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Today is a sad day for the wine world…

The man, the myth, the legend Steven Spurrier has left us. He’s a long-time merchant, wine writer, educator, and subject of a Hollywood film. His ‘Judgement of Paris’ tasting in 1976 put Californian wine on the map.

It’s no secret that I’m not fond of how myself (and other young people in the wine media) are treated by some of the old guards. Mr. Spurrier was the complete opposite of that. I’ve met him around the wine world on several occasions and he was always polite and the consummate gentleman. Never once did he talk down to me or carry an air of superiority or arrogance.

Thank You, Steven Spurrier

Mr. Steven Spurrier is responsible for two of the most memorable moments in my young wine career.

Back in 2018, we received fellowships to The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in Napa Valley. Mr. Spurrier was the keynote speaker and guest of the event. During the first evening, the Symposium showed short videos of every person who received a fellowship. One by one, the videos played in front of the crowd.

Instead of a sterile talking head video, I put together an Exotic Wine Travel highlight reel (below) complete with music. In a dimly-lit ballroom, as the video ended Mr. Spurrier turned to us and gave a big thumbs up, complete with a smile. It’s something that I still think about often.

Later that week, Mr. Spurrier hosted a tasting in which he ‘re-created’ the Judgement of Paris with the Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa that he chose back in 1976. It was a tasting of wines both young and old. The prices of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon are through the roof and old vintages from well-known producers are hard to come by. Add this to the caliber of people in the crowd made it the most memorable tasting I’ve been a part of.

The Definition Of A Pro

I met Steven Spurrier again at the Premiere Napa Valley Auction and was blown away by how he carried himself. The morning before the auction, the Vintners of Napa hosted a tasting at the Robert Mondavi Winery. The first tasting on the agenda was a vintage retrospective, a tasting of 2014, 2015, and 2016 Cabernet Sauvignons from 80 different producers.

Mr. Spurrier methodically went through every sample, tasting and writing down notes while answering questions from others in the crowd. I consider my tasting stamina to be high but the tannins from those young Cabernets started to get to me. It was the first time I experienced palate fatigue. Steven never wanted, he tasted through all the samples without breaking a sweat.

 

Later that year, we met him again at the 2018 Vinistra show in Istria, Croatia. We got the chance to attend another of his tastings and sit down with him over dinner. He was nothing but kind and professional.

His legacy will live on in the wine world. His work can be seen in plenty of places more important than here. But it does warm my heart that he made a cameo on our YouTube channel (at 10:30 in the link below) RIP Mr. Spurrier, you will be missed.

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Do You Want To Try Croatian Wines?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of Croatian wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! With an abundance of options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

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Want To Learn More About Wine?  

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The post Farewell Mr. Steven Spurrier appeared first on Wine Travel.

The Pinot Noir landscape is varied and hyper-global. Touted as ‘the heartbreak grape’, many winemakers around the world feel inspired to take on Pinot Noir’s demanding and finicky nature. And when a variety is grown in so many drastically different viticultural places, the question of varietal typicity becomes an open-ended question. Whether intentional or not: at Modri les Noirs, the question about Pinot Noir’s typicity was put on center stage.

THE SECOND EDITION OF MODRI LES NOIRS

Held at Hotel Kendov Dvorec (a member of Relais & Châteaux) in Idrija, Slovenia, Modri les Noirs is an annual wine festival dedicated to spotlighting Pinot Noir producers from Central and Eastern Europe. With only two editions under its belt, the second year of the event saw a healthy increase in exhibitors: from 15 to 32 producers from Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Serbia, and Switzerland.

EMERGING REGIONS FOR PINOT NOIR

When it comes to Pinot Noir, Slovenia and the Croatian Uplands—especially the Plešivica sub-region—are beginning to build favorable reputations, particularly for drinkers who prefer Pinot Noirs that are approachable on release. In Poland and Hungary’s Etyek wine region, cooler weathers yield markedly different Pinot Noirs that express dominant herbaceous notes and light to ultralight body. Some examples from Switzerland and Italy’s Alto Adige show softly spiced, fruit-led expressions. Then, there are also a few severely awkward examples that seem adamant about proving that Pinot Noir is anything but elegant.

Generally, Pinot Noir clones used in Slovenia, Serbia, Poland, Hungary, and Croatia are not unusual: predominantly Dijon and Italian clones with the occasional Swiss Mariafeld and German clones. These countries plus other lesser-known wine regions are beginning to make remarkable Pinot Noirs with a character all their own. Sure, Burgundy still produces some of the finest Pinot Noirs, but it’s no longer the only wine region that can tame the ‘heartbreak grape’. The dynamism in this part of the world is sure to motivate people to think beyond the Burgundian blockbusters and challenge the prevailing opinions on what Pinot Noir should be or can be. Here are the noteworthy wines at the show.

WINE RECOMMENDATIONS

Pinot Noir’s synonyms: Modri Pinot (Slovenia), Pinot Crni (Croatia), Pinot Nero (Italy)

• Korak, Pinot Crni Selekcija 2017 – The Uplands, Croatia

MH: 92+ points Korak Winery is one of the names to know for Pinot Noir in Croatia. The Korak Pinot Crni Selekcija 2017 is a beautiful darker Pinot Noir with black raspberry, oak, perfume, red plum, and pepper. Full-bodied and complex, this has nuances and layers on the palate. Firm tannins and a long finish.

• Tilia, Pinot Noir (White Label) 2017 – Vipava, Slovenia

MH: 92+ points The Pinot Noirs from Tilia are always earthy and savory. The 2017 Tilia Pinot Noir White Label has earth, mushroom, black raspberry, and red plum notes. Round and medium-bodied at first with a core of dark fruit. Like many of the Tilia reds wines, the tannins are big, so put this in the cellar for a few years.

• Castelfeder, Pinot Nero Riserva Burgum Novum 2016 – Alto Adige, Italy

MH: 92+/100 This is the first vintage of Castelfeder Pinot Nero Riserva Burgum Novum that is partially fermented with whole cluster. This is shyer than previous vintages at first but opens with air. There are notes of mountain berry, pepper, and perfume. This has juicy acidity and a certain Italian flair to it. Rich texture and tart red fruit with firm tannins and a long finish.

• Heap’s Good Winery, Modri Pinot 2015 – Stajerska, Slovenia

MH: 92 points The latest vintage from this Kiwi transplant in Slovenia is delicious. It’s light in color and very Southern Hemisphere in style with notes of mineral, hay, strawberry, raspberry, and white pepper. Silky smooth mid-palate and tannins with a long finish.

• Jakončič, Carolina Noir 2016 – Goriška Brda, Slovenia

CT: 91 points The 2016 vintage of Jakončič Carolina Noir shows notable improvement from 2015. This wine drinks well right out of the gate. Umani, smoky, salty, spicy, plus a bit rose, with all that underlined by candied fruit notes. The ripeness here reminds me of Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County, California. Generous in density and intensity on the palate, leading to an appetizingly salty and sweet finish.

• Pasji Rep, Pinot Noir 2017 – Vipava, Slovenia

MH: 91 points Pasji Rep is a small organic producer located in the Vipava Valley. The Pasji Rep Pinot Noir 2017 is done in a friendly, fruity style. Notes of sour cherry and red raspberry. This has a round palate with silky tannins. The wine starts out fruity but develops a savory note and a peppery finish. It also has a history of aging well. A classic good example of Pinot Noir

• Etyeki Kúria, Pinot Noir Válogatás 2015 – Etyek, Hungary

MH: 90 points Etekyi Kúria is a new producer with a winery near Budapest. They are known in Hungary for making some of the best Pinot Noirs in the country. The Eteyki Kúria Pinot Noir Válogatás (vineyard selection) has notes of red raspberry, cherry, violet, and fall leaf. Silky and juicy with a low level of tannins. This is much better than their standard Pinot Noir.

