Cabernet Sauvignon

W.E.T.C.O.W. Wine Tasting Event #15 – Super Tuscans

Campo Al Mare BolgheriEvent # 15 was hosted on a beautiful September weekend by the Galos, who presented us with a fine collection of Super Tuscan wines.

The Wines:

 La Mozza I Perazzi Morellino De Scansano 2010 – $16.99

Perazzi, the foundation of the La Mozza winery, was created to be unlike most typical Morellino di Scansano. The blend, which includes Mediterranean varieties, is more expressive and better demonstrates the potential of Maremma’s terroir. I Perazzi is named after the pear-like fruit that grow on our estate and are depicted on the label. TASTING NOTES: Juicy dark fruit mingles with spice and licorice on the palate. The bright, ripe cherry and soft texture makes this a natural match with fresh Mediterranean flavors and dishes.

85% Morellino (Sangiovese), 5% Syrah, 5% Alicante, 2% Colorino and 3% Ciliegiolo from Magliano, Tuscany, Italy.

Tenuta Monteti Caburnio 2008  – $15.99

Located in southern Tuscany, the vineyards of Tenuta Monteti surround the small town of Capalbio. The winery is dedicated to producing wines of great quality and strong personality that fully express the terrior of this region. Named by Wine Advocate as “one of the best values in Italian wine today”, Tenuta Monteti “Caburnio” is a fresh, focused blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Alicante and Merlot aged in equal parts steel and French oak for one year. Both the nose and palate are remarkably complex with savory notes of dried herbs, coffee beans and mocha enveloped in bushels of dark red fruit. Ripe tannins and bright acidity add structure and depth, resulting in a long, perfectly balanced finish. Enjoy through 2024.

Wine Advocate 92 Points: The 2008 Caburnio is one of the very best wines from Tuscany in its price range. Espresso, mocha, sweet grilled herbs and plums wrap around the palate in this deep, inviting wine. Hints of licorice, crushed flowers, tobacco and new leather add complexity on the striking, nuanced finish. Caburnio is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Alicante-Bouschet and 20% Merlot aged partly in oak and partly in steel. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.-AG

Terrabianca Campaccio  – $25.99

Bright, deep ruby red color. A bouquet of dark berry fruit, a hint of cocoa and toasted almond, and tanned leather aroma. Perfectly balanced body, with concentration and freshness. Overall balance, solidly built with very well-developed tannins.

The Wine Advocate – 92pts. “The 2007 Campaccio is beautifully ripe and succulent in its dark, extroverted fruit. In 2007, Campaccio veers on the edge of overripeness but there is just enough acidity to keep things in check. French oak, smokiness, new leather and licorice add depth to the rich, creamy finish. I am not sure how the 2007 will age, but it should provide highly pleasurable drinking for at least another decade. Campaccio is 70% Sangiovese and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022. ”

Tenute Folonari Campo Al Mare – Bolgheri 2009  – $23.99

Since 1999 Ambrogio e Giovanni Folonari began purchasing land in the Bolgheri area, right below the ancient town of Castagneto Carducci, 70 km south of Livorno.
In this area in the 1990s, the classification “Bolgheri D.O.C.” proved to be a smashing success. Thanks to a few highly-respected families in the Italian wine sector, it became internationally famous and indisputably respected for its wines. The area is blessed with a very favorable climate, tempered by the sea breezes from the nearby Tirrenian Sea. The terrain, a mixture of clay and sand, for the most part slopes slightly toward the sea. It has proved to be extremely well-suited to the Bordelaise combination.

Campo al Mare is a deep ruby color with violet reflections. It shows aromas of small red woodland fruits with notes of licorice and discreet oak in the background. On the palate, the wine is full and velvety in texture, with the aromatic impressions confirmed in the flavors, finishing on a long, silky note. Campo al Mare is 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc.

 

SCORING RESULTS : 9/15/2012

Taster

La Mozza I Perazzi 2010

Tenuta Monteti Caburnio

2008

Terrabianca Campaccio 2007

Campo Al Mare Bolgheri 2009

 

Al B.

