Farella-Park Vineyards
Alta Napa Valley Red Blend
Napa Valley, California, USA
There are some places in the world where they view present day America as a place where we expect to be happy. Should we feel bad they live in places where you should just expect hardship? We live in a time and place where we can focus on building our inner selves and have a chance at....When we're not constantly putting out fires we can really focus on...should that be a source of shame. When the desperate struggle to find food and shelter is finally behind us, we can turn our attention to other sources of pain and truth.
This is the kinda wine you feel bad about being able to enjoy. I feel privileged.
There are some places in the world where they view present day America as a place where we expect to be happy. Should we feel bad they live in places where you should just expect hardship? We live in a time and place where we can focus on building our inner selves and have a chance at....When we're not constantly putting out fires we can really focus on...should that be a source of shame. When the desperate struggle to find food and shelter is finally behind us, we can turn our attention to other sources of pain and truth.
This is the kinda wine you feel bad about being able to enjoy. I feel privileged.
During the month of January, the Wednesday Wine Committee has a unique format...the sparkler, whites and dessert wines can be from any vintage and any location, but the reds must be from the 2007 vintage. It was my first time providing a wine for a lunch, so I was excited to see how it showed. As always, all wines were served blind.
This was a treat for me to be able to serve. Tom Farella only produces this Alta bottle in special years. The ‘07 was his last one before he brought it back in ‘14. Cabernet dominated blend complimented by a bit of merlot from the famed Farella vineyard. Supremely balanced. Raspberries, plums and blackberries on the nose and palate, but the finish was plush. This is about at its peak and will stay here for another 3 or so years. Oak was almost fully integrated. Very happy to have two of these still sleeping. This was the group’s consensus “wine of the day”.
During the month of January, the Wednesday Wine Committee has a unique format...the sparkler, whites and dessert wines can be from any vintage and any location, but the reds must be from the 2007 vintage. It was my first time providing a wine for a lunch, so I was excited to see how it showed. As always, all wines were served blind.
This was a treat for me to be able to serve. Tom Farella only produces this Alta bottle in special years. The ‘07 was his last one before he brought it back in ‘14. Cabernet dominated blend complimented by a bit of merlot from the famed Farella vineyard. Supremely balanced. Raspberries, plums and blackberries on the nose and palate, but the finish was plush. This is about at its peak and will stay here for another 3 or so years. Oak was almost fully integrated. Very happy to have two of these still sleeping. This was the group’s consensus “wine of the day”.
Nose of perfectly ripe blackberries and dark chocolate. Poured a deep dark frothy purple to the glass. Entry shows a soft, 12 year old Cabernet that is impeccably balanced. Full bodied wine that is about 2 or 3 years from being at the top. Roasted peanut and mocha character in the middle. Soft finish but has quite a bit of pepper as well. Sad that this is my last bottle of this. Definitely better than the 05 enjoyed a month or so ago.
Nose of perfectly ripe blackberries and dark chocolate. Poured a deep dark frothy purple to the glass. Entry shows a soft, 12 year old Cabernet that is impeccably balanced. Full bodied wine that is about 2 or 3 years from being at the top. Roasted peanut and mocha character in the middle. Soft finish but has quite a bit of pepper as well. Sad that this is my last bottle of this. Definitely better than the 05 enjoyed a month or so ago.
Mar 30th, 2019Wonderful wine from an underrated vintage in Napa. Bold, sweet dark fruit, licorice and white pepper. Still young well into its second decade.
Wonderful wine from an underrated vintage in Napa. Bold, sweet dark fruit, licorice and white pepper. Still young well into its second decade.
Feb 26th, 2018
Opens up nicely. Great Coombsville winery. Enjoyed a magnum.
Opens up nicely. Great Coombsville winery. Enjoyed a magnum.
Feb 5th, 2017
Drinking well. Couple more bottles left. But in its prime right now.
Drinking well. Couple more bottles left. But in its prime right now.
Apr 3rd, 2016
Samantha had this 12 years ago
Samantha had this 12 years ago
Dec 19th, 2012Aaron had this 12 years ago
Aaron had this 12 years ago
Dec 19th, 2012