California Tasting - Part II

Well, Part I didn´t end well. Luckily, the next table proved the quality of California wines. Three stunning wines from Buccella - first poured is the 2010 Mica, a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 2% Malbec, which has a cool, fine black currant fruit paired with nicely integrated tannins and a long finish (~91p). Next up was a stunner, the 2010 Buccella Merlot (98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon). The nose is deep, sweet and gorgeous with notes of plums, christmas Spices and Valrhona chocolate, and the taste follows the nose with hedonistic fruit wrapped in a firm tannin structure. This is world class! (~96p). The last pour was the 2010 Buccella Cabernet Sauvignon (90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec). This beauty has a sweet, penetrating cassis nose with a touch of smoke, pencil shavings, chocolate and vanilla oak. The taste is young, pure and fresh with delicious black currant fruit and notes of new leather, graphite, chocolate and a lovely perfumed note. Not as stunning as the Merlot, but this is still a wonderful wine (~94p). Importer is Vinopia.

At the Fondberg table I tasted some really good Chardonnay´s. First up was the 2010 Au Bon Climat Chardonnay. This is young, fresh and very drinkable with notes of lemon, smoke and some tropical fruits (~90p). The two Chardonnay´s from Jackson Family Wines were stunning. The 2010 Cambria Katherine´s Vineyard is filled with gorgeous yellow fruit and some flinty aromas. The taste is broad and structured with notes of fudge, cold butter and cap gun smoke. Really fine, and for 23 Euro, this is a steal (~92p). A notch up on the quality ladder is the 2010 Four Hearts Vineyards with its amazing purity and notes of grilled lemons, cookie dough, summer flowers and a touch of bonfire. Very long and intense (~93p).
Turning to the Pinots, the 2010 Au Bon Climat Pinot Noir is cool, fresh and with notes of lingonberries, herbs and some licorice. With a medium body the taste is rather elegant with fine smoky Pinot fruit (~87p). The 2009 Jackson Family Cambria Julias Vineyard Pinot Noir is deeper, sweeter and more yummy with notes of sweet/sour rasberries,, licorice, herbs and licorice. The taste is long, spicy and really fine (~91p).

Next up was an old acquaintance, Beringer Vineyards. I remember a tasting with Tim Hanni in about 1992 that was amazing, with lots of vintages of their Private Reserve. Treasur Wine Estates is the importer. The 2011 Beringer Chardonnay is cleanly made with some cloves and oranges, and a medium sized body (~84p). Their 2010 Beringer Founder´s Estate Chardonnay is a tad cooler with more lemon notes and the taste is also cooler and more fresh (~86p). The last Chardonnay poured was the 2011 Beringer Private Reserve Chardonnay, and here the fruit is more concentrated and it has a lovely grapefruit note. The taste is broad, fresh and fine with notes of lemon cream, smoke and butter biscuits (~89p).
The only red I tasted was the 2009 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon which has a deep, profound nose with sweet black currant and cherry fruit. There is additional notes of tobacco, coffee, new leather and graphite. The taste is long, structured and filled with beautiful cassis fruit. This is in the same league as the 1984 and 1991Private Reserve´s (~93p).

Part III to follow.