• Sontacchi, Pinot Noir 2017 – Slavonia, Croatia

MH: 90 points Sontacchi is a small family winery located in the heart of Slavonia, and their Pinot Noir is a local favorite in Croatia. This vintage is a winner with delicate color and flavors. There are notes of raspberry, fall leaf, pepper, and a slight savory note. It’s real soft and silky on the palate with a touch of tannins. This vintage is silky and balanced with good length on the finish.

• Franz Haas, Pinot Nero 2017 – Alto Adige, Italy

CT: 88 points A spice-first-then-fruit kind of Pinot Noir, which I appreciate. Good intensity and textural depth on the palate. Vibrantly expressive and ready to drink.

• Hiša Joannes Protner Modri Pinot 2015 – Maribor, Slovenia

CT: 87+ points Undoubtedly the most ‘quintessential cool-weather Pinot Noir’ style at the show. Undoubtedly still not ready for consumption now. This ultra-linear, lightly-handed Pinot Noir might surprise acid freaks in a couple of years.

• Jamšek 1887, Modri Pinot 2015 – Vipava, Slovenia

CT: 87 points Beyond the typical fruit notes, there are spicy and floral hints of lavender, licorice, and ginger. Intriguing and complex aromatics. On the palate, the finish shows a bit of bitterness and oxidation. An exciting wine although untypical as a Pinot Noir.

NEW WORLD PINOT NOIR

Besides the walkaround tasting, there was also a masterclass about New World Pinot Noir, led by Quentin Sadler. 

• Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2018 – Walker Bay, South Africa

MH: 93+ points The Hamilton Russell Vineyards Pinot Noir is my favorite wine of this entire festival. This South African beauty has notes of raspberry, cherry, strawberry, and white pepper. Perfumed and nuanced with a lovely texture. Dancing acidity and a long finish.

• Marimar Estate, Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir 2014 – Sonoma Coast, California

MH: 93 points The Marimar Estate Mas Cavalls is Sonoma County Pinot Noir to a tee. IT has notes of sweet raspberry, cool whip, pepper, and a touch of strawberry. There are sweet tannins and a long finish. The high ripeness from the fruit and oak took many of the crowd by surprise, and the wine was distinctly different than the others at the show.

• Seresin Estate 2014 “Rachel” Pinot Noir – Marlborough, New Zealand

CT: 92 points Proprietor Michael Seresin is a renowned cinematographer responsible for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Planet of the Apes, and more. He founded Seresin in 1992 and soon after became known in the winemaking circuit as one of the first few in the country to embrace organic viticulture. The Seresin Estate Rachel Pinot Noir is a blend of three vineyards that are 200 meters in elevation, on clay-gravel soil types. The grapes receive a cold soak before fermentation. After fermentation, the wine is aged for 12 months in barriques

An intense and moderately complex bouquet with dominant aromas of black pepper, earth, and leaf piles—all that before the fruit. Soft on the palate yet it is packed with textural density and flavor intensity. Silky but persistent tannins marked by notes of redcurrant and cherry. Crunchy acidity leads the flavors but does not act like a lonewolf at any point. Note: The 2013 vintage of this wine is listed in Matthew Horkey’s Pinot Palooza: Pinot Noir from Australia and New Zealand article.

Cover image: facebook.com/modrilesnoirs 

You May Also Enjoy:

• German Pinot Noir: Is It Worth the Hype?
• Learn about Polish Wine with Izabella Kamińska

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    Do you want to try Croatian wines?    

If you want to savor the exquisite flavor of Croatian wines, look no further than wineandmore.com. With many options from different winemakers, it’s easy to find exactly what your palate desires. Not sure which bottle is best for you? Try out one of their curated wine cases and discover the perfect vintage for any occasion!

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Want to learn more about wine?

Are you ready to discover the wonderful world of wines? Come join us at wineandmore.com, and let’s explore the incredible selection of delicious wines together! We can’t wait to share our passion for wine with you!

The organizers of Modri les Noirs covered our travel and accommodation expenses during the show. However, please note that the opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post The Return of Modri les Noirs appeared first on Wine Travel.

We tasted over 5,000 wines from 30 countries this year, and it was an arduous task to narrow the list to 18 wines. Our trip back to the USA alone could have filled this list with wines from Napa Valley and Santa Barbara County and other classics that we tasted in New York City. So here it is, Exotic Wine Travel’s list of 18 memorable wines. As usual: while sensory merits are important, there are other factors that went into selecting these wines. Did the wine pique curiosity as well as satisfy it? Did it make us re-examine our assumptions and teach us something new? Did it humanize wine and mean something special to us? Ultimately, it’s an imperfect methodology but good enough to get the gist of our year measured out in wines. There’s a mix of classics and lesser-known wines on the list, which we hope reveals the ever-expanding choices that are available to wine lovers. We highly recommend you to seek out these wines and “drink adventurously” (our tagline). Note: The wines are listed in chronological order based on when we tasted them.

Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder – Napa Valley, 2004 (California, USA)

The first notable event we attended in 2018 was the Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood in Napa Valley. It was an invite-only event that we both received fellowships to attend. We flew from Croatia to visit Matt’s family in Michigan. After visiting the family, we drove 4,000 kilometers (2,400 miles) across the country to California—during the winter no less.

On the second day of the symposium, we attended the “Master tasting with Steven Spurrier and Friends“, which featured current release and library wines from the Napa Valley producers that participated in the 1976 Judgement of Paris. During our tasting, we had several outstanding wines including a Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, a Clos Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979, and this Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Why we love it: It was a tough choice to pick one ‘best wine’ from a strong 14-pour line-up. However, the 2004 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder was unequivocally the top choice for Charine (Matt preferred the 1997 Heitz a little more because of the aged tobacco and menthol notes). Here’s Charine’s notes: “The 2004 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder illustrates a vivid image of its birthplace—all the signs of mountaintop and fresh breeze! The fruit is exceptionally vibrant and fresh for its age, lined by freshly tilled soil and amber. The sure-footed finish is backed by long-drawn, sweet spice-tinted, fine-grained tannins.”

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, 2014 (California, USA)

After the Wine Writers Symposium, we attended several AVA tastings in Napa Valley. There are 16 AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) in Napa Valley, and each area produces distinctly different styles of wine. At the Oakville AVA tasting, there was no wine that we scored below 91 points. All the wines expressed ripe fruit flavors with a sense of freshness, rich texture, and a firm structure. Two wines that stood out above the rest were the 2014 Harlan Estate and 2014 Screaming Eagle, two of the most famous Napa cult wines. Why we love it: One taste of the 2014 Harlan Estate left us speechless. It’s a magnificent wine, and it claims the highest score that we’ve ever published on this site (4.9/5 or 99/100). The wine glides across the tongue as if it’s a ball of flavors giving the palate a deep-tissue massage. Everything is in place, in the right order and amount. Everything is complete.

