Wine
Current Qty Bid Avail (Estimate)
2003 Brancaia Red Blend Ilatraia, Toscana IGT
$34 (52)
3
2001 Chateauneuf-‐du-‐Pape, Chante Perdrix
$24 (36)
1
2003 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 337
$54 (80)
1
2004 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 7
$50 (68)
2
2003 Columbia Crest Walter Clore Private Reserve
$22 (32)
1
2002 Corte Riva Vineyards Merlot Napa Valley
$34 (48)
1
2004 Culler Syrah Sawi Vineyard, Sonoma Valley
$20 (32)
5
Score
Tasting Note
Gorgeous aromas of blackberries, raspberries and hints of tar follow through to a full-‐bodied palate with supersilky tannins and a long, long finish. Classy red WS 96 from Maremma. Rich yet subtle. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Petit Verdot. Best after 2008. 1,650 cases made. The 2001 exhibits a decadent bouquet of incense, spice box, smoke, ripe black cherries, earth, and autumnal/forest floor notes. Broad, supple-‐textured, thick, and layered, with loads of fruit as well as a forward, up-‐front personality, it is WA 90 impossible to resist its sensual, seductive charms and lush fruit. Enjoy it over the next 8-‐10 years. Always one of the more exotic and intriguingly aromatic Chateauneuf du Papes, Chante Perdrixs offerings can hit surprisingly high quality Tight, firm and tannic, yet there's enough supple earthy currant and wild berry fruit evident to sustain interest. Begins to reveal its core of complexity on the WS 90 finish, with a hint of elegance that time in the bottle should reveal further. Best from 2008 through 2013. 300 cases made. Rough-‐hewn, dense, abundant and chewy, with concentrated, extracted dried currant, mineral and hefty oak and mineral flavors that make this broad-‐ WS 90 shouldered, framed by potent tannins. Needs lots of time. Best from 2009 through 2018. 1,066 cases made. The 2003 Walter Clore Private Reserve is even better. It is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 7% Cabernet Franc aged for 28 months in new French oak. A classy nose of smoky oak, vanilla, lead pencil, plum, black WA 93 currant, and blackberry leads to a rich, still youthful wine with loads of extract, thick fruit, superb integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a very long finish. This wine demands 6-‐8 years of cellaring and should drink well through 2025. Cloaked in rich, toasty, mocha-‐scented oak, with a tasty range of plum, cherry and currant fruit that is rich and complex, unfolding gracefully to reveal extra WS 91 flavor nuances. Long, intricate aftertaste. New from Lawrence Cortez and Romel Rivera, assistant winemaker at Pride. Drink now through 2009. 400 cases made. The 2004 Syrah Sawi Vineyard, from a windy, high elevation (1,400 feet) site west of Sonoma, reveals blueberry, blackberry, camphor, and forest floor notes WA 91 along with superb richness, outstanding texture, and admirable purity as well as precision. Enjoy this beauty over the next 7-‐10 years.
2001 Darioush Cabernet Sauvignon, 1 salmanazar
$648 (910)
1
2002 Drinkward Peschon Cabernet Entre Meres
$42 (64)
10
2005 DuMOL Syrah Jack Robert's Run
$28 (48)
2
2002 HdV Syrah Carneros
$26 (40)
14
2002 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Red Blend Napa Valley $38 (54)
24
1997 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Merlot
1
2003 Londer Vineyards Pinot Noir Parabol
1990 Louis Roederer Cristal
$20 (36)
$16 (28)
$380 (516)
A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by reluctant aromatics, which, with aeration, reveal notes of damp earth, underbrush, resiny pine forest, black currants, and berries. The palate offers savory flavors of berries, plums, black WA 90 currants, earth, and spice box. Exhibiting medium to full body, supple tannin, a judicious touch of oak, and a long finish, it gains in stature and quality with each sip. is a 320-‐ to 500-‐case cuvee made by talented viticulturist Lisa Behrens, of This Behrens and Hitchcock, and Francoise Peschon, the longtime winemaker at Araujo Estate. Aged 20 months in 100% French oak, of which half is new, the WA 92 deep ruby/purple-‐hued 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits an elegant, sweet, precise bouquet of black currants intermixed with incense, graphite, and subtle new oak. ith 3firmness, alance, purity, sweet tannin, nd a Jlack ong, rich There are W only 00 cases foinesse, f the dbeep ruby/purple-‐tinged 2005 Sayrah Roberts Run. With excellent acidity, loads of tannin, and a more elegant style than the 2004, it is more French/European in its medium-‐bodied weight, crisp WA 90-‐92 acidity, and lower pH. It should age nicely for 7-‐8 years. As I said last year, DuMol is one of my favorite wineries, primarily because of the passion and commitment to quality of owner Kerry Murphy and his winemaker, Andy Smith. A dense, rich yet elegantly styled wine with layers of tobacco leaf, beef carpaccio, white pepper, wild berry, raspberry and plum, holding a sharp focus WS 92 and finishing with a long, persistent finish that gains complexity and nuance, and has just the right mix of tannins and acidity. Drink now through 2010. 