Wine of Merit: ***Black Bart Syrah, Stagecoach vineyard, 2003: A wine to get excited about, IMHO. New world purity of fruit and expression, without the over the top, blousy, syrupy Aussie stuff I detest. This also offers great structure and much better complexity than most any other cali syrah. Green olive, some floral and Anjou pear notes (this has some viognier in it), brambley, nice. Again, excellent integration and a strong finish. Buy more? If Sharon does, I will.*+Crochet Sancerre, 2004: Nice enough, especially at $12 a pop. Pale yellow color, grassy, floral, fennel seed, some blood orange and pain grille. Still grapey, light on the palate. Bright acids, good balance through the finish and a touch of toasted wood. Good summer pic nic wine – great with food. Paul Cotat remains the definitive voice in Sancerre in my opinion and this changes that not at all.
I bumped into the wine maker of Veraison and Black Bart at Amanti Vino on Church Street. He was pouring these wines and Sharon was kind enough to offer me a taste along with the staff. Righteous!
***+Veraison Stagecoach vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002: Expressive but not obvious. Solid effort. Probably the best 2002 Napa cabernet I have tasted in the sense that it seems like it has the structure to tolerate cellaring and even get better, more complex with age. A core of clean, pure, black fruit, graphite and sweet violets. Great integration across the palate with more fruit and mocha. Dusty tannins and a long finish. Buy more? Yes!
***Veraison Synchrony, Meritage 2002: Bordeaux like mix of cab, cab franc, malbec and I think Merlot. Also from the same Stage coach vineyard up on Pritchard Hill. More forward, more resolved, a lovely drink. Red fruit, chocolate, minerals, black truffle notes right up front. It may gain tertiary notes faster and ultimately offer more complexity, like a nice St. Emillion might, but probably not more weight. Buy more? Probably not, though it is a lovely bottle of wine.
I bumped into the wine maker of Veraison and Black Bart at Amanti Vino on Church Street. He was pouring these wines and Sharon was kind enough to offer me a taste along with the staff. Righteous!
***+Veraison Stagecoach vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002: Expressive but not obvious. Solid effort. Probably the best 2002 Napa cabernet I have tasted in the sense that it seems like it has the structure to tolerate cellaring and even get better, more complex with age. A core of clean, pure, black fruit, graphite and sweet violets. Great integration across the palate with more fruit and mocha. Dusty tannins and a long finish. Buy more? Yes!
***Veraison Synchrony, Meritage 2002: Bordeaux like mix of cab, cab franc, malbec and I think Merlot. Also from the same Stage coach vineyard up on Pritchard Hill. More forward, more resolved, a lovely drink. Red fruit, chocolate, minerals, black truffle notes right up front. It may gain tertiary notes faster and ultimately offer more complexity, like a nice St. Emillion might, but probably not more weight. Buy more? Probably not, though it is a lovely bottle of wine.
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