Lail Vineyards 2008 Sauvignon Blanc

At the same time the wily sales guy at Sigel's was tempting me with the Blueprint Cab, he mentioned how good the Sauvignon Blanc was. Of course I bought it since I'm on my Sauv Blanc search this summer. As a die-hard red drinker, I'm trying to broaden my horizons. Prior to trying this wine, Duckhorn was my top Sauv Blanc but this one is really good. It's fruity without being too sweet and very light. This is the drink-by-the-pool wine on a hot day.





Here are the winemaker's notes:

Our "Blueprint" Sauvignon Blanc exhibits the fabulous acidity, minerality and amazing purity of its Sancerre sisters. Produced with a focus on preservation of aromatics and acidity, it has a delicate pale straw robe, an elegant and intense floral perfume (geranium, melon and lime), and crisp fruit flavors with profound richness and length.

Retails for $38.

Lail Vineyards 2007 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon

I never pass up a free wine tasting at Sigel's and last week they hit a home run. I had stopped in just to see what was on special and they offered me some of this fabulous Cabernet. I loved it! It's very smooth for a 2007. This vintage is 100% Napa Valley fruit with 75% Cabernet, 25% Merlot. The black currant flavor mixes well with a slight oak background.

Retails for $50.

Lail makes a much more expensive red called J. Daniel Cuvee which I have not yet had the opportunity to try but it's now on the list and Lail Vineyards has made the tour list for our 2012 trip to Napa.

Conn Creek Anthology 2003 & 2005

My brother recently visited from North Carolina. He and his wife are "wine worthy" so we had them over for steaks and some of the "good stuff". They are big Caymus and Duckhorn fans so I thought I would introduce them to something different by opening up some bottles of Anthology - a 2003 and a 2005 bottle. If you like red blends, you will love Anthology. I actually favored the 2005 vintage but both were excellent. Pairing this wine with steak was a good call.

Here's a description from the winemaker:

"The pinnacle wine of Conn Creek, Anthology is an expressive, complex blend of Napa Valley's finest Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot. This blend offers red and black fruit aromas and spicy flavors with nuanced expressions of creamy oak. A robust wine balanced with silky tannins."
-Jeff McBride, Winemaker

Retails for about $55.

Duckhorn 2009 Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc

Here's another great white for the summer. Slightly more expensive than the Flora Springs SB, this one sells for $27/bottle. Here's a fancy description from Duckhorn's website: "The tropical aromas are echoed on the palate and given added dimension by the addition of Semillon, which helps to showcase the juicy guava, passion fruit and pineapple upside-down cake flavors, alongside notes of fresh apple, vanilla and key lime pie."

That about sums it up. It's a slightly heavier Sauvignon Blanc than the 2009 Flora Springs but it's excellent.

Flora Springs 2009 Sauvignon Blanc - Soliloquy Vineyard

I've never been a raving fan of white wine but I do like an occasional Sauvignon Blanc or even a Pinot Grigio - especially in the summer! I attended the Flora Springs Cabernet release party this year and the event began with a glass of this terrific Sauvignon Blanc. It's light, crisp, fruity but not too sweet. Perfect for a hot day. At $20/bottle you should buy a case. Actually, in Texas our summers last forever so buy 2 cases.

Conn Creek 2006 Howell Mountain Cabernet

Conn Creek is famous for their fabulous blend, Anthology, but their 2006 Howell Mountain Cabernet is wonderful and made my Hall of Fame. I favor wines made from mountain fruit. If I see Mt. Veeder or Howell Mountain on a label, chances are I will love the wine.

This wine is earthy and robust which is what you would expect from Howell Mountain grapes. Though the 2006 I tried earlier this year was wonderful, it will be out of this world in a few more years.

Retails for $45/bottle.

Love Zins? Try Elyse

If you love Zin, you have to try Elyse. I was blown away by their wine on our trip this year. In fact, I can't remember the last time I had a Zinfindel that was as good as their 2007 Howell Mountain Zin (made my Hall of Fame list) but their 2007 Korte Ranch Zin came in a close 2nd. I ended up buying both. At $37/bottle I should have bought more.

We bought a magnum of their 2006 Cabernet and drank it on the Auberge du Soleil patio during dinner. It was very good but nothing compared to the Elyse Zins.

2011 New Discovery: Pina

We try to find up and coming or boutique wineries each year in Napa and this year we hit the jackpot with Pina. One of the guys at Cakebread suggested we stop by Pina and try their Cabs. They were terrific. The 2007 Howell Mountain - Buckeye Vineyard Cabernet made my Hall of Fame list ($85/bottle).

