Premium Reds Tasting Event
Beth Ribblett
Premium Reds
a selection of world class full bodied red wines
from Washington and California
Presented by Mystic Vines
Join us on Thursday, November 21st @ Swirl Wine Bar & Market for a tasting of artisanal red wines retailing between $30 - $80 from Washington and California. This exclusive, walkabout tasting is limited to 25 participants. $25, Reservations and prepayment required, 6:30-8pm, 504.304.0635
2010 Anderson's Conn Valley Estate Reserve Cabernet - Napa
The estate’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve is endowed with serious power and depth. Layers of blue and black fruit, smoke, tobacco and licorice are woven together beautifully. Vivid yet rich and resonant, the 2010 stands out for its exceptional purity and overall harmony. Here, too, the oak needs time to integrate, but tha shouldn’t be an issue, as readers should not plan on opening bottles anytime soon. A creamy, layered finish laced with expressive blue and black fruits rounds things out in style. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2032.
WA 93-96 points
1400 cases
2010 Anderson's Conn Valley Right Bank - Napa
Freshly cut flowers, violets, leather and spices jump from the 2010 Proprietary Red Right Bank. There is an element of freshness and vibrancy in the 2010 that is highly appealing. Today, the 2010 is a bit compact, but I expect it will flesh out over time. Hints of leather, licorice, menthol and tar add complexity on the close. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2020.
WA 94 points
700 cases
2010 Anderson's Conn Valley Eloge - Napa
65 Cab, 25 CF, 5 Mer, 5 PV - Although naturally still very much a baby, the 2010 Eloge offers significant potential. Juicy dark cherries, flowers, spices and French oak all emerge from the glass. Today, the French oak is a bit dominant, but that should be less of an issue over time, as the balance of fruit, acidity and tannin is superb. Violets, menthol and sage are some of the nuances that add complexity to a huge, resonant finish. There is plenty of potential here. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030.
WA 92-94 points
450 cases
2009 Adelaida Viking Cabernet - Paso Robles
Dark ruby. Cassis, licorice, tobacco and loamy earth on the nose. Plump and pliant in the mouth, with spice-accented flavors of dark fruits, bitter chocolate and black pepper. Finish smooth and sweet, with lingering spiciness and gentle tannins.
IWC 90 points
155 cases
2010 Januik Champoux Vineyard Cabernet - Columbia Valley
A big step up, with a deep, layered and pure profile that oozes Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Champoux Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) is loaded with classy aromas and flavors of black currant, crushed stone, coffee bean, lead pencil and spring flowers. These flow to a full-bodied, perfectly balanced wine that has a seamless, polished texture, no hard edges and ripe, sweet tannin that emerges through the finish. Elegant and slightly understated, it grows in stature with air. While it’s certainly superb now, it will be even better in a handful of years and have a total of 12-15 years of longevity. Drink now-2025.
WA 93 points, WS 91 points
358 cases
2010 Januik Cabernet Franc Weinbau Vineyard - Columbia Valley
A blend of 91% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon that’s from the warmer Wahluke Slope AVA, the 2010 Cabernet Franc Weinbau Vineyard is a beauty! Seamless, supple and polished, with a medium to full-bodied, layered mouthfeel, it offers up outstanding aromas and flavors of ripe red and black fruits, baking spices, potpourri and flowers. While showing a hedonistic slant, it nevertheless has beautiful purity, notable focus and enough ripe tannin to keep it drinking well for upwards of a decade from the vintage. Drink now-2020.
WA 91 points, WS 92 points
288 cases
2010 Januik Petit Verdot Ciel du Cheval Vineyard - Columbia Valley
'10 Petit Verdot - The 2010 Petit Verdot Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is remarkably civilized for the variety. A blend of 96% Petit Verdot and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it delivers lots of spice-coated red and blackberry fruit, cedar cabinet and dried flower-like qualities to go with a medium to full-bodied, supple and beautifully textured palate. While up-front and very drinkable, it has enough back-end tannin and concentration to evolve gracefully for upwards of a decade (or more). Drink now-2020+.
WA 91 points
116 cases
2011 Januik Columbia Valley Cabernet - Columbia Valley
This rich, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon is brimming with cassis, raspberry, cocoa and warm vanilla notes in the nose. Its texture is amazingly supple and lingers across the palate, imparting a long, polished finish that was developed in part from aging in new French Oak barrels.
NYR
2000 cases
2010 John Anthony Cabernet - Napa
Combines a tight, vibrant, juicy mix of dark berry, herb and olive with a dash of cedary mocha-scented oak and licorice, gliding along on the finish, with supple fine-grained tannins and good length. Drink now through 2024. 2,325 cases made.
WS 92 points
2300 cases
2010 Sleight of Hand The Archimage, Columbia Valley
More earthy and gamey, the 2010 The Archimage checks in a blend of 45% Cabernet Franc, 43% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot. Aged 20 months in 50% new French oak, it delivers a wild, Cabernet Franc-dominated profile with loads of chocolate covered red and black fruits, wild herbs, tobacco and damp earth all showing on the nose. Deep, rich and layered on the palate, with a medium to full-bodied, elegant texture, lip smacking levels of acidity and quality tannin on the finish, it will benefit from short-term cellaring and drink nicely for upwards of a decade. I’d like to see more mid-palate depth here, but there’s no denying the overall quality. Drink now-2020.
WA 91 points
346 cases
2011 Sleight of Hand The Conjurer - Columbia Valley
Starting off the reds, the entry level 2011 The Conjurer is a Bordeaux blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc that saw 14 months in a scant 26% new French oak. Perfumed, classy and with a traditional, herbal slant, it has loads of charm and a juicy, up-front and lightly concentrated feel. Showing plenty of currant bud, underbrush, smoked earth and mineral aromas and flavors, this medium body, fresh, focused and slightly lean 2011 opens up nicely with air and should be consumed over the coming 3-4 years. Drink now-2017.
WA 88 points
469 cases