A Little B&B (Beringer & Burgers)

2004 Beringer "Private Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa, Ca ($0.00 at Ben Caitlin's House)
On a gorgeous day in Pacific Grove, we went to our friend Ben's house to borrow his Kayak. Upon loading it into my truck, we noticed two stemless crystal glasses and a half bottle of this. The color was deep garnet. The bouquet displayed aromas of red currants and reminded us of a dusty attic. Good wine. It wasn't overtly fruit-forward like some offensive Napa Cabs can be. We drank this at 17th Street Grill, who claim to have the best burgers in town. However, the Beringer made the experience. Not the burgers. Since we snuck this in, we didn't pay corkage and that was cool.

Meritage - Napa

2004 Shafer Cabernet “One Point Five” $110 – this angry, young beast shows a little promise but not much. The people love the name; I hate the lack of earth. It’s a fruit-bomb and cheap Chilean Cabernet gives it a run for its money. Nevertheless, there are no vegetable aromas and it’s juicy. Last tasted 10/9/07) Drink now-2015 

2000 Chateau Montellena Cab Sauvignon. - Napa - Big and masculine but after tasting the Old World wines, it tasted super-extracted with some banana or strawberry nose. The epitome of a fruit-forward wine with black asphalt masculinity. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1999 Spottswoode, Napa $195 - this displayed nuances of licorice and espresso grinds with a tinge of chalk. Not much of a selling point, but it tasted good. There was pickle in this one too. The tannins were mellow, but the wine wasn't watery. At one time, the host sold Casanova's the best figs around! Last tasted 8/18/07 Drink now-2015 

1991 Heitz "Martha's Vineyard" - I took the guest down to the cellar because his buddy was celebrating his birthday. This was the year of the freeze and I got lots of eucalyptus. Some of the organisms that struggled for existence produced complexity. A bit tight at first, but the mint was ever-present. Last tasted 8/20/07 Drink now-2015 

1984 Silverado Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa - The dirty and supple tannins overshadowed barky eucalyptus, leathered and ripened roses. I thought it might be younger than 89' and was impressed with the tons of tobacco and cherry-like fruit. It had a dried candied fruit character. I didn't know California wines could age this well. Maybe I should've read about the judgment of Paris in 76'? Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa

2005 Raymond “Generations” – this one was tasted out of a double magnum. Table seven brought this one in and it had a perceived sweetness. There were nuances of black licorice and cassis. It was thick. The wine had a lot of oak and alcohol, but not much backbone. Not my style but a lot of people would love this wine. Last tasted summer of 2010 Drink now-2015 
2005 Honig Cabernet The minty eucalyptus scent goes well with its flat cola taste. The flavors are well extracted and it seems as if you’re rubbing your tongue on crushed velvet. Why would anyone do that? Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 
2004 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa - Real luscious, dark and true to its appalachian. The wines tannins were quite present and velvety, but they didn't coat your teeth. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2003 Lamborne Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa – It was quite extracted, but not over done. No bitter edge or tooth-coating tannins. It had a nice backbone with plenty of ripe fruit. It was luscious, but had a heavy middle palette. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1999 Chateau Montelena – It seemed real masculine and quite rough and tumble. This wine had some great backbone and will improve with age. It was pure black in the glass, real focused but not quite ready to be drunk. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

1997 Cardinale, Napa - If you put this wine in a decanter, it would still taste too young. The tannins were luscious, not tooth-coating and displayed anis flavors. This was like a black viscous powerhouse that's quite austere for a New World wine. Last tasted 8/10/07 Drink now-2015 

1996 Montelena Cabernet, Napa – this fruit bomb has nice tannins that are clearly mellow and mature. It’s doing that espresso-grind lava rocks thing. Last tasted 10/15/07 Drink now-2015 

Merlot - Napa

2005 Duckhorn Merlot – This is a fruit forward Merlot. On the palette, it reminded me of a showy satin gown. Duckhorn is a benchmark in California and it practically sells itself. Suggest it and see how easy selling wine is. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

2001 Duckhorn "Three Palms" Merlot Magnum - Cherry vanilla elegance that was clearly over-oaked. The baking spice and bing cherry made me want to become an ex-patriot who only drinks wine from carafes. I'm just kidding, Pelerin makes a good syrah. Last tasted 8/20/0 Drink now-2015 

2000 Nickel & Nickel "Suscol" Merlot- $120 on Casanova's wine list. Coffee nuances and a vanilla bean pureness. If this was a chick, it'd be a hot blonde chick scooping ice cream at Baskin Robbins ice cream parlor on a hot day with good waves. I'm losing it! Last tasted 2007 Drink
now-2015 

1992 Beringer "Bangcroft Ranch" Merlot - a dirty espresso grind earthiness that coated your teeth with grit. It tasted like flat cola, but had a cedar tea and cigar box complexity. Last tasted 2007 Drink now-2015 

Napa's Interesting Whites

2005 La Sirena Muscat - You could tell the warm climate made the wine seem a little alcoholic. The nuances of sweet clementines penetrated my palette and left me feeling like I just peeled the skin of an orange. It possessed an off-dry Gewürztraminer character. The ladies on table 64 rationed me a fat pour. Last tasted 8/8/07 Drink now-2011 

Lexus Grand Tasting

Lexus Grand Tasting at Pebble Beach Food & Wine

It was nice to cleanse the palette with M.V. Nicolas Feuillette Brut Rose’. This bubbler comes from Chouilly, which is a sub-region of Reims, which is within the region of Champagne, which is in the boundaries of one of the best wine producing regions on the planet, France. It had aromas of bubble gum, cherries and other red fruits.

The winemaker of the 2010 Chateau Desclans “Whispering Angel” Rose’(pictured above), visited us from Provence, France and I commended him for his delicious drink. When I worked at Marinus, my fellow employees and I would make rap songs about this remarkable beverage, “It’s crisp, it’s clean, fen to make you scream. Whispering Angel Son!”

2009 Lail “Blueprint” Sauvignon Blanc, Napa.
It was new world in style in that it wasn’t waxy like a white Bordeaux, but citrusy like a Central Valley tangerine.

2007 Au Bon Climat “Hildegard” Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Aligote’, Santa Maria Valley
This somehow reminded me of a white a white Burgundy. The assistant winemaker told me that the Corton Charlemagne was believed to be a grape clone of Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris and Aligote’. I never knew that. Thanks for filling me in dude (assistant winemaker).

2008 Rombauer Chardonnay, Napa
Romabauer Chardonnay has become a wine descriptor. It is: buttery, oak, delicious and sommeliers hate it, because it caters to the masses and they no longer have leverage. It was so cool to meet the owner. That guy was a baller.

2007 Domaine Serene “Evenstad Reserve” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Am I tasting Cote de Nuits Pinot Noir? This beauty was seductive and had lots of red fruit aromas like that of Burgundy. It had tannin. It had backbone.

2008 Numanthia “Termes” Toro, Spain
“It takes two vines two produce one bottle,” said the super-hot French chick pouring this Spanish wine. “Oh and they crush the grapes by foot too,” she said. That’s hot. The wine was too, but in a ripe, dark fruit-way.

2008 Barnett Spring Cabernet Sauvignon, Spring Mountain, Napa
The chocolate dust was distinct and delicious. This booth was near the massage table.

The Massage Table
I can’t afford a massage. This one was free, so I gave Yoeli a 10-spot for her efforts. She was more sensual than any of the wines.

Pelegrino
Drink as much water as wine. This booth took awhile.

Carmel Valley Roasting Company
Foglifter? It’s gorgeous outside. I’m still slightly buzzed, and feeling good.