Here is what I drank with Dad, mostly, while on vacation:
B.V. Tapestry Reserve Napa Valley 1999
Cedary, with a slight musty cement edge to the earthy currant, olive and cedary oak flavors. Fails to inspire. Drink now through 2005.
Dad called this one dead on: "watery, not a lot of fruit, it didn't do anything for me." Which is a shame because I really liked the '95 two weeks ago.
2002 Van der Heyden Table White $12.50
There are no published reviews for this wine, which keeps it a secret so there is more for me and my friends. A blend of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, and Semillion that is sooo very drinkable. My mom liked it a lot and that's always a good sign. It has a lovely fruitiness (melon and tropical fruits) that went really well with the roasted Chicken, steamed asparagus, and pesto bowtie pasta.
2000 Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz $30
Firm, with a distinct gamy edge to the cherry and mineral flavors, not as big and broad as some Shiraz but extraordinarily well-focused to let the flavors emerge harmoniously. Best from 2006 through 2015.
We went out for dinner Tuesday night at Steak house where everything is grilled over a mix of oak and citrus chips. I had the emasculatingly titiled "Cowgirl Steak," an 18oz T-Bone. I'm secure, so I didn't need to order the 24oz porterhouse "Cowboy Steak" Dad had the Texas Style sliced flanksteak with a garlic sauce while Mom got the 9oz Fillet. Each dinner came with a house salad (iceberg and tomatoes, YEAH!) a side of potatoes followed by individual doses of lipitor. The wine was great. Yum, yum, yum! This was the first time I had the '00 and I loved it, not as much as the '98 but still I've set 3 bottles away to be kept until 2010.
Beringer Alluvium Blanc Knights Valley 2002
Plush and generous, with fine richness and depth to candied fig, melon, beeswax and dried hay flavors. Tangy quince and marshmallow-scented oak lingers on the finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier. Drink now.
This is the Anti-Van der Heyden. I didn't enjoy it at all, to me it had all the qualities of each grape that I didn't like while failing to bring with the quallities that I did. Now, it is possible that I was suffering from red wine fatigue and that no white was going to work for me. . . . No, lets blame the wine, it's easier.
2002 Sterling Vineyards Malvasia Bianca $16
Malvasia Bianca is one of the most widely-planted grape varieties in Italy. On Sardinia and Sicily, it makes rare, rich and wonderfully aromatic passito wines; it is prominent in light, dry wines such as Frascati from central Italy and Malvasia Istriana from Friuli, and the legendary Vin Santo of Tuscany, which can be quite dry or very sweet
My sister, KC and I first had this wine three years ago when we took the tram ride up to the most touristy winery in Napa (not a negative, go on a weekday- the view is killer). That year's release was sweeter than the new one and I'm now keeping a couple bottles for myself. Oh, this be some good slurp! Last week I drove up to Sterling in a nasty rainstorm just because I wanted to give this great gift to my sister. Or, I needed to get out of the house and this was a chance to work through some latent guillt for not getting her a case last summer. Ya see, they only sell it at the winery, damn their eyes.
Go in Peace
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