cabernet-sauvignon
2014 Tate Wine Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon – A Perfect Fall Wine
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Background and The Winery
Picture from Tate Wine website
Remembering back to 2016 when I first met David and Suzanne at lunch, the conversation was about price points on quality/artisan wines/authentic vineyard production which was so refreshing by a relative newcomer, like TATE Wines.
First a little history on how TATE Wines came to existence. Suzanne’s brief history while going to college in Austin, Texas (where she was raised), she very much enjoyed a wine appreciation course. She then went to study culinary arts at CCA in San Francisco. She went to work in Houston at a fine wine distributor for five years. It was a wine dinner where she met David Tate. In 2010, she moved to Napa Valley.
David Tate’s credentials as a winemaker for 25 years are very strong: Ridge Vineyards, as an assistant winemaker; worked in Barossa Valley, Australia; Provence, France; Canterbury, New Zealand. He also has travelled to just about every fine wine region in the world. David graduated from Brock University in Enology and Viticulture with honors. David is originally from Vancouver, British Columbia. David currently is the winemaker at Barnett Vineyards, winning many outstanding awards for their wine.
Picture from Tate Wine website
In 2011 David and Suzanne formed TATE Wines. David as the artisan winemaker, Suzanne as the marketing and sales arm, one from Canada and one from Texas. Yet combined they make a synergistic and complementary team of two, ready to take on the world with their wines.
Currently they have seven wines to offer. Their 2022 St Helena Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Spring Street Chardonnay, 2021 Jack’s Vineyard Howell Mtn Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021 Spring Street Cabernet Sauvignon, Miss Gay Rose (from Grenache), 2021 Mt Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon and 2019 Reason Vineyard Merlot. I must schedule a tasting as it has been a while since Suzanne visited Saddle Creek for a winemaker’s dinner.
The Wine – “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Each micro vineyard which David has access to presents a unique and specific terroir which David extracts for optimum distinction. For example, for this 2014 Mt Veeder, he uses a single vineyard at 1400 feet elevation that was once an ancient seabed. This vineyard produces one of the lowest yields in Napa Valley. For those familiar with Mt Veeder, the top of the mountain is sunny and the first to receive the cooling climate or fog. David believes that this allows the grapes “to mature slowly producing dynamic flavors and deeper tannins”.
Opening this wine last evening was a truly a delightful experience and was such a great reminder of two great people in Napa Valley. On the eyes a brooding very dark reddish/blackish coloring. A classic from Mt Veeder with violet and earth notes on the nose. On the palate unmistakenly Mt Veeder with dark black cherries, tannins that caress rather than bite with a finish that was long lasting with plums concluding each sip. This wine still had a few years left with the fruit and acid in perfect balance.
Only 8 barrels were produced of this wine, and it comes in at 14.6% alcohol. Today’s vintage is the 2021 from Mt Veeder and is listed at $115.00. This wine will make my annual list of the Best Wines Tasted in 2024! That list comes out each December.
Sláinte,
Michael
2020 Middle Oak Wines Cabernet Franc – Music and Art Influencing the Wine
The Winery and Background
Photo from Middle Oak Wines Facebook
Christina Skinner is the owner of a small, woman-owned and family operated winery in Friendswood, Texas. Friendswood is located 23 miles southeast of Houston. Christina being a devoted artist (music and painting), had a dream to be involved with wine and the wine industry. After much studying, her dream came to life in the fall of 2021 with the introduction of her 2018 vintage “The Middle C”.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Her personal belief is that the arts and wines are intertwined disciplines. She sources her fruit from hand selected vineyards in Napa Valley, using organic, biodynamic and sustainable farming techniques producing beautiful fruit. Today, besides their Cabernet Franc, she produces Sauvignon Blanc, Grenache, Merlot, Red Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Christina keeps production small focusing on the high quality producing 200-300 cases a year.
Christina launched a wine club recently with a great reception. Her near-term goal is going to gradually increase her production and move to a larger more functional and versatile space for her tasting room. One of the things she is most grateful for is that every single wine produced has won at least one medal/award, every year!
Photo from Rudy Zuidema
Christina was fortunate to meet and work with Rudy Zuidema, a winemaking star in Napa Valley. You can read a previous story on Rudy at:
Rudy, a UC Davis graduate in viticultural, has worked as a head winemaker, vineyard manager and general manager in Napa. His experiences in winemaking include time at Cuvaison, Honig, Robert Craig, Ehlers Estate and other projects include Napa De Oro Winery, Red Cap Vineyards and his own label Zuidema Wines. Rudy is the winemaker for Middle Oak Wines.
Previously at the International Cabernet Franc Wine Competition Middle Oak Wines won various awards. For the 2023 Competition Category 5 ($101 and up) for California (based grapes), they won a Gold Medal and Best of Class from the People’s Choice Judges. In 2024, both sets of Judges gave them a Silver Medal.
The Wine “Wine is bottled poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Enjoyed this wine the other evening. This is Christina’s favorite wine that she produces. Her “Middle C” Cab Franc on the eyes is a lush dark ruby and purple coloring and is medium-full bodied viscosity. On the nose, black cherry is the predominate aroma that wafts into the senses followed by raspberry and herbal notes. On the palate, flavors of black cherry reign with hints of dark chocolate and a skosh of vanilla with a minimal number of pyrazines on the palate. The finish is simply remarkable, smooth with structured velvety tannins, yet soft and rounded to be noticed but not overwhelm your mouth. This wine sells for $115. They used only French oak, with 100% being new for 12 months then transferring it to neutral barrels for another 12 months. It is comprised of 92% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Sláinte,
Michael
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