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Beringer Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1986

Beringer Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1986

Beringer’s 1986 Mature, Beringer’s Napa Valley presented plum sauce, beef jerky, and leather followed by more ethereal notes of spearmint, sarsaparilla and dried flowers. With a mantle that is decidedly garnet, it is still round and generously fruited with fine, well defined mid-and-fore palate tannins effortlessly twining flavors of black currants, black tea, and cracked […]

Opus One 2006

Opus One 2006

Sampled at the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium, while a dinner with the charming Karen MacNeil seated directly across from me, and legends Bill Harlan and Andrea Robinson at the table behind me. The Opus One 2006 sang—one long, melodic, satiny chord drenched in wild blueberries, steeped blackberries, and black raspberry. It unfurls slowly, releasing a […]

Frog’s Leap Heritage Blend 2013

Frog's Leap Heritage Blend 2013

This bottle was gifted to me on arrival at Meadowood Resort in Napa, a nice way to kickoff the 2017 Wine Writers Symposium. My first time tasting Frog’s Leap, it’s young and primary. Juicy blackberries, blackcurrants, kirsch, and camphor tumble from the glass. It’s very structured with chalky, grippy tannins neatly encasing a tooth-staining core […]

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2010

Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2010

Infused with smoky blueberries and blackberry jam, and crowned by lighter notes of ash, dried violets, and baking spice—the Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 2010 has much to offer. It’s softly textured on entry, with fine, slightly woody mahogany-tinged tannins encircling a richly fruited core. From start to finish, it’s a seamless wine, […]

Abacela Reserve Tempranillo 2009

Abacela Reserve Tempranillo 2009

Tempranillo grown in Southern Oregon, in this case Umpqua Valley, shows great promise, as Abacela has demonstrated time and again through their bottlings of this earthy, Spanish queen. The 2009 Reserve Tempranillo is resplendent in an earthy mantle of dried blood, brick dust, roasted black cherries, and plums. The balance on the palate is spot […]

Paul Barre Château La Grave 2011

Paul Barre Château La Grave 2011

I would like to revisit this wine, perhaps from a less challenging vintage. As such the 2011 Paul Barre Château La Grave is somewhat austere, requiring ample time to open. Initially reserved aromas of black cherries, plums, and red currant are followed underbrush and earth. The attack is soft, giving way to fine, powdery tannins […]

Cave Dog Napa Valley 2014

Cave Dog Napa Valley 2014

It was only a matter of time before our paths crossed. In truth, I’ve been intensely curious about Michael Havens’ wines for years, but my curiosity has been changed by the Havens Winery in 2008. Now he’s got a new project is delicious. Cave Dog is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, […]

Tire Pé DieM 2012

Tire Pé DieM 2012

When I receive samples, I make a point of waiting to research the wines until after I’ve tasted them. First impression—that it’s primarily Cab Franc possibly from the Loire was incorrect—turns out the Tire Pé DieM 2012 is 100% Merlot, organically grown in clay and limestone soils. The profile is light and primary. Cherry clafoutis, […]

Poggio Al Tesoro Vermentino Bolgheri Solosole 2015

Poggio Al Tesoro Vermentino Bolgheri Solosole 2015

Refreshing as Vermentino often is, the 2015 Poggio Al Tesoro Solosole is brimming with canned pear, star fruit, white flowers, cucumber, and granulated honey notes. The palate is lean, chalky, and linear with an arc of nervy acidity that hits first, a tidal burst that gives way to sea foam, lime stone, kaolin clay, and […]

Château Le Crock Saint-Estèphe 2011

Château Le Crock Saint-Estèphe 2011

A nicely-styled Saint-Estephe—from the Cuvelier family, owners of Leoville Poyferre—in a modest vintage year. The 2011 Château Le Crock opens with lush, inviting aromas of black currant, smoky black cherries, pen ink, leather, and earth. There are no hard edges on the palate, black fruit luxuriates against a framework of well-structured tannins, moderate acidity, and […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com