Nc State University
Maple Creek Winery
Artevino Estate Symphony 2017
Symphony “A GARNACHA ROJA × MUSCAT OF ALEXANDRIA cross bred by Harold P Olmo in 1940 at the University of California at Davis and released in 1983 (Walker 2000).”
My first introduction to Symphony was at Scott Harvey in Plymouth, CA. Jana Wines series “One Last Kiss” white blend (Chardonnay, Mendocino Riesling, Symphony, New York Cayuga). Floral & off-dry, Delicious blend, repeat purchase at the winery.
My next introduction at Michael David in Lodi.
“ These estate grown grapes are some of the first plantings of its varietal in the state.” Floral & Fruity, Lodi fruit, 11% ABV, Love the Muscat qualities, repeat purchase at the winery.
Now, Maple Creek Winery - Artevino - Estate Symphony. Its nice to see Symphony from a cooler climate. White floral, grapefruit & lemon, zippy acidity. Nice seafood wine. 13.4% ABV, would be interested in a sparkling version. Textbook wine, pull up the Symphony page on wine-searcher.com :)
References:
Wine Grapes
Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding & José Vouillamoz
https://books.apple.com/us/book/wine-grapes/id694429041
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Michael David Winery
2019-MDW-SYMPHONY-6 — 5 years ago
Huston Vineyards
Private Reserve Snake River Valley Red Blend 2010
Lovely leafy notes with notes of camphor in this Cabernet dominant red blend. The palate shows good sweet. berry fruit power with the Cabernet fleshed out with Syrah Merlot and Malbec. A note of milk chocolate. Overall a very satisfying rich Red similar to the richness you get in Reds from neighbouring Washington State. A gift from a girl friend of my son Hugh when she visited us in Australia- both of them Alumni of University of Idaho in Moscow. — 8 years ago
Realm Cellars
The Bard Blair Edition Red Bordeaux Blend 2019
Opened this time.
Not the fruit forward bottle I have come to expect 👍🏼👌🏼, definitely has a long life ahead
One off bottling for 2019
It is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot.
The Bard Blair Edition represents the first time Realm has taken what is traditionally a component of The Bard and bottled it as a Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s fitting to branch out this way with Blair Vineyard, the Calistoga site that’s been a source of Cabernet Sauvignon for us since 2010. In 2012 and 2013, the vintages that turned Realm’s fortunes around, Blair was the backbone of The Bard. As time has gone on and The Bard has grown in production, Blair has become a lesser percentage of the wine, but no less important. Sitting in the southeast corner of the Calistoga AVA with Larkmead Vineyard to the immediate west and Three Palms Vineyard to the north, Blair is a rocky, alluvial site formed by runoff from the eastern hillsides over millions of years. Vines here struggle in the well-drained soils, and the Calistoga heat, which we have learned to manage carefully, results in a rich fruit profile.
Another reason we bottled Blair on its own is to honor Realm’s long partnership with its owners, Greg and Patricia (Pat) Johnson. The property has been in their family since the 1950s, originally owned by Greg’s Aunt Cecilia. Greg, a veteran who spent 21 years in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, helped his aunt oversee Blair Vineyard in the late 1980s and 1990s, and when she died in 1996, she left the vineyard to Greg and Pat.
For several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s Blair Vineyard was bottled on its own. Greg and Pat’s son, Chris, a Fresno State University enology graduate, replanted the vineyard to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot, and used some of the fruit for his own small project, Blair Estate. Sadly, Chris died in 2009, and the Johnsons reverted to selling the fruit from Blair. With The Bard Blair Edition, we are excited to honor Chris’ memory and our long relationship with the Johnson family. — 3 years ago
Old North State Winery
Fish Hippie Cabernet Franc
Very nice Cab Franc. Father of Can Sauv. Peanuts with good berry off the nose. A nice clean finish. This little gem is from Mount Airy NC. Home of the Andy Griffith show and Mayberry was based on it. Who knew they could make a good Cab Franc! — 9 years ago
NC State University
125 Years Red Wine 2008
Limited-run Silver Oak inspired red blend. Reserved for Morgan's Graduation. — 12 years ago
Burntshirt Vineyards
O Cellars Meritage Red Blend 2019
My first Burntshirt bottle! I opted to open the Meritage first to see what their overall fruit profile could produce when blended for optimal experience… Quite impressed and can honestly say that it would be amongst the top 3–5 producers in the state… The soil insight are capable of ripening especially in this optimal vintage. All five Bordeaux varietals used and leads to a Monticello or Breaux-style blend. Rich, with plenty of heft, this build is enough but it’s in no way special or distinct. It reflects competency in farming and in winemaking, but lacks a real pizazz or layers of nuance. It’s just nice ;) the 90 score reflects overcoming the obstacles of latitude and possible excess rains. It’s really good by NC standards, which is a victory that they should be proud of. We put this against burgers and baked beans and we were satisfied, that’s a lot to ask of a cab sauv driven blend ;) — 3 years ago
Philip Togni Vineyard
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1992
One of my favorite Napa producers & vintages from Philip Togni.