84

81

88

90

 

Sue B

86

79

90

88

 

Eric D

84

89

86

90

 

Zelma D

90

84

93

84

 

Felix G

91

94

88

95

 

Lisa G

87

83

89

94

 

John M

82

88

84

89

 

Marlene M.

76

83

84

87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average Score:

85

85

88

90

 

 

 

 

W.E.T.C.O.W. Wine Tasting Event #11 – Galo Personal Selections

terraces cabernetThese wines were all savored by the Galos on their CA vacation and present to us for our sampling.

 

The Wines:

Au Bon Climat Chardonnay 2009 – $23.00

Tasting Notes:
The ’09 Santa Barbara, released on the heels of the lauded 2008, is every bit as fresh, balanced, and delicious. The fruit comes from primarily Santa Maria Valley (Bien Nacido, Rancho Vinedo) and Los Alamos Vineyard. It is whole cluster pressed and fermented in neutral Francois Freres French oak barrels and was matured sur lie in the same barrels for 9-10 months. It was bottled without filtration. This natural, non-technological, stylish and traditional winemaking consistently produces elegant, textural, complex and food-enhancing Chardonnays. The ’09 reminds me of the ’85,’89,’92 and ’99, and ’02 wines. It has aromas of citrus, stone fruit, and custard apple. The flavors are smooth and integrated, creamy and tense, with apricot, golden delicious apple and lemon verbena nuances. This wine is the 28th in a series of ABC Santa Barbara County Chardonnays and embodies the same regional style that we have refined over the years.

 

Point Break – North Coast Red Blend 2008- $24.00

Tasting Notes:
A Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot and a bit of Zinfandel Blend designed for layered complexity. This wine focuses the influences of a few red varieties (Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc & Zinfandel) and seamlessly integrates them into an expression of aromas and flavors that reflect the climate of Northern California.

 

Grgich Hills Cellar Zinfandel 2007  – $39.00

Tasting notes:
We grow our Zinfandel naturally, without artificial fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides, at our estate vineyard in Calistoga, nestled in the northern tip of Napa Valley. This food-friendly Zinfandel’s flavors of strawberries, licorice and a hint of white pepper make it the perfect match for grilled meats, Lasagna, pizza topped with tomato sauce and beef stews.

 

The Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 – $39.00

Tasting Notes:
he Terraces is a family-owned, small producer of Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel in the eastern foothills of Rutherford. We also make a limited quantity on Chardonnay and Petite Sirah. Our ranch is known as Quarry Vineyards in deference to the 125 year old rock quarry on the property. Although we grow grapes for several other Napa Valley wineries, we reserve seven acres of our oldest and best vines to produce The Terraces wines. The Terraces Zinfandel clone taces its roots to the vines planted on the ranch in the 1800s. This clone, the “Werle” clone produces an open cluster with small berries, which is recognized and coveted for its intense color and distinctive aromas and flavors. The Cabernet clones were selected from Caymus and Grace Family Vineyards. We firmly believe that the character of our wines, their intensity and their color are the results of our viticultural practices which produce very low yields per acre and are picked at optimal maturity. We produce 1500 cases annually.

 

The Scores:

 

Taster

Au Bon Climat Chardonnay – Santa Barbara, CA 2009 $23.00

Longboard Vinyards Point Break North Coast 2008 $24.00

Grgich Hills Cellar Zinfandel – Napa Valley 2007 $39.00

 

The Terraces Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley 2007 $39.00

 

 

Al B.

85

82

86

87

Sue B.

92

87

82

87

Eric D.

83

84

89

89

Felix G.

93

87

94

95

Lisa G.

89

84

93

97

John M.

84

75

88

89

Marlene M.

88

77

86

82

John O.

89

85

92

94

Angie O.

90

87

95

88

 
Average Score:

88.1

83.1

89.4

89.8

 

 

 

 

SCORING RESULTS (All) Galo Cali Vacation – Oct. 2011

 

 

W.E.T.C.O.W. Wine Tasting Event #5 – Cabernet Sauvignon

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