Tag Archives: california

Oak Savanna Cabernet Sauvignon Rancho La Zaca 2001

11 Monday Aug 2014

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Moxie and I went to a friend’s home for appetizers and wine before venturing out for dinner.  They had just moved house and it was my luck that he offered my choice of wines.  This one was not to be missed from his selection.  Not often do you get to try a 13 year old Cali Cab on the fly.  The only downside of this wine was a crumbled cork.

Plums with a nice oak nose welcomed us to imbibe in this smooth wine.  Cassis, plum torte and a hint of eucalyptus were the opening act with some leather and earth coming into mid-palate play.  Fully integrated tannins and great acidity made for a great mouthfeel that you get from aged wine.  I made note ‘Mature in a Bordeaux way’, but believe this was once full on fruit- tempered by time.  Slight bricking in the glass tells me this wine is absolutely at peak, start drinking if you have any more.  I have no idea what this bottle retailed for, but if it was in the $35 range back in the day it would not surprise me.  I give it a solid 91 points and potentially 4 stars if I knew the price.  Delicious wine that has rewarded extended cellaring.  Salut….

oak savanna cabernet sauvignon

Handcraft Petite Sirah 2012

06 Thursday Mar 2014

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I just love Petite Sirah.   It’s thick, powerful and in my face.  I also like delicate wines that ooze class and reek of finesse.  Tonight though is for the unabashed.  This wine is a serious dark shade of purple, a warning shot of what is to come.  Blackberry and creosote on the nose, in a good way.  Dark fruits and a jammy plum element hit me right off the bat.  The grape is full on with tannins and juicy acidity.  This is night 2 of this bottle and it is drinking beautifully.  Balanced with tons of potential make this a stellar wine.  Retailing at $12 it gets a solid 90 points from me for its depth and complexity.  You know what that means folks- 5 stars!  I am in need of a few more bottles for a dark and stormy nice with some chili, or a beef Bourguignon.   Cellaring for another 5 years would reveal a treasure.  Salut….

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Sycamore Lane Cabernet Sauvignon 2011

20 Wednesday Nov 2013

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If you read my post on the Santa Ana disaster, it leads into this wine.  My buddy bought two bottles of the nasty stuff and returned one the next day.  They offered him this bottle as a replacement so I don’t know the value of it.  A lighter shade of red in the glass and some hints of raspberry on the nose.  On the palate I got red cherry and strawberry with some earth.  Not my favorite profile for a Cab Sav but I was willing to roll with it.  Nice mouthfeel yet not very complex.  I don’t think this is a serious/expensive wine yet it was intriguing.  Suffering from jet lag and hunger we polished it off and headed out for dinner.  If this was a $10 bottle I would give it 3 stars.  I reckon it is an 85 point wine and think you may enjoy it as an aperitif.  I can’t quite pick a pairing because of the somewhat strange flavors for the varietal, best to be drunk by itself I reckon.  Salut….

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Estancia Estates Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

13 Saturday Jul 2013

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Dark fruit on the nose and purple in the glass.  Not overly fruity, this wine was decent and a good value for the price.  On the palate I got some earth, dark berries and a touch of oak.  Good mouthfeel, balanced and slight tannins made it easy to drink.  A basic California Cabernet for quaffing that I think should get 85 points and 3 stars in my books.

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Christopher Creek Petite Sirah 2005

10 Sunday Jun 2012

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Neither petite, nor a Sirah. Similar to the Shiraz/Sirah grape, this varietal is my style. Dark, brooding, tannic, ageable and full bodied. This particular wine is 7 years into its life and is still a baby. Dark purple in the glass, the nose shows Berry and, dare I say it- alcohol. At 14+ % it packs a punch. However, smooth on the palate, with Cassis coming through along with a hint of red fruit. A very tannic backbone shows good integration and the promise of excellent cellaring potential. The balance is just slightly off with the alcohol, perhaps this too shall pass. I really like this style and am enjoying the wine immensely. 4 stars and 90 points. I forgot to mention ghd length, amazingly long. Not sure if you can find it anywhere though, pity.

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Apothic Red ’10

10 Thursday May 2012

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A blend from California of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and the peppery Zinfandel that pops out at 13.1% alcohol. First impression, sweeeeet. Not my style and over the top with dark berry fruit. Decent structure and smooth tannins make this a wine that can be enjoyed for what it is, an everyday drinker that will appeal to the beginner. No complexity was noted and for under $10, none was expected. I really can’t think of what to pair this with as the sweetness was cloying and that would overshadow most grilled meats. As a stand-alone drinker, I got bored with it after my first glass. I think this would be an 80- point wine, but only 1 star in my books. I will pass on it in the future.

Top Hat ’08

30 Monday Jan 2012

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A Christmas gift from a co-worker, I wasn’t sure what to expect on this one.  I tried to search the web for it, nothing.  Very typical Cali Cab, bright fruit on the nose and palate, good tannins and a balanced finish.  I was really impressed with this bottle, but have no idea where to get it from or how much it costs.  I paired it with some Filets on the grill, worked a treat.  The tannic structure is perfect for this cut.  Not in-your-face, they are part and parcel, holding the wine together and showing no signs of letting up.  The fruit is still in primary mode, as would be expected from California.  Surprisingly, this wine is still very fresh yet shows some aging capability.  I would think it could last until 2018 at the least, and hopefully gain some secondary flavors without losing the its appealing fruit.  I reckon a 90 point rating and 4 stars are in order.

top hat cabernet

Castle Rock ’09

10 Saturday Dec 2011

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A few of my colleagues gathered for a little Christmas cheer upon our arrival in Hong Kong and this was the first of many bottles to be opened.  Very primary in fruit with a decent nose and mid-palate it offered no sign of aging potential.  A decent way to start out as it was not heavy, complex or overpowering.  Very reasonably priced, this one is a sure winner for informal drinking or large parties.  From a pro standpoint, perhaps an 82 rating but I’m giving it 4 stars for being a good QPR player.