The Quote
Andrew Murray
Roasted Slope Vineyard Syrah 2014
To quote Miles: “Andrew Murray. Well okay.” Been a while since I’ve had one of Andrew’s wines, but I recall purchasing this at a Harvest Party a few years ago. Probably on the downslope just a bit, but this is still terrific. I always view the Roasted Slope as his homage to Guigal in my view, and it is a terrific wine. — 6 years ago
Mount Veeder Winery
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Fresh copious amounts of eucalyptus inhaled, as my nose is encapsulated by my glass.
First sip is elusive. Cannot quote pick which dark fruit/ deep memory I can impart in this review, so I return quickly for another.
Eucalyptus cigars, blackberry seed, tamarind, cedar, cedar, pine box and cedar!
Lingering, is the sadness of winter, in the darkness of this wine, and the acidity that is tempered by that damn lovely cedar.
A touch of heat, yet one has to get burnt every now and then, to see what lies beyond, eh?
— 8 years ago
Morlet Family Vineyards
En Famille Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2006
The is from Morlet Families inaugural vintage of 2006. I must say it’s beautiful with a fair amount more of life ahead. The nose reveals dark cassis and a good presence of cinnamon stick. Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, light clove & cinnamon, dark fresh florals and violets. The nose is intoxicating! The body is round, ripe and rich. The tannins nicely resolved. The structure, balance, tension and length are in an excellent spot. Mmmmm! Blackberries, liqueured dark cherries, plum, poached strawberries, dry cranberries, pomegranate extract, black raspberries float through, blueberries, vanilla, a touch of bramble, light clove & cinnamon stick, dark rich soils, dry crushed rocks, a little leather, dark fresh florals & violets. The acidity is a waterfall on the palate. The finish is; spectacular elegance, richness, balance and lasts two minutes. One of the best CA Pinot’s we’ve had in a very long time. It deserves an amen & a hallelujah! I paid $65 for this amazing wine 9 years after it’s release (the 2015 released at $115); which brings me back around to a repetitive point of mine. Look for great wines on the secondary market and pay less than producers current release pricing. That is to say, it will aid in keeping you from drinking your new releases too young that are not nearly ready to enjoy! If you are not doing this, you are doing a disservice to your palate and your wine budget. Photos of; their old historical brick building they’ve converted into their winery, interior tasting area, Luc Morlet and their Estate vines. Producer notes and history...Winemaker Luc Morlet is a fifth-generation of a French winemaking family. Growing up in Avenay-Val d’Or, he spent all his spare time working on his family’s estate. His university studies of viticulture and winemaking were put into practice during years of work in vineyards and wineries in Burgundy, Bordeaux, and the south of France. Luc left France in 1996 to join his wife Jodie in her native California. Starting in 2006, Luc Morlet began handcrafting Morlet vineyard designated wines and cuvées of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc in the Napa Valley. As well as; Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, a white Bordeaux-style blend and a Late Harvest Sémillon from Sonoma County. Luc is also the brother of Nicolas Morlet the Winemaker of Peter Michael fame. Luc is another producer I respect for his meticulous farming and low intervention winemaking techniques. While his roots are based out of France, he has adapted his skills well to the Napa Valley soils and climate. Morlet styles his wines in a harmonious and refined fashion. Their logo is based upon 19th century French artist Mathurin Moreau’s sculpture entitled, ‘L’Harmonie.’ In August 2010, Luc and and his wife Jodie purchased an estate, just north of the town of St. Helena. Since then, they have converted the historic stone building, built in 1880, into their family winery. The building was originally the Castner Winery that closed during Prohibition. Morlet is located St. Helena Appellation. The estate is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and is the exclusive fruit source for their ‘Morlet Estate’ label. The Morlet’s ‘Mon Chevalier’ vineyard is located on the hillsides of Knights Valley, overlooking the western slopes of Mount St. Helena. The vineyard benefits from their proximity to the mountain. Warm and windy climate is ideal for the long ripening of the red Bordeaux varietals Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec and Petit Verdot. They recently planted the 20 acre ‘Cœur de Vallée’ vineyard. These Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines are located on the Oakville Bench, If one such exists. I read a quote from a grower who has been growing in Oakville for many years. He said, “the only bench in Oakville is the one in front of the Oakville Grocery Store.” While it may or may not be true, it’s certainly a funny quote. In addition to these family acres, they buy from farmers under long-term contracts in Fort Ross-Seaview, Russian River Valley, Bennett Valley, Dry Creek and Napa Valley. All of the Morlet’s wines are handcrafted using classical Burgundy and Bordeaux winemaking techniques and are matured in 100% French oak barrels. — 9 years ago
Keplinger
Caldera El Dorado Mourvedre Blend
"All smiles" to quote @Mike R ... my purple teeth are shining through. This wine is dark with an explosive nose and palate. Anise and blackberry jump out the most to me. Fruit forward with an extremely dry finish. The tannins are very present but also so well integrated that this is drinking great right out of the gate. It also has the structure for a long sleep. I love Helen's new world take on a typical Rhone varietal. — 9 years ago
La Source du Ruault
Senseï Saumur-Champigny Cabernet Franc 2011
More fruity than last night cab franc and less green pepper. A little green pepper on the nose and a certain softness. The taste has a soft round raspberry ish note with a tiny tinge of the green pepper at the end. But more vegetal than green pepper. A pretty and lovely wine. Might get another and will definitely get more loire cab franc.
