2017 Hindsight Wines, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Background
Wanted to try a wine that I had experienced before. Just tested negative from Covid and being a “difficult time” had to go on Paxlovid. All is good now, but between Covid affecting my taste buds and Paxlovid leaving a metallic taste in my mouth, I need to figure out how “wine & food” was going to taste again! So some 36 hours after testing negative and going off Paxlovid, wanted a true test. Selected a 2017 Hindsight Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon as my standard as their wines flavors and profiles are fixed in my mind as well as a known food dish.
The Winery
Previously I have written about the Hindsight Winery in Calistoga and their excellent red wines, especially their Cabernet Sauvignon’s. About two years ago their long time winemaker, Jac Cole retired. Now some excellent news—they hired Michael Weis, who was the head winemaker at Groth. He is well known for making spectacular wines and I believe he received 100 points from Wine Spectator for one of his Sauvignon Blanc vintages. Additional reading about the winery and ownership can be found at:
Recently they have made arrangements for their wines to be tasted at 1124 Lincoln Ave, Calistoga at the Vault in Calistoga. Their phone number is 707-341-3321.
The Wine “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
2017 Hindsight Wines, Estate 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley. This is from their Calistoga vineyard location at the top of Napa Valley just northeast of the town of Calistoga. With a late season cold snap, this vineyard saw less than half of their normal yield. On the eyes, dark rich red coloring beckoning one to partake of this medium-heavy viscosity wine. On the nose black fruit aromas waft into the senses comprised of dark cherry, plum and blackberry. On the palate, these impressionable fruits swirl about to provide a delightful fruit forward and mouth filling wine. Secondary flavors of vanilla and mocha are present in the background. Deep structure, balanced and providing wonderment and delight in the same sip. The finish provided velvety tannins with a light grip, knowing tannins were present but so round and smooth. The wine was aged in 100% French oak barrels (50% new) for 20-24 months. The price is $79.99/bottle and a value for this quality of wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Wanting to showcase the wine with a food pairing, decided to sear and BBQ a marinated flank steak to make Carne Asada. Used our standard recipe with a couple of small changes: adding lemon juice, chopped chipotle peppers and smoked paprika. Cilantro and lime wedges accompanied the presentation. Served with BBQ’ed whole corn on the cob, then sliced off the cob with added butter, salt and pepper. The meal was as I remembered and while a good A-, our “normal recipe” is a solid “A” and we will go back to it for marinating and BBQ-ing. The taste with the wine was still excellent and a great way to come back to food and wine as I remember. Those 10 days seemed like much longer!
The 2017 Hindsight Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon will again make my Best Wines Tasted in the year (2023). That listing is based upon 1600 to 1800 wines tasted during the year, with less than 5% making the list. Two categories exist, the first being up to $50 and the other $51 and up. It comes out mid-December annually.
Sláinte,
Michael
September 24, 2023 at 6:20 pm
I’ll have to try it
Dave
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