WTN: What a Tool

So we went to Jerome, AZ this weekend to see "the most vertical town in America". (I'd post pictures but we lost our camera last weekend). Cool place. Old mining town built on the side of a mountain with lots of quirky shops. People have equated the art community it to be "like Sedona was before it went commercial" but if that is the case, Sedona must have sucked before as the art here wasn't very good at all.

We did see large sign that said "WINE" so off we scampered through the rain over to Caduceus Cellars Tasting Room. I had heard about this winery as their somewhat famous winemaker/owner was in Chandler recently hawking his $100 bottles of AZ wine. No expense spared in this room that could easily have been transported from Napa instead of rustic Jerome. Lots of sweatshirts with embroidered logos, stemless wine glasses, baseball hats, it's all here. So how is the wine you ask? Shitty, I say.

2008 Caduceus Cellars Dos Ladrones (AZ) 50/50 blend of chardonnay and malvasia bianca. Ok, this wine isn't bad. There is a floral viognier-like aroma, it's bright with tart green apple, and there is nice acidity and bitterness on the finish. The only downer is that it's a bit hot.

2007 Caduceus Cellars Primer Paso (CA/AZ) Mostly syrah with some sangiovese and merlot and a hint of malvasia bianca. The barman says that this is a blend along the traditional wines of Cote Rotie. The website says Grange and RigRun are the inspirations here. I just taste ripe ripe syrah jam that is screaming hot with rampant VA.

2007 Caduceus Cellars Anubis (CA) Blend of cab sauv, syrah, and cab franc that is just flawed. Tingly like some secondary fermentation, VA, band-aid, burnt tire rubber, and the structure of a brick outhouse.

2006 Merkin Vineyard Chupacabra (CA) Kitchen sink blend of cab sauv, syrah, merlot, zin that is pretty cab driven with cassis and a bit of leather, round structure, very ripe. Somewhat tolerable but maybe only relatively to the last two disasters.

So we took the long 140mile drive back to civilization with bad wine taste in our mouth and headed over to one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants...

2006 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley) This is more like it. Red and black cherry that is rich in flavor but not overly ripe or overly extracted. Some dusty earth, really nice balance, really nice dinner wine to match with seared duck breast. It was served cellar cold and took a solid hour to warm up and open.

[David M. Bueker]

Welcome back Bill!

But Arizona wine? What really were you expecting? Don't you remember that Nevada wine I brought to King Fung?

Seriously though - good to see you man!

[Jenise]

BILLLL!

Good to see you again. Pretty hilarious notes. The guy's pretty full of himself, isn't he? I scanned the Wikipedia link you provided and just howled all the way through it. This man is under the mistaken impression that everything he touches becomes valuable, not that you don't have these wines as proof but just check out the (short) section entitled Philanthropy in which it's clear he hasn't a clue what the word, in the most human sense, means or should mean.

David, I was trying to do my part for the local economy but I think one should only take the "buy local" thing so far. Glad I missed the Nevada wine!

Hi Jenise! Ya, the winery website is pretty pretentious too. I do like some of his music, but his talent sure didn't carry across into winemaking.

David, I was trying to do my part for the local economy but I think one should only take the "buy local" thing so far. Glad I missed the Nevada wine!

Hi Jenise! Ya, the winery website is pretty pretentious too. I do like some of his music, but his talent sure didn't carry across into winemaking.

LOL, Bill. Thanks for taking one for the team. Now you need to travel over to Temecula for a comparable wine tourism experience. Agreed about the music/winemaking connection, too (and I finally got your title after following the link).

Mark Lipton

David, I was trying to do my part for the local economy but I think one should only take the "buy local" thing so far. [snip] . . . his talent sure didn't carry across into winemaking.

I'm curious--have you had more promising experiences with other Arizona winemakers?

Bill, you should have just hoofed it up the streets to Grapes (a restaurant) where they have a long list of wines by the glass/bottle. Not great wines, but decent and the food is quite good.

As for Caduceus, I had thought his winemaker was Eric Glomski of Pages Springs Cellars, but maybe they are just partners in some vineyards now. Eric's wines taste nothing like the ones you described so I have to believe Eric is no longer involved.

Next time you're up that way you should drop by Page Springs Cellars, in Cornville (between Cottonwood and Sedona). Across the road from there is Oak Creek Winery where they turn out a very nice Syrah and a really nice austere, minerally Chardonnay. Deb also made a very nice Petite Verdot from some southern AZ grapes but she was only able to get them 1 time.

Hi Keith, As Doug mentioned Page Springs is pretty decent. Down in the south part of the state (Sonoita, Elgin), the Callaghan wines aren't bad either.

Doug, we did eat at Grapes, which was very good, and I had a glass of something decent (although I can't find my notes to remember what it was).

We had considered going to Page Springs but after a glass at lunch, a few tastes in the bar, and facing a nearly 3 hour drive we figured it would be best to pass so as to stay out of Tent City and don the pink jumpsuit.

Bill,
Intrigued by the name Caduseus (the symbol of the medical profession, and not what I associate with potable beverage) I followed the link. I have complete faith in your palate, but think I'd rather taste their wines than submit to their website imagery.

Had a botttle of the 2006 Drouhin PN in my hand yesterday...now have to remember where that was again.

Best to you and Lill,
Charles

Had a botttle of the 2006 Drouhin PN in my hand yesterday...now have to remember where that was again.

I'm not a doctor but I do believe it's at the end of your wrist, Charles. Not sure which though.

Had a botttle of the 2006 Drouhin PN in my hand yesterday...now have to remember where that was again.

I'm not a doctor but I do believe it's at the end of your wrist, Charles. Not sure which though.

the desert must promote dry humor.
Charles

[David M. Bueker]

Ba-dum

Sure beats humid humor