Wines with Andrew Vingiello and Sasha Verhage: Chidaine, Neal, AP Vin, Liillian, etc

WINE TALK
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Last night Traci and I met Andrew Vingiello and his wife Brenda and Sasha Verhage (ENO Wines) and his wife Kiara at Oakland’s Wood Tavern for dinner. Wood Tavern is awesome. Great service, great food and one block away…

White Wines:

2005 Hartford Court Seascape Vineyard Chardonnay - I bought a 6 pack of these wines and I think this may be the last bottle…just a super balanced wine with hazelnut, lemon, minerals and butter…it is rich, balanced, crisp all at the same time. Mike Sullivan is underrated when it comes to wine making…

2007 Franois Chidaine Clos Baudoin, Vouvray - loved this. We happened to be at Paul Marcus Wines earlier and they had a Chidaine Vouvray opened there too…this was not quite as good as the one we had at the shop (Montluis SUr?) but still very nice. Honey, marmalade a hint of sweetness…minerals…yee haw

2008 AP Vin “Garys’ Vineyard” Pinot Noir - funny story. I don’t like Garys Vineyard Pinots for whatever reason. Welll Andrew had been traipsing around the country shilling his wines, and from the feedback realized Garys’ Vineyard is drinking really well. So despite my aversion he brought it and well folks… very freakin good. Great berry fruit, strong acid structure, moderate complexity this is the real deal…

2002 Neal Family Cabernet, Napa Valley
This is drinkiing really well. Cassis, spice box, moderate tannins (we decanted for 1 hour), good acid This should age nicely for the next 5 years

2007 Treat Cabernet (Beckstoffer Vineyard)
This is Andrew V’s first Cabernet (he also has a Syrah in barrel) From Andy Beckstoffers “George III” Vineyard in Rutherford. Wow, a spectacular effort. Rich cassis fruit with some coffee and chocolate (coming from Taransaud barrels I assume) long finish, this tastes like a Schrader Wine minus the $100+ price tag

2006 Lillian Syrah
I knoow some on this board love this wine but this just tasted like good red wine. Nothing very Syrah like, nothing distincitve…Sasha’s ENO Syrah at 1/2 the price is much more Syrah like than this…disappointing

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Agree on the Chidaine and in general about Garys’ Vyd Pinots. Any talk about the Garys’ vine age starting to make a difference?

RT

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Richard - yes and I believe it is starting to show in a nice way…

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Great write-up, Tony. Looks like I’m gonna have to pop my first 08 A.P. Vin before too long!!!

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I’m assuming there is age differences on different sections/blocks of Gary’s vineyard, but does anyone know how old this vineyard is, or when he started planting it? Kimberly and I met Gary and Rosella at Adam’s open house last June, and they were really nice folks. I’ll bet both Gary’s are fun guys to hang/party with.

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Um yes…Partying at Camp Pisoni is really fun…

I think they were planted around mid late 90’s IIRC. I think 98 or 99 rings a bell but could be earlier.

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1999 was the first crop at Garys’ so vines were planted in 1997. Two rootstocks…most of the vineyard on 5C, a little on 3309.

Adam Lee
Siduri Wines

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Adam. Were your ears buzzing. We were talking about you and at some point pat lee and voilà pat walked into the restaurant

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Thanks for the notes, Tony.

Chidaine was a new name to me but I liked your note … and happened upon a bottle ('07 Les Argiles) at my local wine shop this afternoon. Happy I did - it’s an excellent wine. Thanks for the tip!