Focus of California Wines at Fayetteville Wine Society June Meeting

[wondersofwine]

Notes are a bit choppy and truncated because the others at my table wanted me to loosen up and not get too serious about it all. Conversations sometimes took precedence over notetaking. Most of the vineyard notes were supplied on handouts by the presenters.

We started with a
2005 CHIMNEY ROCK FUME BLANC, NAPA VALLEY. Medium straw color. Sharp citric acid nose--mainly grapefruit.

2004 KENDALL-JACKSON CAMELOT HIGHLANDS CHARDONNAY, SANTA MARIA VALLEY, SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
Deeper color of pale gold. Pineapple a main feature on the rich nose. Lush without being overoaked. Very pleasant (Winery notes: Our Highland Estates wines showcase our estate properties located on mountains, ridges, hillsides and benchlands in cool coastal California vineyards. ...limited production, highly allocated wines are critically acclaimed and rare. This series is all about "terroir." Each label has a pictorial representation of the estate vineyard from which the fruit was source. The combination of soil, elevation and climate on each estate is a key contributor to the wine's powerful style...This is the only East and West Valley on the California coast, allowing a direct infusion of daily fog and moderate temperatures that combine for an extremely long growing season.

2005 SAINTSBURY PINOR NOIR, CARNEROS
Pretty dark garnet color, some transparency. Rich cherry nose and flavor with a bit of elegance. I liked this as I generally do like the Saintsbury Pinots.

2002 STEELE PACINI VINEYARD ZINFANDEL, MENDOCINO COUNTY
Pacini family started the vineyard in 1940 in the Mayacamas Range. Some older vines are still used. Grapes are harvested every two weeks once the harvest starts, thus gathering the cluster at proper ripeness. Jed Steele uses American oak, about 25% new barrels.
The Zin had pretty color and was very aromatic. I have had this Pacini Vineyard Zinfandel before (perhaps not the same vintage) but this seemed even more attractive than I recall from past experience. Very aromatic and delivered a concentrated cherry essence.

2003 GARRETSON G RED, CENTRAL COAST
Southern Rhone blend of 70% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 10% Mourvedres, 8% Viognier. Some earth or barnyard odors. Red-purple color and opaque. Smooth on the palate.

2003 FOPPIANO PETITE SIRAH, RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY
Somewhat tannic; should age for a long time.
Well balanced but needs decanting or aging.

2004 RAMSAY CABERNET SAUVIGNON, NAPA VALLEY
Slightly transparent. Deep crimson color. Doesn't taste particularly harsh or tannic for a young C.S. From Oakville, CA.

2003 CHAPELLET MOUNTAIN CUVEE, NAPA VALLEY
Meritage or Bordeaux-like blend--60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Floral, fruity nose. Cherry and blackberry? Very pleasing.

I believe I ordered two bottles of the Steele Pacini Vineyard Zinfandel and two bottles of the Chapellet Mountain Cuvee at special member prices. I think the Chapellet was about $27 a bottle and the Zin maybe about $23.

[winoweenie]

Sounds like our very-own WOW may have had hers nose in the vinegar barrel. First time I eber saw her notes saying "Ithunked I payed a buck-ninety sebben fer that sucker" WW [img]http://wines.com/ubb/wink.gif[/img]

[Kcwhippet]

Strange - I've known Mat Garretson from his days at Eberle then to Wild Horse and finally to his very own winery. However, I've yet to taste a wine he's actually made. I really must take care of that.

[dananne]

We've had plenty of Mat's juice, and we've got several things in the cellar, but you never think to come to Atlanta [img]http://wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]

We had an extended visit with him the last time he was in Atlanta, and it was hilarious hearing him talk about staying back at his childhood home, in his old room, back under mom's roof for a few days. The stories behind his unique wine names are a riot, too. Really nice guy, and his wines are always interesting.