Cliff's Wine Picks

 

2013 Michael Caitlin Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills

2002 Torbreck Descendant

Charles & Alphrede (Ch. & A.) Prieur Champagne Grand Prieur Reserve Brut

2009 Jean Edwards Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Seventy Four – Forty One Napa Valley

2011 Mueller Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stars & Goats

2008 Long Shadows Wineries Chester-Kidder

 

 

 

2013 Michael Caitlin Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills – $20.00

This wine has a SRP of $55.  This wine was purchased from Last Bottle Wines.  Information on the site how to get a $10 credit on your first order is below.

 

This vintage was sourced from Radian Vineyard, which is the furthest South West vineyard in Sta. Rita Hills.

 

The wine is a light ruby red color.  The inviting nose has cherries, white pepper, roasted herbs, dry earth, cranberries, raspberries and wild flowers.  This has medium body with soft to moderate tannins and very nice acidity.  On the palate cherries, white pepper and dry earth quickly grab your attention with roasted herbs and cranberries coming in on the back end.  The finish has nice length with a pleasing floral note providing some depth.  This is a nicely balanced, lighter bodied Pinot.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (90 pts)

 

 

2002 Torbreck Descendant – $59.01

This wine was purchased from Last Bottle Wines.  Information on the site how to get a $10 credit on your first order is below.

 

This is a blend of 92% Shiraz and 8% co-fermented Viognier.  This is essentially an unoaked (18 months in 2 year old barrels) version of the winery’s RunRig which sells for over $200 a bottle.

 

The wine is a deep ruby to purple color.  The entrancing nose has blackberries, graphite, licorice, violets, apricot, white pepper and a hint of roasted meat.  This has medium to full body with moderate to sold ripe tannins and good acidity.  On the palate crushed berries, graphite and white pepper pops out on the front end with licorice and violets coming in later.  The long, lingering finish adds a touch or roasted meat and apricot.  This is a powerful wine full of flavor but with perfect balance.  This tastes great today but I’m in no hurry to open my remaining bottles, this will last at least through the end of the decade.  One of the better wines I’ve had this year.  This has 14.5% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (95 pts)

 

 

Charles & Alphrede (Ch. & A.) Prieur Champagne Grand Prieur Reserve Brut – $28.91

This wine was purchased from Last Bottle Wines.  Information on the site how to get a $10 credit on your first order is below.

 

This is a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier (including 30% of reserve wine).  This was aged for at least 3 years before disgorgement and at least 3 months afterwards.

 

The wine is a light yellow-straw color with several streams of pinpoint sized bubbles.  The enticing nose has apples, lemon zest, stony minerals, yeasty bread and light nuttiness.  This is crisp and dry on the palate with nice effervescence.  On the palate tart apples, minerals and lemon zest grab your attention immediately with yeast bread coming in later.  The lingering finish add a nutty note.  This is a very nice bottle of Champagne that is perfect of any day of the week but it will not be out of place at a special occasion.  This has 12.0% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a standard Champagne cork.  (92 pts)

 

 

2009 Jean Edwards Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Seventy Four – Forty One Napa Valley – SRP $65

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from valley floor and mountain vineyards.

 

The wine is a deep purple color.  The mesmerizing nose is full of cassis, dusty minerals, cigar box, dried violets, warm baking spices, dried leafy herbs, black cherries, dark chocolate and scorched earth.  This has medium to full body with moderate to solid tannins and very good acidity.  Cassis, cedar, dusty minerals and warm baking spices quickly engulf your palate, grudgingly allowing dried herbs, black cherry and dark chocolate to slip in on the back end.  The long, lingering finish adds scorched earth and a nice floral note.  This is outstanding today with some air but additional cellar time will be well rewarded.  A top notch Napa Cabernet.  This has 14.4% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (95 pts)

 

 

2011 Mueller Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stars & Goats – $29.12

This wine has a SRP of $40.  This wine was purchased from Last Bottle Wines.  Information on the site how to get a $10 credit on your first order is below.

 

This wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the winery’s Diamond Mountain vineyard.

 

The wine is a deep maroon color.  The very appealing nose has cassis, roasted leafy herbs, baking spices, tobacco, licorice, cedar, crushed stone minerals, white pepper and dried violets.  This has medium body with moderate tannins and good acidity.  On the palate cassis, baking spices and minerals jump out on the front end with roasted herbs and tobacco coming in later.  The lingering finish adds cedar, white pepper and a nice dried floral note.  This isn’t a powerhouse, but it has great balance and is a big success for the vintage.  (91 pts)

 

 

2008 Long Shadows Wineries Chester-Kidder – $28.49

This wine is a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Syrah, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.  The grapes for this vintage come from several vineyards.  40% of the grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah from Candy Mountain which is just above Red Mountain.  The rest of the Cabernet Sauvignon is from three different Walla Walla vineyards that were selected to add mouth-feel and dimension to the wine.  The Petit Verdot comes from Stone Tree Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope and the Cabernet Franc is from Weinbau Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope.

 

The wine is a dark purple color.  The intriguing nose has cassis, blackberries, dark chocolate, dried herbs, black peppercorns, black cherries, dusty minerals, scorched earth, cedar and vanilla bean.  This has medium to full body with moderate ripe tannins and good acidity.  Cassis, berries, minerals and cedar coat the palate on the front end with black cherries, dark chocolate and vanilla bean coming in later.  The finish has good length with dried herbs and black peppercorns providing nice depth.  This nicely balanced wine is in a good place today but will hold easily through the end of the decade.  This has 14.7% alcohol and the bottle is sealed with a natural cork.  (92 pts)

 

 

 

 

 

I am a big fan of the “Flash Wine Sale” site Last Bottle.  The site is becoming my go-to site for both everyday wines and wines for special occasions.  You probably noticed some of the wines in this post were purchased from the site.  All of these wines were purchased at a big discount.  I highly recommend getting on their e-mail list.  Like most of the flash sale sites, they offer one wine per day until it sells out.  They also have a couple two-day marathons during the year.  Last Bottle is a great site to buy special wines at prices low enough to open any day of the week.

 

If you sign up using this link you will get a $10 credit that can be used on your first purchase.  I will also get a credit if you make a purchase.

 

Other than getting a credit as explained above, I have no financial interest in the site.  After you are on the list, you can also get the same credit by introducing friends to Last Bottle.

 

 

 

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Cheers!

 

 

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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!