Category Archives: Red blend

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CA5, Locations Wine

Winemaker Dave Phinney is in his #5 vintage of this California Locations wine, and this is the first of two CA5 bottles I picked up prior to the holidays.  California always offers a wide variety of grapes, tastes, and AVAs for consumers, and it feels incredibly ambitious to bring together all of these tastes into one single bottling that captures the essence of the region. Phinney has a long track record of doing this successfully, however, particularly in his Prisoner series and other related blends, so if anyone deserves the benefit of the doubt it’s him.

CA5, Locations Wine, Napa, California, USA.

CA5, Locations Wine, Napa, California, USA.

I’m still mulling over some of the subtleties at play in the CA5. Let me mention this wine includes fruit from Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and the Sierra foothills. I’m not sure how Locations networked with growers for the international Locations fruit, but it stands to reason he knew who to call in California for good grapes. In the CA5, there is an obvious cherry and blackberry foundation. The wine is smooth and fruit-forward–not as direct as a Michael David wine–and easy on the palate. The Locations people tell you it’s a blend of Petite Sirah, Barbera, Tempranillo, Syrah, and Grenache, and the grapes are nicely combined. A big red feel that is very much in keeping with the Bordeaux-style California Cabernet Sauvignons.

CA5, Locations Wine, Napa, California, USA.

CA5, Locations Wine, Napa, California, USA.

This to me is less Syrah, less peppery, but stacks of red and black berries. A hint of smoky spice too. The CA5 is barrel aged for 10 months in French oak, and it has a 15.5% alcohol content that sneaks up on you. I had it tonight with a pork and broccoli dinner, and the wine was a nice contrast to the roasted flavors in my meal. I’m considering pulling the cork on the second CA5 next weekend while this taste is fresh on my palate–if you have tasted this vintage perhaps you would share your thoughts here too for Notes readers?

Thanks for your consideration and your readership, and best in 2018.

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2015 The Prisoner, The Prisoner Wine Company

It’s The Prisoner who started off our evening, a 2015 purchased along with a few other Phinney red blends that will be opened during this Christmas season.  The Prisoner made a Thanksgiving appearance, too, enjoyed by long-time friends and family gathered for delicious bird and festivities.

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2015 The Prisoner, The Prisoner Wine Company, Napa County, California, USA.

While I opted for a comparable Buena Vista red on that occasion, this evening I went with the Prisoner Wine Company offering.  The delicious, rich taste of the red overcame a rookie mistake: the bottle had sat in cold, December temperatures for several hours and I didn’t allow it to warm up enough when first serving.  Once the wine had warmed in the glass, its true character–big cherry and chocolate notes–were much more apparent on the nose and to the taste.Screen Shot 2017-12-25 at 11.14.47 AM

It accompanied hors de oeuvres (essentially cheese and crackers), and our three glasses quickly dented and polished off this 2015.  The taste?  The Prisoner you may already know, but if not suffice it to say it is vintage red blend, a mix of Bing cherry, chocolate, black raspberry, and warm spices.  Not earthy notes but more baking-type accents.  Its finish is very smooth and leaves that cherry as a sign-off.  Always a great treat!

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F4, Locations Wine

It was the Dave Phinney name that put this “F” Location squarely on the map for me. Notes has covered his wines on several occasions this year, or those he helped launch, and knowing my favorite Winestore had a holiday special on Locations got me up and moving early this weekend.

Orin Swift Locations F4, Napa, California, USA.

Orin Swift Locations F4, Napa, California, USA.

This is my first Location, based on the recommendation of the store clerk, and I have the Orin Swift “I”, “CA”, and “E” as options in 2018 too. I pulled the cork this evening and poured amply, with no decanting on this tasting. Grapes for the fourth release of “F” come from growers in Rhone, Roussilon, and Bordeux, and if you haven’t heard of Locations previously, it’s a twist on the kitchen sink conceit. Phinney is less concerned about the specific varietals and more about capturing the essence of wine from a given region, blending with all kinds of freedom.

The “F” I had with steaks, slathered with a chili spice / butter sauce, roasted Yukon potatoes, and steamed broccoli.  (Fun food fact—broccoli was first introduced to the US in the 1920s.)  And the wine was really fun.  It is kind and fruity, with some red raspberry and a little tang of cherry mixed in. The “F” has subtle earthy notes, but they’re so gentle that they don’t really come through in the tasting.  This fourth release of “F” is less tannic than a Cab or a Syrah, and has more body to it than does a Pinot Noir.  It is a very easy drinking wine overall that will go with just about any occasion.

