Cliff's Wine Picks

 

 

2008 Turley Zinfandel Cedarman

2012 Buoncristiani Malbec Napa Valley

2013 Cosa Obra Pinot Noir

2013 Domaine La Millière Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes

2014 Jean Edwards Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Dalla Gasperina Vineyard

2010 Turley Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge

2009 Jaffe Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Metamorphosis

 

 

 

2008 Turley Zinfandel Cedarman – $26.29

I’ve been a big fan of the Turley Cedarman Zinfandels for a number of years.  Cedarman is a blend of fruit from both Rattlesnake Ridge and Dragon Vineyards, located at the top of Howell Mountain in Napa Valley.  Although primarily Zinfandel, a small amount of Petite Syrah from the Rattlesnake vineyard is used as well.  This has 15.6% alcohol by volume and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a fairly deep ruby color.  The very inviting nose has raspberries, black pepper, melted licorice, crushed stones, wild flowers, dark bittersweet chocolate, smoke, and some earthiness.  This has full body, fairly solid tannins, and very nice acidity.  On the palate the sweet berries provide a nice counter balance to the savory notes of black pepper, minerals, and dark chocolate.  The finish is long and very flavorful with some nice earthiness coming into the picture.  The tannins and acidity provide a solid backbone that ensures this will last in the cellar through the end of the decade.  Enjoy this now or let it sleep for a few more years, either way you’ll enjoy this one.  (93 pts)

 

 

2012 Buoncristiani Malbec Napa Valley – $46.67

This wine is 100% Malbec and was aged for 20 months in 100% French oak with 75% of the barrels being new.  This wine has a suggested retail price of $75.  This was the fifth vintage of this wine the winery produced.  The grapes come from small lots harvested exclusively from ultra premium Hillside blocks in the Eastern Vaca Mountain range.  Total production was 250 cases.

 

This wine has 15.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork

 

The wine is a deep, dark, opaque purple color.  The show-stopping nose has blackberries, blueberries, licorice, white pepper, vanilla, baking spices, freshly ground espresso beans and violets.  This full bodied wine has soft to moderate tannins and nice acidity.  This wine is rich and plush on the palate with crushed berries, white pepper, vanilla and baking spices grabbing your attention on the front end with espresso beans and a nice floral note coming in later.  The finish has nice length with the fruit, white pepper and spices carrying the major load.  This may be a bit on the young side, but it still is very easy to drink and more importantly easy to enjoy.  (92 pts)

 

 

2013 Cosa Obra Pinot Noir – $22.40

This 100% Pinot Noir is a blend of 56% Carneros and 44% Russian River Valley.  The wine was aged for 12 months in 100% French oak, 30% new.

 

This wine has 14.2% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a bright ruby red color.  The slightly shy nose has cherries, baking spices, white pepper, tobacco and dry underbrush.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and good acidity.  This is much more open on the palate with cherries, white pepper and minerals on the front end with tobacco and baking spices coming in later.  The finish has decent length with cranberries and dry underbrush entering the picture.  (89 pts)

 

 

2013 Domaine La Millière Côtes du Rhône Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes – $11.73

This wine is roughly a 50/50 blend of Grenache and Syrah from 50 to 100 years old vines.  The wine has 13.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The appealing nose has blackberries, baking spices, tobacco, cherries, crushed stone minerals, dried herbs, wild flowers and dry underbrush.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate tart fruit, stony minerals and spice grab hold quickly with dried herbs and underbrush coming in later.  The finish has nice length with a floral note adding depth.  This is very easy to drink and enjoy.  (91 pts)

 

 

2014 Jean Edwards Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Dalla Gasperina Vineyard

This is the first white wine produced by Jean Edwards Cellars.  This is a blend of 92% Sauvignon Blanc and 8% Semillon.

 

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

 

The wine is a pale straw yellow color.  The enticing nose has apples, lemon zest, white pepper, leafy herbs, pineapple, dusty minerals, apricot, orange blossoms and anise.  This has medium body with mouthwatering acidity.  On the palate tart apples, white pepper, lemon zest and an herbal streak immediately take control on the front end with apricot and orange blossoms coming in later.  The finish has very nice length with anise and dusty minerals joining the tropical fruit and white pepper.  The crisp acidity will leave your mouthwatering for another sip.  A great initial white wine effort from this formerly red wine only winery.  This is very drinkable now but will last for at least two or three years, maybe longer.  (92 pts)

 

 

2010 Turley Zinfandel Rattlesnake Ridge – $37.99

The mountain grown fruit always gives this wine a bit more backbone and a gritty edge.  The mountain grown fruit also generally highlights the savory, peppery elements of the zinfandel grape.  This wine has 16.1% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.

 

The wine is a deep garnet red color.  The inviting nose has brambly berries, black pepper, crushed stone minerals, baking spices, cherries, asphalt and dried violets.  This has a full body with moderate to solid tannins and good acidity.  On the palate brambly berries, crushed stones and black pepper take control immediately with cherries and baking spices coming in later.  The finish has very good length with asphalt and dried violets adding depth.  This is very tasty today but will last in the cellar through the end of the decade.  Even though this has over 16% alcohol it is not noticeable under all the fruit and spice.  (93 pts)

 

 

2009 Jaffe Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Metamorphosis – $32.85

This wine is 100% Estate grown Cabernet Sauvignon from the vineyards in St. Helena.    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)

 

 

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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.

 

 

 

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