Napa Finds Part II

Joseph Phelps Vineyards ("JPV") – Very simply put this is my "go to" vineyard/winery.  I have had vintages as far back as 1989 and their hallmark is a consistently excellent product at all levels backed by outstanding customer service.  You will never go wrong selecting a bottle of their wine.  Their standard Cabernet is an excellent choice every time for entertaining or a business dinner when you are looking to serve something a bit upscale without breaking the bank.  It is a great bargain at COSTCO or Sam's Club at around $38 to $39.

When visiting the winery, I had a chance to sample the 2005 Backus Vineyard, 2006, 2007 and 2009 Insignia Bordeaux style blends as well as an opportunity to blend my own 2007 Insignia from the 5 components that went into that years blend.  I have been blessed to drink more Insignia than a city kid from Pittsburgh has a right to and I can tell you all of the wines mentioned previously were excellent and the 2009 (which was out of the barrel) simply floored me for so young a wine.  Seriously, you need to put JPV Insignia on your list of wines you must try at some point in your life on a special occasion.

The winery sits off of the Silverado Trail at 200 Taplin Rd.  It is away from the madness of 29, the main drag through Napa.  I had signed up for the "Insignia Blending Seminar" (limited seating, free to wine club members).  It is simply one of the best experiences I have ever had in Napa.  Francois our leader was fun and informative and it was great being able to sample a large array of wines that Phelps and their other property Freestone has to offer.  (I actually preferred my blend of the 5 components that went into the 2007 Insignia better than the official blend!)  My daughter Erica, and her boyfriend went and took the seminar "Wine Aroma Challenge" to learn how to identify the various elements on the nose of both red and white wines and it by far was the highlight of their trip to Napa.

I had an opportunity to have Oysters and Ovation Chardonnay at a Freestone Vineyards event with Bill Phelps (President) on the Sunday following the seminar.  He was incredibly gracious and the Freestone Pinots are some of the best being made in Sonoma and that includes company such as Williams-Selyem and Rochioli.  Sonoma and the Russian River will be my next stop on the wine blog trail.

 

Seminar Tastings: Seminar-style tastings are held weekdays at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and weekends at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Each of these popular tastings embraces a wide variety of topics geared to both the novice and those with broader knowledge. All are semi-private (limited to 12 guests) and last 90 minutes. Cost is $40 per person for all seminars except the Insignia Blending and Single Vineyard Cabernets Seminars which are $60 per person.

Seriously consider joining the Phelps Preferred Club.  Note: the final shipment is optional.  Here is what the club looked like for this year:

March 2011 3 bottles:	Retail	Phelps Preferred
2008 Cabernt Sauvignon Napa Valley	$168.00	$134.40

April 2011 1 bottle each:	Retail	Phelps Preferred
2009 Viognier	$50.00	$40.00
2006 Merlot  Sold Out	$40.00	$32.00

October 20111 bottle each:	Retail	Phelps Preferred
2010 Sauvignon Blanc	$32.00	$25.60
2010 Eisrébe (375ml)	$50.00	$40.00

November 2011 (Optional)1 bottle each:	Retail	Phelps Preferred
2008 Insignia (25% discount)	$200.00	$150.00
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard	$250.00	$200.00

Robert Parker Ratings for the Cabernet Sauvignon:

90 Points - The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon (a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Malbec) is an impressive version. Revealing full-bodied richness and lots of depth, it is one of the finest regular Cabernet Sauvignons Phelps has made in many years. The tannins have sweetened over the last year and this impressively endowed effort, while approachable now, should age for 20+ years.

91 Points - The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa (20,000 cases produced) may be the finest regular cuvee produced here in nearly two decades. Its dense ruby/purple hue is followed by an opulent bouquet of cassis, blue fruits, crushed rocks, and floral undertones. Pure, juicy, deep, medium to full-bodied, and loaded, this 2007 should drink beautifully young, yet keep for 15-20+ years.

See link on the opposite page for club information or more information on the winery.

Napa Trip Finds

Elyse/Jacob Franklin Winery – When in Napa having dinner at Mustard's Grill, I met John Boardman from the tasting room at Elyse. He had a bottle of their Jacob Franklin 2009 Petit Sirah, Hayne Vineyard (a famous vineyard, they make only 17 barrels of this) open and graciously offered me a glass. I was blown away by this wine even though it should probably sit for 3 more years before it is touched. 

When visiting the winery, I purchased 3 bottles of the Petit Sirah ($65 a bottle) and 3 bottles of the delicious Le Corbeau (The Raven in French, 2 - “06” and 1 - “07” ($37 a bottle and a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah).

After returning home, I opened a bottle of the 2006 Le Corbeau (allowing the customary 2 weeks for the wine to settle after shipping) and it simply danced from the rim of the glass and tickled my nose with a multitude of delightful aromas. It tasted every bit as delicious as it did at the winery.

I invited some friends over to try both of these wines and they absolutely loved them. In fact, I unintentionally sold several cases (including one for myself ) of the “06” Le Corbeau for the winery that evening. I highly recommend both the Le Corbeau and the J. F. Petit Sirah. Both of these wines are absolutely worth ordering directly from the winery.

"This excellent winery continues to carve out a well-deserved reputation for its interesting red wine portfolio."- Robert M. Parker Jr.