A blend of Grenache, Syrah, and assorted Bordeaux varietals make up the fourth Orin Swift“F” Location, which is barrel aged for 10 months prior to release. The dinner was good; the Phinney wine was better.

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2014 Mountain Cuvee Red Wine, Gundlach Bundschu

The 2014 Mountain Cuvee from GunBun is a delicious red wine bargain. It’s a Bordeaux-style Cab-Merlot blend grown and bottled in Sonoma County, and I hope the winery survived this last week of California wildfires without major incident. They make this easy-drinking, smooth red, and you will enjoy this wine like you might a fruit-forward red that is less Syrah blend and more Merlot in its profile.

2014 Mountain Cuvee Red Wine, Gundlach Bundschu, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2014 Mountain Cuvee Red Wine, Gundlach Bundschu, Sonoma County, California, USA.

Grapes for this drink are, some quick research shows, sourced from the Maycamas Mountain range and originate mostly from two growers in close proximity to the vineyard. The 2014 is a blend of 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot, and it is aged for 14 months in French oak. Yes, I had it with fish both last night and again tonight, and that’s more of an indictment (if you must) of me than the wine itself. I was in a red mood and just couldn’t fire up a chardonnay or grigio to go with tilapia etc.

I recently bumped into the 2014 GunBun Mountain Cuvee at a blind taste testing at my favorite wine store, and it ranked pretty high on my list as I tried to determine which of their masked bottles was the 2014 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon. I am not 100% sure, but I think my brother and I got a sample of the GunBun when we hit a tasting event at Fleming’s last summer? The bottle looks very familiar, and I know that would have been the only other time I’d been exposed to it or the name. Ah, yes, checking that link now (you should too) and it was their Mountain Cuvee. Liked it then (despite a different blend) and liked this ’14 for sure. You will appreciate as well–and I’m glad I have another bottle of these cellared too.

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The Ones That Got Away – Summer 2017

2014 Vintage of the 1448, Jeff Runquist Winery, Ripon, California, USA; 2012 Juliet Amazon della Velpolicella, Italy; 2014 The Count’s Selection Syrah, Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma, California, USA; 2014 Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon, the Prisoner Wine Company, Oakville, California; USA; 2012 Antal’s Selection Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, USA; 2014 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA; 2012 Rockus Bockus Red Wine, Rockus Bockus Wines, Sonoma, California, USA.
2014 Vintage of the 1448, Jeff Runquist Winery, Ripon, California, USA; 2012 Juliet Amazon della Velpolicella, Italy; 2014 The Count’s Selection Syrah, Buena Vista Winery, Sonoma, California, USA; 2014 Cuttings Cabernet Sauvignon, the Prisoner Wine Company, Oakville, California; USA; 2012 Antal’s Selection Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California, USA; 2014 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA; 2012 Rockus Bockus Red Wine, Rockus Bockus Wines, Sonoma, California, USA.
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2014 Freakshow Red Wine, Michael David Winery

Lake Monomonac is the backdrop for this red blend, one of my favorites from Michael David winery and often featured in Notes. It’s a big, jammy red with just a touch of spice that’s a little more tobacco than it is pepper.

2014 Freakshow Red Wine, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.

2014 Freakshow Red Wine, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.

The 2014 Freakshow Red Wine is a blend of 71% Syrah, 25% Petite Sirah, and 4% Souzao grapes, and it’s presumably the dilution of the Syrah that makes me think there’s less pepper in play here. It’s going to sound ostentatious but know the Freakshow accompanied filet mignon, lobster, fresh homemade bread, a mix of yellow and green string beans, and plenty of other delicious accents. And it poured out rich, nearly chocolatey, for each glass.

Of the 2014 vintages, the winemaker comments, “Aromas of blackberry cobbler, toasted walnuts, espresso bean, and hints of brandy. The wine is weighty with a velvet-like texture boasting flavors of ripe brambleberry jam, toffee, and dark chocolate mousse…”

Much of that is true, and you should be drinking the 2014 Freakshow Red Wine just in case my tasting notes are even close to accurate. So release your inner Dog-Faced-Boy and let that dog hunt–as long as he’s chasing down this bottle you’ll be very satisfied.