1999 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon

There are plenty of wines that I pass up for no particular reason other than the fact there are too many out there and it's impossible to try them all. I think if I was able to, I’d sure have a much bigger problem that choosing which ones to drink. When I walked into my local store with the plan of finding something actually fairly mature to drink with dinner I never thought I'd walk out with a bottle of Snowden. But, that's exactly what happened and I'm very happy it did. It's yet another reminder that I, like many people drink wines far too young and deny themselves the pleasures that come with time in the bottle.

Snowden Vineyards is a winery that has a rich history dating back to 1955. I've had a few on occasion, at a dinner party here and there, but never really took the initiative to collect the wines and try various vintages. After having this wine, I now feel a bit foolish and think I might have cheated myself of some great vinous experiences over the years by neglecting these wines. I suppose I can always play catch up, right? If the current vintages are drinking anywhere remotely similar to the 99, then I have plenty of time.

Located on the ridgeline where St. Helena and Rutherford come together, the vineyards are planted primarily with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Wayne and Virginia Snowden purchased the property back in 1955 and sold the grapes to local wineries (Stag's Leap among one of them), never actually bottling wine under their own label until 1993 when John Gibson became winemaker, and the first vintage of Snowden wine was released. Over the years they've sold grapes to various people, including Silver Oak among others, but now reserve all the fruit to bottle under the Snowden name.

The current vintage of has received some great reviews, while maintaining an affordable price. In a place where $100 price tags are slapped on bottles seemingly without thinking twice, it’s refreshing to see a winery that’s been around for many years still offering great wine at a good price. Snowden Vineyards currently produces two estate grown claret style wines as well as a Sauvignon Blanc.

Tasting Notes:
This wine must have been a monster upon release. Inky black in the glass with a dark garnet rim. There's still tons of life left in this Cabernet. Aromas of dusty tobacco, espresso and milk chocolate mixed with pencil lead eventually relent to reveal layers of red currant mixed with herbs I can't quite pinpoint. In the mouth, tannins are still alive and kicking, but deftly balanced with acidity and fruit. Incredibly concentrated, black cherries, tobacco, hints of leather on the palate. Nice vanilla oak nuances that are apparent, but not obnoxious. A real pleasure to drink.

Price: Around $50

Score: 90-93

Continued...

2006 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc

"Pick one or two varietals you make well and stick with it" is the old adage typically given to winemakers. Well, Lang & Reed have done just that and have been producing some of the best Cabernet Franc this side of the Loire Valley. I love seeing winemakers so passionate about one varietal, especially one from a grape that's barely acknowledged here in California. And what that means for the savvy consumer, is a great wine at a bargain price.

Cab Franc is typically used as a blending grape, first and foremost in some of the finest Bordeaux (think Cheval-Blanc, Ausone) and is used to either tone down Cab Suav or add some power to Merlot, providing finesse and nice aromatics. There's not a huge number of wineries that offer Cab Franc in California, and if they do it's usually either blended with other grapes or offered at a price tag similar to Cab Sauv, neither of which really make me particularly excited. It's kind of a niche market and will probably never gain the same type of popularity that other grapes such as Pinot Noir or Syrah have in the past decade or so, but if passionate winemakers such as Lang & Reed keep making quality juice, I'm pretty happy about that.

Lang & Reed was founded by Tracey and John Skupny in 1993, and they haven't looked back since. The two became enamored with the wines coming out of the Loire Valley and took it upon themselves to produce some of the best Cabernet Franc in Napa Valley. A noble task and one that does not go unappreciated in my book. Lang & Reed currently offers three wines:

Lang Reed North Coast - The current wine under review. 100% Cab Franc and an assemblage of fruit from four vineyards.

Premier Etage - Mostly Cab Franc with a dollop of Petite Verdot mixed in. A wine that provides a bit more complexity than the North Coast.

Right Bank - Tailored after the wines of St. Emilion, Right Bank is a blend of Cab Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, and Cab Sauv. A wine with a bit more ageability.

One of the things that appeals to me so much about Cab Franc is that it can be enjoyed young and is so big and juicy. When grown in cooler climates, it also carries a flavor profile that I enjoy - one bordering on the herbaceous, green side but still carrying nice ripe fruit. This wine benefits from a bit of decanting that will really bring the aromatics out after some time. If I had to choose a dish to pair it with, I might pick some braised short ribs or a nice lamb stew.