770 cases made. A rich, sophisticated style, with layers of ripe currant, wild berry and black cherry fruit that's tightly wound and sharply focused. Yet for all its size and WS 92 density, it's impeccably balanced, finishing with a dash of espresso and mocha. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2007 through 2012. 461 cases made. Phelps' Merlot program is coming of age. Approximately 10% Cabernet Sauvignon is included in the blend, and the wine is aged in primarily French oak with a touch of American. About 30% of the barrels are new. The beautiful 1997 WA 90 Merlot boasts a dense ruby color in addition to an attractive bouquet of berry fruit infused with smoke and mocha. This full-‐bodied, rich Merlot has a fat, succulent, plush texture, and a chewy, heady finish. It will drink well for a
1
Tightly focused on a tasty core of ripe plum, wild berry and black cherry fruit WS 92 flavors. Deftly balanced, with vibrant, tangy acidity and firm, integrated tannins. Finishes with burst of fruit flavors but also mouthwatering acidity.
1
The 1990 Cristal is a dramatic, sweeping wine endowed with masses of apricots, peaches, flowers and minerals. A large-‐scaled Cristal, the 1990 combines size with clarity and focus in a remarkably complete style that recalls the 1982. The WA 97 wine remains generous on the palate, with stunning length and a finish that lasts forever. The 1990 Cristal is 62% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay. Just a small portion of the wine (7-‐10%) underwent malolactic fermentation. This bottle was
Fans of dense, dark, muscular Cabernet will find this fascinating. For all its richness, intensity and concentration, this dark-‐hued young wine has a measure WS 93 of elegance and finesse. The core black cherry, currant, mineral and fresh earth flavors are rich and compelling, finishing with a strong presence of tannins. Best from 2007 through 2013. 500 cases made. The 2003 is a huge, concentrated, inky/blue/purple-‐tinged Cabernet Sauvignon revealing a sweet nose of acacia flowers intermixed with blueberries, minerals, WA 90+ and underbrush. A rich attack is followed by hard tannins and a tough finish. Although this wine possesses outstanding potential, it is questionable whether it will all come together in a seamless display of fruit and structure.
2002 Marston Family Vineyard Cab Spring Mountain
$40 (62)
5
2003 Marston Family Vineyard Cab Spring Mountain
$28 (58)
9
1990 Mumm Brut Cordon Rouge Cuvee Limitee
$90 (140)
1
WS 90
Rich and round textured with plenty of flavor and a melt-‐in-‐your-‐mouth quality. Has buttery aromas, fig and pear flavors and a rather soft balance.
2004 Neiman Red
$40 (56)
1
Big, ripe and expressive, with intense loamy earth, ripe currant, sage, herb and light cedary oak. Rich and well-‐proportioned, this holds its focus, with a long WS 91 finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Drink now through 2014. 220 cases made.
2005 Neiman Merlot
$38 (52)
6
Rich and firmly structured, showing ripe blackberry, spice and espresso notes, WS 90 with rustic yet appealing savory plum and licorice. Needs time in the glass to let the tannins soften. Drink now. 48 cases made.
2005 Neiman Syrah
$42 (58)
6
2002 Neyers Syrah Cuvee d' Honneur
$22 (32)
3
2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot Napa/Son.
$30 (42)
16
This is exciting with its mix of ripe berry, savory herb and spice notes and rich layers of flavors woven together in a fashion that highlights the distinct notes. WS 93 Folds together nicely, expanding on the finish. Drink now through 2014. 72 cases made. The 2002 Syrah Cuvee dHonneur (primarily from the Hudson Vineyard in Carneros) performed fabulously well. Interestingly, stems are used in the winemaking, and while they are not detectable, the wines structure suggests WA 92 there is a lot going on. A broad, concentrated, deep purple-‐colored Syrah with notes of acacia flower, blackberry, cassis, and a hint of tomato skin, this expansive, full-‐bodied, dense, rich effort is accessible The 2002 Merlot, which comes from both the Napa and Sonoma sides of the mountain, is elegant, with wonderfully sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with WA 90 a hint of mocha, white chocolate, and some background sappy wood notes. Its beautiful integration of acidity and tannin make for an elegant, polished, and stunning Merlot to drink over the next decade.