Shafer, Hillside Select, Stags Leap District – Napa Valley, 2013 (California, USA)

After the Wine Writers Symposium and AVA tastings, we attended the 2018 Premiere Napa Valley auction. It’s an annual event where members of the Napa Valley Vintners auction off micro lots, between 60 to 240 bottles, of one-off creations that are still in the barrels. The money raised from the en primeur auction helps fund the operation of the Napa Valley Vintners, including the promotion and protection of Napa Valley. Prior to the wine futures auction, attendees had a chance to attend a walk-around tasting of barrel samples from the lots before bidding on them hours later and receiving them in a few years when they’re bottled. We tasted through the lots in the morning and then went to lunch before the live auction started. One participant told us to get to the lunch venue as early as possible because the wine selection would be remarkable; we heeded his advice. Over lunch, we had four hedonistic Napa Cabernets in front of us: The Continuum 2014, Staglin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, Paul Hobbs Nathan Coomb’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, and this Shafer Hillside Select 2013.

Why we love it: The Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 surpasses the rest in this instance. It’s nuanced, structured, generous in aromas, yet focussed and elegant on the palate.

The Ojai Vineyard, Syrah, John Sebastiano Vineyard – Santa Barbara County, 2014 (California, USA)

After our week in Napa Valley, we drove back to Michigan to shoot our series about the wines of Santa Barbara County. It’s our favorite wine region in the USA, and we wrote an e-guide entitled Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers to help first-time visitors navigate the wine region. To support our efforts, producers had graciously sent us over 100 wines to use for our video series. The single-vineyard wines from John Sebastiano Vineyard are some of our favorites. The John Sebastiano Vineyard sits on the northeastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, which is slightly warmer than other parts of Sta. Rita Hills. The vines are planted on steep hill slopes facing west and enjoy blustery winds from the Pacific Ocean. The soil contains clay-loam underlaid by limestone. The berries ripen relatively late here so the single-vineyard wines of John Sebastiano Vineyard tend to show marked concentration.

Why we love it: This is quite a benchmark of cool-climate Syrah. It’s concentrated yet remains approachable and soft. Floral, savory, earthy, and fruity, we can’t ask for more from a Syrah.

An Approach to Relaxation, Sucette, 2014 (Barossa Valley, Australia)

After a few weeks of shooting about Santa Barbara wines, we were on the road again. This time, we drove east from Michigan to New York, where we were scheduled to do a masterclass about Croatian wines. Along the way, we met up with our long-time virtual friend Drew DiMatteo and spent a couple of days with him in New Jersey and New York. Needless to say, many wines were shared and An Approach to Relaxation Sucette 2014 topped the list of memorable wines. Why we love it: Old-vine Grenache grown in sandy soil, plus vinified with some stem inclusion—that alone says a lot about this wine. It’s light on the feet and color, yet it punches with surprising intensity. It’s a wine that I won’t mind wearing on my wrists and licking myself ever so occasionally. There’s definitely deft winemaking (the makers are Richard Betts MS and Carla Rzeszewski) here as well.

Giacomo Conterno, Barolo Cascina Francia, 1998 (Piedmont, Italy)

After our time in New Jersey, Drew came with us to New York. We had a special evening scheduled with another wine enthusiast that we had previously known only in the virtual world. Croat-born American Leopold Frokic invited us to his home. The evening started off with a line-up of Nebbiolos from Bartolo Mascarello, Brovia, GD Vajra, and Marcarini, and the standout wine was this Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia 1998. Why we love it: Barolo and Barbaresco are near and dear to our hearts—they were wines that we discovered together at the beginning of our relationship seven years ago, and they were the first wine regions we visited when our full-time travel began in 2015. This was a wine that had eluded us until that night.

Philippe Pacalet, Cornas, 2015 (Rhône, France)

After New York, Drew wanted to show us more of the Philly’s food and wine scene, so we hopped across the bridge for some Philly Cheesesteaks at John’s Roast Pork and drinks at the Walnut Street Café. Walnut’s sommelier Kaitlyn Caruke (named ‘Best New Sommelier by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2018) opened a bottle of Philippe Pascalet Cornas 2015. Why we love it: Matt loves Syrah; Charine loves Philippe Pacalet and Cornas but tends to find Philippe Pacalet to have severe bottle variation and Cornas to be too young for consumption. This is an all-stars-aligned Rhône red that’s best when savored, not tasted.

Domaine Armand Rousseau Père & Fils, Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Clos de Ruchottes, 2006 (Cote de Nuits, Burgundy, France)

After our time in the USA, we returned to Europe to start a series of press trips. Charine was off to the VinNatur event in Vicenza, Italy. One night, the event organizer shared this bottle of Clos des Ruchottes with her. This wine had been on her vision board for several years. Why we love it: It was surreal to see this bottle walked out of the wishlist onto the dining table. Better yet, the wine was in its peak window. 2006 was not a great year for Clos des Ruchottes, but the wine had come around with sustained depth and poise.

Éric Texier, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vielles Vignes, 2015 (Rhône, France)

At the three-day Villa Favorita event organized by VinNatur, Charine had a chance to discover many new wine producers. But the one that left the deepest impression was Éric Texier, whose wines we were already familiar with. It was Charine’s first taste of his Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Why we love it: Charine appreciates every wine in Éric Texier’s portfolio, including the basic ‘Chat Fou’, but his Châteauneuf-du-Pape was in a league of its own: it caused her to stop in awe, then compelled her to create quite a commotion because she couldn’t contain my excitement. She has since become a vocal and enthusiastic supporter of Éric Texier.

Cave L’Étoile, Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Réservée, 1995 (Roussillon, France)

While Charine was enjoying the wonders of Vinnatur, Matt participated in Languedoc-Roussillon Week in the south of France. The week was jam-packed with tastings, workshops, field trips, and food. Matt tasted a number of delicious wines from many different appellations in Languedoc-Roussillon, but it was the fortified wines of Banyuls that captured his attention. One afternoon, we visited the steep terraces where those wines are born. What a site it was.

While Charine is in a never-ending love affair with Port, Matt was never into fortified wines until he met Banyuls. These wines are lower in alcohol (14.5%-16%) than Port and are a little easier to drink. The Cave L’Étoile Banyuls Grand Cru Cuvée Réservée 1995 was served during the last dinner of the the Languedoc-Roussillon trip. It was a special seven-course dinner featuring two fortified wines per course. This was the wine took nearly everyone’s breath away.  Why we love it: This sweet wine is a smorgasbord of flavors. Think dried raspberries mixed with coffee, toffee, pepper, and leather flavors. If you like Port, it’s time to give vintage Banyuls a try.

Clai, Bastovica, 2007 (Istria, Croatia)

After the Languedoc-Roussillon trip and VinNatur event , we met back in Croatia and set out to shoot a 12-part video series, entitled Cracking Croatian Wine, to support our book of the same name. On the third day of our shoot, we arrived at Clai winery in the evening (click on the video below).

Giorgio Clai and his co-winemaker Dimitri Brečević were having drinks after a long day in the vineyards. We joined them and tasted through the new vintage. Giorgio’s mood got progressively jovial as the evening darkened. He began pulling out archive wines from his small, personal stash (he drinks a lot of his own wine), including this Clai Bastovica Teran 2007. Why we love it: This wine isn’t in production anymore as all the vines in the Bastovica vineyard have been pulled. So this is quite a unicorn wine, which—admittedly—makes it even more special. But it’s not just merely novelty; the 2007 Clai Bastovica Teran had gained the necessary complexity through aging and it was showing great class that night. A sublime wine with larger-than-life quality that reminded us of the maker Giorgio Clai.

