Goldschmidt Vineyards ~ Singing Tree Chardonnay 2018, Katherine Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Hilary Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

I first became aware of Goldschmidt when a customer requested a special order of them about a year or so ago. I looked them up online and they seemed pretty interesting, so it's pretty cool that I actually get to taste them now. The 2018 "Singing Tree" Chardonnay is a classic lightly oaked Chardonnay. Pears, pineapple, banana. It still has a big body but only a little bit of butteriness on the midpalate and crisp on the finish. As a Chard fan, I enjoyed it. The 2018 Katherine Goldschmidt "Stonemason Hill" Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is a very nice example of an Alexander Cabernet. Softer and more elegant than a Napa Cabernet but similar in profile (and my opinion better overall). Medium bodied, beautifully smooth on the mouthfeel, with notes of cassis, plums, and pepper. Delicious! To me the 2016 Hilary Goldschmidt "Charming Creek" Cabernet Sauvignon out of Oakville is juicier and has sweeter tannins. There's A LOT of vanilla going on here with notes cherries and blackberries. It may be a fruit bomb, but fruit bombs can more than others be "stress relief wines". 

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Hess Collection Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

It's one of my favorite moments to be alive: Chardonnay time! Hess Collection's 2017 Napa Valley Chardonnay is 100% Chardonnay from their Su'skol Estate Vineyard. 70% of the wine was fermented in stainless steel while the other 30% was barrel fermented and allowed malolactic fermentation. Then it spent 9 months on the lees in French oak, 19% of it new, and it has a 14.4% ABV. 

The color of the wine is light gold. On the nose there's aromas of apples, lemon, butter, caramel, and vanilla. On the palate it's full bodied with a smooth, buttery mouthfeel and a low acidity that's just present enough to brighten things up a bit on the finish. There's flavors of apples, pineapples, pears, vanilla, and oak. Then the finish leaves a long lasting thick, buttery coating of tropical fruit and oak. This is a solid, reliable, enjoyable Chard for $22!

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $22

Rating: 4/5 = Recommended (what does that mean?)

The bottle used was supplied free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.

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Hess Allomi Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Hess's Allomi wines out of Napa Valley are named after Rancho Locoallomia, the original Spanish land grant which the native Patwin people lent their name. The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Sirah, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, and 2% Merlot. 27% spent 18 months in new American barrels and it has a 14.5% ABV.

Alright, enough of those percentages! The wine is cherry red in color with aromas of medicinal cherry, blackberry, vanilla, and lavender. On the palate it's medium bodied with a rich mouthfeel, a bit of a tart acidity, and chewy tannin. There's flavors of juicy cherry and plum, chocolate, and graphite, and it finishes lush but with that slightly tart acidity. For a $32 purchase, it's a solid Napa Cabernet at its price point.

QUALITY VS PRICE RATING

Price: $32

Rating: 3/5 = Satisfying (what does that mean?)

The bottle used was provided free of charge for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.

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Lion Tamer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

We all know that Hess has had that lion on their labels forever, and that's because it's been the family emblem forever. Expanding on that theme, they've started a line called The Lions Head, which is made up of the Panthera Chardonnay (my wine pick of the month), this Lion Tamer Cabernet, and a Lion Tamer Red Blend (which I'm not reviewing).

The 2017 Lion Tamer Cabernet Sauvigon is 81% Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petite Sirah, and 8% Malbec. It's actually called "Lion Tamer" because of that 8% Malbec. The grape has earned the nickname of "Lion Tamer" at Hess because of its ability to tame powerful tannin as a blender. Anyways, it was aged in 33% new French and American oak for 20 months, and it has a 14.6% ABV.

As Hess has found, Malbec has proven to work very well with California Cabernet when you add a splash or two... but Petite Sirah? I loooooove Petite Sirah but generally those Cabs with PS aren't all that varietally correct and just crowd pleasing fruit bombs taking advantage of the Cabernet Sauvignon name (same as when it's added to Pinot Noir). This one? Yeah, the PS is clearly there but I'm not even mad. This is outstanding.

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Wine Quickie: The Federalist North Coast "Honest" Red Blend 2017

This is the second of five wines by The Federalist that I'm writing quickies about this month. The "Honest" Red Blend is from the North Coast appellation of California and it's 46.4% Merlot, 24% Zinfandel, 22% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7.6% Malbec. It saw 15% in 35% new oak. Hey, and I'm liking it! It's dark purple in color with black cherries, blueberries, licorice, and hot cinnamon. Medium bodied with soft dusty tannin and an acidity that brightens the fruit on the finish into strawberries and raspberries. I'm being honest here (see what I did there?), this is a great deal for a $20 red blend!

