• 2007 A.P. Vin Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley (9/4/2009)
  Opened this one a bit early to get a sneak peek at AP Vin. Keefer Ranch, in my opinion, provides some of the best Pinot Noir fruit out of Sonoma and Andrew’s interpretation does not disappoint. Still a bit primary, the wine exhibits lovely cherry cola fruit with a touch of green herb that I liked. Hint of sweet oak and a ceamy mouthfeel, but not heavy, with just the right balance of acidity to keep it light and promising greater things for the future of this wine. Hold for 2-3 more years. (89 pts.)

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• 2005 Ramey Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard – USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (9/1/2009)
  I’m reminded of fresh baked biscuits with home-made (not-too-sweet) lemon marmalade with this wine. Big, rich, mouthcoating, with an extremely long finish, yet even despite its size, the wine is balanced enough to stay nimble. I liked this wine but be forewarned: it is true to its origins as a Napa Chardonnay with oak, butter, and vanilla to spare. (90 pts.)

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• 2005 St. Supéry Vineyards Virtú Meritage – USA, California, Napa Valley (8/30/2009)
  The Semillon really shines through on this wine. Honey-suckle, fresh peaches, nectarine, and a hint of pear flavors nicely compliment vanilla undertones. I would have liked to see a bit more acidity to lift this wine’s structure a bit higher. It’s rich, but a bit heavy. Stlll, an interesting nice white wine when looking for something a bit different than same-old, same-old chards or sauv blancs. Recommended. (84 pts.)
• 2000 Pillar Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District – USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District (8/26/2009)
  Sour cherry, pine needles, slightly medicinal with not much midpalate and short finish. This wine’s best days are behind it — I much preferred this wine 4 years ago when I thought it was a standout from the 2000 vintage. Drink up.

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Last night we had a small bbq to mark the last evening before my son started his junior year. The kids had to settle for Ginger Beer, Snapple, and Starbucks frappuccino but I figured we parents should have a little something special to go with our steaks. What better way to observe the occasion than wine from the year these “youngsters” started first grade? (I was so glad the math worked out to the 1999 vintage and not 1998 or 2000.)

• 1999 Vérité La Joie – USA, California, Sonoma County (8/25/2009)
  Raspberry and currant, brown sugar, espresso, eucalyptus and a generous dose of oak though the wine is in balance. Drinking more youthfully than the 99 Ch. St Jean Cinq Cepages we opened alongside. Has the structure to continue developing. Drink now with 2 hour decant but probably better to hold 2-3 more years. (90 pts.)
• 1999 Chateau St. Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Cinq Cépages – USA, California, Sonoma County (8/25/2009)
  This bottle was better than one I opened about 6 months ago. Earthy with forest floor, cherry pipe tobacco, cedar, mushroom and secondary notes of ripe plum and hint of mint. Drinking quite mature now and although there’s probably not a big rush, I’d advise enjoying over the next few years. Decanted one hour. (88 pts.)

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• 2008 Sigalas Santorini – Greece, Aegean, Santorini (8/24/2009)
  Rather shy floral nose on this pale yellow hued wine. A bit of effervescense. Initial flavors of lychee and banana salt water taffy and finishes with tart green apple. Quite charming though I did not get the mineral and citrus notes that some other CT writers did. Well worth the $21.99 from local wine store. My first, but hopefully not last, experience with the Greek Assyrtiko grape. (86 pts.)

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• 1999 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot – USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma (8/19/2009)
  Big wine with a huge attack of red licorice, boysenberry, cinnamon, mocha, and wood smoke. Time has tamed this wine a bit so you don’t have to just have it for dessert but like breaking a wild stallion, it has lost some of its uniqueness. Still classic Foley. (92 pts.)

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• 2007 Melville Chardonnay Estate Verna’s – USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (8/8/2009)
  Earlier this year, we took a marvelous trip to the CA Central Coast and did a tasting at Melville. Based on that visit, I bought 6 bottles of this wine. Today was the first time I opened a bottle and am very happy with my purchase. Deep green-golden hue. Lemon and roasted nut aromas. Outstanding chardonnay grape flavor with lemon zest, tangerine, green apple and just a hint of vanilla and oak. Big mouth-coating feel and long, tropical sweet-tart finish. I believe I like this one considerably more than some previous CT tasters and thankfully, did not experience the big oak and butter that one mentioned. I’ll be drinking most of these over the next 3 years but will probably lay down one or two long term. (90 pts.)

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• 2003 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir La Bohème – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton (8/7/2009)
  Rich, full flavors of red raspberries with cherry pie, clove, Christmas spices, and a hint of sweet oak. Not a huge wine, this medium-bodied Pinot still went wonderfully with grilled salmon and wasn’t even embarrassed when it followed a few bites of filet mignon. Drinking well now, there’s no big rush. I’d open between now and 2012. Dominated the 2003 St Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard it was served alongside. (89 pts.)
• 2003 St. Innocent Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (8/7/2009)
  Bing cherries, mushroom, soy, in this light bodied wine. Pronounced acidity is a little off putting without some bigger flavors to balance it out and was certainly overpowered by grilled salmon and veggies. Judging by CT notes from a few years back and by this particular bottle, I’d say this wine’s best days are behind it. Drink up. Tasted alongside 2003 Elk Cove Pinot Noir La Boheme which was significantly better. (84 pts.)

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• 2006 Casa Nuestra Tinto Classico – USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (7/29/2009)
  Rustic and earthy with dark ripe plum, tar, bacon, cedar, graphite, and black licorice. Unique field blend that for lack of a better comparison, reminds me of something I might find in an Italian village. (87 pts.)
• 2006 Outpost Zinfandel – USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (7/28/2009)
  I’m not normally one to give a tasting note based on a wine on Day 2 after opening, but this time, that’s how it worked out. To my benefit. Yesterday the wine was unexciting: big boysenberry syrup fruit and some tart acidity but reticent on showing anything else. Today, it is showing much better. The boysenberry has been tamed to a more integrated package with some nice white pepper, freshly tanned leather, and brambly forest floor. Hold this wine until 2011 and enjoy a really good, well-balanced Zin that doesn’t overwhelm its company at the table. (90 pts.)

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Kirk Venge, of Venge Vineyards, is well on his way building a reputation as one of the most talented young winemakers in the Napa Valley. He has big shoes, or perhaps I should say, a big cowboy hat to fill as his father is the famed legendary winemaker Nils Venge. I’ve really been impressed in the past by Venge’s Scout’s Honor Zinfandel. This summer, I keep finding myself buying bottles of his Champ des Fleurs white wine.

• 2008 Venge Vineyards Champ des Fleurs Proprietary White – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/26/2009)
  This was my third bottle of this wine. I really like it. This propriety blend of Chardonnay, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc offers a light enough package to work as a pleasant quaffer on a hot summer afternoon but complex enough to cause pause for thought. Initial notes of lemon grass and melon give way to a hefty dose of creme brulee and buttery pastry. A nice dose of acidity lifts it up and keeps the residual sweetness from being cloying. I’m considering picking up a case as a house white. (88 pts.)

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