Tasting Notes:
In the glass there is an inky black core with a brilliant red/ purple color to the rim. An ever changing nose that consists of cherries, herbs, light flowers, violets and a wet stone/ minerally aspect that I adore. Hinting at a bit of a coffee component at times, this wine conjures images of a light, breezy summer day outside. In the mouth it's not terribly complex but thoroughly enjoyable with red berry fruit, soft tannins and nice acidity easing into an elegant finish.

Price: $22

Score: 87 - 92.

Specifics:
Alcohol: 14.5%
Oak: 8 months in used French Oak
Production: 2,600 cases

Continued...

Wine Country Inn, St. Helena, California

Nestled between Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail in St Helena lies a little gem I've come to know and love over the years aptly named the Wine Country Inn. When I think about time spent in Wine Country I think about peaceful, cozy, romantic settings, and the Inn does a fantastic job of providing just that and then some. We have a yearly tradition of staying here for 3 or 4 nights and have never left unsatisfied. Staying here seems like a trip into a different time and place... One a little simpler, full of antiques, handmade quilts and great hospitality as well as central A/C and a Bose stereo system. The feel and décor is definitely country and walks the fine line between old school/ new school, so if you're looking for ultra-modern, plasma TV's flush in the bathroom mirror, this is not the place for you. In fact, there are no TV's at all, which I think is awesome.

The Inn was founded by Ned and Marge Smith in the early 70's after they had spent time at some of the classic inns of the east coast and discovered what they wanted to build here in California: a place with comfort, charm, and an idyllic setting while including the modern luxuries of plumbing and electricity. The result? A place that manages to seamlessly mix old world charm with modern touches at an affordable price in a picturesque location. The whole family has done an outstanding job while making continuous upgrades each year, such as wireless internet and cosmetic fixes in various rooms. Ned and Marge don't run the inn anymore, they've left that up to their son Jim, who's hoping his children will follow the family tradition in a few years.


After a prompt check in, walking down the cobblestone path and stairs my better half could barely contain herself. And once the door opened to the "Vintners" cottage she was literally jumping up and down with joy. With a total of 20 rooms, 4 suites, and 5 luxury cottages, the rates run anywhere from $300 - 650 a night at the top end. We haven't stayed in any of the smaller rooms, but I'm pretty sure the cottages are your best bet and worth the extra $200 or so a night. They're large and attractive with hardwood floors, a sitting area with fireplace, couch, and insanely comfortable king-sized bed. The bathroom alone is almost worth the price, with tiled floors, a huge walk in shower large enough to fit 4 people comfortably (if you're into that sort of thing), and an immaculate jacuzzi tub along with his/ hers sinks and mirrors. The stereo has speakers in every room so if you feel like putting on your favorite CD and slipping into a bubble bath with your loved on and a bottle of wine all while controlling the volume via remote, no problem. Some people would argue that the
money saved from expensive lodging can be put towards more wine, which is a really good point that I've gone back and forth on, but for me sometimes going up there and staying in a great spot is part of what makes the trip so good. Each cottage has it's own private patio with spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, and a vineyard just steps away. Complete with a heating lamp, wrought iron table and lounge chairs, this was our favorite spot for coffee and afternoon relaxation after tasting wines all day.

If you're lucky, you might get a visit from Bob the cat, who is one of the reasons we love to stay here. Bob is part Manx, incredibly soft, and was adopted by the Inn. I think he was the pet of a nearby winery but now he patrols the grounds at night hunting mice and other vineyard rodents, and also likes to greet and stay with visitors, preferably in one of the cottages. I was never a huge cat lover but we both love Bob, and let him snooze on the couch if he wants to. He's incredibly friendly and will fall asleep purring in your lap if you let him.

