Catena High Mountain Vines Mendoza 2011 Chardonnay

Catena High Mountain Vines Mendoza 2011 Chardonnay, $15.99-$21.99, 86+ points, was a straw yellow color.
Aromatic vanilla, butterscotch, and an toasty crème brûlée, were good.
Medium-bodied with fair to good acidity reflected the aromas, adding an almost burnt toasty melon note, reminded me of a typical so-so Cali Chardonnay (I wouldn't be able to tell the difference).
Finished on the trailing palate, a touch of ginger, and a noticeable 13.5% alcohol.

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Fritz Winery

 Fritz Winery

Fritz winery

 is a feast for the eyes,

 a destination of mystery,

 and the reward of good tipples.

            

       

2012 Estate Proprietor's Red Wine

Was one of their wines we enjoy very much!

Winemaker’s Notes:
Produce from our Estate vineyards, the Proprietor’s Red is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Malbec. This estate blend has aromas of sweet raspberry, plum, and baking spices. Balanced acidity and firm elegant tannins are wrapped in flavors of black cherry, blackberry pie and raspberry.
- Winemaker Brad Longton




However, it was a dry hot day in Dry Creek, and whether it was the weather or just the ambiance Fritz Dry Creek 2014 Rosé was also a big hit for us all.

From Fritz's Web: 92 point-rated by Wine and Spirits Magazine, August, 2015

"Ripe and plump as a white cherry, spiced with compelling aromas of ginger and white sage."

NHWM's reviews of Fritz wines:
Fritz Dry Creek Valley 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon, 91 points, $50.

Fritz Estate Dry Creek 2014 Malbec (USA), 88 points

Fritz Estate Dry Creek Valley 2013 Zinfandel, $17.99-$25.99 (birthday gift), 87 points

Sister Winery:
Lost Canyon Russian River Valley 'Trenton Station Vineyard' 2010 Syrah, 92 points

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Wente Livermore Valley 2013 Morning Fog Chardonnay

Wente Livermore Valley 2013 Morning Fog Chardonnay, $11.99-$15.99, 88+ points, was a deep gold color.
Soft perfumed floral aroma with a hint of tangerine were quite pleasant.
Medium-bodied with fair to good acidity and smooth texture, without apology, carried a rather neutral flavor profile, but a restrained melon and citrus with a fair finish of wet stone and ginger were adequate for me.
Not the "big" Cali Chardonnay, but a bit cleaner and more charming (JMO).

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Martinelli Winery In Photographs

First view from the parking lot!

The first vines as through a looking glass!

 

Worker thinning or pruning of grape leaves.

 

 

General grounds maintenance.

 

 

South leaning top of the hill vines.

 

Return view toward the main facility.

Heading toward the wine tasting!

Not forgetting to smell the roses!

But what about the wines?

 Martinelli winery

Let me just say there was a Zinfandel for everyone (not to mention Chardonnay and Syrah), including their 17.2% alcohol giant Martinelli Winery 2012 Vigneto di Evo Russian River Valley Zinfandel which appealed to at least one of our whisky drinking pals, but for us less hardliners, it was the 2012 Martinelli Winery Zinfandel Lolita Ranch Russian River Valley with a closer to the sweet spot 15.9% alcohol. I scored this Zinfandel 92 points.

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Chateau Monbousquet 2009 Saint Emilion Revisited Nearly Three Years Later

Chateau Monbousquet 2009 Saint Emilion, a serious wine for serious people!
Revisiting this wine only three years later should have been multiplied by ten (I have another). It was time for friends and family to taste a really good Bordeaux, and that it was.
The aroma, if anything, was better and more distinctive than in 2012 with all sorts of mushrooms, coffee, anise, black currant, cedar, and blackberries.
The rest of the story is quite similar to the original, with tight tannins (For Ben: on a scale of 1-10, 10) and a never ending finish of warm spices.
I still scored this wine 95 points, but Beniss was maybe a little more reasonable with a score of 93+.


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Adelsheim Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris

Adelsheim Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris, $13.59-$17.99, 89 points, poured straw yellow.
Pinot Gris is typically a nondescript white wine, and that's exactly true of this one.
Aromatically light granny-smith apple and melon, had a light-plus body with fair acidity which carried subtle citrus, green apple, and watermelon flavors with a rather smooth textured mouth-feel.
Finished well on its 13.5% alcohol, the trailing palate, and just a touch of Tang and a whisper of pepper.
As I see it, this PG tastes very good, only it is varietally true (nondescript).
I paired the Adelsheim Willamette Valley 2013 Pinot Gris with a simple salad and fried scallops.

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Renwood Amador 2011 Timberline Zinfandel

Renwood Amador 2011 Timberline Zinfandel, $21.99,$39.99, 90 points, appeared opaque maroon with a broad clear wine ring at the very heavily draped bowl.
A bright earthy red cherry aroma was good.
Medium to medium-plus body carried good acidity and an underlayment of mild tannin.
Oak, red cherry, blackberry and other black fruit notes with a hint of bourbon were petrified in a straight forward Zinfandel reminiscent of a good Sangiovese (I know: "He's nuts!").
Finished well on a sweet-spot 14.8% alcohol, just a hint of eucalyptus, and a touch of plum.




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