2003 Fielding Hills Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley

This wine is from a small, highly regarded producer in Washington State. It was rated 93 points by Wine Enthusiast.

It is another one of those wines that you will never see in a store. Their production is tiny (less than 300 cases).

I decanted the wine for about 2 hours and then poured it back in the bottle for serving. We served it with a main course of beef roast prepared in a recipe that only Caren could whip up.

Black currant and earthy blueberry/blackberry nose; sweet tannins balancing tasty fruit on the palate. This wine is a price/performer. Compares very favorably with Cabs from Napa that are 2x-4x the price.

2007 Lancaster Estate Samantha's Sauvignon Blanc

Tonight, we had Stacey and Chris over for dinner. We are going to be out of town for Stacey's baby shower, so this was our chance to give her our shower gifts.

We served this wine with the appetizer course of shrimp and smoked salmon.

Lancaster Estate is located in the Chalk Hill area of the Alexander Valley. It is owned by an executive of Southern Wine and Spirits. They've built a modern winery and a magnificent contemporary architecture house on the property.

Winemaker's notes: Our 2007 Sauvignon Blanc honors our daughter, Samantha. This wine exhibits baked, ripe pineapple and sweet grapefruit aromas, with complex, full flavors of honeydew melon and citrus characters. Aged 7 months in 90% stainless steel and 10% new French oak barrels, the wine was bottled unfiltered, to retain purity of expression. 600 cases produced.

This Sauvignon Blanc was different from those originating from New Zealand and Chile that have much more pronounced grapefruit or lime flavors. Not better or worse, just different.

1999 Feudi di San Gregorio Riserva Piano di Montevergine

We went out to dinner with Ed and Elyn at Melograno Italian restaurant in Hollywood. I brought along this bottle of wine that I actually bought at Costco a couple of years ago. It was 100% old vine Aglianico grapes. We all raved about how good it was.

Feudi di San Gregorio is Campania's premier winemaking estate. Situated in the village of Sorbo Serpico in southwestern Italy, Feudi di San Gregorio was established in 1986 in a joint venture between the Ercolino and Capaldo families of Irpinia.

This wine was rated 95 points by Robert Parker and 90 points by Wine Spectator.

Intense bouquet of wild fruits underscored by vanilla and spice notes. Full-bodied and balanced, with supple tannins and dark fruit flavors. Well-matched with red meat entrées, fish steaks and hearty casseroles.

2005 Novy Judge Family Vineyard Syrah

Novy Family Cellars is a small winery located in an industrial park in Santa Rosa. They make exceptional Syrah, Zinfandel, Grenache, and a liitle bit of Chardonnay. They are owned and operated by the same people as Siduri Wines. We visited their facility about 18 months ago with our friends John and Pauline. We ordered this wine and some others on that visit.

We had an impromptu dinner tonight - I had Chinese steamed pork buns and a salad. Caren had one of her diet tostadas. This wine was a decent pairing for both dinners.

316 cases of this wine were produced - that's miniscule. The vineyard is located in the Bennett Valley of Sonoma County. The wine was rated 90 points by Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast.

Winemaker's tasting notes: The 2005 Novy Judge Vineyard Syrah is one of our most aromatically expressive wines. On the nose you smell berries, sage, and raspberry with hints of mushroom and earth. The palate is rich and velvet-like with sweet raspberry and plum fruits and flavors of bacon and truffles. This is a concentrated, complex, and compelling Syrah that makes for fine immediate drinking, yet will undoubtedly improve with several hours aeration or several years of aging.

2004 Peay Vineyards La Bruma Estate Syrah

This was the second half bottle of wine we ordered at the French Laundry. We enjoyed it a great deal.

Peay Vineyards is located in the northwestern corner of Sonoma County, near the coast. Talk about remote!

They make exceptional Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. They sell some grapes to Williams Selyem and Failla - pretty good wineries in their own right.

Winemaker's notes: On release this wine was full of vibrant, high-tone lavender and red fruit notes. These characteristics are still paramount. Ideally the wine should be held for the primary fruit character to mature and for reductive notes to emerge. I believe the ideal window will be reached in 5+ years.

