Courtyard Wineries
Petaluma
Coonawarra Cabernet-Merlot Blend 2010
Still standing tall! Amazing Bordeaux blend from one of Australia’s preeminent wineries! Very balanced, great forward fruit and a super-long finish! Had with aged beef - to die for!! — 4 years ago
Continuum
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2009
Last week was a combo of 4th Friday and Open That Bottle Night on back to back nights. Needless to say, the lineup between both days was full of heavy hitters, so I’m only posting standout bottles.
One of my bottles. One of my favorite wineries and easily one of the top 5 winery visits I’ve ever done. To me, this is “classic” Continuum in that is has just a impeccable balance of both fruit and herbal/savory notes both aromatically and on the palate. I let this slow ox for a couple hours, checking in ever so often, and found this hit stride after about two hours of air. Lovely bouquet of potpourri, lavender, graphite, sage, currant, ripe blackberries, black cherries and mocha. On the palate, its profile is soft yet all encompassing. Mulberries, cassis, tobacco leaves, herbs de Provence, licorice, dark cocoa, baking spices and a touch savory toward the finish. Enjoyable now and not getting better. My thanks to @Bill Bender for this. — 4 years ago
R. López de Heredia
Viña Cubillo Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2010
In many ways a baby Tondonia, this ‘Crianza’* from López de Heredia is a great entry point to the wines of one of Rioja’s oldest wineries, and in many ways mimics the styles of its more upmarket reds. Not dissimilar in style to Viña Tondonia, this medium-bodied red cuts a leaner profile with dried red fruit, bags of vanilla and characteristically fierce orange zest acidity. The aroma is intoxicating and packs the leathery, savoury punch that is the hallmark of classical Rioja. It lacks the purity and depth of fruit of its bigger brother, and finishes slightly shorter, but for the price (£17/btl) it’s an exceptional - and of course traditional - Rioja that any lover of the region should seek out, and one which should provide ample enjoyment over the coming decade or more.
*this wine spent enough time in barrel and bottle to easily qualify for Gran Reserva status, but of López de Heredia’s wines it is always the ‘youngest’. — 4 years ago
Long Shadows Vintners
Poet's Leap Columbia Valley Riesling 2017
Two Hands
Bella's Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz 2005
All in at $50.
The nose shows; ruby, floral & candied fruits of; mulberries, gooseberries, ollallieberries, boysenberries blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries with raspberries hovering across the top. Grilled, savory meats, black pepper, dark spice, dark cola, dark chocolate, anise to black licorice, dark expresso grounds, sweet tarriness, older tobacco, very used leather, limestone minerals, crushed rocks, incense, ambers, dry tree sap, dry herbs-sage, bat leaf, eucalyptus notes, moist, forest floor, moist, grey clay with withering, fresh & candied florals that are; purple, dark, blue and red set in pronounced lavender & violets woven in.
The body is; full, lush, rich, round, juicy & velvety. It glides across the palate in total gorgeous elegance. The structure, tension, balance & length are at their high point with another 5-8 years of solid drinking with a few years beyond if you enjoy that later stage. I am one who doesn’t protest that part of the life cycle. The tannins are round, pulpy and are still meaty. Fruits are; ruby, touch jammy, floral & candied fruits of; mulberries, gooseberries, boysenberries, ollallieberries, blackberries, black raspberries, both plums, black cherries, blueberries with raspberries hovering across the top. Grilled, savory meats, black pepper, notes of Worcestershire sauce, dark combo of Indian & some Asian spices that bring heat, dark cola, dark chocolate, caramel, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, anise to black licorice, dark expresso grounds, sweet tarriness, older tobacco, oak barrel shaving dust, somewhat card toast, very used leather, limestone minerals, crushed rocks, incense, ambers, dry tree sap, dry herbs-sage, bay leaf, eucalyptus notes, moist, forest floor, moist, muddy, grey clay with withering, fresh & candied florals that are; purple, dark, blue and red set in pronounced lavender & violets woven in. The acidity is round & excellent. The finish is stunningly well knitted, balanced fruit & earth, elegant, gorgeous, that loads lush & juicy and falls on to deep spices persisting for days.
Photos of our April 2017 visit; the walk up to Two Hands, waterfall in their courtyard in the back, utility building & their stand up tasting bar right as you walk in.
Stunning example of what Australian Shiraz can be with the right patience.
1/9/21 — 3 years ago
Eagle Ridge
Private Reserve Petite Sirah 2013
Eagle Ridge is one of my favorite boutique wineries in Livermore. They use all estate grapes and the Petite Sirah is their signature wine. This 6 year old PS has flavors of plum and brambleberries. — 5 years ago
Boris Mathiszik
Nice cab. I found it lacking a bit of refinement considering we were at one of the best wineries in the Valle de Guadalupe. But solid wine, and amazing winery. Syrah leading the way in this region I strongly believe. — 3 years ago