On the nose, ripe, perfumed florals, creamy fruits of; blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, plum and strawberries on the glass edges. Vibrant baking spices; vanilla, light cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark smooth spices, mocha chocolate with caramel, dark berry cola, notes of black licorice, sweet tar, forest floral, fresh tobacco leaf, just a touch of dry herbs, graphite, loamy clay and dark, fresh red florals with lavender & violets.
The body is, round, ruby, lush & full. The structure, tension, length have just tipped to the very beginnings of the waning stage but, the balance is incredible. Ripe, perfumed florals, creamy fruits of; blackberries, mulberries, dark cherries, black raspberries, raspberries, plum and strawberries on the glass edges. Vibrant baking spices; vanilla, light cinnamon, clove & nutmeg. Dark smooth spices, mocha chocolate with caramel, dark berry cola, chalky volcanic minerals with some grit, crushed dry rocks, notes of black licorice, sweet tar, forest floral, tobacco with ash, soft leather, saddle-wood, some underbrush, just a touch of dry herbs, graphite, loamy clay and dark, fresh red florals with lavender & violets. The round acidity is near perfect. The long, round, ripe, ruby, lush, well balanced finish sings on the palate for minutes.
Photos of, the Philip Togni vineyard, cellar staff-Salvador Sanchez, Philip Togni and his daughter Lisa and their barrel room.
Producer notes and history...Philip Togni was born in England and earned a degree (the Dipome National d’Oenologie) at the University of Bordeaux under Emile Peynaud. World famous Winemaker & mega Wine Consultant Michel Rolland also studied under Emile.
After his studies, Philip Togni moved to the Napa Valley in 1959. His first job was planting vines at Mayacamas.
In his career, he has been the Winemaker for Chalone, Chappellet, Cuvaison, Gallo, Inglenook and Sterling before starting his own winery.
Philip Togni was the Winemaker at Chapellet when they made one of the top wines from the 1960’s, the legendary 1969 Chapellet.
Philip Togni Vineyards were founded in 1975 when he purchased 25 acres atop Spring Mountain at an elevation of 2,000 feet. It took until 1981 to plant the vineyard. Sadly, he had to replant in the early 1990’s due to phylloxera.
The winery released its first vintage in 1983, a Sauvignon Blanc. However, he no longer produces white wine.
It took a few more years until the first Cabernet Sauvignon wines were produced at the estate. The debut vintage for Philip Togni Cabernet was the 1985 vintage. The initial vintages of Philip Togni were 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Philip Togni does not produce wines with high alcohol. A style from Napa that is sorely missed by me.
The style of his wines are Left bank. Left Bank wines had a big influence on his winemaking and the estate. However, if you have ever spent time looking at his labels for alcohol levels, they’re nowhere to be found.
During the 1980’s, the BATF allowed wineries to state that their wine had the alcoholic strength of a table wine, which was around 7% to 14%. For wineries that had not requested to change their labels, those wineries were not forced to provide specific percent of alcohol. If their labels remain unchanged from their label during the 1980’s, they were only required to state the wine as table wine.
The vineyard contains rocky and clay soils at 2,000 feet. Like Howell Mountain, the vineyard is well above the fog line, which allows for more sunlight and riper fruit.
The Estate is planted to 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.
Philip Togni makes three wines:
Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon. It is aged in 40% new, French oak barrels for an average of 20 months before bottling.
Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, powerful, tannic when wine young. PT requires longer cellar time. It’s made from ripe mountain fruit that can easily take a 10 to 20 year to fully mature. And trust me, it is closer to 20 years of aging before it’s ready to drink.
Philip Togni also produces a second wine called “Tanbark Hill.” It’s named after a prominent hill near the Estate. Tanbark Hill is a 3 1/2-acre parcel of young vines. A very good second wine for less money.
The third wine is Philip Togni Ca’ and is sweet red dessert wine that is produced from the grape, Black Hamburgh. This grape was popular in the Napa Valley before Prohibition. Black Hamburgh is also know as Black Muscat. It is a grape variety derived from the crossing of the Schiava Grossa and Muscat of Alexandria by R. Snow of Bedforshire, England in 1850, according to my studies.
Philip Togni remains a family Winery. The estate is managed by Philip Togni (in his 90’s), his wife Brigitta Togni and their daughter Lisa Togni. In time, it is expected that Lisa Togni will take over the estate.
— 7 years ago
Jan de Weerd
Another surprise here at the end of the year. Didn’t realize Canoe Ridge had this in their reservoir. Wonderfully complex Cab Sauv from Washington State, Horse Heaven Hills. Gripping, intense yet smooth and complete. Specially produced for Washington State University. GO COUGS!! — 2 years ago