I feel like this style of wine is easily not super popular with people that expect a big fruity wine it’s softer and elegant and lean. Like a quote paired down Bordeaux. If someone had this with mostly experience from new world wines they probably would feel like it was watered down. Food for thought. — 3 years ago
Cacique Maravilla
Pipeño País
Leather and earth. Medium body. To quote a fellow wine dude it drinks like a feral Beaujolais — 5 years ago
Podere ai Valloni
Vigna Cristiana Boca Nebbiolo Blend 2010
Nose has old tar, countless stems of red roses, dried cherry, library stacks and dried raspberry.
Palate has jammy and bright cherry preserves, fresh tart cherry, old leather, moist earthy notes (positive trait) and some neutral wood.
Mellow tannins after an extended decant, this bottle is really singing. I am lucky to have tasted older vintages to give an understanding of where this wine is going. Now, whether or not I have the patience to hold the remaining bottles another 20-years is a major question, very nice today.
Decanted ~3hrs, in a cool place. Not my kitchen today, which was quite warm as I preserved our first real harvest of 2019 tomatoes, converting them into pizza sauce. I beat our first processed batch from 2018 by an entire week...don't believe anyone telling you we're not living through climate change, or more appropriately 'climate disruption' to quote Ralph Nader. This is why the best Nebbiolo is now coming from northern Italy, and the best Pinot will transition to Germany. OK, enough politics, this is a forum for wine, mostly. Cat photo-bombs appreciated in your bottle pics (sorry none from me today). — 7 years ago
Coors Brewing Company
Coors Light Lager
Hendricks Wines
Gold Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
On the nose, bold, ripe fruits of; blackberries, boysenberries, huckleberries, blueberries, dark cherries & black plum. Warm baking baking spices, mocha, light caramel, black cherry liqueur notes, rich dark soils, perfumed violets & lilacs. The body is round and full with powdery tannins. The fruits sing on the palate. There is waves of fruit, earth and florals that swirl and dance across your palette. The fruits are ripe, sweet and lush; blackberries, boysenberries, huckleberries, blueberries, dark cherries, black plum with juicy strawberries coming on strong at the mid palate. Black cherry cola/licorice, vanilla, light caramel, mocha, semi-sweet loamy dry soils, just a touch of crushed rock powder, soft spice-box, fresh tobacco leaf, perfumed violets & lilacs, round, rich, palate raining acidity and finish that is simply long, well balanced with perfect structure/length/tension and above all beautiful and elegant. It just swirls and dances endlessly & gloriously in the mouth. What mouth harmony! Photos of, vines in Stags Leap, Charles Hendricks, ripe fruit for the picking and one of mine and Charles favorite paintings. Producer notes and history...Charles Hendricks is one of the best Winemakers in Napa Valley. He is well grounded in the science of winemaking. As a 1982 UC Davis viticulture graduate, Charles was able to tailor his own curriculum, and was one of the earliest to integrate winemaking and viticulture course work. Having knowledge of both viticulture and enology forms the bases for well-rounded winemaking under varying circumstances; this is the making of a great Winemaker & consultant. His greatest gift is the ability to make wines the are elegant, beautiful and smooth young but will age effortlessly. Charles Hendricks sees himself as an assistant to the natural bounty of the vineyards. Using his knowledge and experience to guide and coax the very best from the wine grapes. Charles believes in minimal intervention in the wine cellar, but knows that if we leave nature completely on it own, we would be in the vinegar business! To quote him, “It is a wonderful game of hide and seek that we play with Mother Nature…It is natures glory to conceal, and the winemakers glory to reveal, to discover and to persuade the grapes to unveil their highest potential, It is the playfulness of guessing when and how much to step in, that is at the heart of the winemakers’ task." So true in his case. Charles makes his own label wines only when he has the very best of fruit. He is also is the Winemaker for Hope & Grace and until recently was the Winemaker for; Regusci, James Cole and T-Vine. In previous years, he's worked with; Viader, Barnett Vineyards & Paoletti Vineyards. He is truly a gifted Winemaker. If you are able, seek out and try his Henrick's Cabernet & Santa Lucia Pinot Noir, you absolutely won't regret it! @Paul Treadway Huntington Beacher — 9 years ago
Domaine Martelet de Cherisey
La Genelotte Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru Chardonnay 2014
To quote @DRPinot, Donald Patz, Wow, Wow, Wow. Lemon custard, lemon zest. Apples. Perfect tart balance. Mineral verve. Oak is completely integrated. — 9 years ago
Geantet-Pansiot
Pinot Fin Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2018
If I can sum up this wine with a movie quote:
‘Fucking lingerer man. Yeah, totally!’ — 4 years ago
Ochota Barrels
a forest Pinot Noir
Like many I opened a bottle of ochota last week to toast the life of Taras Ochota who passed on Monday. I have long loved the Ochota wines and have felt lucky to have them in the Charleston market, but this “A Forest” Pinot was a gift from afar and one I have held onto for a year knowing the right time would come to open it. Well, last week seemed perfect time to celebrate a person who was a leader in making natural wines that were vibrant, beautiful, and sound. Any article about Taras and his wife Amber brimmed with their positive energy, and I loved this quote from him that appeared in a Imbibe tribute:
‘We could make more,’ he said to a room full of journalists, sitting round his enormous kitchen table last year. ‘But then I’d have to work harder, and then I wouldn’t be drinking wine with you guys.
