grown-up kids

2004 Terra Valentine Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain, Napa Valley, Wurtele Vineyard Estate –
Not only is the name way too long, there is something less than obvious about an Appellation that is both Mountain and Valley. C’mon!
But the wine is worthwhile. Dark garnet color, barely secondary aromas are enticing, with black raspberry, tiny red currant and a hint of conifer. On the palate, this has real mountain lift, fresh and invigorating at 15 years. There is a thread of oak intertwined, but thankfully in the background. This is not the most complex Cab, but the freshness adds finesse. Rated 91, ready to drink but could improve a point in a few years and will easily hold for 5.

2011 Domaine Eden Chardonnay – WOTT (wine of the trip, but what else is new? Most of the wines were mine, so no notes or comments on those). Medium gold color, normal for 8 year Chardonnay. The aromas are wonderful, with bosc pear, cactus flower, a hint of cedar and maybe even eucalyptus fully secondary. It smells and tastes 8 years old, but it is wonderfully mature, with no hint of age. The palate has density but lift, excellent balance, almost insolent, asking “what else could you want from a glass of dry white?”. My answer: Not much. Rated 94. Fully mature, will hold this level for at least 2 years, probably more.

2005 Domaine Chante-Perdrix Chateauneuf-du-Pape – Medium ruby color, no bricking. Aromas are classic, black plums, fresh dirt, well-aged beef. The palate follows through, medium bodied, tannins resolved, ready and willing to answer the question “where’s the beef?”. Meaty is the word, but with fruit and finesse. Rated 92, fully mature.

Dan Kravitz

Cute, but you know better than that.