To Order:

John Boardman – Elyse Winery

(707) 944-2900

john@elysewinery.com

Winery Descriptions of the Wines: 
The 2006 Le Corbeau is predominately Grenache, made in the style of the seductive and expressive wines of the Chateauneuf du Pape region of the Rhone Valley. This bright ruby-colored wine has alluring aromas of sweet raspberries, wild plums, lavender, earthy mushrooms, and white pepper along with hints of black tea and orange peel. On the palate, it has a smooth entry that leads to a broad mouthfeel with flavors of crème de cassis, blackberries, citrus rind, and intriguing notes of mace and cardamom.

The 2009 Jacob Franklin Hayne Petite Sirah exudes a dark purplish hue with an intense nose of blackberries, forest floor, black pepper, and cured meats along with hints of earthy mushroom and dried herbs. Ripe blackberry and wild plum flavors are accented by tar, earth, and black pepper. The wine has a lush mouth feel with a sleek balance of acidity, fruit, and chewy tannins that lead to a long finish that seems to keep rolling over the palate. This is what Petite Sirah should taste like.

Some Recommended Wines That Didn't Do It For Me

1. Maquis Lien 2006 – Chilean Syrah, Carmemere, … blend - $16.99 Papa Joe’s and Colasanti’s – Recommended by both wine shops, another rough around the edges wine and I did not care for it, ugh. When someone uses "undefined saucy aromas" to describe a wine, I'm out of there. Wine Enthusiast: "Solid, dark, acidic and tannic wine made from five red grapes. The nose deals cola, olive, leather and undefined saucy aromas, which are backed by flavors of red fruits, herbs and olive. Finishes with a wave of red fruit flavor but also tough, grabby, lasting tannins. Drink now through 2013."

2. Saintsbury 2007 Carneros Pinot Noir – $27.95 Local Grocery – I’m fine with a more minerally Burgundy style or a more fruit forward California style. This did not hit me on any level and maybe just needs another year in the bottle. My feeling is go for David Bruce instead in the same price range. Burghound: An extremely pretty and notably ripe nose for the Carneros region speaks of cherry and menthol aromas, introduces detailed and delicious middle weight flavors that culminate in a dusty moderately structured finish of good if not special length.

3. Evodia 2008 - Spanish Garnacha – This wine just did not do it for me and I am a big Garnacha fan. For a few dollars more, go for the Atteca Old Vines reviewed previously for $13.99. According to International Wine Cellar, Evodia is 89 points: "Bright ruby. Fresh strawberry and raspberry aromas are deepened by notes of licorice, black tea and pungent herbs. Supple in texture, offering sweet red fruit flavors and showing no rough edges. A smoky note comes up with air, adding complexity to a nicely persistent, red berry-dominated finish. Extremely easy to drink, and offering excellent depth and clarity for the money.”

Some Favorites for July

1. Chalk Hill 2007 Chardonnay – $32.99 Colasanti’s Market - Year-in and year-out one of my favorite Chardonnays - Delicious. Robert Parker 90 points "The light straw/gold-hued 2007 Chardonnay Estate reveals an attractive bouquet of smoky hazelnuts, nectarines, and buttered citrus, medium to full body, and good freshness and acidity.

2. Domaine Les Aphillanthes 2009 Cuvee Des Galets – Lovely French Cotes Du Rhone Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedre $16.97, Plum Market - Highly Recommended - Loved this wine for the price! 90 points Robert Parker: "A brilliant offering (15.2% natural alcohol), the 2009 Cotes du Rhone-Villages Cuvee des Galets, all from the renowned windswept Plan de Dieu northeast of Chateauneuf du Pape, exhibits notes of kirsch liqueur, loamy, sandy soil, underbrush, and pepper. This dense, medium to full-bodied, richly fruity wine builds incrementally in the mouth, revealing lots of glycerin in its complex, evolved, impressively endowed style. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”

3. Groth 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon – $36.99 (usually $57.99) Meijer - Deeply extracted, tasted great for 4 days after opening. Big, bold and cries out for red meat to tame it. 94 points Wine Spectator: "Tight and concentrated, with a dense, rich, chewy beam of dried currant, mineral, graphite, black cherry and blackberry fruit that's intense and full-blown, both flexing its muscle while displaying deft balance. Ends with a compact, layered finish. Best from 2012 through 2022. Tasted twice, with consistent notes." (10/10)

4. Volver 2008 Spanish Tempranillo - $13.99 – Papa Joe’s or Costco - Opened this after a much more expensive bottle and it held its own, a serious red. 90 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: "The 2008 Volver is also 100% Tempranillo sourced from 50+-year-old vines and aged for 14 months in new French oak. A glass-coating opaque purple color, it showcases aromas of pain grille, earth notes, spice box, and fragrant blue and black fruits. Supple-textured, super-ripe and concentrated, on the palate it is mouth-filling, savory, and structured enough to evolve for 2-3 years. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 8-10 years.”

5. Primus 2007 Chilean Cab, Syrah, Merlot, Carmenere blend – $22.95 Papa Joe’s or Costco - Bold and good. WA 90pts. - According to the Wine Advocate: “The 2007 Primus is a glass-coating opaque purple with aromas of tar, licorice, pepper, blackcurrant, and blueberry. Youthful, structured, and balanced, it will evolve for 5-7 years and offer prime drinking from 2015 to 2025. “