Cliff's Wine Picks

 

2002 Weingut Eduard Hauth Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett

2009 Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Lot 282

2011 Bokisch Vineyards Garnacha Terra Alta Vineyard

2008 Anthill Farms Syrah Peters Vineyard

2008 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch

2009 Jaffe Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Metamorphosis

2013 Bella Grace Zinfandel

2014 Caleo Nero d’Avola

2010 Sandler Wine Company Syrah Connell Vineyard

2010 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard

2008 Jean Edwards Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Seventy Four – Forty One Napa Valley

 

 

 

2002 Weingut Eduard Hauth Kerpen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett – $14.75

This was another “steal” from Last Bottle wines, my favorite “flash” wine site.  If you use the provided link and sign up, we both get a credit to our accounts after your first purchase.  Check them out, they have awesome deals and their Marathons are always something special.

 

This has 8.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  My cork was a nasty, disgusting black on the exposed end but the important part was perfect.  Remember to clean the bottle well when opening these older bottles.

 

The wine is a bright straw yellow color.  The inviting nose has apples, orange blossoms, lemon zest, petrol, honey, minerals, white pepper and juicy peaches.  This has medium body with tart acidity and nice sweetness.  Apples, peaches, stony minerals and honey take control of the palate on the front end with orange blossoms and lemon zest coming in later.  The finish has very nice length with a hint of white pepper coming into the picture.  This is drinking very nicely right now but there is no hurry.  (91 pts)

 

 

2009 Cameron Hughes Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Lot 282 – $24.00

This wine was purchased in bulk from the winery when the economy was at a very low point.  As the economy started to rebound, the winery actually bought some back.

 

Here is part of the e-mail pitch from Cameron Hughes:

 

Lot 282 2009 Rutherford Cabernet is perfectly suited for the task with impeccable provenance from one of Napa Valley’s flagship Cabernet producers.  Sourced from the well-drained alluvial soils of the west side of Rutherford appellation, this wine explodes with rich and ripe, yet elegant, fruit.  Classically proportioned one would say.  The source winery approached us last fall and we contracted quite a few different 2009 Cabernet’s that they then barreled down for us until we removed them last summer for bottling.  The best of them is this 2009 Rutherford Cabernet (their $80 Rutherford appellation Cabernet being their consistently best rated wine with the 2008 scoring 93+ from Parker).  Lot 282 is the exact same wine they bottled for the 2009 vintage under their own label.  How do I know this?  Not only because they told us as much but because they sold us the entire production at first and then asked very nicely last spring with the economy looking better if they couldn’t have some back.

 

As a side note, based on a few clues, this appears to be the wine also labeled and sold as the 2009 Pine Ridge Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon.  As soon as I figured this out, I was in for a case at only $24 a bottle.

 

This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an agglomerated cork.

 

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The very appealing nose has cassis, cedar, licorice, warm baking spices, dusty minerals, cherries, tobacco and wild flowers.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate cassis, baking spices, dusty minerals and cedar immediately take control with cherries coming in on the back end.  The finish has very good length with tobacco and a nice floral note adding depth.  This has very nice balance and will last in the cellar for several more years.  This was a steal for the price.  (93 pts)

 

 

2011 Bokisch Vineyards Garnacha Terra Alta Vineyard – $14.85

This was another “steal” from Last Bottle wines, my favorite “flash” wine site.  If you use the provided link and sign up, we both get a credit to our accounts after your first purchase.  Check them out, they have awesome deals and their Marathons are always something special.

 

This wine has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a bright red color.  The enticing nose has cherries, white pepper, crushed stone minerals, dried violets and dry underbrush.  This has medium body with soft to moderate ripe tannins and decent acidity.  On the palate ripe cherries and white pepper come through on the front end with dried flowers and minerals coming in later.  The finish has decent length with cherries and dry underbrush carrying the load.  Not a wine to stash away for extended aging, open this one and enjoy an easy drinking glass of wine.  (89 pts)

 

 

2008 Anthill Farms Syrah Peters Vineyard – $28.00

I haven’t had one of these for a couple of years so it’s time to check in again.  I felt it needed another year or two back then, let’s see how my guess held up.

 

This wine has 13.6% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a deep ruby red color.  The very inviting nose has blackberries, raspberries, smoke, crushed stones, black pepper, smoked meat, licorice, roasted herbs, scorched earth and violets.  This has medium body with moderate to solid tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate crushed berries, crushed stones and black pepper grab your attention immediately with smoked meat and licorice coming in later.  The finish has great length with smoked meat and roasted herbs adding great depth.  This has outstanding balance and still has several years of life ahead of it.  (91 pts)

 

 

2008 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch – $35.00

This has 16.1% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The sexy nose is full of black cherries, crushed stones, white pepper, licorice, brambly berries, warm baking spices, underbrush, dried wild flowers and a touch of dark chocolate.  This has medium to full body with moderate tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate black cherries, baking spices, crushed stones and dark chocolate immediately tack control with white pepper and brambly berries coming in later.  The finish has great length with subtle underbrush and dried flowers entering the picture.  For a wine with over 16% alcohol the acidity keeps it lively on your palate.  This will easily last in your cellar through the end of the decade, perhaps longer.  A great job!  (94 pts)

 

 

2009 Jaffe Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Metamorphosis – $32.85

This wine has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The enticing nose has cassis, cedar, dusty minerals, baking spices, licorice,  plums, cocoa powder and dried violets.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and nice acidity.  Cassis, cocoa powder, dusty minerals and cedar coat the palate on the front end with plums and licorice coming in later.  The finish has very good length with a dried floral note and plums joining the cassis, cedar and minerals.  This has very nice balance and is very easy to enjoy.  This will drink well through at least the end of the decade.  (93 pts)

 

 

2013 Bella Grace Zinfandel – $14.00

The winery was named for the owner’s two grandmother’s, Bella and Grace.  This wine has 14.3% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a twist off cap.

