Erna Schein
Erna Schein
Fat Boy Napa Valley Red Bordeaux Blend 2006
Still heavy upon opening. But drinking well now. 12 years and still going strong. 12-15-18 — 6 years ago
Behrens & Hitchcock
Alder Springs Ranch Merlot 2003
My last bottle of 03 Alder Springs. I still have one bottle of the 02 Fortuna (better). Bottles from the earlier days of Behrens & Hitchcock. They’ve gone from B&H to Erna Schein to Behrens Family Winery. Back in the day when we first acquired these wines, we had to open them the night before, decent and put them back in the bottle overnight and re-decant the next evening in order to drink them as they were monsters with huge alcohol. 13 bottle years later, it’s more complex, rounder but still a big wine. While the alcohol has tamed some, it’s still hot...just not unbearably hot. This wine still has a ton of life in it. The nose still shows alcohol and is starting to take on a dark fruit liqueur/Port style. Blackberries, dark cherries, raisins, prunes, dates & blue fruits. Anise, black cherry licorice, a little eucalyptus/mint, dark chocolate, black tea, layers of baking spices, dark, sweet, rich, turned earth and fresh, dry crushed rocks and decayed dark florals. The body is full, round, lavish and lush. The palate also shows a dark fruit liqueur/Port character. Ripe, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, stewed plums, raisins, prunes, dates, blue fruits, anise, black cherry licorice, a little eucalyptus/mint, dry sage, medium, dark intensity spice that heats up as it rises off the palate, dark chocolate, black tea, layers of baking spices, chocolate pudding, well used leather, cedar, dark, sweet, rich, turned earth and fresh, dry crushed rocks, decayed dark florals and fading violets. The acidity is nicely rounded, the length, tension, structure may outlive some people 55+. The finish is; big, round, well balanced but just a little hot. After a couple hours in the decanter, it really rounded out and the alcohol decreased quite a bit. Photos top to bottom and left to right; the latest incarnation of the winery, workers in the Alder Springs Vineyard, Owner/Winemaker Les Behrens and their tasting room; which is actually a restored 1947 Westcraft trailer. A quote on Les’s philosophy on winemaking, “We let the vineyards steal the show and the wine speak for itself.” They are also well know for some of the coolest wine labels. One of my favorites was, “The Heavyweight.” — 7 years ago
Chateau Montelena
The Montelena Estate Calistoga Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Beautifully balanced Cab from a great year. Delicious bouquet of earth and currants with a long finish. Enjoyed at lunch on a blustery rainy day as hurricane erna passed off to the east — 3 years ago
Behrens Family Winery
Erna Schein Moulds Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2011
From the damned vintage comes another good wine. Is this as full-bodied as the 09 or 10? No. Notes on this wine are black cherry, rhubarb, mint on the nose and just about the same on the entry. Gains a floral note in the middle. Finishes with black cherry and white flowers. Rounded character but acidity is quite present. Tannin are a bit sweet, slightly astringent but doesn't really take away from this wine. If anything it adds a bit of mystery. This was a Coravin glass and a half today, with the remainder likely going down tomorrow. I'd say this is probably just about the time to start drinking on these if you have a few. — 5 years ago
Benanti
Etna Rosso Nerello Mascalese 2017
This is pretty darn good. Lovely Mt. Erna fruit. Sappy, red fruits, minerally. Good QPR. — 4 years ago
Erna Schein
Blender Boy Cabernet Franc Blend 2008
A very nice wine after 12 years in the bottle. Still lots of fruit, not over extracted, dark cherry, cassis, leather, tobacco. Agreed, it is more similar to a French style wine. — 4 years ago
Eric Urbani
Wow got this at auction and did not disappoint - perfect pairing with Persian beef kabobs for Fathers Day dinner! — 6 months ago