Kiridžija, Dingač, 2008 (Dalmatia, Croatia)

Our eighth episode of Cracking Croatian Wine focused on the wines of the Pelješac Peninsula. This slender piece of land is the spiritual home to Plavac Mali. The peninsula contains Croatia’s first two appellations, Postup and Dingač.

One of Plavac Mali’s old guards is Vedran Kiridžija, who produces about 15,000 bottles of wine (one-third are Dingač) in a humble cellar behind his house. When we stopped by to shoot our episode, Vedran was kind enough to share a bottle of Dingač from his favorite vintage, 2008. Why we love it: The wine had such a beautiful quiet intensity and harmony that we never thought we could find in Dingač. Who would have thought that the tannic monster Dingač has the ability to walk on tip-toe? Charine loved the wine so much that she teared up. We were also delighted that Vedran Kiridžija enjoyed the moment and the wine as much as we did.

Château Montrose, Saint-Estèphe, 2008 (Bordeaux, France)

After wrapping up our Cracking Croatian Wine video series, we had an intense few months of travel and started the second half of the year with a trip to Puglia (Italy) to judge at Radici del Sud, then moved on to more press trips in Hungary and Romania, and then back to Italy to judge at the Cagliari International Wine & Food Festival. After Sardinia, we went on a two-week re-tour of the Slovak wine regions. After Slovakia, we settled down in Oradea, Romania where we visited a friend and caught up on desktop work. During our time in Oradea, our friend Șerban organized two blind tastings, mixing in Romanian wines with international wines. The first tasting had quite a few surprises in it, including several impressive Romanian wines, a Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003, and this Château Montrose 2008. On first taste, Charine immediately identified it as a classified Bordeaux. This was the first bottle that was finished that night—the most practical identifier of ‘the best wine’. Why we love it: Château Montrose is one of Charine’s all-time favorite Bordeaux as it’s one of the most value-for-money cellar-worthy wines. This wine shows brightness and gossamer texture.

Crama Oprişor, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011 (Oltenia, Romania)

We did a second blind tasting in Oradea a few days later. Șerban mixed in lots of international wines including Rioja, Barolo, and Amarone. We brought along a Liber Pater 2009 (Bordeaux), which showed well. The most memorable wines were the Liber Pater, Château Porto Carras (Greece), and this lone Romanian wine in the flight.

Why we love it: The Crama Oprişor Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 changed our impressions of Romanian reds. We were in Romania three times in 2018 and tasted many wines from the top Romanian wine producers. In general, Romanian reds tend to be heavily extracted, finished with a landslide of oak. This wine is nothing of that sort; it’s powerful yet elegant, and it sings Old-World restraint.

Château Pajzos, Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos, 2006 (Tokaj, Hungary)

After Oradea, Romania, we went back to Hungary for the Hungarianwines.eu study trip, which covered four Hungarian regions in four days. The study trip was a prize we received for winning the Hungarian Web Wine Writing contest with first place in the category of red wine and runner-up in Hungarian food and wine pairing. We were joined on the trip by other winners of the contest and a group of Cava producers from Catalunya, Spain.

This trip marked our third visit to Tokaj in 2018. It’s a region that fascinates us endlessly, and we’re always happy to return to Tokaj. This time around, we visited Château Pajzos. The managing director of Château Pajzos, Laurent Comas, guided us through the old cellars and a tasting of current releases and archive wines. While the Château Pajzos Eszencia 2000 was ethereal, it was the Château Pajzos Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 2006 that unanimously impressed our whole group. Why we love it: The wine was beautiful: stewy notes with primary fruit dialed back; good balance of acid and sugar that paved the way for current drinkability. But what captivated us was the overall beauty of that moment: drinking the wine in the Tokaji cellar (drinking Tokaji wine in a traditional Tokaji cellar should be on the bucket list of every wine lover) with a group of like-minded people.

Mlečnik, Rebula, 2009 (Vipava, Slovenia)

Immediately after the Hungarian wine study trip, we had to attend another press trip in Slovenia. The schedule almost seemed improbable until a virtual friend came to our rescue—coincidently, Sašo Papp of Vinoo.co was attending the same wine event that we were attending in Hungary, and he graciously offered to drive us from the Etyek wine region in Hungary to Vipava Valley in Slovenia.

The Vipavska Rebula event was a sensory explosion. The press trip was sponsored by six quality-minded producers Burja, Batič, Slavček, Guerilla, Mlečnik, and Svetlik along with the Slovenian Tourist Board. We visited Mlečnik in 2017, so we were already familiar with their wines. However, nothing prepared us for the wines they pulled from the archive at the event. Valter Mlečnik and his son Klemen Mlečnik presented their Mlečnik Rebula 2009 and Mlečnik Ana Cuvée 2011. We sampled the Mlečnik Rebula 2009 twice during the trip. It was the best wine of the trip. Hold on, it was the best amber wine we tasted in 2018. Why we love it: Mlečnik Rebula 2009 is the epitome of harmony in a bottle. Nothing sticks out, nothing is left behind. It hits every point on the palate with concentration and focus. A true masterpiece. If this wine is indicative of where Vipavska Rebula (Rebula/Ribolla Gialla wine from Vipava Valley) is heading, then we are in for an enormous treat.

Ramos Pinto, Vintage Port, 1982 (Douro, Portugal)

Shortly after our time in Slovenia, we were on the road again, this time to Portugal. The AEVP (Association of Port Wine Companies, also known as Caves do Vinho do Porto) had invited us to Port Wine Day and the declaration ceremony of the 2016 Vintage Port.

Charine is resolutely partial to Port because her first sip of wine at a tender age was a Tawny Port. We were assigned to visit and stay a night at Ramos Pinto in the Douro. Jorge Rosas, Export Director and heir of the family winery, took us through the Ramos Pinto portfolio including a few older vintage Ports. When Charine tasted the Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1982, she instantly knew it would be on this list. Why we love it: It’s Matt’s birth year wine, so that gives it an extra sheen. Ramos Pinto Vintage Port 1982 has absolutely the most divine bouquet of walnut cookie and meringue. Medium-bodied palate with resolved tannins. The finish is so long that it can keep one company for the whole evening.

Argentiera, Bolgheri Superiore, 2015 (Tuscany, Italy)

After Portugal, we returned to Croatia for a press tour to all four major wine regions, made a short trip to Vienna for the Orange Wine Festival 2018, and judged at the IWCB wine competition in Romania. As winter approached, we headed back to Charine’s home country Singapore to escape the cold. Along the way, we made a convenient detour to Hong Kong, where we shared a number of memorable wines with our friends including a Ridge Monte Bello 1998 and a Bruno Giacosa Santo Stefano Barbaresco 2007. We also attended Pinot Palooza and James Suckling’s Great Wines of Italy; the latter was where we tasted the final wine on our list. Why we love it: We tasted Argentiera Bolgheri Superiore 2015 next to Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015. Wine Spectator named the Sassicaia 2015 the number one wine of the year; it’s a stellar wine but the Argentiera is equally impressive and comes at a fraction of the price.

