This was a very nice Cab Franc…dusty, a bit musty, and a really nice long finish. Perfect with pepperoni pizza.
Popped a Truett Hurst 2013 3 Vineyard Zin with dinner very savory
A mourvedre blend that I made in 2005. It was still remarkably bright in color and flavor, with no oxidation and just a hint of mourvedre funk. This was about 75% mourvedre (Lodi), with about half the rest syrah (Amador) and grenache (Sonoma), with a touch of petite sirah for tienture and backbone. I’m glad I waited with this–I have about a case more.
OK, I’ve been remiss . . . after my last post, I was traveling – first to New Orleans and then to Tacoma. Back now . . . this past Monday night:
1997 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, cuvée normale, Domaine de la Mordorée (Rhône, France)
With perfectly done steaks and a salad, this 1997 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (cuvée normale) from Domaine de la Mordorée was simply stunning. Perfumed spice, cherry, raspberry, white pepper, light earth and a touch of leather seduce the nose, while the velvety wine brings all this and more to the palate, with finely-grained tannins, and a very long, flavorful finish. It’s mature, but not old, with years ahead of it. (Glad I have another five bottles!)
After the CdP, we moved onto dessert . . .
The label fell off in the cellar, but it is a 1994 Quinta do Crasto Vintage Porto (Douro, Portugal): Ruby-garnet in color, clear and brilliant to the eye (after decanting); the bouquet is an opulent mix of ripe plums, cherries, mineral accents, a hint of earth, and a touch of saddle leather; on the palate, the wine is velvety in texture, filled with ripe fruit, and layered complexity, with no trace of heat or excessive alcohol, and a very long, lingering finish. At 21 years of age, this wine showed magnificently: a little sweeter than I remembered, but absolutely lovely. Glad I have more in the cellar . . .
Last night (Wednesday, 4/12) was a mixed bag . . .
First, we opened a 1999 Domaine Arretxea Irouléguy, Cuvée Hailza (Sud-Oeust, France):
This is a blend of 70 percent Tannat and 30 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the French Basque country. The bouquet was an enticing mix of cassis, currants, bold earth, spice and a touch of sous bois; on the palate, the wine is fully mature, but the fruit has faded and the finish is drying and tannic. Although we waited for the wine to open up, sadly it did not. So we moved on to something else . . .
2004 Crozes-Hermitage, Domaine des Entrefaux [aka Charles & François Tardy] (Rhône, France):
Now this was more like it! Deep garnet in color, clean and bright (after decanting); the bouquet is filled with blueberries, white pepper, light earth and spice – opulent, yes, but focused and not at all overripe (like some warm climate Syrahs); medium-bodied, with great depth and layering, but still has great structure and balance, and a long, flavorful finish. Beautiful . . . .
To celebrate my brother-in-law’s birthday, we started with a bottle of Prosecco . . .
2013 Cecilia Beretta Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut, D.O.C.G. is a classic and tasty Prosecco, light, crisp, and clean – very nice.
Next, with a charcuterie board and an array of cheeses,
2004 Quinta Vale D. Maria Vinho Tinto, D.O.C., Douro, Portugal is an excellent estate in the Douro one by Cristiano van Zeller (former owner of Quinta do Noval) and his wife Joanna Lemos; the winemaker is Sandra Tavares. The wine is a deep garnet color, clear and clean after decanting; the bouquet is full and lush with ripe red fruits, earth, saddle leather, aromatic spice, mineral notes, and a touch of oak; on the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, velvety smooth and supple, with ripe fruits, earth noted, finely grained tannins, solid backbone, and a very long finish. Absolutely delicious at 11+ years of age, and can go longer.
Moving on, we served an entrée of coho salmon filet and grilled vegetables, with a Little Gem salad, and . . .
2012 Rexford Pinot Noir, Fambrini Vineyard, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, California is produced by Joe Miller¹ and his son Sam at their small winery in Santa Cruz. This Pinot Noir is simply a beautiful wine – medium-light ruby color, brilliant to the eye; the bouquet is classic Pinot, “the last scent of a dying rose,” combined with bright cherries, light earth and a touch of oak; silky texture on the palate, with good acid and light tannins, abundant fruit on the mouth, light spice, a touch of enticing damp earth and a hint of minerals; the finish is long and supple and delicious!
With ollalieberry pie, we had
1995 Quinta do Crasto Vintage Porto, Douro, Portugal is now 20 years old and still on the youthful side of things. Last week, we had the 1994 vintage, which – in all honesty – is a better wine, but this is certainly nothing to pass on. Ripe fruit, lush, rich mouthfeel and good complexity, this is simply a slightly “lesser” version than the 1994 and simply put, a very enjoyable wine . . .
¹ In the interest of full disclosure, I should point out that I first met Joe Miller when I was a student at UC Santa Cruz in the 1970s. He is (now) a retired University of California Santa Cruz astronomy professor, and former Director of all UC Observatories, including the world-renowned Keck Observatory on Maui. More information on his wines can be found at Rexford Winery.
Doesn’t everyone have four bottles of wine with dinner? ;o)
Well, it’s not like we only had four people . . . there were 8 of us! 
2014 Venus la Universal “Dido” Blanc, Montsant, Spain
Produced from Macabeu, Garnatxa Blanca, and Cartoixà (Xarel-lo), the wine is a pale lemon-gold color, clean and bright; wonderful aromatics in the nose, with jasmine, quince, citrus, and a touch of anise; on the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, silky smooth and supple, but with good acidity and firm structure, with pear, orange, melon, and stone fruits and more; the finish is long and tasty – great with an assortment of tapas and paella . . . .
I feel as though I should start a new thread entitled, “WDJD?” – What Did Jason Drink?
I think you have to admit that your day to day wine consumption is far and and above that of others here. At my house we tend to drink <$10 daily drinkers except on somewhat special occasions these days. Most of those who used to contribute to this kind of topic did so in our previous forum life and have ‘disappeared’. There may be some factor of intimidation at play here as well.
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Windy Oaks terra narro 2013 pinot noir . Santa Cruz mountains , Corralitos .
One of our favorites.
1995 Andrew Will Merlot, Washington State: Deep garnet in color, very youthful in appearance (would never guess this to be a 20-year old wine), clear and clean after decanting; the bouquet is a blend of ripe plum, currant, cola, sweet cream, light cocoa and spice; all this is echoed on the velvety palate, with good fruit, soft tannins, and a slight drying note in the lingering finish. Delicious with lamp crépinettes, roasted vegetables and a salad . . .
1999 Domaine de la Mordorée Lirac rouge, “Cuvée de la Reine des Bois,” (Rhône, France): Garnet-hued with slight bricking at the rim, clean and clear after decanting); the bouquet is classic Southern Rhône, with strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, lavender, light “sous bois” notes and more; on the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, silky and supple, very flavorful, and with a long, lingering finish. Beautiful with an array of soft-ripened cheeses, duck pâté with cherries and pistachios, Jamon Iberico, and more . . .
I might still have few bottles of the 2000 Mordoree lirac. It was good, and inexpensive at that French warehouse sale place (is it still around?).