The least expensive offering of this quartet is the 2002 Some Like It Red, a blend of 80% Syrah and 20% Pinot Noir. It possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as a fragrant perfume of wild mountain berry fruit interwoven with notions of licorice and earth. Soft, medium to full-‐bodied, voluptuous, and seductive Red Cars outstanding 2002 Syrah Sugar Daddy is a blend of fruit from three vineyards, Colson Canyon, Thompson, and Rolling Hills. It spent 11 months in French oak, of which 60% was new. A dense ruby/purple-‐colored beauty, it reveals layers of flavors along with considerable elegance as well as complexity, a gorgeous bouquet of creme de cassis, violets, toast, and espresso, tremendous texture, full body, impressive purity, ong, heady, concentrated finish. I The 2002 The Fight (100% Syrah from and the ac lool Coombesville site called Richard Perry Vineyard) is an impressive unfined/unfiltered 197-‐case offering that spent 18 months in 100% new French oak. Boasting an opaque ruby/purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with licorice, roasted meats, underbrush, and vanilla, it is a big, juicy, backward red that needs 1-‐2 more years of Tcable ellaring. It wSill drink well over the following decade. The 2002 The (100% yrah from the Thompson Vineyard) represents the current rendition of the marvelous 2001 The Dreaming Detective. There are 188 cases of thick, juicy The Table. Its inky/ruby/purple color is accompanied by a big, floral bouquet revealing notes of creme de cassis, blackberries, and cherries, medium to full body, sweet tannin, an unctuous texture, and a long, heady finish. More open-‐knit than The Fight, this beauty should drink well for 10-‐12 The 2003 Syrah All Night Radio (from both the Colson Canyon and Thompson vineyards) reveals Syrahs alluring acacia flower and blackberry aromas along with an opulent, full-‐bodied personality with high glycerin, well-‐concealed alcohol, and loads of fruit, length, and purity. This savory, mouthfilling, well-‐ balanced, personality-‐filled 2003 will drink well for 5-‐7 years. The rich 2003 Syrah The Fight comes from the Richard Perry Vineyard. It reveals creosote, damp earth, and road tar-‐like characteristics in its blackberry, creme de cassis, licorice, and peppery-‐scented bouquet. Thick and juicy, with good acidity and a long, layered, voluptuously-‐textured finish, it should drink well for 7-‐8 years. The 2005 Syrah Twenty-‐Two represents an homage to the winerys late founder, Mark Estrin. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by a beautiful bouquet of sweet creme de cassis, blackberries, licorice, pepper, and spice. Full-‐bodied, opulent, pure, and impressively endowed, with low acidity and sweet tannin, it can be drunk now and over the next decade.
2002 Red Car Red Blend Some Like it Red
$18 (28)
3
WA 90
2002 Red Car Syrah Sugardaddy
$42 (62)
9
WA 94
2002 Red Car Syrah The Fight
$38 (54)
2
WA 92
2002 Red Car Syrah The Table
$38 (52)
9
WA 93
2003 Red Car Syrah All Night Radio
$22 (32)
4
WA 92
2003 Red Car Syrah The Fight
$28 (40)
10
WA 93
2005 Red Car Syrah Twenty two
$28 (40)
6
WA 92
9
Wonderful aromatics, with spice, beef, pepper, huckleberry and boysenberry flavors. Deeply concentrated and well-‐structured, leaving plenty of room for WS 93 flavor yet framing it with acidity and tannins that bring out the best in the fruit. Drink now through 2012. 110 cases made.
2003 Relic Syrah Alder Springs Vineyard
$32 (58)
2003 Robert Foley Vineyards Petite Sirah Napa Valley $26 (40)
4
The 2003 Petite Sirah is a classic. Opaque purple to the rim, with a big, sweet nose of blackberries, white flowers, crushed rocks, vanilla, and smoke, WA 92 ferociously tannic but enormously concentrated and extracted, this wine needs 5-‐6 years of bottle age and will handsomely repay two decades of aging.
1996 R. Voerzio Barolo Riserva Capalot e delle Brunate, 1 Mag
1
Voerzio does it again. Dark, with stupendous aromas of crushed berries, WS 97 blackberries and minerals, plus a hint of mint. Full-‐bodied, with thick, powerful tannins and masses of fruit.
