Napa Tasting!

Went to a Napa Tasting Downtown, Very impressed, wish they had bread with the cheese pfft who doesn't serve bread with a cheese platter. Vinsanity...I know your reading and I know you work in Napa any of these wineries?

I must say after this event my Tongue was shot.... way to much Tannins but I did go to a tasting the next day [notes to come later]


TASTE NAPA VALLEY [VANCOUVER, CANADA] - Fairmont Hotel, Waterfront (10/29/2009)

Trade Tasting, Lots of Chardonnay were Over Oaked, but like one wine maker said thats what the American Palate likes and it sells. Not to me tho. Cabernet Sauvignon I found a lot better this year then last [maybe my palate] Felt like less Oak.

White Wines

• 2007 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Chardonnay Karia - USA, California, Napa Valley
  My style of Chard, Less Oak. More Leaner, Green apples, awesome Acidity. Get oak on the nose more then anything (90 pts.)
• 2007 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Oak on the Nose but on the Palate its Freshness, Clean Minerality Very Solid (90 pts.)
• 2006 Sterling Vineyards Chardonnay - USA, California, Napa Valley (84 pts.)
• 2008 Miner Family Viognier Simpson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Valley, Madera
  Really Liking this, Fresh Papaya Coming through, Nice Roundness big good for a nice heavy chicken dish (89 pts.)
• 2007 Clos du Val Chardonnay Carneros - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  Oak Yes, In Control Yes. (88 pts.)
• 2007 Pine Ridge Chardonnay Dijon Clones - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  Yes Lots of Oak. If you like this style then your type of wine (87 pts.)

Red Wines

• 2006 Blackbird Vineyards Contrarian - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll
  This Compared to the Ullustration is Masculin, Dark, Earthy, Brooding, Spice Does have 30% Cab Franc and 30% Cab Sauv and rest Merlot (93 pts.)
• 2006 Blackbird Vineyards Illustration - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll
  Loved this wine, My Notes from the tasting were as followed "Beautiful" "Sexy" "Feminie" "Bright". Excellent Fruit, With Tobacco and Earth just Awesome (93 pts.)
• 2006 Blackbird Vineyards Merlot Arise - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll
  Pretty Nose, Soft Good Tannins, Approachable Soft Fruit. (90 pts.)
• 2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
  A Really Good Nose, good fruit Tobacco well made really nice. Tho I question the QPR. (92 pts.)
• 2006 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon One Point Five - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
  Sweet Tannins, Herbs Big Big Tannins (90 pts.)
• 2006 Shafer Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley (89 pts.)
• 2006 Shafer Relentless - USA, California, Napa Valley (90 pts.)
• 2006 Truchard Pinot Noir - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  A: Raspberry, Pickles
  T: Raspberry Coulis
  
  Very Nice and for the Price Great (88 pts.)
• 2005 Truchard Syrah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  Smoke Meat, Good Nose, A Cool Climate Style I really enjoyed this wine. Was not over the top that some Warmer Syrahs can get (90 pts.)
• 2005 Truchard Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
  Good solid fruit, Finish is nice, Balance. Sweet Tannins (90 pts.)
• 2006 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (90 pts.)
• 2006 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
  Dark and Brooding (90 pts.)
• 2006 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain (91 pts.)
• 2005 Miner Family The Oracle - USA, California, Napa Valley
  A: Herbaceous, Minty
  T: Good Sweet Tannins, Ripe Fruit [not over done] Good Acidity, BIg Wine (90 pts.)
• 2006 Miner Family Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
  Big Wine Red Fruit [Need Tannins to Mellow a Bit] (89 pts.)
• 2006 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District - USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
  A: Rich and Dark
  T: Red Fruit Balanced, Really Nice, Big Masculine but also Feminine a really interesting balance. Big Chewy Tannins tho (92 pts.)
• 2005 Barlow Vineyards Barrouge - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Really Feeling this wine, Nice Feminie Touch my style of Wine and for the price! QPR is fantastic [Napa QPR hah] (91 pts.)
• 2005 Barlow Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (89 pts.)
• 2006 Peju Province Winery Zinfandel - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Big Red Candy but in Control not over over the top (90 pts.)
• 2006 Peju Province Winery Merlot - USA, California, Napa Valley (90 pts.)
• 2005 Peju Province Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (90 pts.)
• 2004 Bourassa Vineyards Cabernet-Merlot Harmony5 - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Elegant, Feminine, Med Body (90 pts.)
• 2005 Folie à Deux Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena Napa Valley Estate Lewelling Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Red Candy (86 pts.)
• 2005 Rubicon Estate / Niebaum-Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon Cask - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
  Sweet Tannins, Very Nice (91 pts.)

Overall Impressed, tho the Price means I can not afford any of the wines really

Posted from CellarTracker

THE 100-POINT RATING SCALE (Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate describes this in more detail.)
• Extraordinary (96-100 points)
• Outstanding (90-95)
• Very Good to Excellent (85-89)
• Good (80-84)
• Average (75-79)
• Below average (70-74)
• Avoid (50-70)