Breakfast is included, too, and it's quite good. Served buffet style, there's everything from bagels with assorted meats and cheeses to homemade quiche and a wafflemaker. The waffles are my favorite part, deliciously soft with a hint of cinnamon and spice. Mmmm. So good. In the afternoons, staff from local wineries come by for a complimentary tasting, which can be fun if you're not too tired from visiting wineries throughout the day. We usually just go back to the room, pop one of the bottles we bought throughout the day and sit back on the patio watching the sun fall behind the mountains. There's also a complimentary shuttle to and from restaurants which is a godsend since at these long dinners there's usually a few bottles that get put down. Last time we were there the driver and all the staff was amazing, incredibly sincere, and helpful. They really bend over backwards to make sure you enjoy your stay. I can't really think of any negative things to say about the place except it could use some periodic updates, such as the stereo. It would have been nice to plonk the Ipod down instead of having to bring CD's. Aside from those minor nit-picky things, this is a place we will be staying at for many years to come. By the way, the innkeepers brother makes a Cabernet by the name of Hourglass with Bob Foley, so, they sure do know a thing or two about wine and are happy to suggest places for you to visit if you're unfamiliar with the area...

Highly Recommended

What: Wine Country Inn

Where: St Helena, California

Price: $200-650

Continued...

2004 Sequoia Grove Cabernet Sauvignon

The Cabernet from Sequoia Grove has been receiving a lot of attention and making many peoples lists over the past few years. I first tried the 2004 at a tasting a few months back and apparently overlooked it among the the other wines of the night, but since then I bought a few bottles and decided to pop one tonight. Well folks, Sequoia Grove is making quite a comeback.

Surrounded by (surprisingly enough) giant Sequoia trees, the winery is located in Rutherford and was founded in 1980 by the Allen family. Their wines have received many accolades throughout the 80’s, then sort of dwindled throughout the late 90's until a few years ago, when ownership changed hands and the Kopf family began pumping money into the winery. One sudden improvement has been the quality of the wine, and for the time being you can still buy it for a relatively low price. In blind tastings, their Cabernet has outperformed other wines three times the price. One of the main forces driving this recent shift in style is winemaker and president, Michael Trujillo.

Michael worked side by side founder Jim Allen practically since the beginning of Sequoia Grove, but it wasn't until Jim retired that he took over as President/ Head Winemaker and began taking the wine in a new, exciting direction. Instead of Sonoma and Monterey fruit, they now use grapes from Rutherford, among other areas and have spent the money for some necessary upgrades of the tanks, crushers, and other equipment. The result is elegant, concentrated wine with the distinct sense of Rutherford Terroir. As well as making wine for Sequoia Grove, Michael also bottles small production 'cult' wine under his own label, Karl Lawrence, which is highly regarded and has a waiting list to order wine. Karl Lawrence was founded in 1991 and is the realization of Michael and longtime friend Bryan Henry's dream of producing outstanding Napa Valley Cabernet.

Over the past few years lots of changes have been taking place in Sequoia Grove and people have certainly been taking notice. Now the question is just how long will the price stay under $40?

Tasting Notes:
No decanting necessary, this wine drank well out of the bottle but definitely improved with time in the glass. A very nice inky black/ garnet color, the nose is a mix of pepper, oak and cherry with hints of vanilla extract as well as some significant greenish/ bell pepper components. In the mouth the wine is fairly smooth with sour cherry, raspberry and pepper flavors that are big and ripe but manage to avoid becoming heavy and cloying. There’s a certain lightness that I appreciate which makes it easy to have a few glasses in a row. The only thing lacking is the finish, which falls a little short. A definite winner to drink either with food or by itself.

Score: 86-88

Alcohol: 14.2

Price: $30
Continued...

2000 La Sirena Syrah

Anyone unfamiliar with the name Heidi Barrett has either been hiding under a rock or just not focusing on any of the top notch, California cult wines to come out in the past 20 years. Her client list is long and distinguished with names such as Screaming Eagle, Grace Family Vineyards, Paradigm and others that she's put on the map, in my opinion. Many of her wines are highly sought after by collectors and prices can fetch in the hundreds of thousands. In 2000, a 6-liter bottle of Screaming Eagle sold for $500,000. Many of us will never have that kind of money to throw around on overpriced Cab but that's okay, because the "Wine Dive of Napa Valley" (As named by TIME Magazine) still produces more affordable wine under different labels. The current one under review is La Sirena, Heidi's own label that focuses on three varieties, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Muscat Canelli.

