This vertical was Spott on... lol
All textbook Cabernets (Bordeaux blends) operating at a very high level. The wines appropriately represented their region, as well as their vintage. It was like worlds sharpest conductor instructing his/her orchestra never skipping a beat. The 12 Spottswoode was soft, juicy and deliciously ripe. The 13 Continuum a bit dry with firm tannin and a commanding presence at the dinner table. The 14 J. Davies- Jamie was calm, collected and fragile with silky integrated tannins, and long uplifting finish. And of course two grilled 16 ounce bone in ribeyes with a classic hollandaise sauce and baked potato. โ 6 years ago
We enjoyed a Stellar tasting at William Cole. It was hosted by Emily Davies. I highly, highly recommend calling her for a tasting if you are ever in Napa. The Estates history is simply amazing. I was not familiar with their full lineup prior to the tasting. I discovered a few Rockstar gems. Their Ten is an equal blend of ten vintages. The quality of the wine, itโs seamless integration and boldness of dark fruit is spot on!!!! Emily is a new member on delectable. Please join me in welcoming her to our wine drinking community ๐๐๐๐๐ค @Emily Davies @Kirk Alexander She is awesome and will fit right in! โ 7 years ago
This is the 2012 Champagne Blanc de Noir. Very similar to the Blanc de Blanc except with notes of citrus and doesn't have the bite. It's the 2012 Vintage and a bit smoother. I really liked it better than the Blanc de Blanc Shramsberg Champagne. This is a Champagne as the grapes although Napa Valley the method is FRENCH brought by the FRENCH to Schramsberg when they came to Cali in the early 1930's. Schramsberg's history dates back to the 19th century, when German immigrant Jacob Schram first made his home and started his winery on Diamond Mountain. Over one hundred years later Jack and Jamie Davies would restore the Schramsberg estate in 1965 bringing with them the French method for Champagne โ 8 years ago
This is singing right now. Alcohol blends in well with the earthiness. A little bit if cherries and some cola Paired with duck breast and wilted greens. Wish I had more. โ 8 years ago
A lovely, drinkable cab from Hugh Davies! Got this in our Schramsburg wine club, no clue the cost, but a red I would love to drink again. Cherry, woodsy, mature, not acidic with a lovely finish. โ 9 years ago
Tonight we made a toast in memory of Dennis. Tomorrow we walk in his Memory for The Melanoma Walk. โ 10 years ago
I actually enjoy this more than the technical score I give it...helps the price point is around $35.
Need to save some of the Davies Estates Chardonnay for more Harbison tomorrow night.
The Laurent Perrier La Cuvรฉe with carry us through the rest of the cheese course. Picks up the dry Lattebusche Piave Vecchio white cheese better than the Davis Estate Chardonnay, as it should! Gives the night both side one & side two of our cheese LP.
I will let my previous notes stand.
Photos of; the House of Laurent Perrier, Grand Cru signage & vines, caves with A framed bottles to be hand worked by Riddlers and another Grand Cru Vineyard. โ 5 years ago
This comparison was pretty awesome, had duck breast rubbed down with chinese five spice powder to accompany the wine. All very different. The Raen always takes me somewhere special, very unique in California. The Davies is a wine with gravitas and balance. And this one by domaine de la cote has laser beam precision and focus. The tension in the glass is very much alive with all three. Both aging, and enjoying now are recommended โ 6 years ago
Awesome crisp green fruit. Buttery and smooth. โ 7 years ago
What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I wonโt post each wine we tasted, but Iโll highlight the best from each spot.
Without a doubt the highlight of the Addax & Montagu Tasting. This โ15 Tench Cabernet has winemaker Russell Bevan all over it. More of an iron fist in a velvet glove than I found the โ14 to be. Red, black and blue fruits on the nose but the weight showed so much structure and appeal...best word to use here is plush. The fruit was so incredibly soft alongside the smoke, mint, and cassis. The new Addax Ritchie Chardonnay was tasted against Montaguโs Ritchie Chardonnay and it was a tie. ๐ โ 7 years ago
Hints of vanilla and dark fruit on the nose. Red raspberries and bright fruit in the palate. โ 8 years ago
Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965, with a goal to produce world-class sparkling wines. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. Coming off their highly successful 2012 vintage, the 2013 is also 100% Chardonnay (true B de B) straw with aromas of stone fruits and lemon notes. A terrific crisp sparkler with crisp apple, apricot and lemon flavors, fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Tangy acidity on a lingering finish ending with some yeasty notes. Nice! โ 8 years ago
This is the "Eleve en futs de Chene" cuvรฉe, mature Syrah aromas, minor oak aromas, the oak smoothes out the palate, still quite rich and full-bodied, long finish, really an excellent older Languedoc, kudos to Jeffrey Davies for this one!! โ 8 years ago
Still love this wine. Shout out @Martin Davies for gifting me a 2002 monthelie a few years back that made me aware of the region โ 9 years ago
Lovely bubbles with the Davies. Ana's favourite champagne. โ 9 years ago
Present for Martyn and Val - drank at James Davies House โ 12 years ago
A touch musky upon opening with old potpourri, charred black cherries and cranberry. Some black pepper and herbs also showed up on the nose. Dark red with translucence around the rim. Dusty/earthy red and black fruits on the palate (slightly tart)...fairly light bodied, but gained depth as it opened. Violets, red currant, crunchy cranberry, cedar and herbal sage driven toward the finish. Solid structure.
