Napa Valley Vintner wine dinner

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey

Peter Creasey
Napa Valley Vintner wine dinner.

Truly superlative wines were complemented by a carefully planned and staged multi-course dinner.

WINES:

o Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery 2011 Sauvignon Blanc

o Staglin Family Vineyard 2010 Chardonnay

o Dalla Valle 1994 Maya

o Staglin Family Vineyard 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon

o Amici Cellars Cabernet 2009 Morisoli Vineyard

o Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

INTRODUCTORY LITERATURE:

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MENU:

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FOOD COURSES:







ABOUT AUCTION NAPA VALLEY:

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. . . . . Pete
 
Lou, No financial interest, if this might be a concern.

Just reporting on a remarkable dinner with topnotch wines and food, a side light being citing the merit worthy charitableness of the organization.

One thought! The Staglin Chardonnay is one to seek out...so true to the fruit (which, when I mentioned it to Shari and Garen Staglin, they acknowledged is one of their main objectives).

. . . . . . Pete
 
Peter, not to speak for Lou, but I'm surmising his statement was more about what's the reason for the post since you really said nothing about the food and wine other than "superlative" and "carefully planned" and folks here generally expect more description than that.
 
You kindah missed the point, Peter. If you don't have time to post actual notes on the wines, when this is a wine board, then why post the post to begin with? Perhaps you could've led with a NWR (non-wine related) in your title?
 
Joe, Indeed, no flash is normally best. I have experimented with no flash and slower shutter speeds for food photos but haven't found a workable scheme that I can deploy.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Don Rice: How was that Maya doing?
Click to expand...

Don, Perhaps I (and everyone) was biased by all the hoopla and legendary status of the Maya '94. Regardless, even trying to balance this possible bias, I thought the wine was wonderful.

Dalla Valle Maya '94 -- Deep ruby, deep black fruit, blueberries, cassis and currants, nice roundness, red and black fruits, some blackpepper, velvety profile, tannins in abeyance, fine complexity, drinking fine now but will stand the test of time. Excellent, near outstanding!

Naoko Dalla Valle was present. I was astonished that they just kept on pouring and repouring this wine. She indicated, I believe, that she still has a bunch of it.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:


...One thought! The Staglin Chardonnay is one to seek out...so true to the fruit (which, when I mentioned it to Shari and Garen Staglin, they acknowledged is one of their main objectives).

. . . . . . Pete
Click to expand...
Pete, would you explain a little more about this wine?
Chardonnay can express itself many different ways, so when you say true to the fruit, it is not self explanatory, at least to me.

I can't remember having tasted Staglin Chardonnay so I know nothing about their style at all. I have a stereotype of Napa Chardonnay in my mind but don't know if it applies to this bottle.
 
originally posted by Marc D: Pete, would you explain a little more about this wine?
Chardonnay can express itself many different ways, so when you say true to the fruit, it is not self explanatory, at least to me.

I can't remember having tasted Staglin Chardonnay so I know nothing about their style at all. I have a stereotype of Napa Chardonnay in my mind but don't know if it applies to this bottle.
Click to expand...

Marc,

Staglin Family Estate Chardonnay '10 -- Light to medium yellow, crisp and tart aromas, bright fruits, maybe pears/peaches/etc., lively profile, slightest (if any) oak, no apparent butteriness, refreshing rather than ponderous. [E]

I admired out loud the fact this Chardonnay speaks to the vineyard and fruit rather than the winemaker's manipulations (actually I surely used different words at the time but this was the gist). Garen Staglin responded that this, in fact, is their objective with their Chardonnay.

I've toyed with the idea of saying this Chardonnay is more Burgundian but can't quite get comfortable with myself making this claim. Maybe I should!

Staglin's is not your typical California Chardonnay, at least in my view.

I don't drink much California Chardonnay, but the foregoing nevertheless is my feeling.

. . . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

originally posted by Don Rice: How was that Maya doing?
Click to expand...

Don, Perhaps I (and everyone) was biased by all the hoopla and legendary status of the Maya '94. Regardless, even trying to balance this possible bias, I thought the wine was wonderful.

Dalla Valle Maya '94 -- Deep ruby, deep black fruit, blueberries, cassis and currants, nice roundness, red and black fruits, some blackpepper, velvety profile, tannins in abeyance, fine complexity, drinking fine now but will stand the test of time. Excellent, near outstanding!

Naoko Dalla Valle was present. I was astonished that they just kept on pouring and repouring this wine. She indicated, I believe, that she still has a bunch of it.

. . . . . Pete
Click to expand...
In days gone by, I tasted a great deal of Maya starting with the 1989 vintage through the mid-2000's.
I have never had one, at any age, that didn't taste exactly like every other one, at any age. I suppose one could applaud consistency but one could also complain about the lack of development.
These days, I would have little use for it and I damn sure can't afford it.
Best, Jim
 
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