Top ten wines from 2008.

1) Joseph Phelps Insignia 1992. Wow. Wow. Wow. I wish I had more bottles of this wine. Amazing.

2) Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard 1995. Exquisite art in a bottle (okay, enough of the cheese. -- Ed.). I still have one bottle of this wine left. I just need to drink it before it's too late. Maybe I will have to take this on the honeymoon?

3) Alpha Omega "Era" 2006. I have only tried this one in the barrel, but of all the wines on this list, I am most excited about opening up one of the bottles of this wine I have left.

4) Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet France 2005. One of my favorite discoveries of the year. Different enough from Cabernet Sauvignon, but style a wonderful, amazingly solid wine. Like #1, above, I only have one more bottle left. Wish I had more.

5) Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1977. Drinking amazing right now, and a style of wine that just doesn't seem to be made in California anymore.

6) Continuum 2005. It will be very interesting to see how this wine develops over time. Tight-bound, dark fruits on the nose now. Will be nice to see how it develops over the next few years. Can hardly wait for the 2006 release!

7) Pax Richards Family Vineyards Syrah 2004. A great, true Rhone-style wine made here in California. Nothing quite like having a wine that tastes like bacon!

8) Whitehaven Pinot noir 2006. One of my favorite "cheap," under $25 wines for the year. Great, fruity Pinot with zingy acidity making it great for pairing with food.

9) Joseph Phelps Insignia 2002. A wine of the year a few years ago. Great now!

10) Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. Made this list simply because it was the definitive start of me deciding not to spend my money on a magazine that does not match my tastes.

Alpha Omega (yet again).

I made a trip over the weekend to Alpha Omega winery pick up my allocation their 2006 Era (which, btw, comes in a very sleek packaging and is labeled at a surprising 15% alcohol considering how harmonious it was when I tried it in the barrel a few months ago). While there, I stopped and sampled a few of their current releases, a pre-release, and some of their library wines.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2003
Delightful red cherries and matured tannins. Drinking very well right now but could still benefit from a few years of aging. This would make an excellent dinner wine with a wide array of dishes. Three and a half stars out of five.

Merlot 2006
This wine was just off. Enough spice on the nose to make me think it was a Syrah. Earthy on the palate, its fruit flavors were muted. Could have benefited from more pronounced fruit characterists. Two stars out of five.

Chardonnay 2005
One of the wines that got me to fall in love with this winery. Banana and creamy nose with medium weight on the palate. I grabbed two bottles of this for a dinner the future Mrs. H. and I are throwing this coming Saturday. Four stars out of five.

Chardonnay 2006 (pre-release)
Similar to the 2005, though fuller body. The nose had a distinct element -- not unpleasant, just hard to place. Perhaps butterscotch? Maybe nutmeg? Either way, a fun wine that could prove very food friendly. Does it have serious aging potential? Maybe.... Three and a half stars out of five.

Unaoked Chardonnay "Beth" 2007
I'm just not a fan of this bottling. Too much pear for my taste (though if you're a fan of pear, you'll love this wine). Three stars out of five, but YMMV.

Syrah 2007
Surprising raspberry notes with muted spice. The wine was red in color and not inky at all on the palate. Completely unexpected and delicious. Drink now, or age for a few years to see how it grows. Three and a half stars out of five.

Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Dark and inky color with blackberry, plums and tobacco on the nose. Rich, chewy tannins and a touch of spices and herbs on the palate. Tasty and cheap, and drink within the next four years. Three and a half out of five stars.

Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1977

Just amazing. Shows a lovely red color, with rose-colored touches at the rim. Dried cherries and sweet, delicious tobacco on the nose. The palate still has a lot of fruit and, while the tannins have mostly faded away, it has excellent body. Just an amazing wine. Four out of five stars -- and drink up now!

Kunde Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Dark purple color with strong olive aromas. The palate didn't add much beyond chalky tannins. Two out of five stars, and definitely not a wedding wine.

Beaulieu Vineyard Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1984

Sigh. this wine was just too old.

Though there was a burst of fruit when I opened the bottle and poured it in the decanter, sherry and nut like aromas on the nose dashed my hopes. Distinct, orange color gave further proof that the wine was oxygenized. The palate was completely off, showing that it had passed its prime. One star out of five.

Grgich Hills 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon

Rich, dark purple color. The powerful, dark fruit aromas on the nose -- even though the wine is going on five years! Succulent, silky tannins make this a great wine to savor. And while the label shows that the wine approaches 15% alcohol, it does not come off as hot. Drink in the next two to three years. Four out of five stars.

