Vistas
Felton Road
Block 5 Pinot Noir 2014
Just an outstanding Pinot Noir from Nigel. Everything I expect and more from an amazing region for Pinot Noir.
If you make it to Queenstown, drive out to Central Otago for the vistas & two or three tasting appointments. These photos are from our visit and what would be their early fall. It’s God’s country.
Central Otago has the warm days, cool nights, soil structure and the long growing season that is perfect for Pinot Noir grapes.
The nose shows ripe, candied, floral; black cherries, baked plum, blue fruits, raspberries, blackberries, black raspberries, poached strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate, mixed berry fruit cola, soft spices, mix of red & black licorice, limestone powder, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, smokiness, understated, fresh tobacco, crushed volcanic powder, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, light cinnamon, lightly grilled meats with bright florals of; red, dark, blue, purple flowers framed in a field of violets.
The palate is complex, lush, lively and light on its feet. It’s flat out stunningly gorgeous! Wine candy. Ripe, candied, floral; black cherries, baked plum, blue fruits, raspberries, blackberries, black raspberries, poached strawberries, cranberries, pomegranate, mixed berry fruit cola, soft, dark spices with just the right shade of palate heat, mix of red & black licorice, limestone powder, dry crushed rocks, stones, dry top soils, cherry kirsch liqueur notes, smokiness, understated, fresh pipe tobacco, crushed volcanic powder, clove, nutmeg, vanilla, light cinnamon, lightly grilled meats with bright florals of; red, dark, blue, purple flowers framed in a field of violets. If you are an acid head like me, the acidity is one of the reasons you love the wine. It’s like a cool, gentle river. The long finish last minutes. It is a tremendous, glorious balance of fruit and earth that slides into mid minerals & dark spice.
If you haven’t heard or only thought about this producer’s wines, you owe it to yourself to buy a bottle & see firsthand how incredible they are, both Chardonnay & Pinot. I’ve had other more expensive Pinot Noirs that were not as good as this 2014.
Photos of; my Q&A walk the property with owner and winemaker Nigel Greening, concrete tanks, open top fermenters and their beautiful early fall vistas from the property. — 4 years ago
Cape Point Vineyards
Noordhoek Sauvignon Blanc 2017
Our second stop of the day was at Cape Point Vineyards. One of the very best vistas we had seen on any of our many trips. Absolutely, a great place to have lunch and stare at that view.
The nose reveals; lemon custard, lime, green melon, banana peel, green apple skin, pineapple, stone fruit, honeysuckle, steely minerality, wet stone, some cut grass & green bean with yellow lilies and white flowers.
The body is full, round and waxy. Texture is beautiful. Lemon custard, lime, green melon, banana peel, green apple skin, pineapple, stone fruit, cantaloupe, honeysuckle, steely minerality, wet stone, powdery, soft chalkiness, saline notes, some cut grass & green bean with yellow lilies, citrus blossoms and white flowers. The acidy is round and perfect. The finish is; elegant, lush, well balanced/polished and persists beautiful for minutes. 92 just missing 93. My favorite of the five we tasted.
Photos of, a panorama view from their terrace patio restaurant, my better half enjoying that view, her ceviche starter and the mountains that run from the right side of property all along the back of it. — 6 years ago
Patz & Hall
Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2015
Been a awhile since I’ve had a Patz & Hall.
Nose reveals; baked & candied black plum, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, raspberries, poached strawberries, blueberries, dry cranberries, dark spice, smoked meats, core of black licorice, soft tarry notes, steeped black tea, mixed berry cola, fruit roll ups, sandy soils, moist clay, eucalyptus, dry twigs, tree sap, forest floor with dry leaves, touching mushrooms with candied, fresh & withering; red, purple, blue florals framed in violets.
