An Adventure with L'Aventure

That’s an apropos title to today’s post, given that L’Aventure literally means “the adventure.”  Take it from me, today’s wine was all that and more!

Sought out for its proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its rolling hills, L’Aventure’s 127 acres have been skillfully planted and maintained, leading to what I can only describe as a near-perfect wine.

L'Aventure "Estate Cuvée" Paso Robles 2014

Attesting to that is at least one other reviewer who gave it a 98-point review when released.  After 10 years, it has only gotten better.  Formed from 100% Estate-grown fruit under low yields, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Syrah, and 15% Petit Verdot undergoes 15 months of aging in 100% New French Oak, culminating in its bottling using no fining or filtering.

The wine after 10 years emerges still as a weighty wine comprised of dark black and blue fruit, an earthy quality yet still allowing the flavors of the Syrah to come through.  There is nice acidity and softness to the tannins that bring this wine to a satisfying, long, and smooth finish.

In case you want to go looking for this wine, not likely to find any 2014s, rest assured that the current vintages (2020 or 2021) are of similar quality, as are all of the wines from L’Aventure.  The same reviewer that gave 2014 a 98-point review gave the same to the 2021 vintage and a 99-point review to the 2020.  For those more recent vintages, know that cellaring, while only an option, is recommended and can easily stretch 15 years or more!

Cheers

Too Many Offers, or Mind Control?

Not sure I’m the only one, but recently I’ve seen several offers for wine from a particular region of the world.  Italy.

That shouldn’t come as a big reveal, they’ve had some excellent vintages in recent years, so the wines produced have shown exceptional results.  That’s good for those who favor Italian wines; much as I do.

What has me stymied is that other regions around the world have had similar vintages, yet fewer offers than that for the Italian counterparts.  Maybe I’m just hallucinating or focusing on those offers more than others, but it doesn’t feel that way.  So I thought I’d return to an old favorite to revive my fascination with Italian wines.

Casanova di Neri "White Label" Brunello di Montalcino 2010

My interest in wine seems to vacillate from country to country and it’s been a while since I’ve focused on Italian wine.  I’ve dabbled with a few here and there, but all the marketing hype seems to have kept me from them.  I don’t like being inundated with offers; it makes me ask “Why?”

Overproduction, lackluster sales, or wines, that while good, don’t reach the heights that they could, even given the great vintages.  That’s the part of my brain that kicks in to ask those questions and likely pushes me away from rather good wine.

That’s why I decided to opt for a wine that I knew was excellent to jog my brain from its conspiracy theories and get back on track.

2010 was a superb vintage and produced a wealth of wines, this one was right up there.  From the first sip, I was tasting a wine with no rough edges and a certain brightness.  The wonderful slightly darker red fruit made the wine shine.  There was a whisper of acidity that was nestled with the soft tannins.  Even after 14 years, the wine was flawless.

I could almost feel my mind awaken from its subversion against Italian wines.  However, that could have been due to the fact that I may have over-imbibed.

Either way, I vowed not to readily dismiss offers for Italian wines and to keep my mind open to possibilities.  My biggest regret is that I’ve likely missed the best of the 2016 vintage.  Although, as most of us know, there’s always the chance of great vintages.

Cheers

Some of the Best Wines Are Blends

Over the past year or so, I’ve come to notice the increasing use of wineries to “blend” their wine.  I’m not talking about using a variety of grapes, I’m talking about using one specific grape but sourcing those grapes from multiple areas or vineyards.

The thinking, or maybe marketing, is that by taking the best grapes from those vineyards to create a wine you end up with a better outcome, or a better wine.

Using today’s wine as an example, I can tell you that doing just that created a wonderful wine.

Luigi Baudana Barolo D.O.C.G. Del Comune di Serralunga d’Alba 2018

Sourced from the vineyards in Baudana, Cerretta, and a small parcel in Costabella in the Serralunga d’Alba region, and aging the wine for 23 months mainly in Slavonian casks and a few neutral barrels, the wine produced was an amalgamation of dark red cherry/raspberry fruit encased in a savory wrapper that emotes a rustic element with soft but taught tannins and a “pop” of acidity leading through to a pleasant finish.  A true middleweight contender.

While the winery name may not invoke recognition, know that they became part of the G.D. Vajra family, a name synonymous with Barolo, for their property in Serralunga.

This is a great mid-priced wine at around $50.  You might find that the current vintage is 2019 and that’s fine.  Or maybe step up to their straight Barolo for a loftier experience.  Then there are all the G.D. Vajra wines as well.  Keep an eye out.

