Tight, firm, intense and concentrated, this is slow to unfold but does so with depth, focus and complexity, targeting mineral, dried berry, wild berry, blackberry, underbrush and cedar flavors, with ripe, chewy tannins. Drink now through 2022.—J.L.
Zinfandel Alexander Valley St. Peter’s Church Vineyard 2009
92 points | $45 | 370 cases made | Red
Distinctive and loaded with personality, with wild berry and white pepper aromas and complex, slightly rustic blackberry, smoky licorice and sage flavors that finish with briary tannins. Drink now through 2017.—T.F.
Zinfandel Paso Robles Dusi Vineyard 2009
92 points | $35 | 250 cases made | Red
A complete package, this is ripe and briary, but also complex and focused. Aromas of smoky sage and black cherry lead to lively flavors of blackberry and spicy anise that show a hint of caramel. Drink now through 2017.—T.F.
Misc. Stuff California 2009
94 points | $45 | 252 cases made | Red
Tight, firm and focused, with a riveting mix of pepper and spice, this offers great depth and complexity while remaining light on its feet, with an impressive finish, where the flavors gain a minerally edge. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2020.
The Caldwell Vineyards is 123 acres, with 60 of them planted to grape vines. It sits 500 feet above sea level giving panorama views of Napa Valley, the Mayacamas and Vaca ranges. The soil is very shallow at 2 1/2 feet deep. It is primarily reddish soil with volcanic ash and rocks mixed in. Cool breezes brought in from the San Pablo Bay help moderate temperatures during the summer, providing a long growing season.
Tasting Notes
Another classic in the making. This is actually my favorite Caldwell Vineyard so far. I think it's Syrah purity and the roasted herbs de Provence / blackberry / raspberry combination in the aromatics and flavors that are so exotic and incredibly layered that it's hard to resist.
2007 Caldwell Vineyard Syrah – Napa Valley l $45 l 91 points
Both rich and fleshy, intense and concentrated, with dark berry, pepper, spice and anise flavors. Full-bodied and expressive, ending with a complex mix of spicy, beefy berry flavors. Drink now through 2016. 104 cases made. –JL
From Coombsville's cool climate, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2006 Syrah Caldwell Vineyard reveals a complex floral, blueberry, and black raspberry-scented perfume, sweet, noble tannins, and a layered finish. Drink this superb Syrah over the next 8-10 years.
Pure, rich and complex, sleek and focused, full-blown yet well-proportioned, with a medley of ripe blackberry, spice, mineral and sage all woven together and ending with firm, minerally tannins. Drink now through 2014. --J.L.
Exhibits a scorched/volcanic earth-like character along with notions
of roasted herbs, espresso, cassis, and blackberries. This heady,
Hermitage-like effort is distinctive, it should benefit from another
year or so of bottle age and drink well for a decade or more.
From its dramatic, intensely peppery aromas of blackberries and ripe
plums to its plush, positively mouthfilling flavors, the wine simply
oozes concentrated berries and spice while getting a big boost from its
very rich oak. Yet, for all of its mass and evident stuffing, it is
remarkably well-balanced and buffers its heat with extract to spare. As
this very deep wine and its impressive mates clearly attest, winemaker
Jeff Cohn understands richness when it comes to Syrah.
This Syrah boasts a deeper, darker, blue/purple color as well as a
big, sweet nose of blueberries, black raspberries, licorice and crushed
rocks. Full-bodied and harmonious, with sweet tannin as well as
expansive richness, this beauty can be drunk now and over the next
decade.
A bold, dark, rich and delicious Syrah, with tiers of blackberry,
wild berry and chocolate brownie flavors shaded by smoky, toasted oak
and chicory. Intense, firm and concentrated, with anise, licorice and
chewy tannins folding together on the palate. Decant. Best from 2007
through 2012.
Intensely aromatic and redolent of fresh raspberries with a good bit
of oaky sweetness, hints of cocoa and a touch of peppery spice, this
ample wine is unabashed in its ripeness but avoids the palate sprawl
that can affect such wines. Its solid sense of wild berries holds well
into its slightly hot finish, and its fine-grained tannins suggest that
it will be drinking quite well by the time of its third or fourth
birthday.
If a tad less sizable imposing than Cohn's Rockpile bottling, this
wine is just enough more refined to rate very highly on its own. Its
sweet, jammy, concentrated aromas are certainly keyed first on ripe
blackberries and chocolate, and it picks up peppery and richly oaky
characteristics along the way. Plush and coating in feel, it is not
unexpectedly hot at the finish, and it asks for a few years of quite
cellaring to come into its own.
Medium-dark purplish ruby color; attractive, complex, spicy, herbal,
earthy, plumy, dark currant and black raspberry fruit aroma with notes
of vanilla (though not quite as intense as some of the other top rated
wines in this group); full body; big, dense, concentrated, highly
extracted, cedary, jammy, creamy, very rich, ripe black cherry and
blackberry fruit flavors; well balanced and structured; lingering
aftertaste. Shows distinctive varietal character and developed with
airing in the glass too. Should reward a few more years of bottle
aging. Very highly recommended.
From the southern Napa Valley, this wine (from the sol-called Aiken
soils, primarily reddish soils with volcanic ash and rocks) is a
French-styled, Côte Rôtie-like effort offering notes of crème de
cassis, dried herbs, black fruits, flowers, underbrush, subtle toast,
and roasted meats. This dense, full-bodied beauty reveals admirable
purity, a wonderful texture, and a long finish. It should drink well
for 7-8 years.
Dark, plush and deeply concentrated, with a pure, rich, syrupy core
of amazingly complex blackberry and wild berry fruit, yet it manages to
retain a sense of elegance and finesse, finishing with potent vanilla
and espresso bean flavors. Drink now through 2009.
A spectacular effort, the full-bodied, layered, serious 2001
Caldwell Vineyard Syrah exhibits notes of truffles, damp earth,
blackberries, licorice and a hint of pepper. This full-throttle, young
but accessible Syrah should hit its stride in 2-3 years, and last for
12-15.
Pushes ripeness to the max, with plush, jammy wild berry, licorice,
sage and dusty berry, finishing with ripe, smooth tannins and fine
length, along with some heat. Drink now through 2009.
Ultrarich and unctuous, with lots of depth to currant, cola, beef,
roasted herb, cassis and black cherry flavors. Ripe tannins carry
through the finish, along with nicely integrated toasty oak. Drink now
through 2006.
Share
Share
