Souverain
Chateau Souverain
California Grenache Rosé 2017
Pretty good. Actually very nice. It was on sale, and if it is again I would buy it. — 4 years ago
Souverain
Sonoma County Pinot Noir 1974
Astonishing that this very old wine is drinking just great! The ‘74 Cab from Souverain was my very first early favorite way back then. Got this single sample and figured must be vinegar by now but be good for nostalgia for the long gone vineyard. Instead this is a delightful shock! Labels look great. Cork has top layer of crap but in good shape though the very bottom broke off. Wine has nice garnet color with little hint of its age. Still lively, well balanced and tasty even if not super complex. Nose is just straight out attractive with very ripe dark red fruits as background for the foreground earth and field and hay. No way I’d have guessed 46 year old Sonoma Pinot! Kept sniffing and satisfied even before tasting. Palate is light and lean but still lively and texture is firm and acidic carrying over to good finish. Like an aged but still athletic and elegant ballerina showing off. What a pleasant and memorable shock in these crazy times! Lot of 4 oldies from 70s, Sutter Home Zinfandels (2) Montevino and primarily for these but this Pinot already made it worthwhile for AA20. Adding two to 9.3 for the age! Back label says ‘74 was great vintage and wine ready to drink but will still be good in 3-4 years with proper storage. Ha! Day two still standing strong in Eto and dancing with delight. Enough for one last glass in day or two. Day three drank without food before dinner. Kept sniffing and sniffing. Elegant and complex nose with notes of sour plum and very ripe dark fruits. Only possible in such well aged vino! Memorable. Too bad only bottle. — 6 years ago
St. Clement Vineyards
Oroppas Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
This historic winery was purchased by Beringer in 1999 and also owns Meridian, Chateau St. Jean, Napa Ridge, Chateau Souverain and Stags' Leap Winery. A blend of Cab from several top Napa vineyards, aged separately for 19 months then adding a bit of Cab Franc to the final mix. Complex aromas of dark red and black fruits with sweet spice scents. On the palate black cherry and red plum flavors with leather, cacao and coffee, well balanced. Firm soft tannins, lingering finish ending with fruit and oak. Nice! — 8 years ago
Souverain
North Coast Merlot 2014
Absolutely powerful and subtle at the same time. The hint of mocha becomes clear with every taste. Affordable and yet luxurious. — 9 years ago
Souverain
North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Smooth and rich. Plenty of tannins to stick around. Very enjoyable. — 9 years ago
Chateau Souverain
Barrel Aged Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1994
Popped and poured; enjoyed over several hours. The 1994 Chateau Souverain, Cabernet Sauvignon pours a deep ruby fading to maroon via garnet, toward the rim. Medium+ viscosity with moderate staining and some signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous. The fruit is mostly red in profile and desiccated: cherries, strawberries, currants, green bell pepper, tobacco, leather, coffee, cocoa and warm spices. Tannins are still pretty firm. Acid is medium. Full of life yet and quite charming! Just goes to show that good winemaking, decent fruit and great provenance can allow even some of the more humble wines to age well (given proper cellar conditions). Drink now. — 3 years ago
Chateau Souverain
California Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Amazing wine. Soft on the pallet — 6 years ago
Souverain
North Coast Petite Sirah 1975
With Gabriella, Andrew, Mom.... 1975 after sending back a corked wine. Amazing at Berns — 8 years ago
Joseph Phelps Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
On the nose; liqueur style blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blueberries, baked strawberries, sweet spice, vanilla, wood shavings, dark, rich, moist soil, crushed, dry rocks, violets and fragrant, fresh, dark florals. The palate is medium bodied and the tannins are nicely resolved and round. The fruits are also liqueur is style. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, plum, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries, baked strawberries and a touch of dry cranberries. Sweet, soft leather, lead pencil, cola, vanilla, cinnamon, soft spice-box, understated herbal notes, rich, moist, dark soil, crushed rocks, a touch of bramble, crumbled volcanic minerals, nice, soft, round acidity and a long, lush, fresh, elegant fruit finish that is 75% fruit and 25% earth. The 06 has plenty of life ahead of it...at least 10 years. I'm pretty sure this bottle was around $35 at Costco upon release. Photos of, the view from their tasting terrace, the legend/Napa maverick Joseph Phelps, terrace seating and interior shot of the remodeled estate. Producer notes...the winery was founded in 1973 by Napa wine pioneer, Joseph Phelps. Like a number of other vintners in the valley, Joseph came to wine from another industry. In the 1960’s he ran one of the largest construction companies based in the USA, Hensel Phelps Construction One of his projects was to work on building the BART system in the San Francisco Bay Area (Bay Area Rapid Transit). Joseph's transition into the winery business started with a banker informing him of several potential winery projects in Napa and Sonoma. One of the projects was to build Souverain Winery in Napa (now Rutherford Hill Winery). After that project Joseph became interested in purchasing his own property in the valley. He acquired 600+ acres. His first vintage of Insignia was 1974. Joseph Phelps began planting grapes – varieties such as Riesling, Gewurztraminer and Pinot Noir. They ultimately discovered these grapes were not suited to the particular climate of this part of the valley and they changed over to other varietals...namely Bordeaux based red varieties.The first vintage of Joseph Phelps was made at Heitz Cellars. Sadly, Bill passed away in April 2015 at 87...may he rest in peace with a glass that never empties. All and all a good life I'd say. Today his son Bill Phelps is President of winery. Not that long after Joseph's passing, Joseph Phelps opened their remolded hospitality center (photos above) located in what was the original winery building. It's sad that Joseph did not live to see it's full completion and opening. The last 1/4 of glass or less from the bottom of the bottle which; is called "The Truth" was so rich, concentrated & beautiful, I was tempted to push the rating to 9.3/9.4.
— 9 years ago
Chateau Souverain
California Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Crisp, refreshing, and dry — 3 years ago
Inglenook
Estate Bottled Napa Valley Zinfandel 1979
Another incredible oldie that held up amazingly well. Cork looked like it’s ten years old with only bottom third stained through though it did break apart when pulled and lead seal is in excellent condition. Wine level showed no loss. Wonder if recorked at some point. Nice ruby color with little bricking. Whiff of worrisome sherry note that dissipated very quickly. Again like that Souverain Pinot a beautiful endlessly sniffable nose of almost fermented fruits and apples and autumnal forest floor carrying through to firmly textured palate but a relatively short finish. It’s a class act that still plays well. So second gem of the four. — 6 years ago
Chateau Souverain
California Chardonnay
Smooth and easy drinking. 13.9 alcohol content — 6 years ago
Souverain
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Excellent cabernet! — 9 years ago
Souverain
Winemaker's Reserve Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
1997 Rsv- cellared since release. We honeymooned at this property (amongst a couple others) and this has always held a special cockle of our hearts. Bright jammy fruit w/ blueberry overtones lead to a medium-long finish with soft dusty tannins. Delicious, has a few years left during its peak. I want more! — 9 years ago
Ming L
Nice entry level Champaign with ample reserved wines (30% - 50%) that offers aromas of green apple, pear, lemon peel with hint of smoke and chalk. Vigorous bubbles. Clean and refreshing on the palate with vivid acidity. Clean cut finish. — 7 months ago