2015 Rombauer Vineyards Chardonnay, California, USA. Link here for Notes‘ most recent notes on the ’14 vintage.
2015 Chardonnay, Rombauer Vineyards
Tag Archives: USA
The Ones That Got Away – Spring 2017
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2013 Bela’s Selection Pinot Noir, Buena Vista Winery
This bottle arrived September 2015, and I’ve shown restraint by saving it these past 18 months. I am fond of Buena Vista wines for many reasons, some that I’m glad to share in these pages, and some are just for me. This evening I was searching for something more, some grander purpose, and, having not found elsewhere in my Saturday, decided to explore greatness (again!) through a glass of the 2013 Bela’s Selection Pinot Noir.
2013 Bela’s Selection Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA.
It’s a fascinating drink. This Pinot Noir is light on the tongue, yet shares dark fruits in ample supply to your nose and tongue. I decanted this Russian River Valley wine for an hour, and served in the right Riedel stemware. I’m not saying those steps make the difference, but they do eliminate some potential pitfalls and put you in position to experience the grapes like the winemakers envisioned.
My thoughts on the 2013 Bela’s Selection evolved over the evening. At first I noticed its little spice hints and blackberry flavors. It had many of the qualities I favor in a California Cabernet Sauvignon, but with less tannins and less velvet on your tongue. Over time I tasted red fruits (perhaps some cherry?), but none of the vanilla and strawberry that I like less in my Pinots. A better mouthfeel and better overall experience than the Masterpiece I had recently tried. The 2013 Bela gets all good marks from this taster!
Here the impression from Buena Vista: “Cranberry and cassis layered with blackberry contribute to this Pinot Noir’s rich, spreading finish.”
So there you go. This is bottle number 546, one solid soldier from among 800 cases produced. Thanks for continuing to follow Notes and have a great evening.
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2014 Freakshow Red Wine, Michael David Winery
It is no secret that I am a fan of the Michael David Winery—Notes has featured the Petite Petit with regularity over the years, and I recently tasted their best-selling zinfandel too with much enjoyment. When my father mentioned having sampled their Freakshow I knew it had to be part of my next wine tasting experience, and here we are.
2014 Freakshow Red Wine, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.
You’re going to love this wine. It has elements common the Petite, particularly its mash-up of different tastes and flavors, but this one is less jammy and has a bit more heft to it. A little more spice and chew. The 2014 Freakshow has more dark fruits, black berry and black cherry, with some dark chocolate underpinnings. In that way it sort of reminded me of the Apothic Dark that I sampled in Chicago many moons ago, but at a higher level of execution. I was not sure what grapes comprised this red blend, but surely it has some Syrah (yes) involved and a quick bit of research shows there is some Petite Sirah as well. I have no idea what the Souzao grape is, but some of that’s in the mix too. Incredibly rich and unmistakably Michael Davis in all ways.
Here is the winemaker’s explanation of what’s going on in the 2014 Freakshow Red Wine: “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 followed by wisps of pipe tobacco and mesquite.”
They do have a way with words–and wines. This 2014 was aged both in French oak barrels (15 months) and American oak (18 months), and I’d like another already.
2013 Freakshow Cabernet, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA.
My first shot at the Freakshow actually dates back to September, when I pulled the cork on their 2014 Freakshow Cabernet. This too hails from the Lodi-based winemaker and it is similarly excellent. Lots of cherry in this solid Cabernet, but my notes from that time are less specific other than to say it was a great value and accompanied a delicious grilled steak and asparagus side. Have to get another one of these soon too! This winery always stands tall and will definitely go on the “must visit” list for the next time life winds me through California wine country.
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The Ones That Got Away – Winter 2016
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2014 Migration Pinot Noir, Duckhorn Wine Company
I’m here at Fleming’s having a great late night dinner, and the 2014 Migration is only a part of the fun. My first choice was actually the MacMurry Pinot, but the bartender just doubled back to notify me that they’re out–the Migration is his recommendation of a similar red from the Russian River Valley and I’m up for it.
2014 Migration, Duckhorn Wine Company, Russian River Valley, California, USA.
The Hornets game went to overtime before spilling disappointed fans into the streets, but my prospects are on the rise here at my favorite Charlotte steakhouse. The lighting is mellow, the buzz calming, and good folks are here having good times. Since the hour grows late I’ve decided not to steak it up but picked out instead a seared ahi tuna that is cooked just right for me and has some cool ginger dressing drizzled on the plate to go alongside the funky little salad served with the fish.
The Migration probably shouldn’t accompany the tuna, but what the heck, right? It’s a pretty layered drink, this red, and I’ll share with you for sure notes of cherry (most dominant), cranberry, and strawberry. I do not quite taste orange in this 2014 Pinot, but it does have an aftertaste that I’ve come to regard as orange (which is not quite the same thing, is it?) as I swirl this in the glass and consider. This vintage is barrel aged in French Oak (100%) for 10 months, and the taste is worthwhile.
Excuse the brevity of this one but I am indeed spent. I’ll keep the Migration top of mind for some time–just one small part of trying to get the most out of the day and hope it does for you too.
