2013 Carnivor, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA.
2013 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon
Tag Archives: USA
2010 Meritage, Dry Creek Vineyard
Limited production? Private reserve? Yeah, I’m a sucker for exclusivity, whether real or just perceived. The idea of special consideration or some kind of separation from the herd always plays well with this fella. And so yes, the 2010 Dry Creek Vineyard Meritage Limited Production this Tuesday evening, served beside a delicious turkey burger with onions, baby spinach, and cheese.
2010 Dry Creek Vineyards Meritage, Sonona County, California, USA.
We cracked open this Dry Creek Valley wine last night, a red to go along with a healthy meal consisting of grilled tuna steaks, waxed beans, and Golden Jewel Blend cous cous. (I picked the photo of the burger instead of the tuna steaks, but that was really a call that could have gone either way.) Great seasoning and freshly ground black pepper right in the mix, and really a nice way to pair off with the red blend.
Speaking of the Meritage, it’s a blend of 48% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Malbec, 10% Cab Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Quite a profile, and it’s very well balanced–a Signature wine from the vineyard. This Dry Creek is a birthday present and a good one at that. The 2010 Meritage straddles the line in that it’s clearly not a Cab, not a Merlot, etc…it’s rather the sum of all parts, with very subtle hints of multiple grapes as you taste the wine. They’re woven together in a way where you cannot really distinguish exactly which grapes you’re drinking until you glance over the label that lays it all bare.
The label for this Sonoma County Red Wine also shares this vision of the winemaker: “It’s crafted to be concentrate and flavorful ready to drink upon release and exquisitely balanced to allow extended cellaring.” I received three of these to help celebrate my birthday and am glad to know at least two more are still in my future. This one is a keeper and I hope you get to enjoy too.
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2004 Merlot, Buena Vista Ramal Estate Vineyard Series
This bottle has been along for quite the journey. It shipped eastward from our favorite Sonoma vineyard several years ago, originally landing in our NJ home, where it somehow escaped consumption for several years–perhaps as many as four or five? I’m not sure if I thought we should just have at LEAST one Buena Vista bottle on hand at all times, or perhaps I was caught up in a post-Sideways backlash against Merlot. Even good Merlot!
2004 Merlot, Buena Vista Ramal Estate Vineyard Series, Sonoma, California, USA.
Regardless, this 2004 Buena Vista Ramal Estate Vineyard Series Merlot eventually moved with us down south, surviving 18 unopened months in our rental before sliding to our new home just two months ago. And then the cork came off and we started pouring. Who’s ready for theirs?
I confess that I made little record of the tasting, and an Ida’s Selection Pinot Noir (also from Buena Vista) followed close on its heels so I have some recency bias toward the Pinot. Didn’t record our meal here either. Based on some research, I can tell you the grapes originate from the Carneros appellation, a slice of heaven right in the corner of Sonoma and Napa’s southern boundaries that produces some great adult beverages like this one.
Since finishing the 2004, I’ve done some searching of Wine Searcher and other other retailers without finding this particular vintage. I’m not sure it was a great year or bottle, at least to critics, but I can tell you this one went fast and engendered many warm smiles in our home. Happy hunting!
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2012 Conundrum Red Wine
Two great conundrums on how to celebrate my April 7th: 1) which of so many delicious wine bottles to open, and 2) this 2012 Conundrum Red Wine, a birthday gift from my lovely bride. I’ve seen the catchy branding and enjoyed the word play on many occasions but this was the first time I actually got to sample this proprietary red blend.
2012 Conundrum Red Wine, California, USA.
A great bottle of wine was one of the most important items on my wish list for the celebration, and this firm, full-bodied red perfectly fit the bill. The Conundrum accompanied a delicious steak (of course!) and the smile of my beautiful bride as we sipped contentedly after the work day. It’s a great drink. It is dark fruit, it is smooth, it is better sip after sip.
The Conundrum is the pride of the Wagner Family and it wafts plums and maybe blackberry sweetly to your nose as soon as you pop the cork. To this taster, the 2012 blend had a distinct Cabernet Sauvignon vibe. It’s one I’m excited to dry again.
Forgive the short entry – it’s part of a birthday celebration after all.
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The Ones That Got Away – Winter 2015 Sampler
2012 Biltmore Estate Merlot Limited Release, North Carolina, USA; 2013 Relax Riesling, Schmitt Sohne GmbH, Germany; 2007 Virgen de Aguila Artigazo, Edicion Limitada, Carinena, Spain; 2013 Chateau Ste. Michelle Pinot Gris, Columbia Valley, Washington, USA; 2012 Red Blend, Bell Canyon Napa Reserve, Napa Valley, California, USA; 2012 Buena Vista Pinot Noir Private Reserve, Sonoma Valley, California, USA.
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2013 Votre Sante Pinot Noir, Francis Ford Coppola
Delicious evening cocktail, the Votre Sante. This delicious Pinot Noir kept me company during a busy week of NJ travel; it greeted me throughout after the day’s toils and was great on each occasion. I had to look up (guess I’m far from worldly) the name–it’s the toast one traditionally offers in France when raising a glass.
2013 Votre Sante Pinot Noir, Francis Ford Coppola, Alexander Valley, California, USA.
And raise a glass I did, on Sunday evening, on St. Patrick’s Day, last night, and again this evening. The 2013 is excellent; it’s a bit darker than my favorite Buena Vista Pinots, and it throw off great smells of raspberry and cherry…with just a hint of spice that I’d attribute more to a Cabernet Sauvignon than a Pinot Noir. Yet it was still very light and offered an easy finish. I was immediately thrilled my wife had selected it–thanks love.
