Tag Archives: Cabernet Sauvignon

Feb4

A Canadian Foursome

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A Canadian Foursome

There’s nothing like a quartet of Canadian wine to pass the weekend. This time we were tasked with west coast wine from the Okanagan Valley in that best of natural playgrounds, British Columbia.

Let’s see what the

The 2010 Noble Ridge Meritage, a blend of predominantly Merlot grapes with some Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French and American oak barrels, is a friendly and fruit-forward with a little spicy kick. Berries abound, driven first and foremost by blackberries. Built to please, this one’s a crowd pleaser.

About Noble Ridge: Jim and Leslie D’Andrea began the Noble Ridge winery in 2001. When they purchased the property it had only 3.5 acre of vines. Since then they have planted an additional 18 acres. Tending to vineyards and making the wines is all done by hand.

The 2010 Sonoran Estate Winery Jazz Series Riesling Gewrurztraminer, is a crisp blend with an aromatic component to please any Gewurz lover. Green apples and stone fruit, and a hint of citrus. Great balance! And do I have a daring pairing for you with this one – roasted kale chips. It surprised me how well the roasted kale and this wine go together, but there was a harmony in my mouth that was pretty damn astounding!

About Sonoran Estate: “Immigrants from Holland in 1982, the Smits family were Fraser Valley flower growers until moving in 2000 to a Summerland orchard set on a dramatic slope overlooking Lake Okanagan. After opening a highway-side bed and breakfast, the Smits replaced the fruit trees with vines, opening a winery with the first fruit from the vineyard. The varieties grown include merlot, pinot noir, chardonnay, gewürztraminer, riesling, ehrenfelser and pinot blanc. In 2007, the family moved from the original Sonoran winery, which had difficult highway access, to a high-traffic site on the wine route in Summerland. Beginning with the 2005 vintage, Sonoran now releases its premium wines under the 13 Moons label. Inspired by the lunar cycles, the label also signals a commitment to biodynamic practices.” — BC Wine.com

2009 Dunham Froese MDC, a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Zinfandel, and 25% Syrah, is about as approachable as wine can get. Silky smooth, with the softness of a cool blueberry pie. A great solo joy, it doesn’t need food to make it memorable. The wine is a tribute to Dunham Froese proprietor Gene Covert’s late father, who was an avid Cab drinker.

About Dunham Froese: Dunham Froese, now known as Covert Farms, was founded in 2005 together by the Covert and and Froese families. Those wines from the early years were well received and the winery was named “Best New Winery to Watch for” in 2008 by the Okanagan Wine Festival Society. In 2011, the Covert family assumed full ownership.

2011 Platinum Bench Chardonnay, the inaugural release of this wine. It’s got even oaky backbone to make us know it means business, but without taking away that citrusy zing. MIngling iwth that citrus are crisp Granny Smith apples and a melony softness. Very refreshing on the finish. We previously wrote about Platinum Bench’s 2011 Gamay Noir and Pinot Gris, which we were fans of, so it’s very interesting to find another potent weapon in their vinous arsenal. These folks have sure come out swinging. Production is only 350 cases.

About Platinum Bench Estate Winery: We truly don’t know much yet about the Platinum crew. They’ve barely gotten here, and they’re winning awards and storming palates. The Oliver, BC winery was established in 2012 by Fiona Duncan and Murray Jones. And there’s a dog named Wally. What more is there to know?

And that’s all folks. Truly, it is.

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For more on wines from the Okanagan valley, this is the best book I know.

Jan23

Francis Ford Coppola Presents “Inglenook Now”

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Francis Ford Coppola Presents “Inglenook Now”

Rubicon_Vineyard

Francis Ford Coppola, he of Godafther and Apocalypse Now cinematic fame, is probably even more known to some wine folk for his endeavors in California wine for many years now. And when it comes to wine news concerning Mr. Coppola, the recent news of him re-booting the Inglenook brand, and the old Inglenook property’s vineyards, after buying back the Inglenook trademark in 2011 is the cherry on the cake he’s been putting together when not busy bankrupting himself and avoiding Hollywood slavery while making groundbreaking films.Inglenook1941

Coppola bought the Niebaum mansion in 1975 and over the past four decades, he began buying back the property that had been sold in pieces, made it his family home, and poured money into it even when he wasn’t flush with money – but that’s what a labor of love does to you. It’s the one thing he has stuck with, even as he has easily abandoned Hollywood, parting with mainstream filmmaking, something most of the world knows him for. But then again, Coppola has always been one to walk his own path

IInglenook_Winerynglenook’s fame is decades old. Over a hundred years ago they were already making award-winning wine on this estate founded by, of all things, a sea captain from Finland. It garnered the kind of legendary status that has made it, as Robert Mondavi called it, “the most important winery property in the Napa Valley.” So to Coppola, it was a no-brainer to buy back the original Inglenook brand, and replace the Rubicon brand with it, when it became available.

