Vincent has membership in all these wineries, so we get VIP treatment and completely free tasting. This chardonnay is acidic, simple, butter, nose is tight, lemony, volatile - so - ws
2007 Sequoia Grove Chardonnay, Carneros. $28. ****
honeysuckle, floral, meyer lemon, concentrated, oak, lemon peel finish - so - ws
2005 Sequoia Grove Merlot, Napa Valley. $33. ***½
cedar, acidic, cherry, chocolate, mint, velvety - so - ws
2005 Sequoia Grove Stagecoach Syrah, Napa Valley. $28. **½
pomegranate, astringent, grilled herbs, boysenberry, strangely unbalanced - so - ws
2005 Sequoia Grove Cabernet, Napa Valley. $34. ***½
cedar, bell pepper, black pepper, black currants, earthy, acidic - so - ws
2004 Sequoia Grove Reserve Cabernet, Rutherford. $70. ****½
opulent, olive, cedar, earth, black cherry, eucalyptus - so - ws
2005 Sequoia Grove Reserve Cabernet, Napa Valley. $65. ****
astringent, black current, herbs - so - ws
2005 Sequoia Grove Healy Vineyard Cabernet, Napa Valley. $80. *****
black cherry, pine wood, cedar, tight, velvety, long finish. This is a complex wine currently very tight because it was taken out of a cellar and poured for us immediately after opening. This has great potential. I like it. Overall, Sequoia Grove has very good value. The regular cab at $34, club member 27, K&L 30, is very good for the value. - so - ws
2006 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay, Napa Valley. $42. ***
This is a sit-down members-only Library Reserve tasting event. This is my 3rd time tasting 2006 Montelena chardonnay in a month. This is unfortunately the worst. flabby, earthy, hint of petroleum, apple, very full body and toasty. No acidity, no crispness. I think this is an off bottle. I think the host, Ed, agreed but I spoke to him only after the event as there had been many other strangers in the same table. - so - ws
2003 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley. $30. ****½
cedar, tobacco, what a strong aroma, very good smelling, porcini mushroom, pepper, blackberry, concentrated, minty, flavor not as strong as aroma. I like this. Could have bought one. But considering the winery's bottle variation problem, I resisted the temptation. - so - ws
1999 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley. $175. ****
earthy, astringent, acidic, blackberry, medicinal, herbs - so - ws
2000 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley. $140. ***½
fennel seed, sage, raspberry, tart, sweet, no structure, what? US$140? you are kidding, right? I still had Sequoia Grove Healy Cabernet in my mind $80 regular, club member $64. - so - ws
2002 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet, Napa Valley. $160. ****
chalky, sage, cassis, wet earth, started out with a short finish, later becomes somewhat medium to long. A more powerful wine than the above two. If I have to choose, I slightly prefer this more than 1999. They have given us a small marketing postcard. On it, you find Parker scores for their Estate Cabernet starting 1990 to 2004. They are 93 (1990), 95, 95, 91, 95, 94, 93, 95+ (1997), 93, 95, 90, 95+, 95+, 93+, 94+ (2004). To give a more balanced perspective, let me list WS scores for the same: 94 (1990), 91, 90, 90, 95, 92, 92, 95 (1997), 87, 94, 90, 69, 72, 87, 86 (2004). - so - ws
2007 Freemark Abbey Viognier, Napa Valley. $27. ***
I have to say Freemark Abbey has the nicest staff. They make many, many varietals from Viognier to late harvest Riesling. Since Vincent is a VIP, we tasted all free of charge and with smiling staff pouring. This viognier tastes like apricot/orange/peach juice, with a hint of white pepper, kind of candy like, alcohol, a hint of melon finish - so - ws
2007 Freemark Abbey Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley. $24. ***
grapefruit, celery, crisp, long finish - so - ws
2005 Freemark Abbey Pinot Noir, Napa Valley. $28. ***½
wet earth, cherry, spicy, vanilla, sandalwood, concentrated, hot. This one has Brett. - so - ws
2003 Freemark Abbey Zinfandel, Napa Valley. $28. ***½
blackcherry, black forest cake, raisin, black pepper, cedar, astringent, slightly grassy in finish - so - ws
2003 Freemark Abbey Syrah, Napa Valley. $28. **
pepper, tart, pickle, sour blackcherry, not pleasant - so - ws
2004 Freemark Abbey Petite Sirah, Napa Valley. $30. ***½
chalky, very astringent, dark chocolate, blackberry, cola, low key, subtle, pepper - so - ws
2004 Freemark Abbey Cabernet, Napa Valley. $35. ***½
cedar, raspberry, astringent, spicy, hint of milk chocolate, silky body, smells like Sequoia Grove's regular cab. The latter slightly better in structure. This one is soft. - so - ws
1995 Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet, Napa Valley. $95. ****½
Brett, cedar, earth, chocolate, berry, very concentrated, but brett is getting in the way - so - ws
2003 Freemark Abbey Bootleg Cabernet, Napa Valley. $45. ***
cherry, plum, cedar, light, med finish, herbs - so - ws
2003 Freemark Abbey Sycamore Cabernet, Napa Valley. $55. ****
hint of earth, jammy, raspberry, floral, plum, simple, astringent, spicy - so - ws
2004 Freemark Abbey Bosche Cabernet, Napa Valley. $65. *****
hint of Brett, blackcherry, chocolate, dusty, clove, long finish. Brett again. I think this is a systematic Freemark Abbey problem. I typed Freemark Abbey Brett at google and instantly found 4 bloggers agree with me on the first page. This can be really nice with a faint hint like this one. But I'm afraid as the wine ages, it will get more prominent like the 1995. - so - ws
2005 Freemark Abbey Josephyn, Napa Valley. $80. ****½
red currants, berries, mint, nutmeg, cranberry, long finish, plum, dusty - so - ws
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