I’ve recently taken to carrying a corkscrew on my travels, and the extra attention you get in an airline security line is worth it when a drink like the 2013 Votre Sante awaits at your final destination. I was reading about the 2012 Bordeaux crop on my flight into the tri-state region so the Pinot Noir was a course correction of sorts but a really enjoyable one.
If you’re interested in further tasting notes from the winemaker, simply click here for details. I’m a big fan of Coppola’s movies (hard to pick a favorite…but I’ll go with The Godfather: Part II by a slim margin over Part I and his take on Dracula) and, though this is my first wine of his, I’m going to be a fast fan of his grapes too. Votre sante to you all as well.
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2013 Apothic Dark Limited Release
Apothic wines I have tried in the past and, while I love the vineyard’s branding on each occasion, I have not been overwhelmed by the wine itself. As soon as I uncorked this 2013, however, I caught scent of the dark coffee underpinnings in a way that reminded me of coffee-flavored tequila–a good idea but not so grand in execution. Nevertheless, interested by the cool Apothic logo I pressed on and started my glasswork.
2013 Apothic Dark Limited Release, California, USA.
Tonight I’m unconcerned about the meal and thoughts of accompanying food; I’m going to share just this nugget instead: The 2013 Apothic Dark Limited Release is the sturdy older brother of the Carnivor. It’s essentially the same flavor profile as that Cab, opulent in the dark fruits, but the Dark drops in–not with the subtlety that I’d recommend–a heavy hand of coffee over the top of all that fruit. Cool idea, but seems more like a mass-produced veneer instead of a flavor interwoven throughout the final wine. I’d be interested to hear from visitors if they agree upon tasting…
…and that being said, the Dark Limited Release does have many good notes about it and you should give this a try if only once. The label gives you this nugget: “This Limited Release blends dark fruit flavors of blueberry and blackberry with opulent notes of coffee and dark chocolate for a rich, yet silky smooth, wine experience.”
Not quite sure all of that holds up in reality, but the coffee and dark chocolate are here in spades. It pours nearly like black ink in the glass, and makes you feel almost like a rebel when you drink it. Enjoy!
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2012 William Hill Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon; 2012 Novy Zinfandel
This is the rare entry, the double down of road vino, and one I completed earlier this week in the Windy City. I’m attending a yearly trade show in Chicago and trying to fight off the deep February cold with a couple of warm reds and good acquaintances.
2012 William Hill Estate Winery, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Coast, California, USA.
The first is the 2012 William Hill Estate Winery Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s an average red from the heart of Napa Valley, one with a decent jam-like start and easy finish. Since it was served with dinner at the Oral Health America charity fundraiser, I’m uncertain how long the William Hill was allowed to breathe prior to service. It also followed a cocktail hour and thus my palate came to the Cab with Pinot Noir as a precursor…so I trust my questionable tastes less than normal. The dinner was about far more than the banquet food or the California reds, though, but a great cause.
2012 Novy Family Winery Zinfandel, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA.
The Novy was recommended to me by a waitress at Rebar, a cool little hotspot located in the Trump International Hotel and Tower. It was spicy, it was lively, and matched the fun vibe at the heart of the bar. Tasted in conjunction with some popcorn that was kicked up with chili powder or something cajun-style, the Novy was a punch in the nose. Purple fruit flavors, votive candle ambiance that included great views out the side of the building, and a calm after the storm of the trade show day. Russian River Valley one of my favorites within the Sonoma AVA and the bias really held up well in this 2012 vintage. Looking forward to trying this one again in the future.
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2012 Geza’s Selection Pinot Noir, Buena Vista
Great wine is often best paired with life’s big moments, and a Buena Vista bottle actually serves both requirements – effortlessly. Last night we pulled the cork on the 2012 Geza’s Selection Pinot Noir from Sonoma County’s Buena Vista Historic Winery in order to celebrate finding a new home for our family. We’re finishing it tonight, and before reading any further you should know this wine is simply amazing.
2012 Geza’s Selection Pinot Noir, Buena Vista Historic Winery, Sonoma County, California, USA.
Long-term Notes readers, friends, and family all know our clear bias for Buena Vista wines, but the accolades are all well suited for this fragrant, luscious Pinot Noir. Throughout the winter we’ve been sampling California Cabernet Sauvignon and rich, Bordeaux-style red blends (a few Spanish reds are sprinkled in too), and the 2012 Geza is a fantastic counterpunch to them all. You don’t have to be a wine connoisseur to immediately recognize the brilliance of this wine. It’s soft, it’s nuanced, and it’s finish is beyond smooth. The team at Buena Vista comments, “The 2012 Geza’s Selection Pinot Noir is a testament to its terroir. It is a rich, ripe wine with soft berry flavors and a bright fruit finish that makes it the perfect pairing for garlic and herb roasted pork tenderloin or oven-baked salmon filets.”
Our accompanying meals, coincidentally, didn’t stray far from those recommendations. We had the 2012 Geza’s Selection with grilled steaks and with pork chops, and the wine was spot on in both instances. There is virtually no acidity, no lasting tannin finish, and only ample smiles resulting from tasting Geza’s Selection. If we had opened this on a weekend it wouldn’t have lasted overnight!
We received the Geza with our November 2014 Count’s Club shipment, but you can get your own through the Buena Vista website if you’re not able to drive to that beautiful vineyard. There are only 300 cases of the Geza’s Selection for this vintage, however, so don’t too long to make up your mind and do the right thing. We had bottle number 0504 so you’ll have to choose another ;).
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2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Carnivor Cabernet Sauvignon, California, USA. Sometimes when all you have is a hammer, you see nails all around you. Last night this hammer accompanied steaks, cajun-seasoned shrimp and mushrooms, white rice, and broccoli.
NotesOfNote 