Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Brut Méthode Champenoise 1987
I attended a tasting that featured a Royal Cuvée vertical hosted by winemaker, Steven Urberg last week. It was fascinating to see the evolution of the style of this Sonoma Brut, but also to taste wines from vintages spanning more than 20 years. The 1987 is mature, austere, and sports higher acidity than the rest. […]
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée Brut Méthode Champenoise 1990
Another wine from last week’s vertical tasting of the Royal Cuvée Brut. The 1990 is noticeably less austere than the 1987—the winemaker wanted to illustrate the progress in style from a more austere wine to one that is endowed with more fruit and slightly softer acid. It’s well-developed with aromas of candied orange peel, bruised […]
Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvée 2004
The newly-released 2004 Gloria Ferrer Carneros Cuvée is a lively blend of 53% Pinot Noir and 47% Chardonnay. I spent a full day touring the facility and estate vineyards and was impressed by the care and labor that goes in to crafting their sparkling wines. The 2004 displays ripe red fruit and pleasing biscuit notes […]
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
I’m currently working on an article about winemaker/owner Chuck Wagner. His winemaking, he feels, has evolved to craft Cabs that are delicious upon release, and yet have the potential to age. Comparing this to the Special Selection, this is the wine to go for in terms of early drinking pleasure. And what pleasure it delivers! […]
Caymus Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 2012
The 2012 Caymus Special Selection is a benchmark wine, the definition of old-school Napa Valley Cabernet. Made for long-term cellaring, this Cab is pure hedonism. Concentrated, tooth-staining, utterly seductive layers of blackberry compote and plum, satiny crème de cassis, cedar and woodsmoke are woven together by fine, grippy tannins. There is a lot of power […]
Morlet Family Vineyards Ma Douce 2010
Ma Douce is the third wine in a trio of Morlet 2010 Chardonnay’s I’ve reviewed, and like it’s siblings, it is exceptionally well-crafted. Fragrant aromas of acacia honey, bruised pear and toasted hazelnut fill the glass. Perhaps what I love most about this wine is its outstanding texture, which is elegant and slightly creamy with […]
William Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
The William Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon proved to be a pleasant surprise—and by that I mean it’s an over-performer for its price point. Deep ruby in the glass, with a nose of sweet cherries, blackberries, mocha and baking spice, this is an easy drinking crowd-pleaser. Firm mouth-coating tannins, with ample fruit on the palate […]
Morlet Family Vineyards Coup de Cœur 2010
I tasted the 2010 Ma Princesse earlier this year and was totally blown away by how precise it was. The same can be said of the 2010 Coup de Cœur—Luc Morlet brings an Old World touch to this New World beauty with complex, glowing, sumptuous layers of fleshy golden peaches, baked apple skins and caramelized […]
Auteur Pinot Noir Sonoma Stage Vineyard 2007
The 2007 Auteur Sonoma Stage Vineyard Pinot Noir is tired and feels like the fruit is fading. On the nose, aromas of dust, dried cherries, dried rose petal and a hit of alcohol. In the mouth, a stemmy high note, followed by rose petals and red berries, but nothing really precise. It finishes hot, too. […]
Bedrock Wine Co. “Ode To Lulu” Old Vine Rosé Of Mourvedre 2014
I have greatly enjoyed the wines I’ve tried from Bedrock Wine Co., a Sonoma winery with humble roots. Founded in 2007 by Morgan Twain-Peterson, who used a 550 square-foot, former chicken coop as his initial base of operations, his Ode To Lulu Rosé is a nod to Lulu Peyraud, proprietor of Domaine Tempier. Crafted from […]