Honorable Mentions:

Bosnia-Herzegovina: Brkić Greda Žilavka 2015 (Mostar), Čitluk Blatina Grand Cru 2011 (Mostar), Nuić Trnjnak 2015 (Mostar) Croatia: Bire Grk Defora 2016 (Dalmatia), Krajančič Statute 2015 (Dalmatia), Benvenuti Muškat San Salvatore 2013 (Istria), Enjingi Venje Bijelo 1998 (Slavonia) France: Château Bel Air Marquis d’Aligre Margaux 2004 (Bordeaux), Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2005 (Bordeaux), Liber Pater 2009 (Bordeaux), Damoy Gevrey Chambertin Clos Tamisot 2014 (Burgundy), Tarlant Cuvee Louis NV (Champagne), Domaine Cazes Rivesaltes Cuvée Aimé Cazes 1978 (Roussillon) Greece: Château Porto Carras 2008 (Meliton Slopes), Markovitis Xinomavro 2012 (Naoussa) Hungary: Erzsebét Pince Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 2003 (Tokaj), Lenkey Úrágya Furmint 2006 (Tokaj), Oremus Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos 1999 (Tokaj) Moldova: Chateau Vartely Ice Wine Riesling 2017  New Zealand: Craggy Range Aroha Te Muna 2016 (Martinborough) Portugal: Bulas Porto Colheita 1996, Churchill’s Vintage Port 2016, Ramos Pinto 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Quinta do Vale Meão Vintage Port 2016, Quinta do Vallado Vintage Port 2016, Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 2015, Vasques de Carvalho 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Vallado Vintage Port 2016, Vieira de Sousa Agua Alta Vintage Port 2016 Italy: Terlan Nova Domus Terlaner Riserva 2015 (Alto-Adige), Fratelli Serra Vernaccia di Oristano 2002 (Sardinia), Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2013 (Tuscany), Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve 2015 (Tuscany), Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 2015 (Tuscany), Antinori Tignanello 2015 (Tuscany), Fontodi Vigna del Sorbo Chianti Classico Gran Selezione 2015 (Tuscany), Quintarelli Giuseppe Amarone Della Valpolicella 2003 (Veneto) Romania: Davino Flamboyant 2012 (Dealu Mare) Slovakia: J&J Ostrožović Tokajské Výber 6 Putñový 2003 (Tokaj), Organic Cuvée Marie Vallis Albus Exclusive Biele Suché 2015 (Strekov, Južnoslovenskà/South Slovakia) Slovenia: Batič Angel Pinela 2015 (Vipava Valley), Movia Veliko Rdeće 1998 (Goriška Brda) Spain: R. Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva 1995 (Rioja), Remelluri Rioja Blanco 2012 (Rioja) USA: Christian Brothers Cabernet Sauvignon 1974 (Napa Valley), Cliff Lede Poetry 2005 (Napa Valley), Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979 (Napa Valley), Heitz Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Napa Valley), Schramsberg Reserve Late Disgorged 1997 (Napa Valley), VHR Vine Hill Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2015 (Napa Valley), Bonaccorsi Pinot Noir John Sebastiano Vineyard 2014 (Santa Barbara), Liquid Farm Golden Slope 2015 (Santa Barbara), Samsara Pinot Noir Las Hermanas 2013 (Santa Barbara), Ridge Monte Bello 1998 (Santa Cruz)  Dishes of the Year: Baby squid ink barley with sheep cheese (Hotel Ola, Croatia), Pag lamb on grill (Boškinac Restaurant, Croatia), pasta with blue crab from Croatia’s Neretva river (Hotel Merlot, Croatia), fresh aoli with escargot from Vallée de l’Agly (Roussillon, France), Burrata cheese from Puglia (Italy), Pasticciotti (1489 Food Pop Gallipoli in Italy), raw seafood at Ristorante Al Pescatore (Bari, Puglia, Italy), Idrijski Žlikrofi (Gostilna pri Škafarju, Slovenia) Food and Wine Pairing of the Year: Meadowood Napa Valley’s roasted squab with smooked cranberry, salted clementine and parsip paired with Chase Cellars ‘Hayne Vineyard’ Zinfandel 2015 (Napa Valley)–wine selected by Gillian Ballance MS Restaurant of the Year: Boškinac (Novalja, Pag Island, Croatia) Sommelier of the Year: Tihomir Purišić (Dubravkin Put Restaurant in Zagreb, Croatia) Wine Event of the Year: Premiere Napa Valley’s Oakville AVA Tasting Winery Visit of the Year: Ramos Pinto (Douro, Portugal)

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The opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Exotic Wine Travel’s 18 Wines of 2018 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Game Of Thrones Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, 2015

I might be the only person who knows nothing about the Game of Thrones series. In fact, we were giving a presentation in New York City about Croatian wines and I mentioned that Dubrovnik is where many parts of “king of thrones” were filmed. The audience corrected me instantly, emphatically, and in unison “Game of Thrones!”

When 8wines.com offered us a few samples for us to try, Charine thought it would be interesting to try something from the Game of Thrones wine portfolio (owned by Vintage Wine Estates). The Game of Thrones Red Blend and Game of Thrones Chardonnay are made with fruit from the Central Coast AVA, which means that the grapes could be sourced from a fairly large area in California. If any of these wines were going to be good, I thought the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (fruit can come from any of the 16 sub-AVAs in Napa Valley) would have the best chance.

Bob Cabral is the winemaker of Game of Thrones Cabernet Sauvignon. He’s well known for crafting the first American Pinot Noir to receive 100 points from Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate. After making wine at William Selyem for many years, Bob started his own project and was then contacted by HBO to make the Game of Thrones wine.

Bob is reportedly a Game of Thrones fanatic, but I was still skeptical before trying the wine. Is this just a marketing gimmick, or is there substance inside the bottle?

The Game of Thrones Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 isn’t a gimmick. This is some serious juice. It’s full of black cherry, violet, capsicum, and a touch of sweet cedar. The wine is round and silky on the palate with chewy tannins. Bob Cabral did an excellent job of making a young Cabernet Sauvignon accessible and easy to drink for all types of palates while offering enough subtle nuances to serious wine enthusiasts.

For Game of Thrones fans, this is an outstanding wine to bring to dinner or to sip on while watching an episode. For the few people out there that know nothing about Game of Thrones like myself, it’s a flat-out good wine. This is definitely on par, if not better, than many of the standard Napa Valley’s Cabernet Sauvignons (Napa Valley AVA-level, not sub-AVA) out there.

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90 points (You can find out more about our scoring system on the Wine Rating page.)

Find or buy this wine and other Game of Thrones wines at 8wines. Use the promo code EWT8WO7 and get €15 off your first purchase of $100 or more. (EU-wide delivery plus Hong Kong, Japan, and Norway.

You May Also Enjoy

• Bob Cabral’s website
• All of the ‘Game of Thrones’ Booze You Can Buy and Collect (So Far), by Food & Wine
• The ‘Game Of Thrones’ Season 8 Premiere Month Has Been Revealed, by Bustle

We received this wine from 8wines.com as a complimentary sample for this review. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide. 

The post Game Of Thrones Wine: Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2015 appeared first on Wine Travel.

Samsara Wine Co. is one of our favorite producers in Santa Barbara County. Upon first visitng the tasting room in Los Olivos, we (especially Charine) were hooked. When Charine loves a wine, she knows it after the first sip.

When we wrote our book Sipping Santa Barbara: Recommended Wines and Producers, including Samsara Wine Co. was a no-brainer. When it comes to Californian Pinot Noir, Samsara tops the list for Charine. You can see her enthusiasm while we taste through some of Samsara’s single vineyard Pinot Noir bottlings (video below).