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Wine Quickie: Rutherford Hill Merlot 2015

Holy crap, now THIS is a Merlot for #MerlotMe October! It's one of those wines that I could just smell all night and be completely satisfied. There's black cherries, blackberries, mocha, anise, and cinnamon. On the palate it's full bodied with a wonderfully lush mouthfeel, soft tannin, and perfectly balanced acidity. It gets a bit boozy on the finish but the juicy black cherries and strong mocha are just as big and vocal. What an excellent Napa Merlot this is, and I think I'm in love tonight!

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Wine Quickie: Rutherford Hill Rosé of Merlot 2018

Oh yes, we have a rosé for #MerlotMe October! Out of Napa Valley, Rutherford Hill was founded in 1972 and was a pioneer in the development of Merlot in California. Their Rosé of Merlot is light and crisp while featuring strong white flowers and being loaded with peaches, citrus, and honey. It may be a bit overpriced but it's a damn good rosé! My wife liked it even more than I did and that earns it extra points.

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Larkmead Vineyards to plant viticultural research block in Napa Valley

Historic Family-Owned Estate Prepares for Future of Napa Valley Viticulture and Climate Change

PRESS RELEASE - Napa, Calif. -  Larkmead Vineyards, celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2020, announced today the planting of a Research Block in preparation for the next 125 years of Napa Valley viticulture. The Research Block will be located at the Larkmead estate in Calistoga and will host several different grape varieties, clones, and rootstocks for trial purposes as Napa Valley’s climate changes.

Founded in 1895, Larkmead has a long history of research and clonal trials. Dr. Harold Olmo of UC Davis, one of the most influential viticulturists of the 20th century, established a clonal station at the Larkmead estate in the 1940s, where he developed the widely-planted Cabernet Sauvignon clone FPS 02. Commonly known as the “Oakville selection,” this clone was fundamental in establishing Cabernet Sauvignon as California’s signature grape variety. However, with the reality of onset climate change, Larkmead is preparing for the future of viticulture by dedicating three acres of their 110-acre estate to plant grape varieties that could be better suited to increasing average temperatures.

“As stewards of this incredible estate, it is our responsibility to protect the land and preserve its ability to produce quality wines for future generations,” said proprietor Cam Baker. “Today we continue to grow some of the best Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley, but we are also preparing for tomorrow by establishing a Research Block on the estate.” The Research Block is being spearheaded by lauded winemaker Dan Petroski and viticulturist Kelly Maher, and will be supervised by vineyard manager Nabor Camarena. The three-acre plot will be planted to multiple heritage varieties including Chenin Blanc, Petite Sirah and Zinfandel, alongside new world, Mediterranean varieties such as Aglianico, Tempranillo, and Touriga Nacional.

Winemaker Dan Petroski commented, “Climate change is very real and already affects vintners around the world. The fact is, Cabernet Sauvignon may no longer be well-suited to Napa Valley’s climate in twenty to thirty years. As one of the world’s top wine regions, we need to research and plan for inevitable warmer temperatures. Napa Valley will continue to lead the way in research and sustainability and we are carrying on the legacy of experimentation and trial here at Larkmead.”

With its long and rich history, Larkmead has played a fundamental role in the transformation of Napa Valley into one of the preeminent wine regions in the world. First established in 1895, Larkmead Vineyards has been in the hands of the same family since 1948. Current proprietors Cam Baker and Kate Solari Baker have worked in recent years to fine-tune Larkmead’s viticultural and cellar techniques to most accurately express the vineyard’s voice. Winemaker Dan Petroski captures the nuance and complexity of the 110-acre site by vinifying small lots according to clonal selection and soil type. Petroski was named the San Francisco Chronicle’s Winemaker of the Year in 2017.

The Research Block is Larkmead’s next step in the estate’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and biodiversity. “In order to determine the best path forward for the future and for our unique climate and terroir, we need to continue to experiment,” said Viticulturist Kelly Maher. We’re planning on testing different varieties, rootstocks, cover crops, and more. The goal is to have more biodiversity and climate resilient vineyards while continuing to produce better and better wines.”

Beyond the Research Block, Larkmead will continue to lead the conversation surrounding climate change and its effects on the global wine industry through a series of events at the estate. Hosted by winemaker Dan Petroski, these “Salons at Larkmead” are discussion-based forums for fellow winemakers, industry leaders, and journalists shaping the narrative on climate change and wine.