The body full & round...well extracted. A little too much. Nice viscosity. Baked & candied black plum, plum, dark cherries, blackberries, raspberries, poached strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, dry cranberries, dark spice, smoked meats, core of black licorice, big dark fruit cola, soft tarry notes, steeped black tea, mixed berry cola, fruit roll ups, sandy soils, moist clay, eucalyptus, sage, nut skin, dry twigs, tree sap, dark spice with palate heat, forest floor with dry leaves, touching mushrooms with candied, fresh & withering; red, purple, blue florals framed in violets. The acidity round & rushes like a fresh water mountain river. The finish is extremely well balanced, polished, rich, lush, elegant persistent ending in dark spice & earthiness.
There is another point or two to be had from this bottling with three to five years of cellaring.
Photos of, our friends deck in progress and vistas. — 4 years ago
Marqués de Murrieta
Reserva Finca Ygay Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2007
Bought this recently for $29.99. It’s a property I visited in 2015. So, when I saw this for under $30, I just smiled and plucked it from the shelf. I knew it would be good, just not quite this beautiful. A wine good enough to make you wonder why we spend more money on a bottle of wine. A bottling to acquire to keep you free from the temptation of drinking your expensive & far too young to open reds.
The nose reveals; dusty, dark cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum and juicy, baked strawberries on the high nose, dark tarry spice, cherry cola, dusty alluvial soils, dry crushed rocks, dry herbs, dark spice, tarry notes, black olive tapenade, dry brush, dry top soil & clay, dark, rich soil, vanilla, nutmeg, dark chocolate, mocha powder with candied, dark-red florals with lavender and violets.
The body is full, lush & ripe. The tannins are rounded yet still, firm, dusty & tarry. This 07 is nearing its peak form and will hold there another 4- 5 years before it starts its slow decent. The mouthfeel is gorgeous. The structure, tension, length and balance have really hit a nice groove. Dusty, dark cassis, blackberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, plum, fresh, ripe, rhubarb and juicy, baked strawberries, anise, dark tarriness & spice, cognac notes on the deep palate set, cherry cola, dusty alluvial soil, dry crushed rocks, dry herbs, dark spice, black olive tapenade, dry brush, dry top soil & clay, dark, rich soil, vanilla, nutmeg, dark chocolate, mocha powder with candied, dark-red florals with lavender and violets. The acidity is like a waterfall. The long, well balanced, juicy, ripe, elegant elegant finish persists several minutes. Just misses 93.
Perfect Tri-Tip steak wine.
Photos from my 2015 visit. Their tasting room, Estate vinesand surrounding vistas from the Bodega. — 5 years ago
Walter Hansel Winery
The South Slope Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
With lunch, this amazing 08 Walter Hansel. Well deserving of a 93 on technical merits but, even a little higher on the pleasure scale.
On the nose, ruby older fruits of; blackberries, dry cranberries, dark cherries, stewed plums, blueberries hues, cooked rhubarb, pomegranate and black raspberries. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark spice, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry stems, underbrush, hints of black cherry licorice/cola, saddle-wood, touch herbaceous with bright withering red florals.
The drinking window is right around its peak. The body in medium, round and lush. Ruby older fruits of; blackberries, dry cranberries, dark cherries, stewed plums, poached strawberries, blueberries hues, cooked rhubarb, pomegranate and black raspberries. Vanilla, cinnamon, clove, dark spice, steeped tea, limestone minerals, dry crushed rock powder, dry stems, underbrush, hints of black cherry licorice/cola, saddle-wood, touch herbaceous with bright withering red florals. The acidity is round and like a rain shower. The finish is; beautiful, ripe, lush, elegant well balanced and polished.
Photos of, their amazing vistas and my wife blowing out her candle on their birthday gift from Nepenthe.
@Big Sur Nepenthe — 6 years ago
Verget
"Les Combes Vieilles Vignes" Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay 2018
I’ll go back to drinking more CA Chardonnay when pigs fly like the top right photo.
