Not by design, but a lot of excellent Californians came my way the past month. A special mention goes out to the two wines from Trinitas Cellars, which are special labelings for Benedictine College (where I teach), and which I am pleased to say were good selections.
Picket Fence, Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2010
Medium dark garnet. On the nose and palate, lovely, aromatic, personality of juicy black raspberry, plum, and black currant, with hints of suede, sweet tobacco, minty herbs, hints of nice dusty earth, and hints of smoke, all with Alexander Valley’s evergreen notes. Medium-full bodied, juicy and rich in texture. A graceful, maturing, classic Alexander Valley Cab Sauv. Should last a couple more years, but in a lovely place now. 3.5 Stars [4/14/17]
Markham, Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2015
Medium-light straw. Very nice but low key nose, with good depth, sweet fruit, citrus, and grass. On the palate, rich, sweet, white peach, nectarine, orangey citrus, loads of nectar, with lemongrass, and salty mineral. Medium-full bodied, with a sweet texture, balanced by nice acid and good depth. A very rich style, almost Sauternes-like, and truly exceptional. Drink over the next 3 - 5 years. 3.5 Stars [4/14/17]
Viader, Napa Valley 2010
72% Cab Sauv, 28% Cab Franc. Medium dark garnet. Nose is understated but exceptional, with good density and a tremendous sense of depth, rich black fruit, herbaceous tobacco leaf, a nice overlay of very fine oak, sweet black earth, and mineral, all with notes of incense and a hint of perfume; high quality and impressive, becomes increasingly aromatic as it opens. On the palate, fresh, slightly tart blackberry, black raspberry jam, currants, red plum, and juicy blueberry notes, all with a savory hint of tomato paste, tobacco leaf, a suggestion of leather, and rich, dark earth. On the light side of full bodied, with generous acid tone, and a sweet, succulent but also somewhat savory texture; dense and penetrating, with an excellent sense of depth. Outstanding quality, balanced and elegant rather than bold. Young and holding back still, has the potential to become something extraordinary. If you want to drink it now, decant for at least 2 hours. Give it at least another 5 years; should last for 10 - 15 years from now, perhaps longer. 4 Stars (almost 4.5, and will improve). [4/16/17]
Trinitas Cellars, Mysteriama, Mendocino County 2013
Dark ruby with hints of purple. Excellent nose, rich and dense, with lots of dark, juicy fruit, notes of tobacco and minty herbs, perhaps a whiff of roses, and undertones of tar and mineral. On the palate, succulent, juicy red currant upfront, followed by dried blackberry, boysenberry, perhaps a hint of red plum, all with a compote-like quality, with notes of minty tobacco (the Petite Sirah coming through), and then a touch of chocolate-covered cherries before a finish of earthy mineral and a touch of tar, all with notes of black pepper. Full bodied with a slightly firm edge to it, with very rich fruit balanced by excellent acidity, and a remarkable texture that is succulent, juicy, and slightly spicy. Very good quality, with nice polish. Vaguely reminiscent of Vacqueyras (in the Rhone). I enjoy this very much, and it should be a crowd-pleaser as well. Should age nicely for another 3 - 5 years, during which I expect it will become more graceful. 40% Old Vine Zinfandel, 37% Carignan, 14% Old Vine Mataro (Mourvedre), 10% Old Vine Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet. 3.5 Stars [4/29/17]
Trinitas Cellars, Chardonnay, Carneros 2013
Golden yellow. Excellent nose, opulent but fresh, with nice aromatics, with a prominent but very fine note of oak and lots of mineral. On the nose and palate, a personality of apricot, with a touch of pear, a hint of musk melon, loads of fresh, juicy pineapple, and some orange rind, all with very nicely done notes of butterscotch and oak, and abundant, salty mineral; notes of plum emerge with air. Full bodied, with rich, opulent fruit, but also remarkably juicy and fresh, with excellent acid balance, and a wonderful fleshy/succulent and even slightly savory texture. And very food friendly too. I am extremely impressed with this wine, it is unabashedly in the ripe Napa style, but done so nicely, with such high quality and poise, almost calling to mind a Meursault (Burgundy). This is probably one of the best California Chardonnays I’ve had. Has the poise and balance and structure for aging, and I love to see what this is like in 10 years. 4 Stars. [5/10/17]