You're not likely to find Pina on a menu because they produce such small quantities but you will not be disappointed if you order a bottle direct from the winery.

ZD Cabernets

I fell in love with ZD years ago. It was my favorite Cabernet until I discovered Cakebread. If you love Cabs and have not tasted ZD, you are missing out. The bottles run $50-$60 but the reserves are often priced well over $150. The 2001 Reserve Cabernet scored a 92 in Wine Spectator. If you find a ZD Cab on a wine list, you won't be disappointed if you order it.

Bennett Lane 2006 Maximus

We discovered Bennett Lane on our 2010 Napa trip. Their blend, Maximus, was creating a buzz so we stopped by their Cabernet release party. It was definitely worth the time! The blend on the 2006 Maximus is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 10% Syrah, and 5% Malbec. At $35/bottle, it's a steal. A terrific everyday wine that would pair well with most foods.

Chateau Ste. Michelle's 2007 Artist Series Meritage

Tried this blend at a wine tasting this past week and it was very good. The blend is 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 6% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot.

Chateau Ste. Michelle is a Washington winery that had the good sense to produce Col Solare so they already have a leg up in my book. This wine is smooth and very drinkable though I may buy a bottle and lay it down for a few years.

This wine retails for about $55/bottle.

Col Solare: One of My All-Time Favorites

I love reds. Zins, Cabs and an occasional Syrah make up the bulk of my collection. However, some of my all time favorite wines are blends. It's hard to beat Conn Creek's Anthology, Flora Springs Trilogy or a great bottle of Paraduxx. Of course, Quintessa is in a league all its own.

Last year I stumbled upon a wine that has become one of my all-time favorites. It's Col Solare which is a Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc blend out of Washington. Absolutely fantastic.

Col Solare is a collaboration between Tuscany’s Marchesi Antinori and Washington State’s Chateau Ste. Michelle. I can usually find it in Dallas for about $75/bottle.

If you love blends, try this wine. Hall of Famer, in my humble opinion.

Wine Clubs

So every year when we head to Napa for our annual trek, I end up joining a new wine club. I typically belong to 2-3 wine clubs each year. When I find a new one I like, I'll cancel one and join a new one. Previous clubs have included Franciscan/Mt. Veeder (which I love), Peju and Chandon. We have belonged to the Cakebread wine club for several years and that's one I intend to keep.

This year I joined the Paraduxx and Conn Creek wine clubs. Both are fabulous.

One of the benefits of a wine club is the ability to obtain wines that are not available anywhere else. If you've never belonged to a wine club but enjoy great wine, I'd encourage you to take a look at one. It's a great way to stock your wine refrigerator and always have great stuff on hand.

The Poor Man's Conundrum

I'm not a big fan of white wine but I do like Conundrum. It's a perfect white for hot weather in the summer - light, not too fruity, very refreshing. I couldn't find any at Central Market in Dallas a few weeks ago and the wine guy suggested I try Evolution. He called it the poor man's Conundrum. Opened it up this afternoon and decided the guy knew what he was talking about. Very similar to Conundrum but cheaper.

It's made by Sokol Blosser out of Oregon. Retails for about $15.

This wine gets Deandra's 2 thumbs up.

Jarvis Lake William 2005

Fantastic. Tried this wine earlier this week for the first time at a wine tasting. I wanted to run off with the bottle. Retails for $105. First impression - smells a little like bacon. That's how oaky this wine is. It would be perfect with a big steak. I'm now on the lookout for this very bold, red blend.

Here are the tasting notes from Jarvis:

95 pts - Exceptional, Gold Medal - Beverage Testing Institute; William Jarvis made the mistake of his life in 1993 during midnight pump-overs when he accidentally pumped a third of a tank of Cabernet Franc into a tank of Cabernet Sauvignon. The experience was devastating, but after the fermentation completed the winemaker, Dimitri Tchelistcheff, said “This new “Bordeaux blend” turned out “not that bad.” In fact, it kept getting better with age! It was enjoyed so much in the tasting room it became a sold-out product, and this blend has been made every year since. The grapes in the blend come from those vineyards cooled by the breezes off Lake William, hence the name. This wine has gone through extended cave aging and release when our winemaker felt it was ready for you and your friends to enjoy. Best to consume within ten years.

39% Cabernet Sauvignon
34% Cabernet Franc
24% Merlot
3% Petit Verdot

This gets the Deandra double thumbs up.