After weeks of cold (for California) and rain, it's nice to see the first glimmerings of Spring. So...went to Napa Valley for the first ride of the New Year!
Stopped at a winery that had never impressed me before-Turnbull Cellars in Rutherford. They own a magnificent collection of Ansel Adams Photographs. Didn't care for the Syrah (Alcoholic and fruity) or the first Cab (red fruit and not memorable) But, the last wine on the list makes me wonder if I have really defined my palate for my self, because although the Turnbull Cellars Black Label Reserve is massive (15% abv) in many ways, the use of 45% non-Cab seems to create some real complexity in this blend-a delicious monster of a wine.
Black color. Roasted black fruit on the nose, but not really "jammy" per se, because I think it is too structured to be a jam bomb???? Already some interesting savory notes. Delicious blackberry, black cassis, a hint of leather, a hint of tobacco. Very. very nice, albeit painfully expensive ($100) and very very young. I actually agree with Wine Speculator's 91 score here. Is it worth it? There may be other, cheaper wines that have better QPR strictly by the unumbers, but I really did enjoy this wine. It may get better if the big alcohol doesn't get in the way. The savory notes already showing make me think it might become pretty nice??? 16.5/20 with strong upside in five years or so?
Also stopped at Elizabeth Spencer. I still love their unoaked Napa Valley Charonnay. The Mendocino County Zinfandel is very nice, too. Clean, medium wieght. High toned red zinberry fruit. A delicious blast of black pepper on the finish. I increasingly think that Mendocino is the place to go for Zinfandel. 15/20+
