WTN: Matthiasson

A year or so ago, I stocked up on the Matthiasson Napa Valley White Wine, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Ribolla Gialla and Tocai Friulano from the Ryans and Vare vineyards. Somehow, I wound up with a mix of 2013 and 2014, but as I recall, I found them quite similar. This was a 2013, and my last bottle of either vintage -- and perhaps just in time: this still has a lot of pleasant, rich citrus and floral fruit, but it's fatter and broader than I remember, with a little more of that "spice" that isn't quite full-on oxidation (the way that that slight ache in your thumb isn't quite full-on arthritis). Might be a bad bottle, but more likely, I think, it's just heading downhill (insert Shaun White joke here).

[David M. Bueker]

Makes sense. Given the makeup I would not expect it to be long lived. I opened a 2014 a couple of weeks ago, and it had lost some of that youthful zip/energy.

I had modest hopes that it might do interesting things with age -- all those grapes are capable, in the right contexts -- and that youthful zip did make it seem possible; but I guess Napa isn't the right context (or, to be fair, maybe that wasn't what Steve was shooting for). No matter: I'm happy to keep enjoying it young.

[David M. Bueker]

I think Steve is looking for earlier drinking with most of his wines. Perhaps the Red Wine and Cabernet might get put away, but based on my experiences, they are really fine right out of the gate.

On a lark, I bought one bottle of the 2012 Oak Knoll Cab. My notes say to hold till 2024. Am I nuts? (I have no memory of how I decided this.)

[David M. Bueker]

Nuts? Maybe a little.

I’ll drop the “hold till” date to 2022, then.

[David M. Bueker]

Maybe I will open a 2012 Matthiasson Cab soon to test your willpower. I don’t have the Oak Knoll, but do have others.

My willpower is greatly aided by inconveniently organized off-site storage. Even if you tempted me, I might not be able to get to the damn thing without a lot of heavy lifting.

[David M. Bueker]

I always have to call in the longshoremen and a backhoe operator when I want to get to something.

"Cuvée Teamster"

[David M. Bueker]

Well I am drinking the “Quake Cuvée” now, so I did break down to a degree.