2009 Ceja Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

I've had this bottle in the cellar for sometime as this was a wine club purchase and opened for #CabernetDay2014 celebrating Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ceja Vineyards was founded in 1999 by Amelia, Pedro, Armando and Martha Ceja. Today you will find many of the family members having key roles in the business and success. The vineyards they farm are located both in Sonoma and Napa providing the grapes for the multiple varietals the family produces.Special recipes created by Amelia and Dalia provide unique pairings with each varietal. I love to cook and enjoy making them along with my wine.

The nose shows nice dark fruit with rich blackberry, plum and dark cherry. Dried mint herbal notes and cloves with a hint of smoke. The aromas marry together nicely as the wine opens up.

The mouth is full of juicy blackberry, cherry, plum with a hint of raspberry. Cocoa and herbs with soft tannins on the finish. Very nice on day 2 as well with the fruit becoming more pronounced. Always one of my favorite Cabs to open and sip. For the first time I paired this wine with minestrone soup and it worked very well.

 If your a regular at the downtown Napa tasting room stop by early this month as the tasting room is moving near the family venture Carneros Brewing. Stay tuned for updates on their new winery being built. Its going to be beautiful and so customer friendly.

Cheers
Dan

2013 Rodney Strong Sauvignon Blanc Charlotte's Home Northern Sonoma

*Sample Received*

Old favorites never get old do they? One of my all time favorites is the Charlotte's Home Sauvignon Blanc. Crisp and lively with beautiful fruit and acidity. Harvested from vineyards in the Russian River Valley and Alexander Valley, the growing season was a perfect year. Dry,  frost free spring, warm summer absent of heat spikes which allowed the grapes to mature nicely and harvested between Aug 21st and Sept 17th.

The nose is full of bright tropical fruit. Pineapple, melon with lemon lime hints. Orange zest with cut ripe peach. Lovely refreshing scents and a real pleaser.

The mouth is crisp with pineapple, white peach, melon and tangerine. Lemon with lime zest and a little grassy note. Paired with shrimp and fresh squeezed lemon as well as enjoying by itself on this 100 degree day. Just what the wino ordered. My palate is smiling!

Stop by for a visit, tour and taste at 11455 Old Redwood Highway Healdsburg from 10-5 daily. Always an enjoyable experience and the staff goes above and beyond to ensure you have a memorable one.

Let's not forget to take a moment and keep the folks in Napa and Sonoma in your thoughts and prayers this evening. The pictures from the earthquake shows the devastation for both wine and non wine related business in the valley. It will be a long recovery and they could use all the help they can get.


Cheers
Dan

A Trio Of Bila Haut

*Samples Received*

Purchased by Michael Chapoutier in 1999, this site was one of the first planted by Greek Mariners and has continuously produced top quality wines. Cotes du Roussilon is the area and the hill of the Agly Valley is where you will find 40 yr old vines producing the wines we enjoyed today.

I started with the Bila Haut Les Vignes Rose 2013. The nose was full of red berries (raspberry, strawberry, cherry) with hints of vanilla and rose pedals. The mouth was crisp and creamy. Strawberry, raspberry fruit with a creamy vanilla and floral mineral finish. Nice $13 Rose.

Second wine was the Bila Haut Les Vignes White 2013  a blend of Grenache Gris, Grenache Blanc, Macabeo. The nose exhibits tropical fruit notes of pineapple, grapefruit, melon with hints if lime citrus. The mouth has a nice acidic balance which was perfect with my fish dish. Tropical fruits grapefruit, mandarin orange, melon and lime zest with a crisp minerality on the finish. Another inexpensive tasty wine for $13.

The final wine of the night is the 2012 Bila Haut Les Vignes Red a blend of Syrah, Grenache and Carignan. The 2008 and 2010 vintages were ranked in the top 100 in Wine Spectator. The nose is full of blackberry, plum, dark cherry and blueberry. Earthy with herbs and black pepper spice. The mouth is blackberry and plum dominant with a hint of sweet black cherry. Mocha and dark chocolate on the finish. $13 on this wine as well.

Great tasting of the french wines.

*Samples Received*

Cheers
Dan

2013 Gorgorito Verdejo Rueda Spain

*Sample Received*

Tonight's wine comes from Bodega Copaboca and is Spain's most popular white wine Rueda. Known for it's refreshing distinct flavor (herbs, minerality, acidity, crisp tropical and stone fruit). Widely accessible and versatile, you can pair this wine with light salads, seafood and pasta. Easy everyday drinker and priced at $7.

On the nose lemon citrus, grassy notes with aromas of gooseberry. The mouth exhibits grapefruit and lemon citrus notes with good acidity and length while showing a nice dry finish. Enjoyable little wine.

Cheers
Dan