‘I just want to make wine and have a nice life.’
Here’s to a life well lived! ❤️
— 6 years ago
Daou Vineyards
Pessimist Paso Robles Red Blend
Consumed 2/2019. The bottle has a quote on it that I like. It says a pessimist is never disappointed. Made me giggle. So I bought it and tried it. Not bad. Alc. 15.5% by vol. — 7 years ago
Cypher Winery
The Peasant Paso Robles Grenache Blend 2011
Excellent. Full body with a little bite. Love the quote on the bottle. “Temperance, like Chastity, is it’s own punishment.” — 8 years ago
Arabella
Western Cape Cabernet Sauvignon 2016
Very nice. Agree dark berry flavors up front and a bit of spice at the end. Very smooth and low tannin (doesn’t make your tongue fuzzy to quote a friend) — 8 years ago
Domaine Henry Pellé
Menetou Salon Morogues Sauvignon Blanc
Course 1 Le Bernardin, quote strong hut smooth and not acidic. Love it — 9 years ago
Château Palmer
Margaux Red Bordeaux Blend 1991
In every difficult vintage, anywhere, you will find producers that make exceptional wines. This 91 Palmer is such a wine. I have to thank Clyde Beffa owner of K&L Wine Merchants who has been traveling to Bordeaux for 35+ years for highly recommending two 91 Bordeaux's to me. The 91 Pichon Lalande; which he described as "heavenly." It's just the word I would have used to described it 5 or 6 years ago. Also, this 91 Palmer. He described as, "I love it-soft and silky." I would strongly agree. You see, critics gave the 91 vintage a horrific review as a whole. Bordeaux had two frosts in April and a cold growing season. These elements didn't prevent either of these producers from making beautifully elegant 1991 wines. I have said it many times and will say it again, taste wines even in difficult vintages. You'll find value and some excellent wines. As for this 91, it's in perfect form. Excellent on it's own and even better with the ribeye. It's so elegant, smooth, beautiful, ripe and well balanced with earth & fruit. The fruits are slightly stewed & baked. Blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, touch of rhubarb, cherries, strawberries. Dried florals, used leather, tobacco with ash, slight vegetal quality, anise, not too sweet black cherry licorice/cola, figs, dark earth with crushed rocks, dry stones, underbrush, understated spice and perfect acidity that drips over the palate. The length, structure, balance and finish are in perfect harmony & the finish goes on and on and on. As many times as we've been to Bordeaux, we never get tired of the drive on the D-2 through Margaux and Pauillac. Chateau Margaux & Palmer stand side by side in beautiful prodigious history to say nothing of Baron Pichon & Pichon Lalande. Every year, for my B-day, I have a great steak and an old Bordeaux. It just doesn't get any better than that. And as many of those nights I've had, B-day or not, this might have been the best. Perhaps topping or equaling the Ribcap at Bourbon Steak and the 91 Pichon Lalande. To quote Gary Westby, "it steak and claret night." 12% alcohol is so much more enjoyable than 15% plus. ❤🍷🎉🎂 — 9 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
There is an origins story for me w/ this producer. You can read about it by clicking my post from 55 weeks ago.
This bottle fazed between 92-94 while enjoying. I opened it and let it breathe in bottle for 45 minutes and then decanted it in stages…a 1/3, 1/3 & 1/3. I believe that was the right decision.
This 97 still has not ridden off into the sunset, it is just the other side of its peak. 28 yrs from creation & 26 yrs in bottle. I look at a Cabernet/reds from when it went into bottle vs its birth yr. All my opening decisions are made from that point. Humans don’t count their time in womb, I see wine similarly.
The fruits are still beautiful & its evolution is amazing. There is a core of dark currants surrounded by cassis. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum with heavy skin, black cherries, secondary; raspberries, dark cherries & strawberries. Cherry cola/licorice. Dark spices w/ a touch of heat-hard to find better, moist clays, soft, layered baking spices-clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, dark chocolate baking bar, mocha powder, caramel, anise to black licorice, dryish tobacco with ash, used leather, dry crushed rocks, limestone powder, volcanic ash, fire ambers, saline, some black pepper, tumbleweed, dry river stone, black tea, very lightly grilled pork, florals for days that are; dark, red, blue, lavender framed in violets, perfect acidity with a great balance, well structured/tensioned, elegant finish that lasts minutes and falls on dry earth & spice as it long sets. Wonderful style!
To quote Robert Lewis Stevenson, “Wine is Bottled Poetry!” — 6 months ago