As a side note, this is best slightly below cellar temp. At cellar and when warming in the glass it loses focus. Enjoyed it quite a bit when cooled back down. โ 6 years ago
Day 4 in Napa in the books! Running a day behind on notes...Napa time runs slow AND fast!
Another year, another insane meet up with @jesus g ! We had the pleasure of hanging out with him twice this time, once at the Davies tasting room and a second time when he gave us an awesome private, VIP like experience at the Schramsberg caves!
This โ09 JSchram, which is their more Blanc de Blanc style, is young bit delicious. Lemon bar, apple crisp, cashew, meringue and and just beginning to show some honeycomb/honeyed melon notes. I decided I like the JSchram with more age and enjoy the Reserve at a younger age. โ 6 years ago
What an incredible second day here in Napa. Jesus started us off with an amazing tasting at Davies/Schramsberg, Crocker & Starr gave us our cab franc fix, Montagu & Addax put on a double tasting, and Hourglass knocked it out of the park at the end of the day! I wonโt post each wine we tasted, but Iโll highlight the best from each spot.
We are all die hard Cab Franc fans, so a stop here was a must after @Carl Fischer introduced me to this cab franc last year. First, the property itself is flat out gorgeous. Quaint and quiet. Awesome history here as well.
This cab franc is a BABY. New release. Red and black fruits are still fighting to take over...didnโt get much blueberry off of this like I did the โ12, but age plays a part. Violet, lavender, black truffle and a touch of spice. A benchmark for Napa Cab Franc, alongside Arnyca and Detert. The Post 1 bottle is their current release (2013) Cabernet that is their purest expression of Cabernet from the Estate. This is serious Cabernet...tannic, structured and could compete with top end mountain wines. โ 7 years ago
Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965, with a goal to produce world-class sparkling wines. Today, their son Hugh, continues their mission. A blend of 88% Pinot Noir and 12% Chardonnay with stone and berry fruit aromas and earthy spice. On the palate the light mousse shows cherry, apple and raspberry flavors with biscuit and slight baking spice notes. Lingering finish, lively acidity ending with creamy yeasty tones. โ 8 years ago
Jack and Jamie Davies revived the historic vineyards and cellars in 1965, with a mission to produce California's first world-class sparkling wines. Today, led by their son Hugh, continues with this commitment to quality. A 100% Chardonnay, straw yellow with aromas of stone and citrus fruits, with floral scents. A terrific sparkler shows crisp green apple, orange and grapefruit zest. A medium-bodied, wine with a great mousse, tiny bubbles and nice length on the finish ending with some crisp mineral notes. โ 8 years ago
To talk about Raboso is to talk about the Republic of Venice. We go back to the 697 ad. The Raboso grape grown in the area of the river Piave was a wine with deep red color, acidic, alcoholic and strong with tannins. The vivid herbal flavour was impossible to tame. It was perfect for venetians, to make the water (barely) safe to drink, for the hosts to sell, and to make a profit, since they could cut it with water (illegally) with no notice from the customers. Antonio Bonotto with his love for tradition and enormous passion for wine succeded in something unexpected... To make a wine that goes back to the dark ages which was barely drinkable, in todays standards, into a Great wine. Intense and pretty complex. With flavours ranging from spices, black pepper, almonds, nutmeg, leather, chocolate, blackberry, cherry liqueur .... You can feel Marco Polo's distress and the struggle of those harsh times but translated into a modern, concrete and intense wine. Like venetians are. Easy to fall in love and easy to put up a fight...Is this wine perfect? Was Bette Davies beautiful in todays standards? Was a 1968 Ferrari Daytona a reliable car? I guess not. But man... That's bleeding passion.. And I just love it for that. โ 9 years ago
Eric
Definitely a day 2 wine at this young age. Minty blue mountain fruit. Still a few years away from its prime window. โ 5 years ago