Looking forward to May.

Ok, May is going to be a really busy month -- but also very fun. On the wine note, if all goes well, I will have another tasting note up for a 92 Insignia (in addition to a restaurant review), a 95 Cheval Blanc, a 77 BV Reserve, and a 94 Vintage Port (a little young, but not from a great producer). May could not come sooner!

Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard 1996, pt. 2

About a year ago, I reviewed the Dominus 1996. I opened another bottle this past weekend (I bought this bottle from a different source), and I was struck by the differences between the two. The one I had last year was much more sensual. However, this bottle did not express the same currant notes as the one I opened last year -- but, this bottle still had a faint whiff of dark fruits on the nose. This bottle also had more pronounced herbal notes and a cigar box quality. The palate hinted at some acidity with very mild tannins. I'd give this bottle three stars out of five, and I may have to accelerate how often I attack the remaining bottles.

Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 and listening to yourself.

A few months ago I was given a bottle of the Clos du Val Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 by a guest to a wine party I threw. Now, I generally love wine as a gift -- but, I looked up a generally influential tasting note about the wine, and it described the wine as dusty and dank. Not a stellar endorsement. Needless to say, I was very reluctant to open the bottle based on that review (and even tempted to re-gift it, I am ashamed to say, if the opportunity presented itself).

But then my opinion started to change. First, as I developed a better grasp of the California wine scene, I realized that I had a very European palate. Probably a result of having been introduced to wine on the east coast, where French and Old World styles dominate (or, at the least, are as prevalent as California wines). Second, I saw reviews of this wine from Decanter -- a British wine publication that gave the Clos du Val a much better review (I tried to find the issue of the magazine for the exact review, but I think my copy went the way of the Dodo). Then, I saw a comment online in response to the earlier critic, asking a pointed question or two about the rating. Finally, after trying some wines that were highly rated by this same critic and discovering they did not suit my palate, I decided that I would give the Clos du Val a chance.

I could not be happier.

Dark berries, cedar and spiced olives on the nose, with decent tannins and acidity on the palate that suggest some life in the bottle. I do not think the wine needs to open up, but I could see it developing the secondary characteristics of leather and tobacco. Very un-California-like, in a good way. At about $30 a bottle, this makes for a great value. Three and a half out of five stars, especially for the price.

Two questions (and answers) as a result:

First, why the possible disparity of my tasting notes from those of the original critic? I can come up with three reasons. The first is that often multiple wines are rated at once, and those wines are compared within region. This wine could easily be lost in comparison to super-ripe and super-extracted Napa Valley cabs. By comparison, it would appear weak and its positive characteristics would be lost. A second possibility is that the critic had a "bad day" and could not enjoy all of the aspects of the wine (think about what a head cold might do to your sense of smell). Finally, even more so than in music or movies, a critic's personal tastes can have a profound impact on how they perceive and enjoy wine. Frankly, of these options, I suspect the first and third played a part -- after all, I enjoy a different style of wine, and I enjoyed this wine on its own.

Second, what does this mean? As a result of those diverging tastes, I was willing to ignore a very good wine because it did not obtain a positive review. This really is a cautionary tale -- one should not let the views of others unduly influence what one enjoys or could enjoy. Instead, find those whose tastes are similar to yours, and look to them for recommendations. But in the end, always look to yourself for what you could enjoy.

Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard 1995

An amazing wine. The purple has faded from the color of the wine, leaving a rich, perfect red behind. The nose had strong elements of tobacco and cedar, in addition to touches of blackberry, black currants and leather. On the palate, the tannins were silky smooth and the aftertaste coated the mouth for minutes. Drink now, or hold for a few more years. Four and a half out of five stars.

Alpha Omega Winery and a weekend in Napa.

This weekend included a nice, relaxed (though busy) trip to Napa. I will write more later, but I wanted to focus right now on Alpha Omega Winery. One word: wow.

Alpha Omega is a relatively new winery (their first release was last year), and their prices are relatively low for Napa standards. If you want an idea of what their wines are like, check out the tasting notes for their various wines. In particular, their proprietary red is struck me as being Bordeaux-like -- it will be interesting to see how it ages.

I would describe their late harvest wine as lying somewhere between a Suduiraut and a d'Yquem. Yes, very tasty.

Finally -- the Chardonnay. Definite banana on the nose, along with a host of other flavors. Little to no oak, and no strong signs of malolactic fermentation. And at $38 a bottle, darn cheap (relatively speaking). Exquisite. I liked this wine so much, I am giving it five out of five stars.