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2013 Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon, Hogue Cellars
2013 Genesis Cabernet Sauvignon, Hogue Cellars, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA.
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2014 Count’s Selection Sangiovese, Buena Vista Winery
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I am thankful for many things this year (you know who you are) and Buena Vista wines are one of ’em. This bottle is from the vineyard’s first-ever vintage of Sangiovese and is a harbinger of promising horizons for Buena Vista. Founded in Sonoma in 1857, Buena Vista is California’s oldest premium winery (also my favorite) and this tempting red shows the winery not content to rest on its laurels but rather the winemaker’s ongoing commitment to excellence and experimentation.
We pulled the cork on a gorgeous November afternoon; with the sun shining brightly and temperatures in the high 60s, all of us gathered for dinner were relaxing outside instead of watching football on a day I often call “Dallas Thursday” to the ire of all non-Cowboys fans. Tailgating games were in full swing, and beverages flowing–including this Sangiovese. Only a few entries of Sangiovese (see the Puglia, Amantis, or Biltmore) exist on Notes, but they do seem to coincide with family and holiday gatherings so this bottle is coincidentally relevant to this trend.
Our host and hostess provided an AMAZING spread (thank you so much, Brandon and Jackie), one that was bountiful and full of delicious treats. There were two turkeys, a spiral-cut ham, all kinds of vegetables, stuffing, cranberries, mac-n-cheese, rolls, and yes, 15 pounds of potatoes, too. So that’s the backdrop against which this 2014 Sangiovese made its (brief!) appearance.
The wine is really good, and it held up well on an occasion that calls for indulgences of all kinds. It’s got red berry scents too it, mixed with earthy spices. The 2014 Count’s Selection Sangiovese isn’t quite as tannic or peppery as, say, a Syrah or a Buena Vista Charbono, but it has a nice red/black fruit taste that is plenty inviting. It’s a nice, full finish like a Cab but a little less tannic. Since I had car tripping pending for the end of the day, I had to be restrained in my ‘tasting’ of the Sangiovese but would have gladly pushed for more if not a driver on this holiday.
Here’s how the Buena Vista people describe the wine: “Our inaugural vintage of Sangiovese opens with complex aromas of Bing cherry, rose petals, and a touch of leather. Tempting flavors of cherries and orange marmalade, with a touch of anise, caress the palate.”
I know my friends enjoyed it too and were asking about the bottle, so here it is guys and gals in case you’re looking to order for yourself. Glad to share the day and its celebrations with you all, and looking forward to the next occasion. Miss you all already!
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2013 Chardonnay, Benziger Family Winery
Visited this winery more than 10 years ago and memories of that tour still zig-zag vividly in my mind. Rows upon beautiful rows of grapes drinking in the cool night winds and warm Sonoma sun, a hillside full of goodness just waiting to happen.* It was touring this vineyard on a tractor-pulled wagon, with informative stops along each phase of the winemaking process, that probably first planted the seeds for Notes deep inside my tiny misguided brain. In fact, in the wine rack downstairs there is still an ’04 dessert wine from Benzinger, purchased on said tour, awaiting the right occasion.
2013 Chardonnay, Benzinger Family Wines, Sonoma, California, USA.
And so here we are in the present–any doubt why this bottle jumped out at me when I saw it in my humble neighborhood supermarket? I was searching for a white to go along with a fish dinner that I was spoiling to make, and the 2013 Chardonnay was a no-brainer. It’s nice and clean; this Sonoma white is not overly buttery and carries notes of lemon with it–a nice match for the food planned this evening. When you swirl it about in your glass, you get a whiff that can only be described as “crisp” and with more of a fruit than a flower smell. Like a soft apple peel or lemon zest? (Note: I follow another wine blogger and, while he’s quite prolific and tastes a lot of wines, his descriptions of each is like a shotgun approach–he fires off about 15 or 20 descriptions for each wine, and it makes me doubt what he can actually detect…I am definitely NOT that guy as a writer of winetastings…so the above is as best I can share with you.)
The 2013 Benziger accompanied a crispy catfish dish, and the whole thing turned out better than I had expected. Continuing the vineyard theme, this dish used Thomcord grapes and chopped almonds as a relish for the catfish. Also depicted in this image is a kale-farro salad bearing garlic and fried rosemary, which made for a delicious mixture of textures and tastes. I think this might be my first catfish experience and, though I thought it tasted like almost any whitefish I’ve ever had, I can vouch for the final result.
Crispy catfish with kale-farro salad and warm grape relish, as served with the 2013 Benzinger Chardonnay.
The meal was easy to prepare, and the wine was a great complement to the crunches of the entrée and the sautéed fish. Since the 2013 Chardonnay from Benzinger was available in my local grocery, it doesn’t seem like you have to go all the way to Sonoma to get your own–but you should (wink)! Tell ’em we sent you and enjoy the journey…and be sure to take the vineyard tour if they still give it!
*At some point the future, this post may be updated with a visual of Benziger if I can go back into an older hard drive(s) and call up one of the photos from the tour. Be sure to revisit!
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The Ones That Got Away – Fall 2016
2013 Judge & Jury Red Blend, Kunde Family Estate, Sonoma County, California, USA; 2011 Lamole Gran Selezione Chianti, Italy; 2014 Petite Petit, Michael David Winery, Lodi, California, USA; 2014 Toasted Head Chardonnay, California, USA.
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