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Fleming's Uncorked Wine Experience with Duckhorn Vineyards

This summer Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is promoting Duckhorn Vineyards with tastings of their wines all throughout the month of July, and I'm super bummed that I'm unable to attend. Even though I only live an hour and twenty minutes away from their Boston location, I also live on Cape Cod. This is tourist and traffic season and the busiest time of the year for me, so I'm hunkered down here on the Cape and keeping busy!

But still Fleming's was awesome enough to send me a little box of goodies anyways! I've got a Fleming's corkscrew and wine glass tag, a sweeeeeeeet Duckhorn Corkcicle cup that keeps whatever you put in there warm or cold, some little chocolate ducks from Napa Valley's Woodhouse, a flash drive with the following press release, and a 375 ml bottle of Duckhorn Chardonnay. I'm sipping on that Chard and nibbling on that chocolate right now and they're both just so good! Thank you, Fleming's! That Corkcicle cup is gonna be my new favorite thing! And hopefully I'll be able to participate in your next Uncorked!

INTRODUCING AN “UNCORKED WINE EXPERIENCE” FROM FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR FEATURING SIX DISTINGUISHED WINES FROM THE DUCKHORN PORTFOLIO

Sip through as many of the six luxurious wines to create your own personalized wine experience for $28* per guest with dinner

Tampa, Fla. (July 1, 2019) – Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is offering guests a whole new way to enjoy wine with dinner…personalized. Beginning July 1, guests are invited to sip through as many of the six distinguished wines as they’d like from the Duckhorn Portfolio as part of its new “Uncorked Wine Experience” for $28* per guest with dinner. 

“Discovering wine is a promise we make to our guests, and we are delighted to deliver on that promise with our inaugural summer Uncorked wine experience,” said Stephen Blevins, Director of Wine, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar. “For four decades, the Duckhorn name has been known for optimal grape selection, innovative winemaking techniques and a premium barrel-aging program.”

The “Uncorked Wine Experience” offers guests the opportunity to create their own personalized wine experience while discovering as many of the six featured wines as they would like during their dinner.  

• Decoy Rose California: This lovely Rose displays enticing aromas of pink grapefruit and fresh melon along with hints of strawberry and spring wild flowers. Suggested pairings include Beef Carpaccio or Burrata with Prosciutto. 

• Decoy Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County: This bright and aromatic wine offers enticing layers of lemon and lime zest. Suggested pairings include Sweet Chili Calamari or Fleming’s Salad.

• Duckhorn Chardonnay Napa Valley: This is an intense and complex expression of Napa Valley Chardonnay, with alluring aromas of nectarine, yellow plum, pineapple upside-down cake and sweet spices. Suggested pairings include Shrimp Cocktail, Lobster Bisque or Miso Glazed Chilean Sea Bass.

• Calera Pinot Noir Central Coast: A recent addition to the Duckhorn portfolio, this wine is crafted using grapes from a handful of the finest vineyards on the Central Coast, this alluring Pinot Noir offers lovely aromatics, soft, velvety tannins and vibrant fruit. Suggested pairings include Pork Tomahawk or Main Filet Mignon.

• Duckhorn Merlot Napa Valley: This is a beautifully complex expression of Napa Valley Merlot, with inviting aromas of fresh raspberry, vanilla, tea leaves, pie crust and licorice. Suggested pairings include Prime New York Strip or Barbecue Scottish Salmon Fillet.

• Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley: A classic expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine combines beautiful complexity with rich intensity. Suggested pairings include Prime Bone-in Ribeye or Bone-in Filet Mignon.

Fleming’s guests will also have the opportunity to enter the Uncorked sweepstakes from July 1 through July 31, 2019 for a chance to win a trip for two to Napa Valley. For details of the sweepstakes and additional information on Uncorked, visit http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/uncorkedsweeps.

*Pricing and participation vary by location. Visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com for more information. 

About Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

Nationally acclaimed Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar offers the best in steakhouse dining – here you'll find a passion for steak and wine, reflected in an exceptional menu of hand-cut steaks, an award-winning list of wines by the glass, and seasonal menu selections showcasing locally-inspired chef dishes. Fleming's was launched in Newport Beach, California, in 1998 by successful restaurant industry veterans Paul Fleming and Bill Allen. Today there are 70 restaurants nationwide and one in São Paulo, Brazil. Fleming's is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards, including Wine Spectator's annual Award of Excellence. For more information about Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, please visit www.FlemingsSteakhouse.com.

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