This was under $40 and still better than any CA Chardonnay I’ve truly enjoyed. I may have given out slightly higher scores or similar scores in previous CA Chardonnay notes but, it was more for their technical achievement for the varietal within region(s).
The nose reveals; green & golden apple, lemon flesh, pineapple juice, lime zest to candy, kiwi, underripe green melon, cream, light, fresh herbs, candle wax, honeysuckle, white spice, refined chalkiness, gritty volcanic minerals, sea fossils, saline, yellow lilies, fruit blossoms, spring flowers & mix greens.
The body is; full, oily with nice viscosity. Green & golden apple, lemon flesh, pineapple juice, lime zest to candy, kiwi, underripe green melon, cream, vanillin, soft caramel notes, light, fresh herbs, candle wax, honeysuckle, white spice with pronounced palate heat, refined chalkiness, gritty volcanic & limestone minerals, sea fossils, saline, yellow lilies, white florals, fruit blossoms, spring flowers & mix greens. The acidity is beautifully round and phat. The finish is long, nicely knitted, polished, perfectly polished, elegant ending in persistent white spice.
Nice pairing for our white cheeses.
Photos of, our friends deck in progress and vistas. — 4 years ago
Lo-Fi
Santa Ynez Valley Cabernet Franc 2013
loved it. Dark stewy fruits on the nose leading to uplift of strawberry and sunlight, with light tobacco chewy late notes. Tastes very much of its place; sunny and easy. Not overly serious, but winks with knowledge of its lineage...the one that escaped the chateau for western vistas and early morning fog pre-surf. — 5 years ago
Rustenberg
Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
The nose shows, bright dark and mid red fruits. Blackberries, purple fruits, dark cherries, blue fruits, black raspberries & sour black plums. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, touch of V/A, herbaceous notes, tobacco, sweet tarry notes, soft wood notes, dark rich soil, expresso notes, limestone minerals and dark withering and fresh florals.
The body is full and thick. The tannins powdery, meaty and sticky. The structure, length, tension and balance are set for success. The fruits are ripe with candied notes. Blackberries, purple fruits, dark cherries, blue fruits, black raspberries & sour black plum. Dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, touch V/A on the palate as well, herbaceous notes, tobacco, sweet tarry notes, dark spice with just a touch of heat, soft wood notes, dark rich soil, expresso notes, limestone minerals and dark withering and fresh florals. The acidity runs like a fresh water river. The long finish is thick, round, ripe, well balanced and persist in the mouth for minutes.
Photos of; another shot of their hillside vines, Owner/Winemaker, Murray Barlow and I taking about his vineyards, Cellar Door grounds and another perspective of their vines and vistas. — 6 years ago
Krug
Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne Blend
Happy birthday to my wife Sofia! She wanted to go have a birthday lunch in Big Sur at Nepenthe. With these views, who wouldn’t want to go celebrate there? Great vistas, good food and an even better wine list. Krug by the glass and so much more! Good warm up for lunch.
It’s a combination of reductive and oxidized style on the nose. Bruised apple, bruised Bosc pear, well overripe pineapple, marmalade, touch of caramel, creamed cider, understated honey notes, chalkiness, seashells, some oysters, volcanic minerals w/ fruit blossoms & withering yellow lilies.
The palate shows more reductive style than oxidized. Less pronounced bruised apple, bruised Bosc pear, well overripe pineapple, white citrus, marmalade, touch caramel, creamed soda, apple cider, understated honey notes, chalkiness, seashells, some oysters, volcanic minerals with fruit blossoms & withering yellow lilies. The acidy is quite nice. Very good; structure, length & balance. The long, beautiful, rich, finish is just what you’d expect from Krug.
Photos of, the outdoor bar with that view, whew, Nepenthe pumpkin, with the cell tower signal so bad & no wi-fi, they need a antique phone booth and the outdoor lounge/waiting area, complete with a ping pong table.
@Nepenthe Big Sur — 6 years ago
Beth Newman
Blaufrankisch — 3 years ago