Donkey and Goat Paella Party-
2013 Untended Chardonnay. This is a wild and crazy chardonnay. All kinds of herbal notes, plenty of D&G acidity, minerality. I love this expression of Chardonnay from a once-abandoned vineyard!
2013 The Prospector Mouvedre. Not really ready yet. Light in color, rather tart. Emphasis on cranberry flavors. Given how much I liked the 2012, I am assuming this will come around nicely in a year or five!
2012 Fernaughty Syrah. Some D&G Syrahs can be screechy acidic when young (not that I mind too much, I am an acidophile!), but this vintage of Fernaughty seemed to be very approachable right now. Still showing a lighter, brighter style, but with aromatics and mouth feel and lovely syrah flavor! Delicious!
2012 Perli (Mendocino) Syrah. More fruit forward than the Fernaughty. Softer as well, surprisingly enough. Very, very young, of course, but I preferred the Fernaughty-thought it was more interesting! Both wines were lovely.
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Corison! With my friends Joe and Donna, who are club members:
2011 Helios Cabernet Franc. This is in a beautiful place right now. Classic Cab Franc nose-Almost a Chinonesque quality. Beautiful wine!
2011 Napa Valley Cabernet. Lovely, primary, very bright, touch of green reflecting the vintage. Nice, but a baby!
2006 Napa Valley Cabernet. This vintage has arrived. When I last tried this over a year ago, it was still not one of my favorites. NOW it has arrived. Warm, resolving tannins, earth, cassis, less bell pepper than the 2011. Just a beautiful, beautiful wine.
2004 Napa Valley Cabernet. Dittos above. Silky, smooth, soft. Not showing the porty character as much as when younger. Very nice, but 2006 was my favorite.
After being turned away at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars (Joe was insulted that a club member was turned away, but they said they were swamped), we hit Clos du Val. Nice party! The CArneros "Block Series" Merlot and Pinot showed really well again (I love the Merlot!) but the star was the 2010 Stags Leap District Cabernet. This is a stellar vintage for Clos du Val. There is a delicious warmth to this wine that integrates all of the flavor notes in such a delicious way. Classic Clos Du Val palate, with the hint of green I almost always see along with beautiful cassis fruit. Simply stunning! Up there with the 2006 Corison, in my opinion! Plus, Clos Du Val are so professional! Even when swamped!
With dinner Sunday night: 2008 Baldacci IV Sons Bordeaux Blend. Their "entry level" estate wine. Still lovely blackberry fruit, earth. I love the nose. There is a sheen of oak on this wine, but enough black fruit and cassis to make it a nice accompaniment to steak!