Thanks again to Mike for taking the time to visit Texas, bringing some excellent wines, and making the whole thing 100% complimentary. The atmosphere at 219 West was very laid back which suited Mike’s personality perfectly. The event began at 7pm and my wife and I arrived around 7:15 after a drive down from Fort Worth. Right away, the area reserved for Mike was very crowded, with approximately 40 people shuffling around three tables of wine and one table of heavy hors d’oeuvres. After about an hour, things started to thin out, which made it easier to chat with Mike and the other folks pouring the wines. This was the list of wines (and the order in which I tasted) served by Mike Smith on the evening. I did not get a chance to taste them all as we needed to meet up with friends for a 9:15 dinner. It goes without saying, if I had the funds, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy all allocations offered.
Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Myriad Beckstoffer Dr. Crane
This is a perfect representation of what Mike can do with wines. Such a wonderfully inviting nose of deep, dark red fruit, leather, earth and spice; a wine you could easily just sit and inhale for hours. As for the palate, wow! Deep, dark, rich, fully-extracted fruit, cardamom, cocoa and hints of coffee. Smooth tannins already with a touch of minerality on the finish.
2012 Myriad Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Reserve (barrel sample)
Mike brought two bottles of this, neither of which seemed to be fully disclosed by ever finding a spot on the table. I took a taste of this early to ensure getting one. Holy cow! The nose on this was intense but so beautiful and refined. The palate was just as intense and very approachable right now. The “Reserve” designation comes from this being a separate picking, two weeks after what went into the 2012 Crane. This is special. If a barrel sample can be my WOTN, then this got my vote.
2011 Quivet Pellet Vineyard
Only two, 2011 vintage wines will use Pellet fruit; this Quivet single vineyard designation and the 2011 Napa blend made by Rivers-Marie. I learned that Mike let TRB into Pellet and TRB let Mike into Three Twins. The nose on this wine was much sweeter than anything else on the evening. To me, this was a little less rounded on the palate than the other wines but was still very enjoyable to drink, with a zing of chocolate-covered cherries. No doubt a vineyard designation to watch in years to come.
2011 Quivet Kenefick Ranch
Absolutely loved the 2010; allocated three for 2011 and purchased all three; very happy I did. This was my wife’s WOTN. Probably the smoothest drinker of the night with a nice blend of spice, earth, and mild oak. Long finish that kept me wanting more.
2011 McGah Cellars Scarlett Estate
This is sultry and seductive; a very inviting nose and a smooth, rich, balanced palate with bright red fruits and spices. Priced at $60 for singled vineyard, estate fruit, Mike Smith produced wine…yes please. Also one of the prettiest labels I’ve seen in awhile.
2011 Carter Cellars Beckstoffer To Kolan The O.G. (Original Gangster)
This is a heavy-hitter. Wonderful nose of spice, plum, and anise. Unfortunately, it was the last wine I tasted on the evening and my palate was pretty much toasted and layered with tannins.
2011 Carter Cellars Coliseum Block
Did not taste
2011 Carter Cellars Hossfeld
Did not taste
Pinot Noir
2011 Poe Angel Camp Vineyard Pinot Noir (Anderson Valley)
Similar to Mike’s wines, this is very small production. The grapes for this wine are sourced from some of the highest elevations in Anderson Valley where the temperatures can swing 45-50 degrees in a day. The nose presented a very intense and inviting ripeness of fruit and the palate corroborated this with typical Anderson Valley minerality. I really enjoyed this wine.
, sorry u r missing tomorrow, hope to catch up soon