Tag Archives: Sonoma

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2012 Buena Vista Legendary Badge, Limited Edition

A ripe red, this Badge, and one we had held for months after receiving in our April 2014 shipment from our favorite Sonoma winery. We opened this and knew right from the first whiff of red fruits that the Legendary Badge was going to be ready to drink immediately.

2012 Buena Vista Legendary Badge, Limited Edition, Sonoma, California, USA.

2012 Buena Vista Legendary Badge, Limited Edition, Sonoma, California, USA.

Four glasses for the Badge, and four happy wine drinkers sampling the luscious red blend here. You get tons of cherry, probably some strawberry, and a bit of subtle plumb in the tasting too. It’s substantive too, more like a Merlot, a fastball down the middle of the plate, than a Pinot or a Cab at the ends of the spectrum. Less of the spices in either of those, too. Buena Vista says “…Legendary Badge is a powerful wine, brimming with personality.” Not far from the mark, honestly. It may be a kitchen sink blend but it works.

We had the Badge with light hors de oeuvres, salsas, cheeses, and some tortilla chips. With this bottle gone it will be time to turn our attention onto a new red to go with dinner. Thanks as always, Buena Vista.

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Summer Reds

The summer is nearing its end, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t share several reds that we sampled along the way. Some scored high marks (like the Atilla’s Selection from Buena Vista); others like the Toro or Navardia will probably fall into the “been there done that” camp. The real fun is in discovering which is which. Here’s a fly-by for your consideration:

2011 Mannara Primitivo, Puglia, Italy.
2012 Buena Vista Atilla’s Selection Zinfandel, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA.
2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Rhone Villages, France.
2012 Cruz Alba Cabernet Sauvignon, Mendoza, Argentina.
2013 Toro Tempranillo, Spain.
2010 Solanera, vinas viejas, Yecla, Spain.
2012 Navardia, Rioja, Spain.
2011 Insomnia Red Wine Blend, California, USA.
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2010 Dry Creek Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon

Nothing like a trip to our favorite wine region to finish up the week. A Friday evening replete with a big red, a bold Cabernet Sauvignon, and a delicious meal with my bride. We celebrated our 4th anniversary just last night (stay tuned for the recap of the amazing champagne that involved) and followed that up with steaks–just the perfect thickness and grill marks–and baked potato with a side of asparagus slathered in a burnt butter lemon sauce. Instant classic.

2010 Dry Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County California USA

2010 Dry Creek Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, California, USA.

The 2010 Dry Creek Vineyard’s Cabernet Sauvignon is a good one. It’s got some smoke, some dried tobacco, and some cherry fruits swirling all about it. Nice, even finish too. I have absolutely no recollection of where we bought this bottle–online? a local store? mail order? but it was a good call. Dark grapes, big taste, and some of that spice that I always like in a cab. Was that an afterthought, some artificial additive, or inherent in the grapes? The folks at Dry Creek make it seem as though it’s all about the climate (which I love) in that specific region so I’ll abide. Here’s their take:

“On the palate, the wine is extremely well balanced with silky tannins that carefully weave together the earthy, dusty nuances of this Bordeaux-esque wine. With some airing, the wine flushes out providing even more dimension and depth. The finish lingers with fine tannins that are very elegant and structured.”

It is very enjoyable in your glass, however, short lived that time may be. I was pretty casual opening it and yet wish we had a little more of this 2010 in store. We’re heading out tomorrow because we are down to our last couple bottles of red–never a good sign but one we’re willing to take swift steps to resolve.

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2012 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon

Having heard vague news somewhere of Dave Matthews’ interest in wine, when we saw this 2012 The Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon in the store an impulse buy quickly resulted. It was my first sighting of the offering, but over the past several weeks have encountered the Dreaming Tree several more times–including at concert venues, appropriately enough.

Upon tasting, my first thought was of the big fruit flavor. You have a lot of blackberry feeling right off the bat, ample and sweet with an easy finish. Its dark fruit notes waft up out of your glass, nice and gently like a solo Leroi Moore might share with his band mates and assembled fans some night on stage. The first night the 2012 Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon accompanied grilled red meat; it made a curtain call two nights later with grilled chicken breasts that were expertly seasoned to taste. I think I may have preferred the main event?

Comments Dave’s partner, winemaker Steve Reeder, “The rhythm of our North Coast Dreaming Tree Cabernet Sauvignon highlights class aromas of blackberry, cherry, and herbal notes wrapped by toasted vanilla. It’s an easy-drinking wine with a lot of character.”