New Beginnings At Samsara

The winery was started by Chad Melville. He believed in making handcrafted wines with as little intervention as possible. Which means he used native yeasts to ferment and utilized long barrel aging. Chad also believed in using as little sulfur as possible.

A few years ago, Chad returned to his family’s estate (Melville) and sold Samsara to longtime mailing list customers Joan and Dave Szkutak. Together with Chad, the Szkutaks decided on bringing on winemaker Matt Brady. He was formerly the head winemaker at Jaffurs, another iconic producer in Santa Barbara County.

Joan & Dave Szkutak (photo courtesy of Samsara Wine Co. Website)

With the change of ownership, we were worried the direction of the winery might change. Would these remain some of our favorite cool-climate Pinots and Syrahs in Santa Barbara? Matt took some time out of busy schedule to answer our questions.

• Matt, you’re a young guy with an impressive resumé. Could you tell us about your professional history?

I got bit by the wine bug while attending UCSB and started at Jaffurs as a ‘tasting room, cellar rat’ while I was finishing up my senior year.  The 2005 harvest rolled around and I was asked to take on an increased role in wine production. I’ve had a variety of job titles over 12 vintages at Jaffurs, eventually landing as co-winemaker, and then head winemaker. My 2009 sabbatical to Barossa Valley with Two Hands was a valuable experience too, but I drank enough Shiraz for a lifetime.

• You were crafting some beautiful wines at Jaffurs before, what made you decide to take on this new challenge at Samsara? 

Thank you! I’ve always admired and respected the Samsara wines and the way they are made: native ferments, high stem inclusion, savory, and texturally driven wines. Making wine at Samsara allows me to pursue the stylistic directions I’m most passionate about. The Samsara brand really represents the ‘groove’ I want to be in right now – vineyard driven wines, in balance with nature, and complexity over power.

Matt Brady (photo courtesy of Samsara Wine Co. Website)

• What vintage of Samsara will be your first?

It will be the 2017 vintage. We’ll also have a 2016 Grenache from Larner vineyard that I made which will be bottled as a Samsara wine.

• Samsara wines were known for stem inclusion and utilizing natural yeasts during fermentation, very minimal intervention so-to-speak. Will that be the direction moving forward as well? Or do you see a change in the style of Samsara wines? 

There will be no change in the winemaking approach. Chad Melville and I worked together before harvest began to ensure there would be stylistic continuity. Things will remain the same, native ferments, high stem inclusion, long macerations, minimal handling/gentle pressing, minimal SO2, and extended barrel aging – all things I believe in!

• Are you looking to source grapes from any new sites? If so, where?

Yes, a couple new vineyards…

We started a Chardonnay program in 2017, working with some top Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay vineyard sites (Zotovich, John Sebastiano Vineyard, Kessler-Haak, Donnachadh). We’ll most likely have a vineyard-designated bottling in addition to an appellation bottling.

I’m really excited about the Chardonnay! Currently, the barrels are tasting great and it’s exciting to have some white wine in our lineup. The Chardonnay will be bottled in late 2018, it is barrel fermented with neutral oak and picked on the early side with lots of natural acidity and fresh aromatics.

I’m also really pleased to be working with both Grenache and Syrah at Joey Tensley’s Colson Canyon Vineyard. Colson is a special site and it’s impeccably farmed by Joey and his team.  The 2017 Syrah and Grenache are both qualitative standouts for the vintage. While Samsara’s Syrah program is better known for the spicy cool climate Sta. Rita Hill wines, the Colson provides a riper and richer style, which makes for a good stylistic range within our Syrah lineup.

I’m really excited about the Chardonnay! Currently, the barrels are tasting great and it’s exciting to have some white wine in our lineup.

 

• What do you like working with more, Rhône grapes or Pinot Noir? Which is most challenging to work with?

Tough question… Pinot is less forgiving, which makes it more challenging. The Samsara Syrahs from past vintages are so good, which sets the bar high.

• Do you have any favorite vineyard sites in Santa Barbara County?

After spending so many years in some sites they become really special. Larner and Stolpman vineyards in Ballard Canyon and Bien Nacido in Santa Maria. I really fell in love with Rancho La Vina on Santa Rosa Rd last year. Colson Canyon is so remote it feels like an adventure every time you’re out there.

• What’s your vision for Samsara looking forward?

To continue putting quality above everything else. Winemaking style will remain consistent, although I foot-stomped a lot of grapes last year, I might need some help in 2018. I’m hopeful that increased time spent in our vineyards, working with our vineyard managers and crews will pay off with fruit quality. I’ll keep playing around new things here and there and will build on the stuff that works.

I deeply believe in our winemaking style, the few vintages we have in the bottle are tasting great and the 2017’s are showing great promise too. I’m optimistic about the future.

Find or buy Samsara Pinot Noir and other bottlings on Wine-Searcher.

You can also visit the Samsara tasting room in Los Olivos or check out or buy their current releases directly from their website.

You May Also Enjoy:

Review of Samsara Syrah Zotovich Vineyard

Review of Samsara Grenache Larner Vineyard

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Cover photo courtesy of Samsara Wine Co. Website. Additional thanks to Samsara for contributing samples for the tasting video. Please note that the opinions expressed are our own and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. On occasion, we extend the option of purchasing the wines we review or/and the products we spotlight. Some of these product links are set up through affiliate programs, which means Exotic Wine Travel gets referral credits if you choose to purchase these items via the links we provide.

The post Samsara: New Beginnings With Winemaker Matt Brady appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

BOND St. Eden & Vecina 2014

Charine and I were present for the week of Premiere Napa Valley 2018. Prior to the auction, there were several tasting parties throughout the valley. We were especially fond of the Oakville AVA tasting. The first two wines we tasted at the party were two B Cellars Cabernet Sauvignons and these two offerings from Bond Estate.

Bond Estate is owned by Bill Harlan, who happens to own the legendary Harlan Estate. The idea of Bond is to make wines from five extraordinary sites in Napa Valley. Bonds has produced wine commercially since 1999. Both the St. Eden and Vecina locations are within the Oakville AVA. The Vecina bottling is the crown jewel of the estate.

Getting the chance to sample these two wines was a real treat for us. In general, we’re not the type of people that chase majestic trophy wines. We prefer wines that will be drunk with friends and loved ones. However, being wine geeks, it’s nice to taste the creme de la creme when it comes to wine. We spend a lot of time in lesser-known wine regions, so it’s essential and beneficial to have an understanding of the world’s benchmark wines.

The Bond St. Eden 2014 is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that is rich and plush. It’s a huge wine with notes of dark cherry, tobacco, and a soy sauce component. It’s round and silky on the palate with tannins that are highly developed at this stage. The Bond St. Eden is a big and muscular wine that calls for big meat. It drinks surprisingly well for how young it is. 

4.7/5 

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Bond Vecina 2014 is another massive wine. Full of tobacco, dark chocolate, and dark fruit. It’s silky and refined on the palate with firm tannins that suggest it will age gracefully. It’s a tad more structured than the St. Eden bottling. The Bond Vecina doesn’t drink as smoothly as the St. Eden at this stage but it probably has more shelf life. 

4.8/5 

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post BOND St. Eden & Vecina 2014 appeared first on Wine Travel.

In February 2018, Charine and I participated in the Wine Writer’s Symposium in addition to Premiere Napa Valley 2018. We flew from Zagreb, Croatia to Detroit, MI to spend a little time with my family. We then chose to drive across I-80 from Michigan to Napa Valley in late winter. It was a long but scenic journey as you can see below.

