Month: October 2020
2010 Larkmead Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2016 Duckhorn Patzimaro Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon
Started the evening with a couple of nice 2018 Chardonnays of La Crema and Rombauer with appetizers. Then worked our way into the reds with dinner.
Good friends prepared a scrumptious meal of BBQ’ed Chateaubriand, scalloped and cheese potatoes and BBQ’ed vegetables (corn, purple onion, zucchini and tomato). Also a fresh garden salad was served.
The Wine Pairing
2010 Larkmead Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is truly a wonderful wine. It is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec. On the eyes, a deep ruby red color and medium heavy viscosity. On the nose a complex gathering of leather, licorice and violet petals. On the palate chocolate, dark berries and licorice were prominent. On the finish one of the most lush and velvety smooth finish of tannins and acidity combine harmoniously. This was taken out 3 hours before drinking and decanted twice and filtered once. Rated 95 points by Robert Parker and James Suckling. Vines from the estate property located in northern Napa Valley. Today’s price is $125 from the winery.
The second wine with the meal was the 2016 Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Patzimaro Vineyard. This site is in western St Helena at the base of Spring Mountain. It is an extremely rich soil producing wonderful wines in the loam & gravelly soils. On the eyes an intense almost radiant and translucent brick red and medium viscosity. On the nose, strawberry and floral notes. On the palate, red fruit and peppercorns spice allow a very light, drinkable and refreshing Cabernet Sauvignon. The contrast between the two red wines was remarkable and each represented their terroir respectfully. Rated 92 points by Wine Spectator and today is sold at the winery for $100.
It was an amazing meal and great wines with fantastic friends!!
Michael
Turbiana – An Uncommon But Versatile Grape
For my off the “California Wines & Wineries” article this month, we venture to Italy. This comes from the wine region of Lugana. It is located at the southern end of Lake Garda with breath taking views of the Italian Alps. It is situated between Lombardy and Veneto wine regions. The wine area produces 23 million bottles of wine (white predominately) and only 10% is exported to the USA. So if you have not heard of this varietal, there is a reason! Surprisingly over 200 wine producers are in this small region. The wine as a whole is extremely versatile and will age nicely. Wine from the region come in Superiority 18 months and Reserva 24 months in barrel.
(map from Italian Wine Central)
Tonight’s wine, 2018 San Benedetto by Zenato. On the eyes it was a light straw color and medium viscosity. On the nose white fruit and floral aromas. On the palate, minerality and salinity were the first two prominent traits along with the mouthful feel body of this wine. Citrus, apple, almond were just a few of the flavors that developed a complex and unique texture in the mouth. The finish was long and a refreshing salinity being pronounced.
Food pairings are wide ranging from Sushi, Chinese food and even Southwest Mexican cuisine.
Sláinte,
Michael
Vine 18 Debuts With Excellent New Chef at The Golf Club at Copper Valley
An excellent meal last evening at Vine18 at The Golf Club at Copper Valley. Appetizer of Tuna Poke (pickled ginger, Dijon radish, togarishi, wasabi aioli and seaweed salad). The entrée of prime rib with brussel sprouts and baked potato. New chef did a wonderful meal and presentation. Accompanied with two exquisite wines: a 2010 Trespass Cabernet Sauvignon (velvety cherries, aged 22 months in French oak, solid tannins and smooth as silk) and a 2016 Lail Blueprint (Melka made a deep red colored wine, red plums, black cherries, blackberry and espresso). https://californiawinesandwineries.com #trespasswinery #lailvineyards #lailblueprint #napacabernetsauvignon #napavalleywines #napavalleycabernetsauvignon #vine18 #thegolfclubatcoppervalley
Sláinte,
Michael
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