$360 (550)
2000 Rudd Red Blend Jericho Canyon Vineyard
$26 (40)
2
2000 Rudd Estate Red Blend Oakville
$36 (50)
1
The 2000 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Proprietary Red (a 2,500-‐case blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot) is atypically full-‐bodied and powerful for the vintage. While it may not possess the WA 90-‐92 complexity of the 1999, it offers copious quantities of black fruits, licorice, and coffee. The wine is dense and supple, with sweet tannin and a long finish. It should drink well for 12-‐15 years. An intense and deeply flavorful wine with a broad range of flavors that take in coffee, currant, black cherry and blackberry fruit and turns supple and polished, WS 92 finishing with a long, rich aftertaste brimming with flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2005 through 2014.
2002 Spencer Roloson Syrah La Herradura Vineyard
$26 (40)
2
WS 93
2005 Stagecoach Vineyard Syrah Black Bart
$26 (34)
2
WA 94
2005 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family
$40 (62)
4
WA 95+
2001 Turley Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard
$24 (44)
2
WA 92
Tremendous complexity, intense, pure, rich and plush, with dense huckleberry, blackberry, pomegranate, pepper and sage. Deeply concentrated and firmly tannic, this packs a wallop with its flavor intensity, but also flexes its sizable muscles. Best from 2005 through 2010. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 626 cases made. WS 93 Readers looking for a California red that is a dead-‐ringer for a French Cote Rotie should check out Black Barts 2005 Syrah Stagecoach Vineyard. It boasts a dense ruby/purple color as well as an unmistakable nose of graphite, bacon fat, cassis, cherries, licorice, pepper, and tapenade. The remarkably complex aromatics are followed by a medium to full-‐bodied wine with good acidity, purity, and impeccable winemaking. Drink it over the next 8-‐10 years. Not surprisingly, Switchback Ridge has made a bevy of amazing Petite Sirahs, and the 2005 Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard possesses off the charts richness as well as a full-‐bodied style offering notes of espresso, ground pepper, blackberries, camphor, and incense. It is an exotic, full-‐bodied, enormously concentrated wine to drink over the next two decades. A big, ripe, Amarone-‐like bouquet emerges from the dark ruby/purple-‐colored 2001 Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard. Full-‐bodied, rich, and chewy, with loads of briery black cherry, raspberry, and currant fruit, it remains the reference point for what Zinfandel can achieve in Contra Costa. A sweet spot in the mid-‐palate (because of the high glycerin) results in a hypothetical blend of California Zinfandel and Italian Amarone.
2002 Turley Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard
$18 (32)
2
2003 Versant Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
$32 (54)
9
Few other producers can equal what Larry Turley accomplishes with Contra Costa Zinfandel from the Duarte Vineyard. From ungrafted, ancient vines planted in pure sand (Turley says it looks like a beach), there are 400 cases of WA 91-‐93 the powerhouse 2002 Zinfandel Duarte Vineyard (400 cases; 16.7% alcohol). Full-‐ bodied and dense, with no hotness, but copious quantities of raspberries, blackberries, balsam wood, pepper, and Provencal herbs, this is a rich, layered, Enormously complex and concentrated, with aromas of ripe currant, blackberry, sandalwood and herb that are joined by hints of sage and currant. Sleek and WS 90 firmly tannic, the fruit pushes through on a long, rich, detailed finish. Best from 2008 through 2013. 250 cases made. WS 90 The 2003 Zinfandel Aida (95% Zinfandel and 5% Petite Sirah aged 25 months in primarily American oak casks) reveals sweet vanillin notes intermixed with WA 90 pepper, earth, and a Chateauneuf du Pape-‐like, Provencal herb, garrigue characteristic. It is a rich, full-‐bodied, savory red to drink now and over the next 4-‐5 years. The 2003 Zinfandel Aida (95% Zinfandel and 5% Petite Sirah aged 25 months in primarily American oak casks) reveals sweet vanillin notes intermixed with WA 90 pepper, earth, and a Chateauneuf du Pape-‐like, Provencal herb, garrigue characteristic. It is a rich, full-‐bodied, savory red to drink now and over the next 4-‐5 years.
2003 Vineyard 29 Zinfandel Aida, The Essentials
$32 (58)
3
2004 Vineyard 29 Zinfandel Aida, The Essentials
$26 (54)
4
2002 WH Smith Pinot Noir Maritime Vineyard
$20 (36)
11
Lots of enticing aromas of blackberry, raspberry and wild berry, with pretty WS 90 floral scents. It tastes ripe and rich, with a vibrant backbone of acidity and firm, integrated tannins.
1
Intense and concentrated, with cedar-‐ and dill-‐nuanced oak flavors wrapped around a tight, compact core of herb and earthy currant flavors. While hard and WS 90 tannic, the flavors are deep and persistent on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2004 through 2012.
1999 White Rock Vineyards Claret Napa Valley
$20 (26)