We have a couple of bottles of the 2005 vintage of this Syrah. Will open them in a year or two.

2004 Martinelli Zio Tony Ranch Chardonnay

We had dinner at The French Laundry in Yountville to celebrate our anniversary (a few days early). This was one of two half-bottles of wine that we ordered. This was to pair with the first few courses of the meal.

The French Laundry is way over the top - this was the most expensive meal I have ever eaten. I can't even count how many courses of food were served - a lot. Very small dishes though. very French - one of Thomas Keller's restaurants along with Per Se in New York City and Bouchon and Ad Hoc in Yountville.

Martinelli is located just outside of the town of Windsor in Sonoma County. It is in the Russian River Valley. They make many exceptional wines, especially their Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Zinfandel. This Chardonnay is made with grapes from one of their estate vineyards that used to be an apple orchard.

Straw in color, it was quite nice to look at. A very ripe and powerful nose full of apple and pear. The apple and pear came through on the palate as did some strong hints of oak. Good thing it was served at near room temperature. It was well balanced and the flavors were layered nicely with a smooth, long finish. All and all, a very good wine from a winery from whom we have come to expect very good wines.

2004 Neil Ellis Cabernet Sauvignon Vineyard Selection

Served this wine with BBQ steak and a big salad. Had a couple over for dinner and an HBO movie.

Decanted this wine for about two hours. Nose of tobacco and some berries. Nice fruit and a coating on the palate that created a long finish.

From Neil Ellis Wines in Jonkershoek Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa. I have two more bottles of this wine in the cellar. Will give them another 1-2 years of aging and try one again.

IWC wine critic's notes: Bright ruby-red. Sappy aromas of currant, minerals and licorice. Densely packed, vibrant and fine-grained, but quite youthfully backward. Brisk acidity gives this pure, classic cabernet a penetrating character. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and a distinct spice character. Wonderfully balanced, structured cabernet, but give this plenty of air if you plan to open it anytime soon. Ten percent of shiraz from the 2005 vintage was blended in after the wine had spent 18 months in oak.

2006 Breggo Cellars Pinot Noir Anderson Valley

This was a really good Pinot Noir. We are trying to drink some of our Pinot Noirs in order to make room for the fortcoming 2007 vintages.

Breggo Cellars in located just outside the little town of Boonville in Mendocino County. They make some great Pinot Noir, Syrah, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Gris.

We opened this bottle to serve with dinner two consecutive nights.

There is a slight tobacco edge to the taste of cherries, raspberries and oak. It’s a dry, medium-bodied wine with a silky smooth texture. Very easy to drink and enjoyable. This could easily compete with Pinots costing 2x-3x the price.

2006 Benziger Pinot Noir - Giusti Ranch

Benziger is a large family-owned winery in the town of Glen Ellen in Sonoma County. They specialize in organic and biodynamic farming of their vineyards.

An old apple orchard, the seven acre Giusti Vineyard was planted to vine eight years ago. Giusti Pinot Noir has enticing aromas of cinnamon and baked apple pie. A fresh California Pinot typical of the Russian River appelation, this wine has layered flavors of black cherry and fruit compote. 643 cases were produced.

We opened this wine to service with dinner, stoppered the bottle, and drank the rest two nights later.

2007 Tablas Creek Vermentino

We had a couple over for dinner Sunday night and opened this wine with the appetizers of smoked salmon and shrimp coaktails while watching the DVD of photos from their recent trip to Costa Rica.

Vermentino is a traditional Mediterranean varietal, known principally in Sardinia, Corsica, and Northern Italy. It is also grown in the Rhone Valley (particularly Côtes de Provence) where it is known as Rolle. The grape produces wines that are bright, clean, and crisp, with distinctive citrus character, refreshing acidity and surprising richness.

IWC critic's notes: Pale yellow. Salty lemon and lime aromas are strongly mineral-influenced. Clean and racy, offering tangy citrus and honeysuckle flavors, along with a gentle kiss of herbs. Pleasant and refreshing, if not the last word in complexity.