Red Knot 2004

A Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale, Australia. Purple color and basic dark fruits on the nose. Moderate tannins on the palate. Aftertaste is a bit tart. Nothing special, but nothing terrible. Two and a half stars out of five.

Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard 1998

I had high hopes for this wine, especially since I enjoyed the 1996. Unfortunately, the difficulties of the 1998 vintage appear to have hit this wine. The only positive note was some leather on the nose. Unfortunately, volatile acidity made this wine virtually undrinkable (for me). One star out of five (with a strong hit for the low quality/price ratio).

Bogle Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Leather and grass on the nose. The palate is watery and thin. Bleh. Maybe if I had enough glasses of it, I would start to enjoy it. One and a half out of five stars.

UPDATE: On second thought, I can't even finish the glass. I'm switching to scotch.

Plumpjack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, pt. II

Wow. What a difference a year makes. Maybe it was the glass, but the wine didn't show the same extreme dark fruits that the bottle last year showed. Thus, the dark fruits and notes of vanilla were not as prevalent. On the other hand, the wine was more well-rounded, and the tannins were not nearly as strong. A very enjoyable wine, which was easily consumed. Sadly, I don't think this was a wine that I would want to age. Three and a half out of five stars.

Top ten list from 2007

I think I'm a little overdue in posting this, but here's a top ten list of my favorite wines from 2007.

1. Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard 1996. An amazing, amazing wine, and enjoyed with two of my best friends (whom I haven't seen in almost a year). Smooth, filled with fruit and amazing character. Worth buying, and great to enjoy (especially over some Venison with Maytag Blue Butter).

2. Grgich Hills Paris Tasting Commemorative Chardonnay 2003. A great wine, and enjoyed with a wonderful person. Great memories.

3. Francois Chidaine Montlouis Sur Loire Les Boumais 2005. An amazing wine, and really shows how great Chenin blanc can be. As complex as a Chardonnay, but not as in your face.

4. Plumpjack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. I'm glad I have a second bottle of this... and I'm eager to open it!

5. Dow's Vintage Port 1994. I had only a taste of this at the Philadelphia Wine Festival, but it was almost worth the price of admission (okay, I'm probably overstating that). Great wine, and it makes me wonder about the Bishop of Norwich.

6. Crozes-Hermitage Paul Jaboulet Aine "Thalabert" 2003. A wonderful Rhone, and enjoyed at a great restaurant.

7. Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 2001. A great Sauternes, I can't wait until I open the d'Yquem.

8. Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. I can't wait for the 750 ml bottles to come out!

9. Quinta do Vale Meao Douro 2003. I can still taste it, and I wish I had a bottle of it right now.... Maybe I can pick one up when I'm home in February?

10. Vasco Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino 2001. It turned me on to Brunellos.

And looking over this list, and the host of wines I've tried over the past year, and I can say that I feel really lucky to be able to enjoy this hobby.

Grgich Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Very young wine, with deep purple color. Aromas are intense, with plum, blackberry, currant, mocha and herb. The tannins are powerful and rich. Decant, or wait at least two years before opening -- but it should be delicious after some bottle aging! Three and a half out of five stars. Tasted from a half-bottle.

Shafer Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Sadly, this wine was on its last legs. Not as good as the Dominus, but still had some strength left in it. Definite red fruits on the nose, and the palate had surprisingly moderate-to-strong tannins. However, whatever fruit the wine still had was located on the nose, with little to none continuing once it hit the tongue. After a little bit of time, the wine did show some mocha and vanillan notes. In short, I think this wine has seen better days, and I am glad I did not wait a year to open it. Three out of five stars.

Plumpjack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004

Sometime ago, I decided to conduct a test. I purchased two bottles of the Plumjack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 -- one to open immediately, the other to open in a few years. I have enjoyed a number of aged California Cabernets, and I wanted to see how one would age. I chose Plumpjack, because of the quality, price (compared to other top California producers, it's cheap) and the tasting notes I found online. Tonight, I opened the "young" bottle.

It exhibited a beautiful purple color, shifting to maroon at the edges. It had powerful dark fruits, including cherry, on the nose along with mouth-puckering tannins. The midpalate added a nice touch of vanilla and a spice that I cannot place (and confirmed the nose's detection of the tannins). The wine shifted smoothly from the midpalate to the finish, which lasted nicely (a great match for steak). In short, it's very impressive right now, but I want to see it mellow out a bit. Four out of five stars.