Here in Canada, many are pining for the day they can put a California Cab in their glass. The good news, there are wines like this Chateau St Jean 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Knight's Valley that could use the extra time in bottle to get to where it will be at its best
California Cabernet is more than just Napa Valley,
as this delicious Rodney Strong proves:
Rodney Strong 2020 Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
California Chardonnay is making the turn towards fresher, fruitier wines.
It's been a slow roll out, but it's getting there.
This wine is pointed in the right direction
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 2019 Karia Chardonnay
... WRITTEN REVIEW ...
The chill here was perfect and brought out so many of this white's cool temperature loving characteristics. “Karia” is Greek for graceful and that's just what this wine was: super-pleasant from beginning to end. Rich, smoky, oaky, but with a fruit core, that doles out salinity and good acidity; vanilla and some butterscotch also join the show. The wine is made in what Marcus called “a less intervention style”. Only 9 months in barrel, 34% new, all French, with 8% going into stainless steel to retain a modicum of freshness. There's also 0.5% Muscat Canelli that sneaks in - just enough to give it a floral aspect.
If you scour the internet, you'll find lots of quotes about Pinot Noir,
I was looking for one to fit;
but this kind of California Pinot Noir breaks a lot of molds.
Cool climate California Pinot at its best:
Peay Vineyards 2021 Pomarium Pinot Noir
Many superlatives can be used to describe the Artemis Cabernet.
I use a few of my own in this video for the
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars 2019 Artemis Cabernet Sauvignon
Marcus (winemaker) describes 2019 as a "challenging, but good. Vintage" overall. The wine has a drop (.5%) of Cabernet Franc and the blend spends 15 months in oak, 42%, new French and 6% new American, all the rest is in older French. The fruit is pure and robust: plum, black cherry, blackberry with notes of chocolate, white smoke and silky tannins. Through the evening, the wine opened and became even more silky and ultimately gorgeous for both sipping and sniffing – the grilled beef fillet was not let down by the wine, nor vice versa. Purity of fruit and complexity makes this wine and the cellaring potential sits at about 15 plus years.
As a fan of this juicy Cabernet from Duckhorn it's time to talk about it;
it's a second wine that drinks like top-shelf product
Duckhorn 2019 Decoy Cabernet Sauvignon
This is Duckhorn Vineyards’ second wine, and it’s a real treat. Powerful fruit offering red plum and plush chocolate along with hints of spice and smoke. It’s dangerously drinkable, on its own or with … whatever you want. (****+)
This is not a grape you seen on its own very often,
but after tasting this my only question is - Why Not?
Stags' Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah
Stags’ Leap Winery 2018 Petite Sirah
Now this is the bee's knees. Really good. Smile inducing – add your platitude here. Dark fruit and spice, subtle pepper, white smoke, cassis and black cherry; I love that spice on the end, the great length, I have much more to say about it, but I want to get back to the glass. You need this wine in your life. (**** ½)
