At Wine Styles Friday night, after a week of Cali Cabs, I brought the decent if not spectacular 2007 Domaine Diochon Moulin-à-Vent Vieilles Vignes. Lighter purple in color. Cranberry, cherry, smooth mouth feel, definately a "minerally" earthy wine. Went very well with my friends, who had been drinking a more extracted but still relatively restrained Oregon Pinot. Not exciting, or rock my world, or any of that. But we are talking about how rarely a California wine in this $20 price range has this degree of simple PLEASURE. It's more about the fact that it lacks some flaws I find egregious....many Cali industrial wines taste like that "industrial"and processed somehow? 86 points and would consider buying again!
With Joe and Donna: 2005 Culler Syrah Napa Valley. DEFINITELY new world in style, but luscious nonetheless. beautiful blackberry fruit with a licorice/anise element that adds delicious bite. Earthyness adds complexity and interest. Too young to show heavy meat or savory notes, but with Joe's glazed flank steak and the fantastic roasted tomato soup...very very fine. 92 points!!!!
Winery Visit: Michael Mondavi Folio. After climbing to the end of Henry Road in Carneros (what a stunning fall/Indian Summer day!), I stopped for refreshments and was pleasantly surprised. The Reserve Petit Sirah had quite an itneresting complexity, with earth and tomato leaf and briary blackberry fruit. The "Gallery" Pinot Noir, however, was the star. Made from grapes right below their back window/balcony, this was an elegant cherry fruited Pinot with modest alcohol, lighter extraction, but plenty of fruit and earth and even savory elements. For $15, you can't go too wrong with the Sauvignon Blanc, either...plenty of bright, brash flavorful fruit and good acidity. A neighbor's dog visited us. I've never seen a dog with blue eyes in some light and bright, almost spooky green eyes at another angle!
I also visited Hopper Creek Vineyards in Yountville. With the closure of Havens, this small, off the beaten track winery will have to fulfill the need for very austere, lighter, high acid, ageable reds. The 2005 Cabernet, for example, is nowhere near drinkable yet. The 2005 Merlot was pretty austere, also...but the 2006 was more approachable. The star of the afternoon, though, was their 2002 Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon. Fantastic pencil lead and tobacco notes overlaying the black cassis fruit. This cabernet was right now right up my alley.