The guys age the 2012 for 18 months in oak barrels before blending–the 2012 actually is a blend of Cab (82%), Merlot (14%), and “other” (4%).  Some of the grapes in play here originate from our favorite region of Sonoma and do the area proud. The wine is pretty good; the story you tell your friends about drinking with Dave is even better.

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2011 Josh Cellars Merlot

Jackpot here in the 2011 Josh Cellars Merlot. At the end of a hot summer Saturday we broke out this purple Merlot, serving it in stemless glassware during a patio feast. This photo doesn’t quite do justice to this easy-finishing vintage, but it does capture some of the ambiance of our evening. Food, flick, and fun on the deck.

2011 Josh Cellars Merlot, Sonoma, California, USA.

2011 Josh Cellars Merlot, Sonoma, California, USA.

You correctly see a bountiful salad, mixed greens with fresh cucumbers harvested from my wife’s carefully managed garden (and bacon!), onions, assorted dressings, and seasoned steaks fresh from the grill. We were indeed hooked up for a patio viewing of The Grand Budapest Hotel and worked through the movie and bottle with equal effectiveness.

It tastes purple, definitely cherry and violet in big portions, and is actually a Bordeaux-style blend of Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (15%). Among other facts, the winemaker remarks “A wine that is bold and expressive but unassuming and approachable.” Maybe that’s why it struck a great chord for this reviewer–it’s the way I might describe the overarching objectives of Notes Of Note.

My better half brought the 2011 Josh Cellars Merlot into my life and I’m grateful. It was luscious–such an easy finish too–and fruit-filled in an encouraging way. Merlot I usually consider a winter treat but good grapes apparently transcend the season.

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2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Buena Vista

This one burned a hole in our pocket.  This top-notch Chardonnay arrived just a week ago as part of an April shipment from our friends at the Buena Vista Wine Club and is already a part of Notes.  But with Spring well underway here in our home, whites are in greater demand and I can see a shift on the horizon as reds will have to accept whites on more equal footing.

2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay, Buena Vista, Sonoma County, California, USA.

The 2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay had a chance to refrigerate all weekend and was nice and chilled by the time we uncorked after work today.  In comparison to a Pinot Grigio, this white had a much richer, flavor-filled density to it.  Some Grigio is almost like water to this taster, the Coors Light of white wines; the Buena Vista Chardonnay (this one in particular) was the succulent alternative.  There are plentiful floral notes in the 2012 Private Reserve, and definitely some citrus too…without some of the “oak barrel” that we occasionally find less ingratiating. (By way of clarification: I want to taste the complexities that result from this aging process without having the barrel dropped on my tongue…I think my wife shares the same sentiments.)

This is how the Buena Vista team articulated their concept: “The 2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards throughout Sonoma County and displays fresh citrus notes that are accented by hits of baked apple and vanilla.”

I don’t usually warm up too much to vanilla, but it’s not really the dominant scent or taste in the 2012 Private Reserve Chardonnay.  Having enjoyed time in Sonoma, I like to picture the winemaker, in compiling the right grapes for this varietal, sampling many of the same vineyards that we too hit in wine country.  I know that is an unrealistic expectation but nice remembrance nevertheless.  Oh yeah–last but not least.  We had this white with a flavorful ham, reheated from our fabulous Easter brunch, broccoli, and a homemade macaroni and cheese (with real melted cheese!).  The food was good, but the Chardonnay was the star of the show.

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The Ones That Got Away

We enjoyed a number of fine adult beverages through the 2013 holidays and into March of 2014.  In light of an aggressive travel schedule, however, I’ve neglected to review several great reds and whites that graced our table in this time frame.  Tasting notes will have to wait another sampling but thought you’d enjoy a quick depiction of our “travels” through wine country domestically and abroad.

2011 Tiamo Chianti, Italy.
2011 Bogle Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.
2011 Clos du Bois, Pinot Grigio, California, USA.
2011 Casillero del Diablo Red Blend, Chile.
2012 Ecco Domani Pinot Grigio, Italy.
2007 Bagrationi Champagne, France.
2011 Cairanne La Cigalette, Cote due Rhone Villages, France.
2011 Buena Vista Natalia’s Selection Chardonnay, Sonoma County, California, USA.