Cheers

Origin of Life

With a title like that, you might think I was on some existential, philosophical, or biblical rant.  While I am not above tackling either of those three, and others, it is not the direction that this post will be taking.  After all, this is a wine blog (most of the time).

This here post has to do with wine, in fact, a wine that I have previously reviewed back in May of 2021.  Then there are the other vintages I’ve reviewed as well; 2017 in April 2019, 2018 in April 2020, the 2020 in April 2022.  You can surmise I’ve liked this wine.

Three Sticks “Origin” Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2019

As I’ve mentioned in those previous reviews, it is important to note that the grapes used for this wine come from Three Sticks Durell Vineyard, their first vineyard purchased, and a vineyard steeped in tradition and sought after by many other wineries.  Also important, is that “Origin” sees no oak aging and no malo, allowing the wine to sparkle (I got tired of using bright).

Flavors of stone fruit, citrus, and a touch of almond, commingle with that acidity to create this wonderful wine that, once again, I compare to a fine Grand Cru Chablis.

While this wine might not be the actual origin of life, it seems that I have made it a foundation within my cellar.

Cheers

Medice, Cura Te Ipsum

Big holidays like Christmas and New Years always bring with them a small sense of dispassion for me.  I’m not looking for any sympathy here, just realizing that living alone and far from relatives usually makes those holidays hollow.

Using what little I learned taking Latin in high school, I would say that I take the approach of “Medice, cura te ipsum;” or “physician heal thyself.”  It would be more appropriate if I could say “Wine drinker, drink more wine.”  Which is what I did!  In a big way.  And what a wine it was, the:

Favia Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012

I did have one offer for Christmas, but as I’ve attended this particular couple’s events before, I knew that with the crowd they were expecting, and the knowledge that while the hostess does “plan” the vents very well, her “execution” is lacking.  Thus, stretching the, shall I call it merriment, easily over 6 to 8 hours and preventing my return home until past my bedtime.  I should also mention it’s a good half-hour drive home.

Getting to my self-healing; this wine was produced before Favia separated the Coombsville and Oakville fruit into single vineyard wines.  As soon as I decanted the wine, no less than 2 hours please, I could smell the fragrance coming from the decanter and that would end up complementing the flavors of the wine.

Dark lush cassis and blackberry notes combined with a savory element and a spiciness and softness meld to form this full-bodied Cab that produces a long stunning finish.  This is a definitive 2012 Napa Cab in all aspects and made this a wine of elegance and pure joy.

If you know me (not meant in the biblical sense), you could likely guess that with such a wine I could prepare no other fare than a Beef Tenderloin, along with some nice, but not as consequential, side dishes.  The Beef and Cab are the headliners here.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Favia is produced by Andy Erickson and his wife, Annie Favia, whom I am a rather large (not in the weight sense) fan.  Producing Cabernet and Cab Franc from Napa, also producing Rhone varietal wines using Syrah and Viognier from Amador County; both of which I have reviewed in the past and of previous vintages.  The status of which is a little uncertain.

Bottom line, while I may not have many friends and family to enjoy the holidays with, I always have some great wines and excellent food to keep me company and to “Medice, cura te ipsum.”

Cheers

Something Just Told Me I Was Right

Picture this; dead of Winter, fortunately no snow in sight, cold all around.  Got it?  What might one make and drink for dinner on such a day?  Thoughts of a Cassoeula or other nice hot stew?  Just about any beef dish sounds like a sure thing.  Likewise, a hearty red wine to warm the bones.  Ah, all those are excellent choices, but not one for a traditionalist like me.

Nope, I opted for a centerpiece of salmon with a creamy rice side dish.  To top it off I choose the:

Domaine des Pères de L'Eglise Le Calice de Saint Pierre
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2019

White wine and fish, and amid winter’s chill.

I don’t regret either.  The salmon was perfectly cooked and the creamy rice was a combination that was made for a wine that screamed (not literally) for something robust yet elegant.  That’s exactly how I would describe today’s wine.

I might also add that the nuances of pear and a certain almond nuttiness wound their way through veins of minerality and harmonious acidity.  A blend of 70% Grenache Blanc, 25% Clairette, and 5% Bourboulenc all are matured six months in equal parts stainless steel and oak giving rise to this exception wine.

Maybe if I had given things a bit more thought, I would have opted for a hearty beef dish, especially given that I have this wine’s sibling in rouge versus blanc!  Oh well, there’s always tomorrow, besides, something just told me I was right.

Cheers