 

The wine is a deep garnet color.  The inviting nose has brambly berries, plums, stony minerals, scorched earth, baking spices, white pepper, cherries and dried flowers.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  Berries, plums and minerals coat the palate on the front end with white pepper and scorched earth coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a dried floral note and a touch of dark chocolate adding nice depth.  This is on the young side but very tasty and easy to enjoy.  This is a winery that deserves some attention.  (90 pts)

 

 

2014 Caleo Nero d’Avola – $8.99

This has 13% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with an artificial plastic stopper.

 

The wine is a violet red color.  The slightly subdued nose has cherries, stony minerals, raspberries, dark roasted coffee beans, roasted herbs and wild flowers.  This is barely medium body with soft tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cherries and minerals jump out first with raspberries and dark roasted coffee coming in later.  The finish is a bit short with roasted herbs coming in.  Not a great example of a Nero d”Avola.  This could use a bit more oomph and depth.  (85 pts)

 

 

2010 Sandler Wine Company Syrah Connell Vineyard – $20.00

This has 11.6% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a garnet red color.  The slightly shy nose has cherries, black raspberries, baking spices, crushed stones, dried wild flowers, licorice, smoked meat and roasted herbs.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and crisp acidity.  On the palate red and black fruit, baking spices and crushed stone take control on the front end with smoked meat and licorice coming in later.  The finish has nice length with dried flowers adding depth.  This is a nice, low alcohol Syrah that could a bit more stuffing, as is, this is a food friendly wine that will accompany a meal without wowing anyone or over shadowing the food.  (88 pts)

 

 

2010 Purple Hands Pinot Noir Stoller Vineyard – $18.16

The owner/winemaker is Cody Wright, the son of well known and popular Oregon winemaker/owner Ken Wright.  This was a new winery to me when the local wine store had an e-mail special on the wine.  In my opinion, any time you can get hold of a good Pinot Noir for under $20, you buy.

 

The wine has 13.5% alcohol and is sealed with a twist off closure.

 

Winery history

Purple Hands winery strives for the expression of genuine inherent terroir of soil and grape.  We search for ideal moments of ripeness and complexity balanced with authentic strength of soil character.

 

Our wines are windows into dynamic breadths of terroir, extracting and unlocking a code of sweet and savory from our rich Oregon soil.

 

My Tasting Note

The wine is a bright red color with a slight ruby tint.  The soft and nuanced nose has black cherries, raspberries, fresh flowers, baking spices and subtle earthiness.  This is medium body at most, with racy acidity, and soft but persistent tannins.  The silky palate has tart, juicy fruit, spice, and a bit of earthiness which carries through on the slightly short finish.  This is a nice, light weight style of Pinot with juicy acidity and a touch of earthiness and spice to balance out the fruit.  This is a nice change up from the broad shouldered California Pinots.  (90 pts)

 

 

2008 Jean Edwards Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Seventy Four – Forty One Napa Valley – $60

I’ve been a fan and customer of the winery for a few years and love opening bottles of their wines for friends to sample.  These are extremely high quality wines sourced from some of the best vineyards in the Napa Valley.  The fact the wines are also sold at very consumer friendly prices is a great bonus.  This is one of the winery’s higher end offerings.

 

This 100% Cabernet is a blend of grapes from a few vineyards in the Napa Valley.  Even though the vineyard names cannot be used for contractual reasons, they can disclose some geographical information.  The major component of this wine is from a Howell Mountain vineyard.  This is combined with grapes from a vineyard in Rutherford and one in Coombsville.

 

The wine was aged 24 months in French oak, 50% new and 50% one year old.

 

This has 14.8% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a deep ruby red to maroon color.  The enticing nose has cassis, cedar, dried herbs, tobacco, mint, dusty minerals, warm baking spices, licorice and dried flowers.  This has medium body to full body with  moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  On the palate the cassis, mint and dusty minerals quickly take control, with baking spices, dried herbs and licorice coming in later.  On the back end some spicy oak shines through in the background.  The finish has very good length with a nice mix of fruit and savory elements.  This seems to have settled into a nice drinking window and it should hold for several years.  (93 pts)

 

 

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Notes – I use the “official” Cellar Tracker name for the wines.  I use Cellar Tracker to help manage and organize my cellar.  I highly recommend checking it out at www.cellartracker.com.  Loading you existing cellar is a lot less intimidating than it would first appear.  There is a good chance 99% of your wine is already in the system, so you generally only need to enter part of the wine’s name and the system will find it for you.

 

 

Prices noted are the prices I paid at the time of purchase.  I don’t shop around to find the best prices, but always check out the sale and close out items when in a store.  Wines purchased direct from a winery do not include any shipping charges.  None of the prices include the sales tax.

 

 

All wines that were sent to me free of charge to sample will be noted and I will show suggested prices when available.

 

 

 

Cheers!