Champagne Toast Saluti!
"CHARDONNAY CHALLENGE" Napa vs. Sonoma
Cakebread Cellars – Chardonnay 2007 Napa Valley
Ripe and vibrant, with a mix of green apple, melon & pear with a touch of light spicy oak. 89 pts WS.
Lewis Cellars – Chardonnay 2009 Sonoma Russian River
This opulent full-bodies Chardonnay is crafted from the oldest Dutton Ranch plantings. A citrus menagerie of tangerine, orange rind and lemon cream pie with blossoms, honeycomb and floral spice. Only 1,200 cases made. 95 pts WS. we also had Grigch Hills and Flowers Chardonnay in this battle
Chasseur – Pinot Noir 2007 Sonoma Coast Joyce
Complex in flavor and balance, at times spicy with floral rose petal, black cherry that ends with a nie mix of acidity, fruit and tannins. Only 795 cases made. 92 pts WS.
Mueller – Pinot Noir 2007 Russian River Valley Emily's Cuvee
Complex and earthy, showing mineral, plum, black cherry and anise notes that are full bodied with delicate, floral scents of wilted rose petals. Only 1,125 cases made. 91 pts WS.
2001 considered BEST YEAR in Napa since 1997: Let's Find Out
Whitehall Lane– Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Napa Valley
Wonderful intensity with flavors of ripe, juicy plum, black cherry and wild berry fruit with hints of anise, fresh earth and herbal notes with a long rich, persistent aftertaste. 1999 vintage was #5 on Wine Spectator Top 100 93 pts WS.
Dalla Valle – Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Napa Valley
Rich, chewy currant, blackberry, wild berry and cedary oak flavors. It packs a wallop, but on the finish the fruit pours through to reveal lots of depth and complexity. Only 2,000 cases made. 91 pts WS.
Spottswoode – Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 Napa Valley
Elegantly framed, with rich herb, currant, chocolate and black cherry finishing with firm, well-integrated tannins. 4,8256 cases made. 94 pts WS.
Diamond Creek – Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 Napa Red Rock
Firm and concentrated with mint, sage, currant and earthy berry flavors that slowly unfold. Has a lot of richness and detail in the finish. Only 800 cases made. 92 pts WS.
BATTLE OF THE BLENDS "MERITAGE"
(created by merit + heritage) Red Meritage Wines must be a blend of at least two of the following: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab-Franc, Malbec or Petit Verdot. No single grape may make up more than 90%.
Opus One – Napa Valley Red Wine 2007
Tight and firm, with a chewy edge to the dried currant, graphite, blackberry and mineral notes. Full-bodied and intense without being weighty, this is well-structured with a complex, persistent finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. 94 pts in WS.
Viansa - Ossidiana – Sonoma Red Wine 2005
Full bodied, deeply concentrated with a mix of dry cedary oak, currant, anise and sage. Ends with a wall of chewy tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot. Only 500 cases made. 90 pts WE.
Cakebread Cellars - Dancing Bear Ranch 2004 Howell Mt. Napa
Intense aromas of Bing cherry, brambleberry and spicy dark plum fruit with enticing floral, sage, tobacco and chocolate, revealing a pronounced minerality with a long persistent finish. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot & 10% Cab Franc. 92 pts WS.
Joseph Phelps – Insignia 2003 Napa
Mild tannins with complex range of rich currant, berry and cherry fruit, cedary oak, hints of anise and sage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. Drink now - 2011. 90 pts WS.
Flora Spings – Trilogy 2002 Napa Valley
Elegant with a pleasing mix of earth, anise, currant and wild berry that ends with a touch of mineral earthiness. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. 92 pts WS.
Pahlmeyer - Jayson 2001 Napa Valley
Rich, vibrant and intensely concentrated with bold currant, plum, black cherry and spicy flavors accented by spicy, toasty oak and finishing with a firm wall of tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. 92 pts WS.