But it doesn’t stop with just a brand. Coppola is intent on reviving the lighter style of wine that made it famous, Cabernets made with few of the modern techniques that seem mandatory in today’s winemaking process. He’s even ready to abandon the usually over the top, oaked fruit bombs of Cabs that Napa has made famous and turn to an older style, some would even say a more Bordeaux style. The shift also requires a change to the hundreds of acres of vines at Inglenook’s vineyards. Coppola has always been very attentive to the farming of his land, and is one of the only vineyard owners in the region to keep a full crew year round to better achieve this purpose.

Now we are beginning to see the first vintages, but a hundred years ago it was the long lasting quality of the Inglenook wines that made them special, so it could be expected that the success of the results of Coppola’s work can only be weighed years, if not decades from now. But if the long-lasting success of his greatest cinematic labor of love, Apocalypse Now, is any sign, there may be great things to come.

           

Oct29

Mini Reviews: JM Cellars

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Mini Reviews: JM Cellars

JM Cellars is one a hidden slice of serenity tucked away in a pocket of Woodinville just a stone’s throw from the bustle of Seattle. It’s a place to unwind while you take your palate for a whirl. The grounds are tranquil and the tasting room subdued and inviting with its warm tones and even warmer people.

So what did we taste?

JM Cellars 2010 Sauvignon Blanc (Yakima valley) – Clean, crisp but sufficient fruitiness. Pears, yellow Golden Delicious apples that, like Macintoshes, are going out of style but of so delish.

JM Cellars 2008 Tre Franciulli (Columbia Valley) (53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 14% Syrah) – Licorice nose underlined by blackberry, very elegant, violets. Extremely smooth, complex finish with peppery prickles.

JM Cellars 2008 Longevity (Columbia Valley) – Silky nose of dark fruit, cherries & hint of licorice. Powerful tannins. Long finish.

JM Cellars 2008 Red Mountain Cab Sauv – Peppery ‘n’ powerful, meaty, gamy, a hero of a finish that rides off into the sunset.

JM Cellars are onto a very good thing, and their winery is a must visit for anyone in the area. And if you don’t believe me, this is what Robert Parker had to say:

“John and Peggy Bigelow’s JM Cellars is a required visit for wine tourists in the Seattle/Woodinville area. The winery’s landscaping is breath-taking and, most important, the wines are first-class and reasonably priced.”

Oct12

Summerhill Cabernets 2009

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Summerhill Cabernets 2009

The 2009 Summerhill Pyramid Winery Cabernets is in our glass today.

The Cabernets in the glass are 70% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Sehkon Family Vineyard in Canada’s favorite desert town of Osoyoos, and 30% Cabernet Franc from Knollvine Farm up the road in Okanagan Falls. These are a blend of organic grapes and grapes transitioning to organic certification. The fruit is 100% barrel aged for 28 months.

On first look, it’s a garnet pool of great expectations.

On the nose, there’s good ol’ black currant, chocolate covered cherries like Cherry blossoms in the candy aisle if they were made with sour cherries, a mélange spiciness and brown sugar (mélange being a fancy French word for “mix”), cloves, and a gentle toastiness.

On the palate, bitter coffee beans, creamy espresso-cherry bombs, green pepper.

This is a juicy, medium-bodied wine with a soft, lingering finish that is rather pleasant. it is an easy-drinking red that should appeal to a broad spectrum. Definitely ready for drinking now. Unfortunately, this wine doesn’t offer great value. A price point closer to “20 bones”, as Gary Vaynerchuk might say, would work, though value needs to be placed on Summerhill‘s long-time efforts to transition all of their vineyards to be organic (currently some are in transition while others are organic).

…and on last thing, if you haven’t already checked out our wine travel pics, hop on over to our Pinterest page.

 

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For more on wines from the Okanagan valley, these are the best books I know.