Personally, I didn't think this vintage was as good as the 2006 which we drank last summer.

2007 Ketcham Estate Sonoma County Viognier

We served this wine with the main course of seared ahi tuna and Israeli couscous. It was a very nice complement.

Winemaker's tasting notes: The wine is crafted from two small family-farmed vineyards - 50% Kick Ranch in Sonoma County, and 50% Marsha’s Vineyard just off Olivet Lane in the Russian River Valley. Both vineyards benefited from the long growing season; no grapes were picked until early October. The wine was fermented in stainless steel, which always provides a lighter and more nuanced wine. This shows a crisp refreshing style with typical Viognier complexity and layers of flavors. Viognier is typically full-bodied with effusive aromas, and our Viognier carries the torch proudly. A terrific food wine, you can pair this with traditional favorites like pasta and seafood, but we have also tried it with spicy stir-fries and Thai food and found it a great pairing. We are happy to have produced a very unique California Viognier. 246 cases produced.

Not a lot of this wine was produced, so there aren't many reviews around for it.

2004 Antucura Yepun

You will not find this wine for sale anywhere in the U.S.. We were given this bottle last March when we stayed at Casa Antucura in the Uco Valley of Mendoza Province in Argentina. Casa Antucura is the small lodge on the property of Antucura Winery.

This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is quite good for drinking by itself or with food. Good fruit and vanilla taste that coats the palate well and has a fairly long finish. No harsh tannins at all. We served it with leftovers from our dinner Sunday night.

2004 Esterlina Port

We served this port with dessert for our friends from DC (see below). Caren made a simple dish of mixed berries with whipped cream accompanied by truffles, fruit cookies, and coffee.

This port was lighterweight than many, even though the label says "20.6% alcohol by volume". It was excellent because it did not overpower the foods.

Esterlina Vineyards is a family-owned, California boutique winery located near the Mendocino coast, nestled in the highlands above Philo. The views of the Anderson Valley from the winery's tasting room located on a ridge at 1200' above sea level are amazing. We belong to their wine club.

2000 Deerfield Ranch - Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

We had some friends from Washington, DC over for dinner. They are in town to meet the Queen Mary 2 and take a 56 day cruise going WEST to Southampton, England.

We served a chilled seafood platter as a starter, followed by grilled steaks prepared in an Italian style, roasted asparagus, and a pureed celery root, apple, and potato mixture.

This Cabernet was a very nice accompaniment to the main course. Nice nose of soft green peppers, oak and darker fruits. Mouthfeel was soft and had a nice covering of the palette. Solid cabernet. Made with 85% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Chiles Valley subappellation of Napa Valley, and 15% Merlot from a vineyard on Mt. Veeder.

I have another bottle of this wine we will have to try again soon.

2003 Clarendon Hills Shiraz - Clarendon Liandra

Our friend Ed opened this wine to drink with the chateaubriand he cooked as the entree' for our small dinner party.

Ed has an inventory in his wine refrigerator that is more impressive than my cellar contents. He belongs to a Wine Society here in SoCal and he is very knowledgeable about wine.

This is an exceptional Australian Shiraz. Clarendon Hills is located outside of Adelaide in the state of South Australia. A highly respected winery with very limited production.

Wine Spectator tasting notes: Smooth and polished, a rich wine that shows restraint to its pepper and orange peel-scented blackberry and plum flavors, finishing with a refreshing lift.

1999 Mumm Napa Valley DVX Sparkling Wine

Last night, we went to the house of our friends Ed and Elyn to have dinner. The weather was terrible - raining a lot here in SoCal. Took almost two hours for a trip that normally takes 35-45 minues.

We brought the appetizer and the dessert along with this sparkling wine (and two bottles of our own new wine). We picked this up a few years ago on a trip to Napa Valley with the Dorrs.

Very crisp, clean taste, with a nice creaminess and citrus flavors. Went very well with the smoked salmon and caviar Caren had brought.