"CHARDONNAY CHALLENGE" Napa vs. Sonoma
Cakebread Cellars – Chardonnay 2007 Napa Valley
Ripe and vibrant, with a mix of green apple, melon & pear with a touch of light spicy oak. 89 pts WS.
Lewis Cellars – Chardonnay 2009 Sonoma Russian River
This opulent full-bodies Chardonnay is crafted from the oldest Dutton Ranch plantings. A citrus menagerie of tangerine, orange rind and lemon cream pie with blossoms, honeycomb and floral spice. Only 1,200 cases made. 95 pts WS. we also had Grigch Hills and Flowers Chardonnay in this battle
Chasseur – Pinot Noir 2007 Sonoma Coast Joyce
Complex in flavor and balance, at times spicy with floral rose petal, black cherry that ends with a nie mix of acidity, fruit and tannins. Only 795 cases made. 92 pts WS.
Mueller – Pinot Noir 2007 Russian River Valley Emily's Cuvee
Complex and earthy, showing mineral, plum, black cherry and anise notes that are full bodied with delicate, floral scents of wilted rose petals. Only 1,125 cases made. 91 pts WS.
2001 considered BEST YEAR in Napa since 1997: Let's Find Out
Whitehall Lane– Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Napa Valley
Wonderful intensity with flavors of ripe, juicy plum, black cherry and wild berry fruit with hints of anise, fresh earth and herbal notes with a long rich, persistent aftertaste. 1999 vintage was #5 on Wine Spectator Top 100 93 pts WS.
Dalla Valle – Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Napa Valley
Rich, chewy currant, blackberry, wild berry and cedary oak flavors. It packs a wallop, but on the finish the fruit pours through to reveal lots of depth and complexity. Only 2,000 cases made. 91 pts WS.
Spottswoode – Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 Napa Valley
Elegantly framed, with rich herb, currant, chocolate and black cherry finishing with firm, well-integrated tannins. 4,8256 cases made. 94 pts WS.
Diamond Creek – Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 Napa Red Rock
Firm and concentrated with mint, sage, currant and earthy berry flavors that slowly unfold. Has a lot of richness and detail in the finish. Only 800 cases made. 92 pts WS.
BATTLE OF THE BLENDS "MERITAGE"
(created by merit + heritage) Red Meritage Wines must be a blend of at least two of the following: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab-Franc, Malbec or Petit Verdot. No single grape may make up more than 90%.
Opus One – Napa Valley Red Wine 2007
Tight and firm, with a chewy edge to the dried currant, graphite, blackberry and mineral notes. Full-bodied and intense without being weighty, this is well-structured with a complex, persistent finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. 94 pts in WS.
Viansa - Ossidiana – Sonoma Red Wine 2005
Full bodied, deeply concentrated with a mix of dry cedary oak, currant, anise and sage. Ends with a wall of chewy tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc and Merlot. Only 500 cases made. 90 pts WE.
Cakebread Cellars - Dancing Bear Ranch 2004 Howell Mt. Napa
Intense aromas of Bing cherry, brambleberry and spicy dark plum fruit with enticing floral, sage, tobacco and chocolate, revealing a pronounced minerality with a long persistent finish. 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot & 10% Cab Franc. 92 pts WS.
Joseph Phelps – Insignia 2003 Napa
Mild tannins with complex range of rich currant, berry and cherry fruit, cedary oak, hints of anise and sage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Merlot. Drink now - 2011. 90 pts WS.
Flora Spings – Trilogy 2002 Napa Valley
Elegant with a pleasing mix of earth, anise, currant and wild berry that ends with a touch of mineral earthiness. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. 92 pts WS.
Pahlmeyer - Jayson 2001 Napa Valley
Rich, vibrant and intensely concentrated with bold currant, plum, black cherry and spicy flavors accented by spicy, toasty oak and finishing with a firm wall of tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Cab Franc. 92 pts WS.
