Monthly Archives: April 2010

So I’m usually out looking for a good deal along with a great bottle of wine when I get the chance. I’d had the 2006 version of this wine, paying around $20 for it and it was quiet good at the time, though I didn’t get any notes on it. So when I was in need of a wine to bring over to friends for dinner, I happened upon the 2007 at Whole Foods for about $25, and thought “it seems like a little more, but oh well”. Anyway, the wine turned out to be a hit with the friends, I knew I had to seek out more, this time at my favorite discount mecca, The Wine Library. Sure enough, they sold it for $15.98. Cringe!

Schild Shiraz

Oh well, I snapped up a few extra bottle at that price and have been enjoying them since. Here’s notes on this wine, which at 15 is far a better deal that I would have expected. This is a big extracted wine, with a solid nose yielding blueberries, raspberries, coffee, mushroom and tea scents. The taste initially is firm and tannic, but that smoothes out with 30 minutes. Rich fruit and chocolate-tobacco core dominate the palate and the finish is full and long. I’ve now tasted this a few times with consistent notes. I’d have to say based on the price I’ve got to go Borderline Outstanding on this one.

So from the get-go, this wine just feels right. The smell is strong, bold even after a half-hour decant. However, in the first hour, the taste hasn’t quiet caught up with the nose. The pencil shavings and cherry core come through with a little bit of nutmeg and tobacco on the nose. The taste however is hard and still very tannic.

Given another hour or so to wake up, and this wine really starts to come alive. Now its singing with fruit and body, and the nose has a rich aged oaky smell, with charcoal and mushroom. The taste, still with a bit of grippy tannins now opens up to reveal a softer under body, rich cherry fruit and a long balanced finish. Not overly long by any means, maybe 25 seconds. Being that I originally picked this up for $25, it seems to be in that sweet spot for a wine that gives you a little more, but doesn’t go over the top.

2001 Haut-Bages Liberal

What I really dig about this wine right is it doesn’t try to overpower you or make you cry uncle cause its got too much alcohol. It weighs in a 12.5 percent which makes it easier to drink and enjoy through the night. It does seem to lack a little bit in the finish, and the rasiny texture tells me the fruit might not hold up too much longer. But as far as classic aged Bordeaux goes, this seems to be a great example at this stage.

Now open for about 3 hrs, its still got some grip, but the softness continues to come through. The mushroom, tobacco, earth, and oak blend really nicely together. I was looking to open something that would both make be contemplate the wine, but also a nice drink throughout the evening. I’m not going to say this is a perfect wine, but it really delivers for me. Price was good, though I guess it runs more like $40 now. The taste (hey there’s actual taste here – rather than just oak, or fruit) provided a number of subtleties that you don’t see from alot of other wines. I really enjoy the taste of terrior here and a definete sense of place. Anyway, I’ve ranted on long enough – overall I’d give this wine a borderline outstanding. While not a mind blowing, with the age on the bottle, and the wonderful characteristics, it was a thoroughly enjoyable wine.

So, I’ve decided that I have had enough of the 100 pt rating system, as I’m sure alot of you have, and want to try something new. I think the swell of anger towards Parker and WS is starting to really show out on the blogosphere, and with rise of sites like Cellartracker, most of us are taking a broader look at ratings and starting to wonder more about what they all mean. Don’t get me wrong, I have been and will still probably continue to be drawn in by rating numbers. They are hard to dismiss. But as you start to learn what style a certain reviewer likes, it becomes apparent that the best scoring wines all sort of start to taste the same.

So now when I review a wine, I’ll try to give a little history, a little more in depth review of the wine taste and then something that explains what I really thought of the wine. Sometimes a wine is good because it is unique or different. Other times a wine is right cause it was the perfect reflection of mood. So either way, my reviews should capture a bit of the mood and the feel of the wine, rather than just flavor and complexities. New rating scale – forget the pts, Parker can have them. Lets go for something more down to earth.

World Class – In the Parker world, 96-100

Outstanding – In the Parker world, 93-95

Borderline Outstanding – In the Parker world, 91-92

Brick Solid – In the parker world – 89-90

Drinkable – 85-88

Grapeplonk – 85 and below

Alright, I’m still playing with this idea, but I’ll work out the details soon enough. Look for new reviews to start soon.

As you drive along the Oakville crossroad in Napa, you’re bound to come across a number of well-known and high-quality wineries. Names like Groth, Rudd and of course Silver Oak standout, but I’ve found that Plumpjack towers above them all. This is not to say that Plumpjack isn’t a big name or widely known. Of course, it’s the product of the partnership between Gordon Getty, venture capitalist and philanthropist, and Gavin Newsome, current mayor of San Francisco. Starting a wine shop in San Fran, the empire quickly grew into a number of restaurants and both the Plumpjack Winery and newly opened CADE winery. The later is a “green”-focused wine making effort. You can try some of their wines at the location in Oakville.

What I do find interesting is that for all of the money and expansion that the Plumpjack group has done, you’d be hard-pressed to find any sense of extravagance at the winery and tasting rooms themselves. Instead of a large stone entrance, there is just a small sign indicating the wineries presence. A long gravel driveway leads down to an unassuming low-slung series of buildings. Even the tasting room has the feel of being in an old barn or farm building, and while it might be for effect, it works.

Tastings are $10, and when we last went, we tried four wines. It varies throughout the year based on availability so check before you go. We tried a CADE Sauvignon Blanc, Plumpjack Chardonnay, Plumpjack Syrah and they Estate Cabernet. Being the only ones there that day, it was a very relaxed experience chatting with the helpful staff. I’ve been a fan of their wines for a few years and these latest examples didn’t disappoint. Their standard estate quality can complete with the $100+ bottles on the market, and while they are not cheap by any means, they tend to provide a better high-end value.

Below are tasting notes from a recent bottle of the 2004 Plumpjack Estate Cabernet. After purchasing the 2007 on this last trip, I can only hope it to be just as good.

The nose was very large and rich, filled with raspberries and black fruit notes. There was some cedar and tea spice scents, along with an earthy lavender fragrance.  Initially, the taste is tight even after 1 ½ hrs of decanting. After 3 hrs, the body becomes smooth with just a hint of tannins. The tannins are present as you swallow creating a rich powerful flavor with earth, smoke, and tar. Building on the mid-palette, the blue and black fruits wash away to a powerful dry finish coating the mouth and really amazing strength even after 4 hrs open. Bell pepper, mushroom and Asian spice are the dominate flavors. I’d say this wine had a number of years ahead of it, even if it was delicious already now.

Highly Recommended