After spending the week at the Wine Writer’s Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley, we took part in the tasting parties and auction tasting of Premiere Napa Valley. We attended the Spring Mountain AVA, Oakville AVA, and Stag’s Leap AVA tasting parties. Later in the week, we also attended the perspective tasting of 2013, 2014, and 2015 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon in addition to the online and live auction tasting.

If you would rather watch about the week at Premiere Napa Valley, check out the two videos below.

Here are our thoughts on the week (~9 minutes)

Exotic Wine Travel’s Picks

(You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

WHITE

• Robert Mondavi, Fumé Blanc To Kalon Vineyard 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Robert Mondavi, Fumé Blanc To Kalon Vineyard has a small percentage of Semillon blended in. It is barrel fermented. This wine has crystalline flavors. A perfect amount of wood and lees flavors. Full of toast, stone fruit, mineral, vanilla, and grassy flavors. It’s full-bodied with a long finish and crisp on the palate.    4.3/5

• Keenan, Chardonnay Spring Mountain 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This is a delicious Chardonnay from Keenan. It’s barrel fermented in French and American oak. Full of lemon, melon, and vanilla flavors. It has great texture while being crisp at the same time. Long finish stretched out by the vibrant acidity.   4.2/5 

• Spring Mountain Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Spring Mountain Vineyards, Sauvignon Blanc is barrel fermented with a touch of Semillon added to it. This is bright and expressive. Full of bright peach, gas, and biscuit flavors. It has an oily texture and a long finish.   4.4/5

ROSÉ

• Antica, Fossino Rosé of Sangiovese Atlas Peak 2016

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

This isn’t just a summer sipper, the Antica Fossino Rosé of Sangiovese serious rosé. While most rosé wines taste of strawberry, this wine is dominated by cherry flavors with a touch of citrus and watermelon. The yogurt flavor from the lees is complemented by mineral notes and a long finish.  4.2/5

RED

• B Cellars, Erlich Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The B Cellars, Erlich Vineyard is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Vineyard is in the heart of the Oakville AVA. This is big, ripe, and round. It’s full of dark fruit, tobacco, and oak. The wine is extremely silky on the palate with a long finish. Built for pleasure now but will age gracefully in the medium term.   4.6/5 

• Vine Hill Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Vine Hill Ranch, Cabernet Sauvignon 2015 is dark, dense, and rich. The fruit of this wine comes from Oakville and is aged in 100% New French Oak. Flavors include dark fruit, plum, capsicum, and tobacco – oak integration is flawless. Highly structured and round on the palate, it drinks well for such a young Cabernet.   4.7/5

• Sherwin Family Vineyards, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Sherwin Family Vineyards, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is made with fruit exclusively from the family’s 16-acre plot on Spring Mountain. This is floral, leafy, and herbal on the nose while being more fruit driven on the nose. Its round and creamy on the palate with developed tannins for such a young wine. It’s big but not over the top. A wine to drink now or age for a few years.   4.4/5

• Odette, Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Odette, Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District is 100% Cab packaged in a screw cap top! Beautiful wine with dark fruit, brambleberry, and plum. Plush and round with a graphite finish. The tannins are smooth and refined allowing this to drink well for such a young wine.   4.5/5

• Opus One 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The Opus One 2014 is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, with small amounts of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Malbec. This wine has a ton of character, it’s expressive at such a young age. Full of violets, black fruit, tobacco, and sweet cedar. It is round on the palate and big bodied with sweet tannins. This is a vintage that drinks great right out of the gate.   4.7/5

• Clos Du Val, Three Graces 2015

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Three Graces is the flagship wine from Clos Du Val. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. This is red fruit driven with raspberry, cherry, and capsicum flavor. Medium bodied red that is bright and expressive. Chalky tannins and a long finish.    4.6/5

• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, SLV Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

The new vintage of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, SLV (Stag’s Leap Vineyard) Cabernet Sauvignon is flat out gorgeous. It’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon full of violet, herb, and black cherry flavors. It has dusty tannins and a firm finish. The mouthfeel is velvety and the finish has a touch of orange peel.   4.6/5

• Matthiasson Ribolla Gialla 2014

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

Steve Matthiason is a guy that’s not afraid to experiment. This Ribolla Gialla was kept on the skins for two weeks. Full of orange peel, apricot, and nutty flavors. It’s true to the variety. Full bodied and clean orange wine with small tannins. Very solid effort by Steve Mathiasson. Drinking this makes us think about our days in the Collio hills of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.   4.3/5 

You might also enjoy:

Steven Spurrier Judgement of Paris Recreated -Sort Of
Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon St Helena 2016 (Special Edition for Premiere Napa Valley)

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers

The post Premiere Napa Valley 2018: Our Favorites appeared first on Wine Travel.

Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Harlan Estate 2014

I am not a huge fan of trophy wines. As a consumer first, I purchase wines that are intended to be enjoyed and drunk with friends and loved ones. But as a wine geek, it’s exciting to get a chance to taste iconic and rare wines. Charine and I work hard to taste benchmark wines so that you as a reader have confidence in the more “exotic” wines we write about.

Charine and I were present for the week of Premiere Napa Valley 2018. Prior to the auction, there were several tasting parties throughout the valley. The Oakville AVA tasting had some heavy hitting wines including big names like B Cellars, BOND, O’Shaughnessy,  Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Vine Hill Ranch, and Harlan Estate.

Harlan Estate was established in 1984 although the first commercial release wasn’t until 1990. When Bill Harlan founded the estate, he wanted to create a Californian “First Growth” type of wine. The 40 acres of vineyards that make up the wine are within the Oakville AVA. They are planted with mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, in addition to some small plantings of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

Harlan Estate is one of California’s “Cult Cabernets”. It’s not uncommon to find bottles of Harlan Estate on the secondary market fetching over 1000 USD a bottle. For most people, it’s far from an everyday wine (or even a special occasion wine at that).

I have to admit that I didn’t want to like this wine. I wanted it to be all hype, all marketing. I was hoping that it was too big, too extracted, and clumsy. I was wrong, this is a head turner.

What a wine! The Harlan Estate 2014 is massive and elegant at the same time. Like most of the Napa reds from 2014, it’s approachable right out of the gate. This Cabernet-dominated Bordeaux blend has tight, delineated flavors. It is floral with notes of black fruit, tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla. The Harlan Estate 2014 is silky on the palate with firm tannins. The long and citrusy finish let you know this is a masterful effort. Charine says. “it’s like a ball full of flavors massaging the palate”. 

Expensive? Yes, but it’s a helluva wine.

Find or buy on Wine-Searcher.

4.9/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the WINE RATING page.)

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

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In 1976, Englishman Steven Spurrier organized a blind tasting, pitting Napa Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay against top-notch Red Bordeaux and White Burgundy. When the final scores were tallied, a Californian wine came out on top in both the red and white categories. The tasting became known as the Judgement of Paris and was depicted in the Hollywood film Bottleshock.

During the Wine Writer’s Symposium Meadowood 2018, we experienced a semi-recreation of that tasting (at 5:26 in the above video). Mr. Spurrier, the Napa Valley Vintners, and the Wine Writer’s Symposium organized a tasting that included young and mature vintages of Cabernet Sauvignon (and one Chardonnay) from the producers who were represented in that monumental 1976 tasting.

