A Crocker & Starr Evening with two wines – 2019 Casili 12 and 2013 “Stone Place” Cabernet Sauvignon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wines – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
As stated in title, two wines were chosen this evening for the meal.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
*The First Wine – 2019 Crocker & Starr Casili 12. This wine is a blend of 85% Malbec and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. While having various years of Casili vintages, each year the blend and percentages change. I wanted one with more Malbec percentage to go with the meat this evening. This bottle was placed in the “Eve” decanter by Riedel. This wine on the eyes was deep violet in coloring and even notes of the violet flower wafted into the senses. On the palate blueberries, black cherries were dominate, with mild oak lurking in the background. On the finish a modicum of dark chocolate and vanilla pipe tobacco, counterbalanced by minerality, and a slightly typical smoky element found in the better Malbec wines. This was exactly the flavors needed this evening. The wine came in at 14.4% alcohol. Wine Advocated rated it 94 points. The vintage currently being released is the Casili 15 and lists at $98/per bottle.
*The Second Wine – 2013 Crocker & Starr “Stone Place” Cabernet Sauvignon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
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Photo ©Michael Kelly
This wine was enjoyed after dinner while enjoying the warm summer weather on the patio. This was another solid choice as “Stone Place” is one of the premiere wines at Crocker & Starr. On the eyes a dense purple coloring filled the glass. On the nose rice and powerful blackberry wafted from the glass. On the palate, a lush and full-bodied fruit of blackberry and black cherry coated the mouth with “happiness”. On the finish a slight minerality and silky-smooth tannins as they seemed to be on siesta, present but not sharp (personal preference). This did make for a great sipping wine without food and came in at 14.4% alcohol. Wine Advocate rated the wine at 95 points and stated it should drink well for 20-25 years. My assessment is that it should be consumed this year or next as it is getting to its peak. The current release for the “Stone Place” is the 2021 and is listed at $195/bottle by Wine Enthusiast.
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
Our eldest daughter and husband were in town for dinner Friday night from Arizona. Prepared one of our favorite dishes, Carne Asada. Marinate a flank steak for 24 hours in a delicious sauce. The marinade consisted of cilantro, olive oil, reduced soy sauce, fresh squeezed orange juice, fresh squeezed lime, minced garlic, Serrano peppers, cumin, kosher salt and black pepper. All the ingredients were placed in a blender and then placed in a freezer bag with the steak. Additional marinate was kept separate to drizzle on the medium rare steak slices with fresh cilantro sprinkled and fresh limes squeezed when plated.
Accompanied by Mexican Pasta Salad made with corkscrew pasta, black beans, cherry tomatoes, diced jalapeños, fresh cilantro, yellow corn and cut green onions. The dressing consisted of extra-virgin olive oil, fresh squeezed lime juice, red wine vinegar, minced garlic, sea salt and black pepper. Both recipes were new and tasted exceptionally well and topped off with fresh cilantro. Accompanied by Italian herbedFrench bread. The wine provided bold fruits and enough tannins to engulf the beef spicy notes.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
For dessert, a freshly baked pineapple upside down cake from scratch with the juice added to mix, provided a very moist cake and delicious finish to the evening. The local store had no maraschino cherries!
The Winery
Photo from 2 years ago ©Michael Kelly
Pam Starr is simply a Rock Star. I believe she is one of the elite top 10 winemakers in Napa, but she is also much more than this. Knowing Pam Starr and following her exquisite wines for years, just about all would agree! Her technical pedigree comes from UC Davis in Fermentation Science. She started as an intern at Sonoma Cutrer, Edna Valley Vineyard, then six years at Carmenet Winery and then winemaker for Spottswoode Vineyard. In 1997 she and Charlie Crocker established Crocker & Starr.
Photo from Crocker & Starr website
Charlie Crocker comes from one of California’s oldest families, with his grandfather who was involved in the Central Pacific railroad in the mid 1800’s. His family heritage was a force in California’s development. Charlie also was involved in high tech and ran several companies very successfully. He has always had a keen interest in wine. Charlie in 1971 purchased the Dowdell property in St Helena. Today 85 of the 100 acres are planted in the classical Bordeaux grapes. On their website a detailed chronology is provided and makes a very good read.
The blending of these two personalities as a partnership is as smooth as their wine — seamless and magnificent.
What I enjoy most in getting to know Pam, is her genuineness and friendliness. You can stop by and see her in the vineyards, driving a forklift, punching down tubs of grapes, just about anything and everything. She is immersed in the business of “perfection”. Yet she has time, to sit down and talk, provide a bowl of water for your dogs, and even converse about mundane “non-wine issues”. She is above all else, extremely real and kind. Why wouldn’t you like her wine?
Her enthusiasm spills over into her craft of winemaking skills. I am speaking as a customer and wine club member from this perspective. Since meeting Pam, some twenty years ago, her wines started out at a 10 (scale of 1-10) and have remained at this quality the entire time! No easy feat with droughts, fire and wild temperature swings.
Let’s talk about the wines she produces. First, and why I sought Crocker & Starr initially years ago, was her Cabernet Franc. Each year they produce one of the most consistently solid and best Cabernet Francs in the Valley. The wine always shows a deep purple, with concentrates of black raspberries and tobacco. As some Cab Francs can be “strong”, Crocker & Starr‘s are strong in texture, but surprisingly soft and velvety to drink. They have enough balance of structure, tannin and acid to last 10-15 years without fail.
Today they produce a few Cabernet Sauvignon (RLC, Stone Place, One Post), Cabernet Franc and Casali (blend of Cabernet Franc & Malbec). Also, their white Sauvignon Blanc is superb. One newer addition is Brut Rosé. All her red wines and white wines have consistently made my annual list of “Best Wines Tasted” during the year for the last 15 years! See the links to these reviews:
https://californiawinesandwineries.com/2019/12/28/2011-crocker-starr-stone-place-cabernet-sauvignon/
One of their taglines is “Touch the Vines, Taste the Wines”. When visiting the winery, immersion into the vineyard is a prerequisite. In 2021 Cyrus Hazzard joined the Crocker & Starr team as a Partner & President to continue their esteemed tradition.
Slainte,
Michael Kelly