Cattle Company
Cakebread Cellars
Benchland Select Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Nose has wet cedar, dried black cherry, blackberry compote, black currant must, dry earth and (light) cigar box.
Palate has spiced cherry, spicy oak/cedar, blackberry jam, chocolate powder and notable but fine tannins.
My prior notes stated a wait until 2021+ before our next bottle...TBH I never looked at my notes before selecting this bottle tonight, so 🤷🏻♂️. Now that we're at 2021, there's noted improvement and I calmly suggest future bottle (there's only one left) should be between 2026-2031, as this is holding just fine.
In following to my prior comment on this bottle; We have a love/hate relationship with Wine Spectator whom tasted this at 80 pts in 2005. I fully disagree (FU), but do agree there have been 'better' vintages on this vineyard site. (We also have the better vintages 😁 in waiting.)
Decanted 4H, notes at ~5H.
Paired to 'vintage' ribeye's and local grilled corn. Our favorite beef 'dealer' aka farmer, Kinderhook Farm (Valatie, NY) has an interesting program of holding some of their cattle for more than a year, our cuts tonight are from a 5 YO steer. A brief 6m grill and wonderfully medium-rare cuts at ~135°F after resting. Great depth of flavor, less of the grass fed notes we get with the regular (youthful) cuts, just delicious. — 3 years ago
Magic Rock Brewing
Dark Arts Hazelnut Surreal Stout
Raid the cattle ranch and call me Bernard — 4 years ago
Myriad Cellars
100% Whole Cluster Sangiacomo Vineyard Petaluma Gap Syrah 2019
First Mike Smith Syrah I’ve had, great cold climate style
Jeb 96 is spot on this time
Certified organic with 60 planted acres and 11 clone and rootstock combinations, the Fedrick Vineyard is deeply woven throughout Sonoma & Petaluma history. Originally part of the Rancho Petaluma Land Grant issued to Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo in 1834, the land passed thru several owners from dairy farms to cattle ranches before being leased by the Sangiacomo family in 2000 to become a vineyard. Located in the southern end of the Petaluma Gap appellation, it is set on rolling hills and is known for its high-end Syrah and Pinot Noir grapes that are sought after for their depth and balance. Myriad selected a small rise on the southern edge where growing and drainage conditions harmonize, to make one of our more crowd pleasing bolder Syrahs. — 2 years ago
David Arthur
Le Boucher Napa Valley Red Blend 2016
This blend is named in honor of the butcher shop that David’s father started in San Francisco. His butcher shop(s) launched them into a 1956 Pritchard Hill land spending spree with the thought of starting a cattle ranch. When they were done buying parcels, they had amassed 984 acres in Pritchard Hill. The third most expensive fruit today at $28,000 a ton. If you sold all of that land today, it would be worth over a billion dollars. I bet they didn’t pay anything close to that in 1956.
This was opened the day before we’d had it. While I enjoyed it, it had leaned out a bit more than I would want it. It was round with softer tannins but may have given a false sense of its ability to cellar.
The fruits are nice, ripe, lush & juicy; blackberries, raspberries, dark cherries, black plum, mid baking spices-nutmeg, cinnamon, light clove, vanillin, light spice, barrel shavings, crushed rocks, savory, grilled meats, dark, red, & purple florals with very nice acidity and a wire to wire finish that was leaner but, clean. The finish was well balanced, elegant, on the leaner side, nicely polished and persisted minutes. — 4 years ago
Topper's Mountain Vineyard
Nebbiolo 2011
Pale to mid Ruby. Aromas of rose petals, menthol and liquorice. Low on fruit influences at this age - very savoury. An excellent rendition of a new world Nebbiolo - from Tingha on the New England tableland in northern NSW - most of the neighbours would be sheep and cattle graziers. This winery makes brilliant Gewurztraminer - one of the best in the country IMO. A very boutique winery with a small production. Sadly Toppers suffered from a devastating bushfire earlier this year which will take some recovery time. — 4 years ago
Jason Keefer
Green and twiggy nose, fresh grapes, tea, and herbs. Tannic but smooth mouthfeel. Pretty great K wine! — 21 days ago