The panel that led the discussion consisted of Steven Spurrier, Lettie Teague (Wall Street Journal), Amy Wislocki (Decanter), Jim Gordon (Wines & Vines, Wine Enthusiast). Needless to say, everyone, including the panel and other participants, were impressed with the wines. Mr. Spurrier and Charine came away really impressed with both of the Cabernets Mayacamas. I was a big fan of both of the wines from Heitz Cellars. Both Charine and I were impressed with how well the 1979 Clos Du Val had aged. 

Napa strives to create wines that are approachable young, yet age gracefully. It was an eye-opening experience for us to do this comparative tasting. All the young wines were approachable and the mature ones still had life left. A common theme we saw during the week was that 2014 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon is plush and very drinkable now while the 2013s are firm and highly structured wines that need more time in the bottle.

Here are the wines in the order we tasted them.

You can find out more about our scoring system on the Wine Rating page.

The Lone Napa Chardonnay

• Chateau Montelena, Chardonnay 2011

This barrel fermented Chardonnay tastes a lot younger than it actually is. The Chateau Montelena Chardonnay is oaky and full yet very well made. Full of honey and bright pineapple flavors with a touch of salinity. This has a subtly powerful finish which makes it a thinking wine. I would prefer a little more acidity but this is very good nonetheless.   4.3/5

The Young Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

• Clos Du Val, Hirondelle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Stag’s Leap District 2014

This single vineyard wine is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Clos Du Val Hirondelle Vineayrd Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Districti is medium bodied and very sleek. It has flavors of violets, blackberry, and graphite. It has a tight mouthfeel and a long, spicy finish. Balanced and delicious to drink now but built for some serious aging.   4.6/5

• Freemark Abbey, Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2014

This single vineyard wine has a small amount of Merlot in the blend. The Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford is medium bodied with bright acidity. For a soft vintage like 2014, this has firm, mouth-coating tannins. Full of violets, dark plum, and a lot of oak.   4.3/5

• Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Red Wine Blend 2014

Majority of this wine is Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Red Wine Blend is full of violets, rose, chalk, black fruit, and herbal flavors. It feels lean at first sip but spreads its wings on the palate. Firm tannins and tight structure.   4.4/5

• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

This is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Stag’s Leap Vineyard. The Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon is full of violets, herbs, and black cherry. It has dusty tannins and a firm finish. The end palate has a touch of orange peel and green herbs. Velvety mouthfeel.   4.6/5

• Heitz Wine Cellars, Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

This is the first release from the Linda Falls Vineyard located in the Howell Mountain AVA. The Heitz Wine Cellars Linda Falls Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a knockout. Full of black fruit with a savory soy sauce component. It’s full and round with powerful fruit intensity. The wine is impeccably balanced with a spicy finish.   4.8/5 

• Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 2013 * Charine’s Pick

Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon is elegant and big at the same time. It’s full of cherry pie, capsicum, and graphite flavors. The tannins are firm and the fruit is bright. European in style with a tangy finish.   4.5/5

The Mature Napa Cabernet Sauvignon

• Spring Mountain Vineyard, Elivette Red Wine Blend 2005

Majority of this wine contains Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. The Spring Mountain Vineyard Elivette Red Wine Blend shows a lot of tertiary notes. It’s full of tomato leaf, capsicum, and dark fruit. It’s medium bodied with a hickory smoke finish. The tannins are firm and may not ever soften but it’s delicious.   4.3/5

• Chateau Montelena, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Calistoga AVA. Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon has an intense nose. It’s a big wine with flavors of graphite, herbs, tobacco, and stewed cherry flavors. It’s rich and ripe with an orange peel finish. For fans of massive reds.  4.4/5

• Mayacamas, Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 2004

The 2004 vintage of this staple from Mayacamas has a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Merlot added to the blend. This has very old world flavors of leafy greens, graphite, and dark fruit. This is bright and vibrant for an older wine. The tangy acidity stretches out the long finish.   4.6/5

• Freemark Abbey, Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford 2002

This vintage consists of 15% Merlot in addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon. The Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from Rutherford has a tight nose which is not as expressive as the palate. It’s full of tomato leaf, tobacco, and red licorice. The nose feels tired but the palate brings you back with intense dark fruit flavors. Citrus finish.   4.4/5

• Heitz Wine Cellars, Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 * Matt’s Pick

Made of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from this famous Oakville AVA vineyard, the Heitz Wine Cellars Martha’s Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 is a spectacular wine. It’s intense and explosive on the nose with herb soy sauce, rubber, and black fruit flavors. It’s creamy on the palate with developed tannins and a sweet tobacco finish. The structure and finish remind me of a great Rioja Gran Reserva. This wine had the most pronounced tertiary (aging) notes among the mature wines.  4.8/5 

• Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

The 1994 SLV has a microscopic amount (0.1%) of Petit Verdot in the blend. This beauty from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars is still drinking well now and has more life ahead of it. There are flavors here of black cherry, baking spice, and graphite. It’s medium bodied with lively acidity. The acid, tannins, fruit, and tertiary notes are in balance.   4.5/5

• Clos Du Val, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 1979

Tasting this wine was a real treat, it has a small amount of Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The Clus Du Val Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve drinks extremely well and has a lot of life left in it. Flavors of Mediterranean herbs, rubber, tobacco, and stewed cherry accompany the smooth mouthfeel. This has subtly powerful flavors with a lingering finish.   4.7/5

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers.

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Hello! Welcome to As Drunk by Exotic Wine Travel, a weekly column where we feature interesting wines that we encourage you to seek out. The reviews featured in this series may be written by either one or the both of us. The featured wines can be from obscure or well-known wine regions. We hope that these wine recommendations will keep you gastronomically curious and your palate invigorated!

Freemark Abbey, Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2016 (Lot 90)

We were in Napa Valley for the Premiere Napa Valley Auction 2018. Every year the event is put on by the Napa Valley Vintners and the proceeds go towards further promotion of Napa Valley wines. There were a number of stellar wines available for bidding – over 200 to be exact.

Nearly all of the classic producers had a lot up for auction, including Freemark Abbey. Dating back 130 years, Freemark Abbey is one of Napa’s original boutique wineries. They were one of the twelve producers that were represented in the famous 1976 Judgement of Paris. In that legendary tasting, Freemark Abbey was the only producer to have a white and red wine present.

The Premiere Napa Valley tasting was wrapping up and the producers were packing up to eat lunch before the live auction. One of the assistant winemakers at Freemark Abbey came up to us and said, “would you like a sample to taste?” We graciously took it home, opened it, and tasted over a three day period.

The Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2016 was made for the Premiere Napa Valley live auction. It’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and will stay in the barrel until at least August 2018. The fruit is sourced from the St. Helena AVA. 

This is a big bodied wine with a high amount of extract and texture. It’s full of violet, brown spice, cassis, tobacco, and toast. Tannins are ripe and sweet. There is a savory note on the palate that I find attractive in high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon. The long and persistent finish is a major plus for this wine. Customers of Willow Park Wine & Spirits (who won the auction) will be very happy when this is finally bottled. 

The Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena is already great and it’s not even close to being a finished product.

4.7/5 (You can find out more about our scoring system on the START HERE page.)

The opinions expressed in this article are unsolicited and have not been paid for in any way by governmental bodies, enterprises, or individuals. We do not sell editorial content as that would destroy the legitimacy of our reviews and the trust between Exotic Wine Travel and its readers. 

The post Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena 2016 appeared first on Wine Travel.