WTN: Friday Nigh (High)lights

Did some tasting tonight. It was payday, and a friend wanted to taste, so...here are the highlights"

2005 Mi Sueno Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. All from Coombsville fruit, which I seem to really like. Very dark, somewhat roasted, black currant fruit. Definitely an earthy "dirt" character that I "seem" to taste in many Coombsville wines. No harsh green tannins in THIS 2005. Quite pricey, so I ding it quite a bit to 89 points. The Russian River Pinot was also quite nice-balanced, good earth and mushroom notes, not candy sweet.

2004 Scholium Project "Babylon" Petit Sirah Suisun Valley. This wine has deepened nicely since tasted two years ago. Black color-this is a big wine. Strong "fuzzy" mouthfeel with great earthiness. Deliciousroasted black fruit. Not hot or jammy in any way-this is too earthy and savory for that! This may be one of the best Petit Sirah's I've ever had, quite honestly. Painfully expensive, though, at $80. So...not this week. 93 points.

2004 Sedna Napa Valley 85% Cabernet, 15% Syrah. Another "big" wine, but I absolutely loved the earthyness of this wine. Already great leathery and tobbaco-y notes that complement the black currant fruit from this hot year. Despite the size and ripeness, good structure, still some decent acidity, and no heat at all on the palate (or in the back of the throat and nose). WOTN-and "only" $36. The owner was a really nice guy, too...doesn't take himself so seriously! 91 points

2005 Bergerie de l'Hortus Pic St. Loup. Now this was an awesomely delicious surprise. I've spoken before about how I like wines with a "fuzzy" mouth feel. This wine is fuzzy, earthy black fruit to the max. Amazing QPR at $16. Shares the limelight with the Sedna for WOTN. 92 points.

Afterward, went for nice walk. The on-shore flow is back, so Napa was pleasnantly cool. Fantastic live music at the riverfront park. While I like living in Vacaville, there are many aspects of Napa (climate is a big one. 20 degrees is a big temperature difference) that I prefer.

An $80 Suisun petite sirah???!!! Yikes! I've had very few from that area, so it's good to hear that they're making some decent stuff. What a price, though.

It is very, very good, though.

I would probably buy this wine instead of yet another mediocre "cult" cabernet at twice the price. Much more interesting and very delicious. It is "worth it"-if your budget allows.

Olabisi, a Yountville-based wine project, also makes an outstanding Suisun Valley Petit Sirah. I think Pets and Syrahs are the way to go foir our little valley.

The owner of Sedna was complaining at the wine bar about how the French can make great peasant wine for $16 a bottle-even with the Euro. I think the difference is that Pic St. Loup is a long way from a major metropolis, and I imagine land costs are miniscule. Napa is less than 30 miles away from the sprawl!

One of these days soon, I guess I need to check out the Suisun area. Last time I had wine there was about 20 years ago. It was mostly hobbyists out there at that time. Not surprising that things have changed.

Thanks for the info on that wine, Brian!

[Robin Garr]

the Suisun area.

Is Travis Air Force Base still out that way, Mike, or has it been lost to history and suburbanization? I was on temporary duty there for a few months back around 1970, when I first discovered that odd and then little-known place called Napa.

Although I was a previous resident of the Bay Area, the Suisun reference has me intrigued.
Is this Suisun the city just north of American Canyon and south of Faifield and Vacaville? If it is, the last time I drove by the place in 2004, I saw mostly new housing development.

Ramon

Robin: Travis is still in Fairfield. No real development yet encroaching.-although there is always pressure. (Or was...we did 1 building permit in the first quarter of 2008 )

Suisun Valley is a small, narrow valley immediately west of the City of Fairfield. The valley is immediately east of the southernmost end of Napa Valley proper- on the other side of a substantial mountain range. Interstate 80 cuts through the southern edge. The climate gets some maritime influence (it is often 10 degrees cooler than where i live) 15 years ago, it was mostly plum and peach orchards. They are now looking for a new niche-and wine grapes are one element. However, grapes have been grown in the area for a long time, and it was just the 25th anniversary of the appellation's designation. Google Suisun Valley, there is an active association promoting the area.

Suisun City is a small suburban city immediately south of Fairfield-west of the valley proper.

Edit: east of the valley proper!