2002 Pine Ridge - Crimson Creek Merlot

We received this "middle of the road" Napa Valley Merlot as a gift a while ago. Tonight, we served it with a steak salad (leftover flank steak).

Back in 1997, we visited Pine Ridge Winery and actually had dinner in their cellars as guests of HP at the Champions Tour Pro-Am golf tournament at Silverado Country Club. It was a very unique experience playing "inside the ropes".

Winemaker's notes:
This elegant, medium dark ruby Merlot wraps black cherry fruit flavors with underlying hints of blueberry and vanilla in light earthy notes of tobacco and sweet cocoa. A supple medium-to-long finish makes this an enjoyable wine now or you may choose to cellar five to eight years.

2004 Nepenthe Tryst Red

Back in 2007, we bought a few bottles of this Australian wine (screw cap, no cork) at Southern Hemisphere Wines in Huntington Beach. Tonight, we served it with grilled flank steak. Thai purple rice, and a salad.

Winemaker's notes:
The Tryst Red has been a unique (even eclectic) blend since first produced in 2001. In bringing together Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Tempranillo, Nepenthe is certainly not following any traditional blending rules.

The firm, densely colored and age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon is softened and lifted by the Zinfandel; while Tempranillo provides a backbone of savory tannins and flesh that ensures that the Tryst is a great food wine. It's fragrant and approachable now, but will go the distance, gaining complexity with time. Drink now, but will age up to five years.

Wine Spectator notes: "This has pizzazz. Polished and round, with wild berry, cherry, currant and a tang of refreshing acidity as it all lingers on the finish. Tannins are well-formed and it comes together beautifully. Drink now through 2012."

We liked the dryness from the Cabernet and the fruity finish due to the Tempranillo. A very good, inexpensive red blend.

2006 S. A. Prüm Essence Riesling

About a year ago, we were walking through the wine department at our local Costco and this German fellow was standing there at a small table with a couple of bottles of wine. No one was around or talking to him, so we stepped up and entered into conversation.

It turned out that he was the owner and winemaker at S. A. Prüm Winery from the mid-Mosel River valley in Germany. He was there as part of a tour scheduled by his U.S. importer to promote his wines and sign bottles. The family winery has been producing wines commercially for over 200 years and has been connected with the vineyard land for 2,000 years (certainly not like the new winery owners in NoCal created by the internet-boom of the 1990s).

We had a great conversation about German wines and we bought two of his Rieslings. This one that we opened last night, Essence Riesling, is the least expensive of his wines.

Winemaker's Notes: Color: Pale gold. Bouquet: Aromatic, with scents of apricot and peach. Taste: Fresh fruit flavors perfectly balanced by a racy acidity and mineral character.

We make a chicken tikka masala with basmati rice for dinner with this wine.

2005 Walter Hansel Chardonnay - The North Slope Vineyard

What better to have for dinner on a cold (for California) winter night than homemade chicken soup. That's exactly what Caren made today. And we served this delicious wine alongside.

The North Slope vineyard of Walter Hansel's (in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County just northwest of the city of Santa Rosa) is planted with French clones 95 and 76 that are grown on the north edge of the property where it slopes down 28 feet. It seems to produce more of a creamy more fruit driven wine.

Robert Parker writes: "This is a source for very fine Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs at some of the most realistic prices to be found in Northern California."

Wine Advocate tasting notes: Burgundian notes of hazelnut, brioche, white currants, and hints of peach and crushed rocks are impressive and intense. This is a full-bodied Chardonnay with crisp acidity that should age nicely for 5-6 years. 93 points.

At a price of about $35 (from the winery) this Chardonnay is comparable in quality to wines twice the price.

2004 Carmelo Patti Sparkling Wine

This sparkling wine was produced through the classic Method Champenoise (fermentation in the bottle) with 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay grapes from the "Zona Alta" of Lujan de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina. Carmelo Patti is one of the icons of Argentine winemaking. This wine was part of a gift mixed case of Argentine wines we received about a year ago.