Heidi created La Sirena in 1994, and in the winemakers own words - "I was looking for a name for my wine which would be as magical as I think wine is. La Sirena which means "the Mermaid" in Italian and Spanish is a way of representing two of my great passions". While the Screagle Cab's release price is about $500, many of the La Sirena offerings are a highly overlooked value. I sort of stumbled upon this wine at a local shop and I was kind of stunned to not only find a few bottles of La Sirena Cab still there but a bottle of Syrah from 2000? While you can't find this wine just anywhere, it's still out there at a good price if you live in California. It might not be at it's peak, but this wine is drinking exceptionally well right now. One of the most drinkable wines I've had in quite some time. Some have said this wine is over the top but I think it just needed time to settle down. At 13.2% alcohol with soft fruit this wine is nowhere close to some of the over the top high alcohol fruit bombs coming out of California. This wine was an absolute pleasure to drink and reminds me that I drink far too many wines to soon and before their full potential. Anyone in CA should seek this out. 2000 was the first offering of Syrah from La Sirena and it spent 19 months in 100% French Oak (40% new) with a tiny production of only 252 cases.


Tasting Notes:
A wonderful ruby red color with slight copper at the rim, the nose is full of deep earth, reminding me of soil or as some would say, 'forest floor'. Hints of licorice, pepper, and cherry dance in the glass as well. In the mouth this wine shows elegance with a silky mouthfeel, flavors of dark cherry and meats with very soft tannins. Nice acidity and good balance. One of the more pleasurable Syrah's I've had in a year or two.

Score: 91

Price: $45 Continued...

2004 Pine Ridge Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon

What I remember most about my trip to Pine Ridge winery is racing against the clock with the 'check engine' light of my car blinking trying to make a 12pm appointment for a winery tour and barrel tasting. My car didn't break down and we missed the cave tour and barrel tasting but we DID manage to visit the winery and spend some quality time at the winery drinking exceptional wine.. One of the staff that really stood out for us was Carl, an awesome person that spent a hour or so tasting wine and chatting with us about everything from the history of the winery to the changes the valley has gone through in recent years and even where the best places to dine in Los Angeles are. A few of the younger people working there were a bit snobby but we won't focus on that part of the trip.

Pine Ridge is located in the heart of the Stags Leap district in Napa Valley and focuses on producing wines which contain characteristics of the particular appellation the grapes are from. For instance the Howell Mountain Cab comes through with the robust tannins and black fruit the mountain is known for. Many of the wines I've had containing Howell Mountain fruit have been quite dense with syrupy components to them, and this is no exception. The whites are produced in high numbers - I think the Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay were both in the 10,000 case range but the real gems are the mid-priced Merlots, Cabs, and Bordeaux style blends. Many Pine Ridge wines have a green bell pepper characteristic to them that I really enjoy but sadly, it is missing in this wine. For any fans of bell pepper, check out their Cab Franc, which carries it in abundance (and is really good).

The Howell Mountain Cabernet is a blend of 89% Cab Sauv, 4% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, 2% Merlot and 2% Tannat. The berries were hand sorted and aged for 17 months in French oak. This is not my favorite release from Pine Ridge and at the $85 price point I would probably opt for the Charmstone Merlot, Cabernet Franc, or the Rutherford Cab, all bottles about half the price with flavor profiles that I enjoy more. This is still a very good wine, not really my preference but something I would enjoy with a nice porterhouse steak and baked potato. I decanted this wine about 8 hours before drinking.

Tasting Notes:
Seductive scarlet/ maroon in the glass this wine had aromas of spice, currant, dark berry fruit and heavy molasses on the nose. After 8 hours in the decanter the nose was heavy with shoe polish, cherry, and molasses. Upon first pour there were some slightly unpleasant tea/ spice flavors going on which disappeared after 8 hours. This is a full bodied wine with some spice on the mid-palate that ends with blackberry and cherry flavors on the finish.

Score: 87

Price: $85 Continued...

