, ironic considering both came from the same case and the one stored improperly for the past couple years fared much better.  The store bottle still had fruit flavors and showed cassis, cocoa and coffee. It still had life, although I contend it still would have been better a couple years earlier. Perhaps that is why we save wine, because no one really knows what will happen to the bottle over time. I hope I'm still doing this in 2022 and I'll let you know how the 1997 is holding up.

 Hidden Gem

Conn Creek is a regular wine at my table, but a sleeper to the general public. This cabernet sauvignon is a Napa cabernet bargain that is not widely distributed or credited for the value it offers.

 Glen Lake Wine and Spirits offers this wine at $19.99, while it is commonly found from $24.99 to $29.99. At any of these prices it is a good value for this quality of cabernet. Tonight I am sampling the 2005. It is equal to the 2004, which I also found delicious. The wine is 82% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc, 5% merlot, 4% malbec, and 2% petit verdot. All five Bordeaux varieties! The wine offers a mellow easy to drink cabernet, with hints of plum, coffee, mocha chocolate, and a cherry finish.

Highly recommended. Give it a try with your next flourless chocolate cake.

Sun and Sauvignon Blanc

We spent the better part of the week traveling around California wine country in 100 degree weather. While some may think that sounds like a sweaty trip through the vineyards it was actually quite enjoyable. The chardonnays and sauvignon blanc's never tasted better than under the blistering California summer sun, the cabernets, merlots and pinot were simply taken inside the tasting rooms or caves. I have visited wine country during all the seasons and can't decide on a favorite, but I do have to say it sure feels good in the summer. As they say "it's a dry heat."

This trip found us visiting with some old friends as well as making some new friends in this wonderful business. Our relaxing trip through wine country found us at:

1. Guenoc

2. Schramsberg

3. Chalk Hill

4. Simi

5. Hess

6. Turnbull

7. Franciscan

8. Duckhorn

9. Paraduxx

10. Stags Leap

A great trip indeed and to those who have asked, they were all my favorite.

Merryvale Starmont new to Glen Lake Wine and Spirits

Three new Merryvale wines arrived in Glen Lake and are on special through the Summer.

1. Merryvale Starmont 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa Valley. Aged 18 months in French oak, this wine offers flavors of cassis, raspberry, and vanilla. A delicious wine on its own, or for steak night on the grill. The 2005 cabernet is made up of 79% cabernet sauvignon, 14% merlot, 4% syrah, 2% petite verdot, 1% cabernet franc.

2. Merryvale Starmont 2008 Sauvignon Blanc - Napa Valley. A perfect summer picnic wine, pared with salad or fish or just on its own on a hot day. Comprised of 96% sauvignon blanc and 4% semillon, the wine shows lemon, lime and passion-fruit. It does offer backbone, aged in 70% French oak with alcohol at 13.5%.

3. Merryvale Starmont 2007 Chardonnay - Napa Valley. A nice middle of the road Napa chardonnay, 50% oak and 50% stainless.  The wine offers a full bodied chardonnay that is not overly oaked. The pear and apple fruit flavor come alive with a finish of toast and vanilla. 

Stock up on all three Merryvale Starmont selections while on sale at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits this Summer. Remember Summer is short, very short, get to that picnic and grill before the snow flies.

Tasting Some Gems

I gave a private tasting tonight to some V.I.P.'s who get together with me a couple times a year to stock their cellars. They always leave the wine samples to my discretion and from experience I know they prefer "big" California Cabernets. They did ask for one simple Summer white for boat cruising and barbeques. The official Glen Lake Wine and Spirits tasting consisted of:

1. Simi - Sauvignon Blanc - Sonoma

2. Franciscan -  Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa

3. Ehlers Estate - Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa

4. Hess Mountain Cuveee - Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa

5. O'Shaughnessy - Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa

6. Catena - Malbec - Argentina

Truly a great line up of fine wines to sample. It was mutually agreed that the Simi Sauvignon Blanc was a good choice and good bargain for the Summer boat wine. The reds had some variation on the best of show, meaning I had a differing opinion than the three customers. The customers chose the Hess Mountain Cuvee as their favorite for flavor and value. While I agree that the Hess offers a lot of bang for the buck, I cannot deny that the O'Shaughnessy was truly the king of the show. Since I am not the one buying the wine, it is a bit easier for me to dismiss the cost and simply pick the wine that I think is best. The customers generally assign dollar figures to the glass. i.e. "This wine is great, but I can get this wine for twenty dollars less per bottle - that is almost as good." I call it the "two buck chuck syndrome." Many people I have spoken to who buy the two buck chuck have admitted that the wine isn't very good but it is such a good deal! I guess we all choose the product we splurge on and the product we skimp on. My clients today played it on the second best deal, in my opinion. Perhaps a good philosophy on buying any product. 

Buehler?... Buehler?... Buehler?...

 Sorry, I couldn't resist that beginning. My wife says it every time she sees the bottle on our counter and it never gets old. Buehler winery, located way up the hill on the base of Howell mountain is a sight to behold. The century old barn, someday slated to be turned into the tasting room, is a wow. The view of a shimmering beautiful Lake Hennessey hundreds of feet below takes your breath away. And the wine, ah the wine. What a perfect compliment to the scenery while visiting Buehler Vineyards.

 Tonight we are tasting the 2005 Buehler Napa Valley cabernet sauvignon. The wine is a bargain compared to other Napa mountain grown wines especially considering its pedigree. It shows dark cherry and plum, as well as cola and spice. A delicious cabernet that will drink well until 2014 (according to my rules) and 2020 according to the winery. My best advise would be to buy all you can find and enjoy it over the next couple years. I have had the opportunity of visiting with John Buehler at his winery and would highly suggest this visit if you ever have the opportunity.  The proprietor knows how to entertain almost as well as he knows how to make wine.

I Will Blog about No Wine Before it's Time 

 I wish that were true, yet I continue to save wines past their prime. Fine wine does not age as well as Beatles Albums; it is probably closer to milk in that regard. I recently tested my "ten year rule" for California wine along with my "best guess" rule with French Bordeaux.

The contestants:

Chateau Talbot 1993

Caymus Vineyards 1999

 While Caymus falls right into my ten year rule for drinking California wines, Chateau Talbot was drinking at sixteen years old (or young) for Bordeaux. 

The Talbot was tasted with a "wine aficionado" friend who was thrilled to death to taste the sixteen year old Fourth growth Bordeaux with his tasting colleague. It started out bad with a cork that was moldy and fell apart while opening. Being consummate professionals we managed to get the wine from the bottle without too much trouble. Surprise! The wine was still good! The old Talbot still showed signs of fruit and tannins that told us the wine would continue to age. This should not be too surprising considering the Saint-Julien wine is comprised of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, and the remaining Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The French create their Bordeaux to age. The price they fetch should allow the consumer to enjoy now or twenty years from now.

The 1999 Caymus was exactly what I expected with my California ten year rule of thumb. I would have given two bottles of 1993 Talbot for one bottle of 1999 Caymus five years ago, even though the Talbot is generally double the retail price. 1999 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon has faded away. This is such a bummer, but a lesson I continually need to remind myself. If you have any 1999 Caymus left drink now! While I generally prefer California Cabernets to Bordeaux's, if it ever comes to the day that I can collect more than we can consume, I will probably have to start collecting a few more Bordeaux's to drink in our golden years.

Bubbly bargain

I had a good day Friday and was feeling celebratory. Champagne with dinner was proposed and accepted. These tightened economic times have put a damper on drinking the fine champagnes from France and when checking on the bubble supply, I came upon Domaine Ste. Michelle - Blanc de Blanc. While this wine has been used, on many occasion, for mimosa we usually do not drink it on a "special occasion". As it turns out this wine is a true diamond in the rough. 

Domaine Ste. Michelle comes from Washington State and is part of the Chateau Ste. Michelle portfolio, which is know for their great value wines.  The Blanc de Blanc (white wine from white grapes) is made of primarily chardonnay and offers a medium dry, delicate sparkler that tastes like a $50 bottle from France. When purchased at Glen Lake Wine and Spirits it is far from $50. You can enjoy this wonderful sparkler in Minnetonka for an awesome sale price of $10.99 per bottle! The wine opens up with pear and pineapple and also shows green apple mid pallet. For this price you should find the smallest reason to celebrate.