Month: March 2023
2011 Crocker & Starr “Stone Place” Cabernet Sauvignon
The Winery
This came up on the 2023 “To Drink List” last evening. While admittedly having more than “a few bottles” of Crocker & Starr in the cellar, I have been patiently waiting to open many of them. This was again such a wonderful tasting wine and confirmed why we were wine club members there for ten years!
I did a previous story on the excellent partnership and friendship between Pam Starr and Charlie Crocker many years ago for more details click:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2016/02/01/crocker-starr-2/
The Wine
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Pam Starr has always made some of the best Cabernet Franc’s and Cabernet Sauvignon’s in Napa Valley. Her 2011 Stone Place Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception! She added about 5% Petit Verdot which is easily seen in the wine glass with its bright ruby coloring. It has a medium to medium heavy viscosity as seen in a few swirls of the goblet. On the nose aromas rise up of floral notes of violet and espresso. On the palate the wine provides wide reaching tastes of dark chocolate, raspberries, spicy black pepper, plum, pipe tobacco and black licorice. The finish is where gentle oak and minerality come into play, with a faint hint of vanilla to entice one to take yet another sip of this intoxicating Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are present but not obtrusive and the structure shows layer upon layers of distinction.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The current release of this wine is the 2019 coming out in the Fall of 2023 and will sell for $195/bottle.
Sláinte,
Michael
Bennett Lane Winery – 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
The Winery – Background
Randy and Lisa Lynch twenty years ago were looking for locations to build their Italian villa home and winery. They finally found this spot a mile or so north of the town of Calistoga. Their initial wine was named after the 2nd century Roman Emperor Magnus Maximus. Today a coin with pictures of Athena (Goddess of Wisdom), Bacchus (God of Wine), and Severus Alexander (Roman Augustus) adorn the bottles and name of a wine club. The stated goal of the winery was to have fun and enjoy some of the best wines produced in Napa Valley.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The primary role of the winery is to make it the friendliest winery in Napa Valley with approachability and warmth. This is evident in both their indoor and outdoor tasting areas.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The winemaker Rob Hunter is an engaging, knowledgeable person with a coy sense of humor. I was fortunate to be seated next to Rob while tasting and talked extensively about the wines and technically about smoke taint and efforts to minimize it. Note all the wines tasted today were harvested and in process before the fires of 2020! Rob’s background and experience catapults him to the top of the winemakers having extensive work experience at Groth, Keenan, Lyeth, Markam and Sterling wineries.
Winemaker Rob Hunter (Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The winery’s main wines are various levels of Cabernet Sauvignon but also produces Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé (from Petite Sirah grapes) and a few others and a blend. On their website they boast of being the home of 68 90+ wines from industry wine raters at Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
The Wine – 2020 Bennett Lane Winery
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The 2020 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon on the eyes was a deep cavernous red coloring and medium heavy viscosity. On the nose, red fruits wafted up to the senses. In the mouth, dark cherries filled the mouth and a hint of dark chocolate. The finish provided soft silky tannins and a mid-level finish. Rob the winemaker, mentioned that it is an “easy drinking wine” and “just flavorful and with a soft landing” on the palate. The wine lists for $75/bottle.
The Food and Wine Pairing
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Selected this wine for dinner last night as a Cabernet Sauvignon with it smoothness and without harsh tannins to take away from the main dish. The main dish being slow cooked braised short ribs cooked in a red wine broth. The ingredients beyond the 3 pounds of bone-in beef short ribs were sea salt, pepper, olive oil, sliced yellow onions, quartered baby mushrooms, minced garlic cloves, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram and bay leaves. Slow cooked for nine hours. A sour cream, horseradish and lemon zest sauce was prepared to enjoy with the ribs.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Served with mushroom risotto, roasted Brussel sprouts with balsamic glaze and a gorgeous fresh garden salad brought by our guests completed the meal. The meal was wonderful and paired with the wine as expected, exceptionally well.
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
We also enjoyed several other wines before, during and after the five hour dinner!!
Sláinte,
Michael
2021 Balverne Chardonnay – Forever Wild
The Winery
(Photo Balverne website)
Bob and Renee Stein purchased the 710-acre Russian River Valley estate that included a working vineyard in 1992. The Steins vision was to create a sustainable property and they called it Notre Vue Estate. They developed the property keeping 350 acres in a protected Forever Wild open space. This acreage weaved with the vineyards combines rugged wildland and wildlife with the manicured vineyards.
This accomplished their ideal view and called it Notre Vue (our view).
(Photo Belverne website)
The resulting effort is 250 acres of rolling vineyards and the “Forever Wild” protected space. This includes 17 miles of hiking and biking trails with picnicking areas throughout. Horseback riding trails also exist. Their label shows a red shoulder Hawk which roam the area. Thus their motto is the reason we consider Forever Wild to be the heart of the Notre Vue Estate.
Their goal with their winemaker, is focused on making wine in a European style with finesse and low intervention. Their current offerings with the Balverne label include Zinfandel, Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, a few different Chardonnay’s, Malbec, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon. Under their Notre Vue label, the have various Rose’s, Chardonnay’s, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a few red blends.
The Wine – 2021 Balverne Chardonnay
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
The wine is a lighter straw golden color and medium viscosity on the eyes. On the nose green apple notes flood the senses. On the palate, a soft lemon custard and a tinge of butterscotch interact and frolic with each other. On the crisp finish the lemon and apple linger providing a refreshing Chardonnay. The wine is 100% Russian River Valley and aged 5 months in 100% French oak, with 20% new barrels. Their current release 2019 is listed at $35/bottle. For the new 2021 only 252 cases were produced.
The Food and Wine Pairing
(Photo ©Michael Kelly)
Paired this evening with a stir fried chicken and Bok Choy dish. Ingredients included cornstarch, canola oil, sesame oil, uncooked onions, ginger root, minced garlic, low sodium soy sauce and uncooked Bok Choy. Garnished with sesame seeds. Accompanied by brown rice and a fresh garden salad with Japanese Miso dressing. A delightfully light meal and the wine complemented and surrounded the stir fried chicken spices very comfortably.
Sláinte,
Michael
- ← Previous
- 1
- 2