2004 Vice Versa Cabernet Sauvignon

This was one of my prized purchases from a recent trip to North California, a superstar wine from Paul Hobbs that also held a high rating from RP. I hate to say that I was supremely disappointed but maybe my expectations were just too high. This is not a bad wine by any means, in fact it's very well balanced and good but just sort of simple and definitely not what I anticipated. In the land of the high alcohol Napa fruit bomb, I would have expected a bouquet that jumps out the glass and a stunning flavor profile. This wine was no Switchback, let me tell you. If you're holding any Vice Versa and plan to drink it anytime soon I'd advise some heavy decanting to let the aromatics find their way out. I'm almost hesitant to review this wine because I think it might just be a bit shy and scared, but will develop nicely over time. I would LOVE to hear others experiences with this vintage of Vice Versa. I think I need to revisit this wine at a later date and see what develops.

Tasting Notes:
Dense purple color in the glass, I found slight licorice and coffeebean aromas present with some black fruit. Nice acidity and mouthfeel with blackberry flavors, slight chocolate and soft tannins. Good structure with a nice, lingering finish.

Score: 88

Price: $100 Continued...

2005 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa CA

Wow. What an amazingly stellar young cab from Switchback Ridge. This wine went through more changes in the glass than any wine I've had in quite some time but there's still something that makes me cringe about opening a relatively high priced Napa cab that is so young. I had the pleasure of drinking a few Switchback wines quite some time ago but I don't think I was able to appreciate them due to my palate being exhausted. There are some who don't see what all the Switchback hype is about and some that can't stop raving about these Cabs. I fall into the latter category, as I think these wines are delicious.

Switchback Ridge focuses on 3 varietals - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, sourcing their fruit exclusively from the Peterson Family Vineyard. The total cases produced each year of all varietals is usually pretty small. I think the 2005 Cabernet only produced about 300 cases. They're also lucky enough to have Bob Foley working with them! Bob is the man, and has worked with Hourglass, Pride Vineyards, and bottles his own high alcohol, flavorful wines under his 'Robert Foley' label. Bob has long been considered one of the top winemakers in Napa Valley.

I was lucky enough to score a bottle of this with the plan of drinking it soon and purchasing more if I fell in love with it. Best young cab I've had in a long time, but my plan seems to have failed and this wine is sold out as far as I can tell. You can probably find a bottle or two on wine searcher for over $100 but it other than that it's not looking very good. C'est la vie. Maybe next year I'll be able to nab a 6-pack or so and cellar it if I can keep myself from drinking it. Any Merlot fans should seek out bottles of Switchback's Merlot and scoop them up, they're an excellent value.

Tasting Notes:
Right off the bat this wine has an amazing bouquet. Over a hour or so of drinking it seemed to never stop evolving in the glass. Lots of red fruits, licorice, chocolate and dried cranberry on the nose. Garnet to the rim with enticing flavors of currant, cherries, spice and teasing notes of clove on the endless finish. Classic, high octane Napa Cab with well integrated tannins. I would love to taste this in 7 or 8 years and see how it performs.

Score: 94

Price: $80 Continued...

2004 Paraduxx Napa Valley Red Wine

For the past few weeks I've been on a bit of a Duckhorn kick and I have to say it's been great and doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon considering I have an appointment at one of the Duckhorn vineyards in about a week. I love this wine. I had it the other night and it's probably my favorite out of the various bottles I've had recently. The 2004 Paraduxx is composed of 65% Zinfandel, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Merlot. It was picked a bit early for a harvest in Napa (Aug) and aged 18 months in oak (65% American/ 35% French). There is definitely an explosion of fruit on the nose - cherry, raspberry and a hint of vanilla. A little bit of heat on the nose. In the glass it's a very dark, inky wine with beautiful scarlet at the rim. Very intense in the mouth, very velvety and smooth with a nice finish. After some time in the glass I could taste more oak but it wasn't overly oaked by any means. It's an interesting blend and right up my alley. I love jammy Zins and together with the complexity and structure of Cabernet it's a beautiful thing. This is a wine meant to be drunk young or within a few years of release. After 1 glass I had this wine with a nice chopped up block of Gruyere cheese and it wasn't a perfect pairing but they complimented each other very nicely. This wine will hold a nice memory of relaxing in front of a great fire on a beautiful Fall evening with delicious wine and cheese. I'm very excited to try the 2005 in a week or so and had to hold myself back from buying it at my local shop last Friday. Seek this wine out.

Score: 9/ 10

Price: $40 Continued...