Killing babies, but old and new style cabs.

The new 2013 Spottswoode and 2013 Lyndenhurst cabs arrived last month, as did the new release 2013 A Rafanelli cab.

So, we blinded them in a flight of three and had them with homemade pizzas.

Pizzas: All made with olive oil base and cheese mix on the dough.

  1. Corn, basil, bits of salami, spinach leaves.

  2. Browned baby potato slices, sautéed mushrooms, parmesan float on top.

  3. Peas, beets, goat cheese, bits of browned fennel.

The wines…tasting impressions were blind, and the guessing was easy. Everybody got them all right.

Spottswoode: Big and balanced and well integrated fruit tannin profile. Really dark berry fruit and I think I could get a hint of lavender and chocolate. My wife agreed. It has some mineral-ness-ness, and was mouth filling with a long finish. This was a lot like a Roy Piper style wine. You could just sense the composure and it had a runway walk that would make Chris Mathews go off script on a hot mic! He’d taste this wine and say, "“Did you see her walk? Runway walk. My God, is that good. I could watch that runway show.” This is a great example of what California can do.

Lyndenhurst: It has a little more spice, but less size and structure. Maybe it had some allspice or bay or some vaguely aromatic eastern spice. Still nice large profile and ample AFWE fruit - not a fruit bomb, but the fruit was all there as you pondered what it would give up. It did have a little sister feel compared to the Spottswoode. If we had been drinking it alone, it would have been a greater glass. It’s only failure was that we were side by siding it with the Spottswoode. Still, a worthy wine!

A Rafanelli: Perfect, as in perfect, flashback! It was just as I remembered new release Rafanellis from the early 1990’s. It has that classic California cabernet ‘bramblyness’ that I loved and still love. Great straight ahead cab flavor, too. I can taste this and not need to look for descriptors other than saying, “Lots of cabernet there!” really a great wine and you can honestly grab a new release bottle now and know what us old coots were experiencing on release days 25 years ago! A great value, too! It may have been the best match for all the pizzas if we only had one wine. When they make this wine, they do it right and you know you will be tasting what the vintage put forth. This winery is a home run winery.

The Spottswoode went best with the potato and mushroom pizza, the Lyndenurst perhaps with the corn/basil, and the Rafanelli was perfect with the peas, beets, and fennel.

All should have nice long lives in a cool dark cellar! [cheers.gif]

Anton:

We went to Rafanelli last weekend and I totally agree with you on the 2013 Cab. One of the best that I have tasted there in years and reminds me of the Cabs that Dave made. What a great value in today’s marketplace for $50!

We also tried the 2014 Zin and it was lighter in color and body than the 2013, and a little brighter. I think it will put on more weight with time, and I also think I will be drinking the 2014 Zin before the 2013.

Thanks,
Ed