Upstairs Wine
Raats
Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2018
It’s fuller & creamy on the nose than their Original Un-Oaked Chenin. More pronounced wet wool as well. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, white peach, green melon, honey notes, very under minerals & chalkiness, light straw notes, wafting dry herbs with yellow flowers and lilies.
The palate show a little more pronounced wet wool quality than the nose. Lemon, lime, grapefruit, white peach, green melon, honey notes, some cream, very under minerals & chalkiness, light straw notes, wafting dry herbs with yellow flowers and lilies. Nice round well done acidity. The finish is polished fruits, yielding to very pleasant minerality and chalkiness.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room. — 6 years ago
Meridiana
Meridiana Melqart Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013
Malta - small seafront upstairs restaurant in St. Julian — 7 years ago
Caymus Vineyards
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Cakebread Cellars
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Antonio's upstairs with Fentons, Williams and Cukier / big cab:) — 9 years ago
Raats
Red Jasper Red Blend 2016
The 2016 Jasper is a blend of; 60% Cabernet Franc, 31% Malbec , 7% Petit Verdot & 2% Merlot.
The nose is a little shy. Muted, ruby, dark berry fruits. Dark, rich soils, herbaceous notes, woody notes, powdery minerals, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Hints of caramel & mocha, black licorice and dark & blue fresh flowers.
The body is ripe, juicy and full. Dark, spices, tarry, meaty and sticky tannins. Ruby, dark berry fruits. Dark, rich soils, herbaceous notes, wood plank, powdery minerals, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries blue fruits, and poached strawberries. Touch of mint, crushed, dry granite, dry brush, hint of caramel & mocha, black licorice and dark & blue fresh flowers. The acidy is again very good. The finish is well balanced, ripe, juicy and evolves on the long palate set with dark spice and dry tannins.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room.
— 6 years ago
Raats
Original Unwooded Chenin Blanc 2018
Raats was an interesting visit from all our others. Raats is considered a small producer in the 8th ranked wine producing country in the world.
Raats buys the majority of their fruit. The vines around their tasting room, they work but, do not own. They produce their wines at another producer’s facility. It’s a daunting expense starting a Cellar Door or Winery. Custom wine crush facilities are a trend not just in Napa but, other parts of the world as well. In this particular case, it saves the owner enough money to drive the very nice cars parked outside their tasting room, one a Ferrari.
This is their no wood/oak Chenin Blanc.
The nose shows; soft tones of wet wool, peach, white, lemon, dry green herbs, grapefruit, chalkiness, volcanic minerals & yellow flowers.
The body is round, full and beautiful. Soft wet wool, peach, white, green melon, a little sour lemon, dry green herbs, grapefruit, chalkiness, palate pressing medium intensity volcanic minerals & yellow flowers. Nice round acidity and a well balanced, polished finish.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room.
— 6 years ago
Au Bon Climat
La Bauge Au-Dessus Santa Maria Valley Pinot Noir 2014
A great representation of this winery ‘s Pinot Noir! Bright notes of cherry with berries, beautiful aromatic, bright acidity. Quite delicious.
“ Party upstairs “ is the translation of La Bauge Au Dessus — 7 years ago
Melka
Métisse Jumping Goat Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2008
I only nabbed a sip, my wife opened it with her friend. I was busy working upstairs.
91 points — 8 years ago
Raats
Dolomite Cabernet Franc 2016
Dolomite translates to decomposed.
The nose has bright, ripe cassis. Blackberries, blue and purple fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Dark, rich earth, a little vanilla & caramel, soft wood notes, light leathery quality, black licorice, dark berry cola, understated granitic soils with bright, blue, purple and red fresh florals.
The body is round, lush and near full. The powder, dry, dusty, meaty, tarry and sticky tannins. Nice structure, tension, length and balance. Easy to drink early but, better in five years. The fruits are bright and ripe. Blackberries, blue and purple fruits, black raspberries and poached strawberries. Dark, rich earth, a little vanilla & caramel, soft wood notes, light leathery quality, dry tobacco with ash, black licorice, dark berry cola, understated granitic soils with bright, blue, purple and red fresh florals. The acidity is like a river. The finish is ripe and well balanced.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room. — 6 years ago
Keermont
Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
The nose shows, ruby, ripe, dark currants. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark sour cherries, blueberries & black plum. Vanilla, dark spice, clove, black, rich soil, soft leathery notes, tobacco with ash, some graphite, blue flowers, violets and some lavender.
The tannins dusty and sticky. ruby, ripe, dark currants. Blackberries, black raspberries, dark sour cherries, blueberries & black plum. Vanilla, dark spice, clove, black, rich soil, soft leathery notes, tobacco with ash, some graphite, blue flowers, violets and some lavender. The acidy is good. The finish starts ripe and quickly slides into dry tannins & earthiness. Needs a bit of time to show its better self.
Photos of; Keermont property as viewed from the top of their hillside vineyards, tasting terrace and his upstairs tasting room where we tasted.
— 6 years ago
Thomas-Labaille
Les Monts Damnés Chavignol Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc 2015
Staycation 2018 @CAA ; Josie is upstairs FREAKING OUT and we enjoyed ridiculously good mussels in a lobster curry broth, caesar salad, pork + halibut. Solid night for romance, per Danny. As for the wine, not as dry as AUS SBs, though light fruit with a quick finish. Easy to drink and would have again. Now to finish so we can eat affogato and return to Josie before she dies of a heart attack (that old dog does *not* like change) — 7 years ago
Domaine Chignard
Beauvernay Juliénas Gamay 2014
Having this with a bit of a sore throat. Very nice. Silky mouthfeel. I keep my wine upstairs in a room that was about 64 degrees Fahrenheit. Had the first glass at this temp. Put the bottle outside to chill it down, and the second glass is drinking much better. Not sure if it's opened up more, or the cooler temperature is balancing everything out. Really nice. — 8 years ago
Cruz Alta
Reserve Mendoza Malbec
Had with Sal and Ashley over falafel place while kids sleep upstairs — 8 years ago
Gabriele Scaglione
Passeggiando in Vigna Langhe Nebbiolo
Walking in MY front yard one morning I spotted a nasty armadillo. At which point I adorned Bill Murray (a la Caddy Shack) style fatigues and camped on the upstairs porch with pistol in hand , hoping to pick off said rodent. Alas, that leathery tough bastard got the best of me and broke my god blessed right hand big toe and escaped the wrath of my prejudice AND pistol. What it has to do with this succulent Nebbiolo, one will never know. — 9 years ago
Somm David T
Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator
The Raats 2016 Cabernet Franc shows ripe, lush and beautifully floral fruits. Blackberries, dark plum, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries dark chocolate, mocha, caramel, vanilla, light; cinnamon, clove & nutmeg, herbaceous notes, tobacco, dry crushed minerals, saddle-wood, black, dark, rich soils and fresh, red, dark and blue florals. Beautiful acidity. Elegant, ripe, well polished, rich finish.
Photos of; the view from their tasting room, lots of beautiful original artworks from famous local artists...a few of them the Uncle of our host, examples of some of the soil structures around their tasting room vines and their upstairs tasting room.
@Shay A I think you would like their Cabernet Franc and appreciate the QPR as well if you can find them in TX or another state that can ship to you. — 6 years ago