The wine has light, salmon colored tones with lively aromas of toasted bread and honey on the nose. There is ripe fruit and balanced acidity in the mouth. This is a delicious wine at a reasonable price (under $25).

We served this wine with an antipasto platter and a tray of baked ziti with three cheeses, meatballs, and broccoli.

2003 Turley Zinfandel - Ueberroth Vineyard

Dark plum/ruby-hued, the 2003 Zinfandel Ueberroth Vineyard (500 cases, 15.4% alcohol) emerges from a limestone vineyard in the Paso Robles area that was planted in 1874. This wine has a sour cherry, tart style with dark ruby color, decided minerality, relatively noticeable acidity, and a crisp, somewhat austere personality. It is the least hedonistic of the Turley Zinfandels.

We pitched in with Barry and Laurie and cooked a 'HUGE" Italian dinner with this as one of the wines.

2005 Fielding Hills Riverbend Red Wine

Fielding Hills Winery is family-owned, producing limited quantities of premium red wines from Riverbend Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope appellation of Washington State's Columbia Valley. Mike Wade is the owner-winemaker. I can definitely tell it is family-owned when I call the winery to confirm my allocation for each release - Karen Wade, Mike's wife answers the phone at their house/office.

This is an up and coming wine producing area and we love their red wines.

This wine is 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 11% Syrah, and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Critics' tasting notes: “Loads of cherry, boysenberry and black plum are backed by suave sweet tobacco notes. The texture is slightly chewy with a tannic grip. It all plays through nicely on the long, lingering finish."
“Yumm yumm- huge black cherry and toasted coffee bean nose with succulent hints of bittersweet chocolate, black cherry and plum. Flavors are simply delicious - sweet lush red and black fruit with just a hint of fresh tobacco, toasted coffee bean, and a hearty dollop of spicy white pepper. Finish is very long, with black cherry, white pepper and spice restating themselves. Tannins are smooth and beautifully integrated, with acidity adding just the right amount of freshness and juiciness.”

90 points, Wine Spectator.

We served this wine to drink with snacks while watching football games on New Year's Day.

Mumm Napa NV Brut Prestige

Winery notes: If you asked winemaker Ludovic Dervin to name the quintessential Napa Valley sparkling wine, his answer would inevitably be Brut Prestige. Sourced from more than 50 prime Napa Valley vineyards—and nearly 80 different vineyard blocks—this elegant, balanced wine is the perfect example of the artistry of méthode traditionelle and the incomparable fruit of Napa Valley. This hugely popular wine offers touches of vanilla and melon, with firm acid and crisp structure.

It is made with about equal amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with a little Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris as well.

We had a magnum given to us as a gift a while back by the Dorr's. We popped the cork just before midnight to celebrate the New Year with our assembled friends.

2003 Guigal Cote Rotie - Brune Et Blonde

It is New Year's Eve and we have several house guests, so it was time to fix a nice meal and serve some great wines. This E. Guigal Cote Rotie from the Rhone Valley has a very attractive QPR. 96% Syrah and 4% Viognier grapes.

We served it with grilled lamb, grilled roast beef, marinated grilled vegetables, hummus, pita bread, and a few other side dishes.

93 points, Robert Parker: "The 2003 Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde is probably the finest cuvee of regular Cote Rotie that Guigal has produced since 1999 or 1991. Stunningly rich, it offers a beautiful, sweet nose of cassis, mocha, espresso, bacon fat, black olives, and underbrush. Some smoked meat notes also make an appearance in this rich, lush, opulent wine. This is a beauty."

92 points, Wine Spectator: "Still tight, but this has a solid core of muscular fig paste, currant, tobacco, black olive and iron notes, followed by a long, well-structured finish. Shows the heat of the vintage, but isn't roasted."

92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Deep, inky ruby. Powerful, superripe aromas of kirsch, blackcurrant and chocolate, complemented by exotic spices and licorice. Rich, creamy and dense, with sweet red and dark fruit flavors framed by chewy tannins. The sweetness builds on the finish, which features a late-arriving note of floral pastille."