Tasting Trip 3.0 (with some engaging news!)

Wines:

Nickel & Nickel
2000 Dolce, $80 half bottle

Opus One
2001 Opus One, $160

Zahtila Vineyards
2002 Oat Hill Zinfandel
2002 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2002 Beckstoffer Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Clos Pegase
2000 Hommage Cabernet Sauvignon, $75
2003 Circle Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, $17.50
2003 Chardonnay Mitsuko’s Vineyard, $21

Jen’s Notes:

We set off bright and early for our trip to Napa. We planned to visit only a few wineries, have a nice dinner, and stay overnight. The lodgings and first winery were a secret very well kept by Shane; dinner was at Pere Jeanty, and the rest we would play by ear.

Nickel and Nickel

We arrived just before 10:00. Reception buzzed us in through the gate, and we went to the Gleason Barn, a huge, gorgeous barn, which the proprietors had restored. Big, high windows and glass doors let in the morning light. We were greeted by Helene, the hospitality director, who had set out glasses and the 2000 Dolce.

The 10:00 tour had been re-routed, so we had the barn to ourselves for about half an hour. Shane had arranged all of this in advance so he could propose, which he did! I had been expecting to yell out “YES!!!” but I was so overcome that I could barely manage a squeaky and tearful “yes!”

We drank to our new lives together with the absolutely wonderful Dolce. The wine boasted succulent tropical fruit flavors, unctuous honey and crème brulee, with exotic sweet spices (maybe nutmeg?). As with all botrytized wines, one of the attractions is the glorious texture. Dolce does not disappoint: the wine coats the palate while the flavors explode in the mouth. It is pleasantly sweet in a way that doesn’t downplay the complexity of the wine. Compared to Dolce, French Sauternes seem very reserved.


Opus One

They were pouring the 2001 Opus One, which is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine was a dark ruby color, so deep that sunlight did not pass through it. It had a big, fruity-floral bouquet. Though very drinkable now, we thought a few years of bottle age would bring out more complexity and soften the tannins. It was well balanced between succulent cherry fruit, and firm, integrated tannins. The most delightful aspects of the wine were its silky texture and long, refined finish.


Shane’s Notes: deep, dark berry aroma; color is dense purple, inky. Silky texture. Berry flavors with a hints of vanilla and pepper and a touch of tannins. Nice length on the finish. A finely crafted wine – I would have to try this after 7-10 years of bottle age before deciding if it is worth the price.

Zahtila Vineyards

We tasted three wines from 2002: Oat Hill Zinfandel, Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and Beckstoffer Cabernet Sauvignon. All were good, clearly well-made and balanced between ripe fruit and supporting tannins. The Zinfandel boasted spice and wood notes, as well as deep, plummy fruit. The Napa Cab was more floral than fruity, with hints of violets on the nose. The Beckstoffer Cab was bolder and fruitier, with flavors of cherries and currant over toasty oak and firm tannins.

Clos Pegase

Even with the wonderful experiences at Nickel & Nickel and Opus One, Clos Pegase was still a highlight. We did the tour, as this is the only way to see the proprietors’ awe-inspiring art collection, featuring classical statuary among other pieces.

This was a chance for Shane to revisit the Mitsuko’s Vineyard Chardonnay, which he liked a bit less than in years past. I, on the other hand, was pretty happy with the big buttery character of it. It is definitely not complex, but on a warm afternoon, sitting outside with my fiancé of only a few hours, it was just right.

I got my socks knocked off for the second time that day when I tasted their Sauvignon Blanc. It was, and this is a bold statement, the best Sauvignon Blanc I have ever tasted. The literally endless finish boasted soft peach flavors that seemed to echo on the palate for minutes. This SB was perfectly made – no hints of grassiness or cat, uhm, pee at all. Nothing but lovely tropical fruit spiked with floral/herbal notes (think lavender).

Another winner was the 2000 Hommage, a complex, perfectly-tailored Bordeaux-style blend. Underneath the velvety black fruit, the tannins were supple and smooth, though I could see laying this one down for a couple of years, too.

The only disappointment at Clos Pegase was the Mitsuko’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, which was watery and lacked flavor.

We purchased bottles of the Zahtila Napa Cab, Clos Pegase’s 2000 Hommage and the Sauvignon Blanc – stay tuned for more in depth reviews.