William Wright, Pinot Noir, Vintner’s Reserve, Monterey County 2014
Light ruby/garnet, clear at the rim. Wonderful aromatics on the nose: dark, savory fruit, with a bright, sweet edge, cloves, tea, and a hint of meaty earthiness. Lovely fruit on the palate, with sweet, delicate cherry and blackberry upfront, then becoming expansive and penetrating, with loads of savory, slightly meaty black cherry, green tea, and some fine earth on the finish, all with abundant spice. On the light side of full bodied, with a sweet, savory texture, and accentuated fruit. Wonderful, like a Burgundy from the Cotes de Beaune. Drink over the next 3 - 5 years. At $10 from Aldi, the best Pinot Noir value ever. 3.5 Stars [5/5/17]
Speri, Ripasso, Valpolicella Classico Superiore 2012
Medium ruby. Wonderful nose, rich, dense, and heady, with meaty blackberry, and currant, all with a wonderful, juicy acid tone, and with tobacco leaf, nice notes of raisin, and lots of tarry, smokey mineral. On the palate, black cherry, raspberry, currant, a touch of blueberry, all of which are rich and dense and sweet but wonderfully toned and succulent, with rose water, succulent tobacco leaf, and loads of tarry earth and mineral. Full bodied, with fantastic tone and texture, rich and sweet, and seductively graceful. Wonderful stuff, showing some maturity, so drink now or in the next few years. 3.5 Stars (almost 4) [5/6/17]
Chateau Haut-Canteloup, Medoc 2012
Cru Bourgeois. Medium-dark ruby. Nice nose of macerated black cherry and blackberry with currant and plum, cured tobacco, some leather/cigar box, abundant cedar, charred oak, smoke/incense, and mineral, all with succulent depth. Same note on the palate, with the addition of a generous note of tart red cherry, and substantial mineral-laden tannin; there is an attractive lushness to the fruit, and the balance between that and the more tart/astringent elements is very fine. Medium-full bodied, with a juicy/tart and fleshy/succulent texture, and respectable length. A good quality “everyday” claret. Drink now or in the next few years, but give it time to breath. 2.5 Stars [5/13/17]
Markham, Petite Verdot, Napa Valley 2013
Impenetrable ruby. Outstanding nose, with loads of dark, rich, juicy fruit, cured tobacco leaf, charred oak, chocolate, overtones of leather, lots of sweet Napa earth, and loads of stone/mineral, all with lovely, dark aromatics. On the palate, loads of tart, fresh blackberry, with pie cherry and lots of cassis, (all with a tart edge), with tobacco leaf, charred oak; toward the finish, loads of dark Napa earth, tones of leather, stone and loads of mineral, and lots of puckery tannins. Big body with dark, rich, lush fruit, but with excellent acid tone and pleasant tartness, and a lovely, succulent texture. Exceptional structure and balance. By far the best Petite Verdot I’ve had, and a just plain outstanding wine. 8 to 10 years ahead. 4 Stars [5/14/17]
Herdade de Sao Miguel, Colheita Seleccionada, Alentejo 2015
Dark ruby. Excellent nose of dark, rich, slightly heady fruit with hints of leather/cured tobacco, chocolate, and rustic earth. On the palate, black cherry, lush blackberry, and plum, with tobacco leaf, and abundant sweet earth and hint of chocolate. Full bodied with such nice, rich, juicy fruit; wonderful texture, and great presence on the finish. Drink now. Alicante Bouschet, Touriga Francesca, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. 3 Stars [5/16/17]
Redemption, Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2010
Medium-dark ruby. Excellent nose, sweet, spicy, and warm. On the nose and palate, lovely, sweet raspberry and tart, juicy blackberry, with tarry notes, loads of spice, a touch of succulent tobacco leaf, and sweet earth. Full bodied with a fantastic sweet and juicy texture, and so graceful as well. A wonderful mature Zinfandel. Drink now. 3.5 Stars [5/16/17]