Oh boy……I love this business! Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the California Trade Tasting Event sponsored by Lemma Distributing and tasted some of THE most amazing cabernets and cabernet blends EVER! The highlight was the 2006 Joseph Phelps Backus Vineyard Cab (retail $270/bottle!). Absolutely frickin’ awesome! It was juicy, flavors of blackberry, a little spice, really a perfect wine. Not that I would ever spend the wholesale cost for this spectacular wine, but I am grateful I get to at least taste it in my lifetime. Other highlights were the 2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia Red Blend and the 2005 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon, both Bordeaux style blends and both retailing for a little over $200/bottle.
I also enjoyed sampling a few affordable, yet full bodied and flavorful reds out of California. I loved the 2008 Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel out of Dry Creek ($26.50/bottle) – juicy and jammy, rich and luscious. The 2008 J. Lohr Syrah out of Paso Robles was quite good – dark crimson in color, rich ripe aromas of blueberry framed with flavor of blackberry and boysenberry and a nice peppery finish (only $15.00/bottle).
Keep checking my blog from time to time to see what other little gems I find out in the world of trade events and winemaker dinners. Next up – a review of the CWM Cellar Select Fall Soiree on October 2. Should be a blast!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment