Selections of the most interesting Online Fine Wine Auctions.
Posted in Wine For Sale on Nov 4th, 2008
DISPONIBLECONDITIONS A BOTTLE OF CONSERVATION PARFAITESNIVEAU PARFAITBONNES Auctions TOUSESTIMATION IDEALWINE EUR 216 Taste comments: "Medium bodied, very deep, but precise and elegant, the 1999 La Mission Haut-Brion is distinguished by the beautiful complexity of its aromas of cherry liqueur , Plum, cigar smoke, tobacco costs and freshly ground stirred. He talks while flexibility and complexity, [...]
Posted in Wine News on Jul 9th, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Hans Fahden Winery.
Wine Spies Once-in-a-lifetime Alert!: Today we are pleased to the first wine seller to bring you another exclusive from Hans Fahden. This wine is not only very special, it is also precious. Once this wine is gone, the winery will not release another
Superior Wine Alert!: This is another exceptional Hans Fahden wine and we are astounded that it sells for so little
SAVINGS ALERT!: Operatives who buy six or more bottles today will be rewarded with Free Ground Shipping, but only if they enter the secret savings code: MERLOTSPY
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Respond immediately to reports that Wine Spies Operative favorite, Hans Fahden, has released a one-time Merlot. If the wine is great, secure as much as possible – before they run out – forever!
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Hans Fahden Winery
Wine Subject: 2004 Mountain Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Israel Montanez
Backgrounder: The 2003 Hans Fahden Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the most popular Cabs we featured in 2007. In 2008, we offered their incredible 2004. Again, a smash success and a fast sell-out. When we learned that they were producing a limited release Merlot, we sped to the winery to taste the wine. When we fell in love, we secured an exclusive on the wine and are offering you what could be you only chance to try the wine. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes below, followed by his original Mission Report, in which Red first becomes acquainted with this wonderful winery.
Look – Deep ruby red in color with a heart of dark plum. Swirl the glass and thick legs appear slowly before they march slowly down the glass
Smell – A wonderful blast of concentrated aromas of earthen cherry, ripe blackberry, soft pine tar and mild fresh mixed salad herbs
Feel – Initially velvet soft and then the wine shows lush medium tannins as it coats and then drys the tongue and the roof of the mouth
Taste – Big and rich flavors of dark stonefruit, dark cherry, dark smoky blueberry, blackberry and plum, with a slight herbaceous or vegital quality that gives the wine a hearty flavor that follows its initial fruity brightness
Finish – Super long-lasting, with smokey fruit then more vegital all over mouth flavors that taper off slowly as the wine coats and the drys your mouth
Conclusion – Once again, Hans Fahden winery has us scratching our heads at the high-quality/low-price of their wines. We declared their Cabernet Sauvignon to be an underpriced mastepiece and we say the same of this fantastic, youthful Merlot. The only ‘bad’ thing we could say about this wine is that once it is gone, it’s gone. Okay, to be fair, all wines are like this, but when we asked the winery if there would be a future vintage, they (sniff) said ‘nope’! So, dear Operative, stock up, buy us out, grab an ample allocation for this is likey your only chance to try this great wine – from a great winery!
Mission Report:
What follows is our original mission report, in which Agent Red first discovers Hans Fahden’s exquisite wine:
: : San Francisco, California : : Fort Mason : : Family Winemakers of California Tasting event : :
With more than 400 wineries and only two days to taste, I needed to employ my best strategic planning skills. There was simply no way I would be able to taste everything available to me.
Central Command had compiled a list of High Priority Target wineries, and I was tasting wines of all varietals and in all price ranges. Most of them good to great, and only a few real stinkers.
During the latter half of my second day, I initiated the final phase of my tasting which had me tasting only the highest end wines available. This was a phase I was looking forward to and after giving my palate a much needed rest, I reentered the pavilion like a man on a mission. Oh, yeah, I really was on a mission!
After tasting 2 or 3 really superb wines (you’ll enjoy learning of these in a future report), I spotted on of my newest assets, Codename ”Shank”, chatting at one of the winery tasting tables.
Shank, so named for his passion for golf, is a wine industry insider. He works for a leading wine industry technology provider and hails from a winemaking family.
I walked over to the table and Shank introduced me to Karen Fahden of Hans Fahden Vineyards. Karen immediately poured me a glass and I took it for a swirl. I was instantly wowed and I explained that I had been seeking out $50+ wines. I thought that this one would fit right in and I asked Karen if the was $50 – or more. I was shocked by her answer. Karen explained that she gets that reaction a lot.
Right there at the table, I negotiated a nice quantity of bottles for our Agents. Any wine that drinks like a $50 bottle but costs less than half that deserves our best attention.
Winery Backgrounder:
The Fahden vineyards and winery consists of 100 acres. It is located at 1200 feet, in a range of the Mayacamus Mountains, on a ridge above Calistoga, California. The property features panoramic views of Mt. St. Helena.
Hans and Marie Fahden, natives of Hamburg, Germany, purchased the property in 1912. They farmed the land growing grapes until the Prohibition was enacted in 1920. After destroying the vines that they had worked so hard to plant and tender, the family planted prunes.
Sixty years and two generations later, Antone and Lyall Fahden decided they liked Cabernet Sauvignon better than prunes and a new journey began to restore the land and make it productive. From 1982 to 1984, the family went to work, planting three vineyard areas. Separated by volcanic outcroppings and forests of Douglas Fir, these vineyards are now interspersed by picturesque ponds and a beautiful wine cave, which was tunneled into a formation of four million year old volcanic ash.
The Hans Fahden Winery became bonded in 1986. The first bottle of wine, which was produced from the 1987 vintage, was sold in 1992. The Hans Fahden Winery became licensed to conduct public tastings in 1996. Today, the Winery produces incredible award-winning wines that please the pallet and the pocketbook.
The location of the Dry Creek Valley can be seen in this satellite photo
Posted in Wine News on Jul 7th, 2008
From this valley comes the wine we are pouring
We really dig the bright fruit and sweet nose
You can taste the Sonoma County sunshine
That makes these exquisite grapes grow
Come and sit by my side, if you’re thirsty
Do not hesitate to drink a little more
Just remember the Russian River Valley
With these Chauteau Souverain Pinot Noirs
We’ve been waiting a long time, my darling
For a Pinot Noir this earthy and rich
Now here’s a glass full of ruby-red contentment
With mild tannins and a lingering finish
Come and sit by my side, if you’re thirsty
One bottle of ‘05 and two of ‘04
Just remember the Russian River Valley
With these Chauteau Souverain Pinot Noirs
Well the ‘04 is ripe and dark and complex
With fruit-driven flavors of berry
But the ‘05 is a just little bit jammier
With spices, plum, and black cherry
Come and sit by my side, if you’re thirsty
Drink all you want – they’ll make some more
Just remember the Russian River Valley
With these Chauteau Souverain Pinot Noirs
2005 Sonoma County Pinot Noir
Appellation: Sonoma County
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Harvest: August 31, 2005
Brix: 24.7
Total Acids: 0.63g/100ml
pH: 3.48
Alcohol: 14.5%
Cooperage: Aged 14 months in French oak barrels (80% new)
Release: April 2007
Production: 311 cases
2004 Pinot Noir
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Blend: 96% Pinot Noir, 4% Syrah
Harvest: August 12 to October 10, 2004
Total Acids: 0.61g/100ml
pH: 3.61
Alcohol: 14.7%
Cooperage: Aged 14 months in 97% French oak barrels and 3% Hungarian barrels (54% new oak)
Release: July 1, 2006
Production: 615 cases
Rules and restrictions:
Thanks to stick-in-the-mud buzzkilling state legislators, wine may only be delivered to the following states:
If your state’s not on the list, you’re out of luck… for now. Keep up with the ever-changing laws over at ShipCompliantBlog.com, and/or sound the alarms with your state assembly person through FreeTheGrapes.org. Meanwhile, all Federal, state and local laws are complied with in providing this wine.
Posted in Wine News on Jun 30th, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Peters Family Winery.
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT!: We always hand pick the best wines we can find for you, but when we feature a really great wine, we point it out by issuing special alerts. Today’s wine is excellent!
SAVINGS ALERT!: Today’s superb wine is available, today only, at 25% off the regular retail price. Save even more by enjoying Free Ground Shipping when you buy six or more bottles. Just enter savings code CABSPY at checkout.
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to Peters Family Winery to retrieve their Sierra Foothills Cabernet Sauvignon
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Peters Family Winery
Wine Subject: 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Douglas Peters
Backgrounder: 2004 was the killer year for Cabernet Sauvignon. In the right hands, ‘04 Cali Cabs can be spun into pure purple gold in a glass. We have featured two other Peter’s Family wines in the past and today we are pleased to bring you the finest of the bunch. Read Agent Red’s tasting notes and mission report for the full skinny on today’s fantastic wine.
Look – A deep and dark garnet with a ruby red heart, great clarity and concentration of color right out to the edges, with a bouncy surface and legs that take forever to begin, but then streak down the glass
Smell – Rich and deep with layers of dark fruit of dusky cherry, raspberry, blackberry, cherry, light vanilla, and smoky plum, with follow-on aromas of earth and smokey dry cured bacon
Feel – Wet and round at first, then mouth-coating with gorgeous, lush tannins that grip the edges of your tongue and the roof of your mouth
Taste – Layers of lush flavors that almost exactly mirror the aromatic qualities of the wine, bursting with delicious, juice-filled flavors
Finish – This wine surprises, with delightfully soft and lush flavors, soft tannins and mouth-watering and fruity flavors that tail of very gradually and very cleanly
Conclusion – This is another great wine from our good friend, Douglas Peters. While most of the 2004’s we have enjoyed recently need tons of time to stretch out and be best enjoyed, this wine is great right on opening. This is a wine that would be great with the finest cuisine or a great slab of steak. We enjoyed a bottle last night with pepperoni and anise sausage pizza, a delicious pairing!
Douglas Peters is one of our favorite winemaker friends, always making his great wines available to you, our Operatives. What follows is our original mission report, in which Agent Red hunts harder than usual for a great wine:
One of my most valued Assets, Codename: Valley Girl, alerted me to Peters Family Winery recently. After an undercover visit to the winery tasting room, I needed no convincing that this wine was a wonderful treat that our Operatives needed to be brought up to speed on.
Not to boast, too much here, but you know that when I have my sights set on a wine, procuring it is not usually a problem. Our reputation often proceeds us and wineries make their wonderful wines immediately available to us.
The mission to procure this wine, however, was somewhat more difficult; Peters Family winemaker and head honcho, Douglas Peters was secreted away in an undisclosed location – but I was determined to track him down so that we could negotiate a small procurement for our Operatives.
A flurry of email and telephonic subterfuge ensued and I tracked Doug to his secret lair south of the border. Because his wines are that good, I spared no expense and called on our resident pilot, Agent White, to fuel up the Wine Spies Spy Plane. Reluctant to spend the money for a long flight like this one, Agent White did take a bit of persuasion but, in the end, complied with my request; He was easily convinced after one small taste of this wine.
While I didn’t have an exact location on Doug, I did have the name of the village. After a harrowing landing on a small dirt strip in high crosswinds (an Agent White favorite!), we were able to convince the local constabulary to help us locate Doug. It only too a few cases of wine to do the trick.
We found Doug on the beach, recognizing him from his photo on his website. A glass of wine in hand, Doug seems to be enjoying the sunset.
Wasting no time with subterfuge, I got right to the point.
“I’m sorry to bother you on your vacation, Mr. Peters. I’m Agent Red, Wine Spy, and I am here to ask you for a your wine.”
“Sorry, I don’t link to share glasses with strangers. You know, germs”
Then a smile spreads across his face and he claps me on the shoulder (a feat that, at a head and a half taller than me, requires that Doug stoop slightly to reach me). “I’m just having fun with you,” He says. “Come on, have a seat, I’ll pour you a glass of my wine.”
I explained that is was because of this same wine that I made this expedition.
“It’s gooooood, isn’t it?” he asks.
My turn to smile.
We enjoyed the rest of the bottle, chatting about his wines and his approach to winemaking. Doug creates wines that are certainly of California, but also in a more Burgundian style, giving the wines a great balance between old world and new. This, in my opinion, is a great way to approach winemaking as it delivers the best qualities of these two winemaking styles – without being at odds with each other.
After some deft negotiations, I had secured a small allotment for you, Operative, and then Doug excused himself.
“Here’s another bottle for you,” he offered. I’m off to watch the lunar eclipse tonight. It’ll be 3 years until we see another one. See you back in the States!”
With that, he left me there to further ponder his wine. Doug’s love for his craft shines through in this wine, which exhibits balance, brilliance and a depth of character that I find uncommon.
Bravo, Doug!
Posted in Wine News on Jun 27th, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes even better than that, as is the case with today’s wine from Clos Pegase.
EXCLUSIVE WINE ALERT!: Welcome to the ONLY place in the WORLD to pick up a bottle of today’s wine. A great big thank you to our friends at Clos Pegase for letting us release this wine to our Operatives!
TOP SECRET SAVINGS ALERT!: Our Operatives (and winged horses) will enjoy Free Ground Shipping on 6 or more bottles today if they enter this promotional code at checkout: SPYSHIP
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: On the advice of our Operatives, penetrate the Clos Pegase who is rumored to have a secret, soon-to-be-released Cabernet Sauvignon. If possible, secure the wine before it becomes publicly available
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Clos Pegase
Wine Subject: 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Jan Shrem
Backgrounder: Want to buy today’s wine at your local bottle shop or, heaven forbid another online wine retailer? Forget it! The only place to buy this excellent Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is right here, dear Operative. Agent Red was able to secure an exclusive allocation of this 2005 Napa Valley Cab – before it is unleashed to the public. Read his tasting notes and mission report below
Look – Deep, rich ruby red in color with deep concentration of color right to the edges and throughout its dark garnet heart. The surface of the wine is tight and heavy in appearance; it settles quickly when swirled, leaving behind athick coating and chubby legs that crawl slowly down the glass
Smell – Rich and dark concentrations of ripe purple fruit, cassis, plum, cherry, violet, anise, oak, cocoa and a hint of freshly gound espresso
Feel – Bright and round at the beginning of the sip, the soft tannins go to work at the tip of your tongue, then roof of your mouth, then your cheeks, drying slightly as the wine coats your mouth
Taste – Complex and bold with brightly layered flavors of rich dark cherry, cassis, smoky light plum, blackberry, cocoa, subtle leather and a soft minerality
Finish – Long and slightly dry, with big and integrated flavors and flavors that linger
Conclusion – This is a really great wine that, even in its relative youth, shows, smells and drinks beautifully. It is bright and layered and really very yummy. This wine reminds us of a wine featured here recently that some would say is way overpriced, while others insist is God’s Gift – only this wine is, to us, the obvious choice (hint: the other wine rhymes with ”Milver Spoke”.
This special wine from Clos Pegas drinks brightly and beautifully now, but we cannot help but be excited for the pent up potential that the wine has for aging. If you buy a few bottles today, be sure to cellar a couple for up to 10 years or more.
Afterward – Decant this wine for an extended period for best results. After 4 hours, the wine becomes far more balanced, refined and way more tasty
Mission Report:
There I sat, pondering the bottle in my hand, when warm and golden rays of light began pouring from behind the label. I started, transfixed, as the light spread outward, filling the room and eventually enveloping me.
Looking around, I saw that I was no longer in my wine lab. Rather, I appeared to be in an ancient temple. The usual sounds of my lab were replaced by the stillest silence. This silence was soon broken by an ethereal female voice:
“Agent Red… Come, sit before me. Sit before Athena.”
Awestruck, I answered, “Huh?”
“Come, foolish mortal. I have a gift for you.”
On the high steps before me, a female figure in flowing white robes appeared. She sat at the top step, motioning me to come before her.
Tentatively, I made my way up the steps. My apprehension made her laugh, but she waited patiently as I climbed toward her.
She spoke again: “Your name is now Bellerophon. Later, some may refer to you as Perseus. A great battle lay ahead and you must rest – and prepare. To aid you in your travails, I give you this golden bridle as a gift.”
The bridle appeared in my hands, its shining surface glittering brilliantly.
“I don’t understand,” I said. “I am but a mere wine merchant.” I had tried to say ”spy”, but the word ”merchant” came out, instead.
“Silly Bellerophon,” She said. “Rest now, for tomorrow will bring the start of your greatest adventure.”
With this, she faded. In her place, an exquisitely comfortable-looking bed appeared. Feeling suddenly tired, I lay down upon it and fell fast asleep… Only to be awakened by warm breath upon my face, and a nibbling at my cheek.
Dreamily, I said, “Good morning, sweet… AHHHHHHH!”
A horse! Wait a second, this was no normal horse. This horse, wearing the golden bridle that Athena had given me, had… had… wings!
”Pegasus!”, shouted a voice that was not my own.
Turing around quickly, I saw that it was Agent White.
“YES!”, I replied. “Isn’t he beautiful?! Its miraculous!”
“Umm, Dude? It’s just a winged horse on a wine bottle. Sure, that’s some nice art, but, ’miraculous’?”
It was instantly apparent to me that I was back in my lab. Had I fallen asleep and dreamed this? Or had this beautiful bottle of 2005 Clos Pegase transported me to the ancient temple of Athena?
The location of the Clos Pegase winery and surrounding vineyards can be seen in this satellite photo.
Posted in Wine News on Jun 17th, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Adobe Road Winery.
SUPER SONOMA WINERY ALERT!: Some of the best wines in the world are made right here in Sonoma County. We frequently feature great Sonoma wines so be sure to check back every Tuesday, when we always feature one great Sonoma County winery.
SAVINGS ALERT!: Today’s wine is 25% off of regualr retail price, but clever Operatives will also enjoy Free Ground Shipping on 6 or more bottles, when they enter Coupon Code: SONOMASPY at checkout
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT!: Today’s multi medal winning wine is a superb and delicious Syrah, in the Classic California Style
LIBRARY WINE ALERT!: We were lucky to get our hands on this wine, before the winery runs out completely. Today’s allocation is extremely limited, so please act early.
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Spend another day at the track with wine producer and Porsche racing legend Kevin Buckler to find why his wines, like the cars he races, are legendary
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Adobe Road
Wine Subject: 2003 Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma
Winemaker: Franc Dusak
Backgrounder: Our regular Operatives will recall the success of our most recent mission to Adobe Road Winery. We loved their wines so much that we sent Agent Red back to secure another allotment of wine. This time he returns with their 2003 Syrah, giving the wine the winning checkered flag!
Below his tasting profile for this wine, read Agent Red’s original mission report, where he has his first fun encounter with Adobe Road wines.
Look – Deep burgundy in color black plum heart, a tight surface and thin, fat tight-packed legs that slowly make their way down the glass
Smell – Like other Adobe Road wines we have enjoyed, this one has a rich, dark and dusky quality, with aromatic dark fruits of blackberry jam, deep plum, smoky cherry, plus mild white pepper, licorice, leather, mild oak and a hint cigar box
Feel – Really round and weightless at first, the its wetness is replaced as the wines structured tannins take hold toward the rear of the mouth as the wine coats your cheeks and lips
Taste – Deep and robust, with flavors that mimic the aromas of the wine. Here you will find jammy mixed dark berries, dark cherry, and currant with spice and a great earthiness
Finish – Rich and extracted, leaving behind flavors that run from sweet to slightly tart and then back to sweet as flavors taper slowly
Conclusion – This is another great wine from Adobe Road. Its no wonder that Kevin has generated such a loyal wine following. As with his racing career, Kevin strives for perfection in his wines, and this 5 year old Syrah seems near at peak, making it a superb ready-to-drink wine that might also cellar well for a couple more years.
(republished from Agent Red’s first encounter with Adobe Road Wines)
I love my missions to France. The wine, the climate and the food all seem to agree with me.
On a recent mission to the French village of Anjou in the Loire Valley (the region in France best known for Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc wines), I was tipped off by a local asset that winery owner and racing legend Kevin Buckler was staying in a hotel neighboring my own.
He was in France for his annual appearance at the world famous auto race, 24 Hours of Le Mans. Kevin and his team drive the incredible Porsche GT3. Kevin is a world-class driver, and he and his team have racked up wins at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2002) and the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans (2002), an overall win at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona (2003), and the title of Porsche World Cup Champion in 2002.
Kevin’s winery, Adobe Road, had been under light surveillance for a few months already and Central Command was preparing to send an Agent to investigate – but I got my own once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Kevin in his racing element, and Central Command approved my impromptu mission and I extended my stay in France.
I am enough of a Porsche fan to have my own sights set on a 2008 Cayman S. Since I had the brochure with me on my travels I used it as a prop, taking it with me to the hotel restaurant where Kevin and his team were having dinner. Having made friends with the Maître ‘D earlier (I buttered him up with a bottle of Patrick Bodouin Anjou Villages Cabernet Franc ), I was seated next to their table.
I sat down and positioned the Cayman brochure so that it would be seen by Kevin or his crew. Then I ordered a bottle of great wine and waited. They took the bait and one of the guys at the table leaned over and said to me, “Hey, Buddy. That’s a nice car, but why not spring for a real Porsche and get a GT3?”
Now, I knew that the monster GT3 was their car, but I replied, “I leave that car to the professionals. It’s better suited to the racetrack, if you ask me.”
That opened up a great conversation about Porsches and about wine that went late into the night. Kevin waxed poetic about both and I enjoyed his passion on these two great subjects. As the evening was ending, Kevin’s crew chief invited me to visit pit row for a brief tour of their on-track operations. I jumped at the chance and enjoyed every second of it. At the end of the tour, I asked if I could ride along during a check-ride… and was nearly laughed off the track.
Once the crew chief wiped the tears from his eyes, he became very serious. He quickly escorted me away from the pit row, handed me a few bottles of Adobe Road wine, and pushed me toward the security exit. Oh, well. At least I tried. And, at least I walked away with an arm full of Kevin’s excellent wine.
A spy photo, taken from the edge of today’s vineyard can be seenhere.
The location the Rolex 24 at Daytona at the Daytona Speedway can be seen in this satellite photo.
Posted in Wine News on Jun 4th, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes even better than that, as is the case with today’s wine from Burgess Vineyard.
SUPERIOR WINE ALERT!: We declare today’s wine to be the brightest and tastiest of all the 2004 Napa Cabs we have tasted to date, making this wine a stellar choice
SAVINGS ALERT!: Enjoy FREE Ground Shipping with your purchase of 6 or more bottles when you use coupon code: CABSPY at checkout
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: React to the flood of reports that Burgess Vineyard has a standout Napa Valley Syrah. If valid, secure an ample supply for our Operatives
Mission Status: Accomplished!
Current Winery: Burgess Vineyard
Wine Subject: 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Bill Sorenson
Backgrounder: Our Operatives just can’t seem to get enough 2004 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Napa Cabs have become a favorite and its no surprise. If the 2004 vintage was a banner year for California Cab, then Napa take it to a whole new level, delivering wines of remarkable distinction and beauty. Today, we are honored to bring you a superb 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from Burgess Vineyard. Read Agent Reds tasting notes and mission report below, and be sure to take advantage of our Free Ground Shipping offer. We’ll ship the wine to you for free, with your purchase of 6 or more bottles. Enjoy!
Look – Deep garnet to ruby at the edges, with great clarity through its deep, dark heart. The wine also has a pronounced spring to its surface and it leaves behind slow-moving legs that crawl slowly down the glass
Smell – Beautifully aromatic with layers of rich and bright mountain fruit. Present in refined abundance are blueberry, spicy blackberry, black currant and smoky plum with a fresh spice component
Feel – Supple and wet and big, mouth-coating with great soft to medium all-over-mouth tannins
Taste – Delicious layers of flavors, including dark mixed berry, cherry, spice, plum and
Finish – Hugely Juicy and rich, mouth-coating, delicious and supple, with soft tannins and flavors that go on and on forever. This delicious wine makes your mouth water and begs that you drink more of it!
Conclusion – Of all of the ‘04s we have had the great fortune to taste of late, this remarkable gem from Burgess absolutely exudes brightness, fun and boldly delicious flavors. This is no overbearing Napa Cab as some tend to be. Instead, what you get with this wine is a brilliantly balanced wine with just the right amount of gusto, and fruit that jumps right out of the glass, enlivening your senses and reminding you of just how great a great wine can be.
In which Agent Red has enjoyed a few glasses of today’s 2004 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon – and finds himself waxing poetic. Or does he?
An Ode to Burgess and their fanTAStic 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Millenial
Generational
Dedication
Preservation
Your wines appeal
they make us feel
a connection
to the Mountain Howell
Maceration
Vinification
Fermentation
Mere words
The true soul of your wine shines
in the tall pours that I desire
Succulent
Juicy
Delicious
Bright fruit
Deep roots
Your ‘04 Cab is beyond compare
In which Agent Cuvee, sensing that Agent Red is not the Pablo Neruda of wine, steps in and stops Agent Red from writing any more _poetry.
Okay, Red, put down the pen and go get some rest. I got this one.
Greeting Dear Operatives. Agent Red had to, umm, leave. I’m taking over this briefing.
All of us here at Wine Spies Central Command agree: Bill Sorenson is a winemaker of remarkable talent. All of his wines shine with a uniqueness and distinctiveness and all of his wines taste great. The fantastic Howelll Mountain fruit grown on the Burgess estate doesn’t hurt, either.
We recently had the great fortune to taste through all of his current release red wines and it was his Cab that really stood out as our favorite. With bright fruit, a tender mouth feel and a rich finish, this wine is not a massive monster Cab that bullies your senses. This is a refined wine that is real pleasure to spend quality time with.
During our tasting, we found ourselves discussing this wine at length. It was really interesting to pull apart and describe in detail all of the aromas and flavors that the wine conveys. With its bright acidity, we suspect that the wine would pair nicely with most anything. We were hoping to enjoy it with the meal we had planned for later that evening, but Agent Red seemed to have enjoyed most of the remaining bottle, leaving none for our dinner. Alas. At least it led to some poetry that we can tease him about – once he returns from his latest mission!
The location of the lush Howell Mountain, in Napa, can be seen in this satellite photo.
Posted in Wine News on Jun 2nd, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes greater than great, as is the case with today’s wine from Hans Fahden Winery.
This is an exceptional wine and we are astounded that it sells for so little. We featured this wine as an exclusive pre-release and now we’ve been able to secure an additional allocation. For EXTRA SAVINGS, be sure to use the promotion code SPYHANS for free ground shipping on orders of six or more.
Operative: Agent Cuvée (under the watchful eye of Agent Red)
Objective: Send rookie Wine Spy, Agent Cuvée, into friendly territory, on his inaugural mission to return with the new vintage of Hans Fahdens great Cabernet Sauvignon – before the winery even releases the wine
Mission Status: Accomplished! (way to go Agent Cuvée!)
Current Winery: Hans Fahden Winery
Wine Subject: 2004 Mountain Cuvée Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Israel Montanez
Backgrounder: The 2003 Hans Fahden Cabernet Sauvignon was one of the most popular Cabs we featured in 2007. When featured here, the wine was a smash hit and sold out very quickly. Today we are proud to bring you their newest vintage. Read Agent Cuvée’s tasting notes and mission report below to see how this vintage compares to the 2003
Look – Deep burgundy color with a dark black-plum heart and chubby legs that are slow to form – then quick to streak down the glass (unique!)
Smell – A big blast of concentrated aromatics of cherry, ripe blackberry, oak, smoke, soft leather and mild spice
Feel – Initially soft and then the wine expresses medium to big tannins as it coats and then drys the mouth
Taste – This vintage is as delicious as the last, with juicy flavors of dark smoky blueberry, blackberry and plum, with earthen mushroom, mild leather and oak
Finish – Long-lasting, all over mouth flavors that taper off beautifully as the wine dry and coats your mouth
Conclusion – Here is what Agent Red said about the 2003 vintage:
If you love great Cabernet Sauvignon wine that possess balance, character, flavor and great aromatics, this is a great wine for you. I believe that this wine drinks like a $50 or higher-priced cab and have told this to the folks at the winery. Their answer is simple: “People keep telling us to raise our prices. This is the perfect reason to keep them low. We want everyone to be able to enjoy our wines and we will continue to create great wines at a fair price”. The Wine Spies look forward to their next vintage!
Here’s what I say about this 2004 vintage:
This wine has many of the same qualities, but is even better!
For your best experience with this wine, decant for a few hours as it will soften and its aromatic qualities and deep flavors open up. This wine is certainly ready to drink now, but I have to think that it will only approve with a little bottle aging. When you purchase some today, be sure to get bottles to enjoy now, but also cellar some. You’ll thank me both times!
Agent Cuvée here, reporting on my first ever solo-mission. Today I am a full-fledged Wine Spy!
Agent Red recruited me six months ago, at my place of work at one of Monterey’s best wine establishments. I can’t blow my own cover by telling you where I work, but Agent Red calls me a “Big Wheel” in the Monterey wine scene.
Its because I am so well known in Monterey that Wine Spies Central Command sent me on this particular mission. I need to keep my legend in tact so mission to other regions will be my de rigueur.
For this mission, I had to infiltrate Hans Fahden – and return with their new Cabernet Sauvignon. “Easy,” you say? Under normal circumstances, maybe, but I had to grab the wine before the wine was even released to the public!
The Wine Spies featured Hans Fahden’s superb 2003 vintage Cabernet Sauvignon and our Operatives loved it (see Agent Red’s previous mission report, below). It was a great wine and Wine Spies Operatives snapped it up and we sold out quickly.
On visiting the beautiful winery in Sonoma County’s Mayacamas Mountains, overlooking the town of Calistoga, I am taken by the serene beauty of the place. On meeting its people, I understand why the wine has the sweet flavor of Amour; the third generation winemaking family that grows the grapes here pour their hearts into their craft.
It turns out that I didn’t have to resort to any sort of clever tactics to procure a pre-release quantity of this wine. Agent Red had called ahead to the winery to tell them to expect me. I was given a tour and a tasting and, within minutes, the winery had graciously offered us a handful of cases to share with our Operatives.
And so, dear Operative, my first mission, while not all that intriguing, ends with great success. I am very pleased to be able to bring you this fine wine today and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Cuvée, Out.
For those operatives that are interested, what follows is our original mission report, in which Agent Red first discovers Hans Fahden’s exquisite wine:
: : San Francisco, California : : Fort Mason : : Family Winemakers of California Tasting event : :
With more than 400 wineries and only two days to taste, I needed to employ my best strategic planning skills. There was simply no way I would be able to taste everything available to me.
Central Command had compiled a list of High Priority Target wineries, and I was tasting wines of all varietals and in all price ranges. Most of them good to great, and only a few real stinkers.
During the latter half of my second day, I initiated the final phase of my tasting which had me tasting only the highest end wines available. This was a phase I was looking forward to and after giving my palate a much needed rest, I reentered the pavilion like a man on a mission. Oh, yeah, I really was on a mission!
After tasting 2 or 3 really superb wines (you’ll enjoy learning of these in a future report), I spotted on of my newest assets, Codename ”Shank”, chatting at one of the winery tasting tables.
Shank, so named for his passion for golf, is a wine industry insider. He works for a leading wine industry technology provider and hails from a winemaking family.
I walked over to the table and Shank introduced me to Karen Fahden of Hans Fahden Vineyards. Karen immediately poured me a glass and I took it for a swirl. I was instantly wowed and I explained that I had been seeking out $50+ wines. I thought that this one would fit right in and I asked Karen if the was $50 – or more. I was shocked by her answer. Karen explained that she gets that reaction a lot.
Right there at the table, I negotiated a nice quantity of bottles for our Agents. Any wine that drinks like a $50 bottle but costs less than half that deserves our best attention.
The location of the Dry Creek Valley can be seen in this satellite photo
Posted in Wine News on May 29th, 2008
Here’s that other Dry Creek deal we promised this week.
Now that you’ve seen what Dry Creek Vineyard can do with their signature whites,
it’s time to turn to the dark side. If you think Dry Creek’s expertise
is limited to Fumé Blanc, these two reds have a bone to pick with you.
And believe us, you do not want to make enemies out of them.
Let’s
meet these red rebels, with chips on their shoulders and 100% Dry Creek
Valley pedigrees. As dark and brooding as its name suggests, the Dry
Creek Valley 2003 Mood Hill Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine with secrets.
It may take a while to get to know it. But if you can persuade it to
let its guard down, to lower its mask of sullen indifference, you’ll
find a luscious, juicy heart of black cherry and plum.
Like
a boy named Sue, being called “petite” has only made the Dry Creek
Valley 2003 Petite Sirah even tougher. There’s nothing petite about its
rich, dense, muscular dark fruit flavors and rigidly structured
tannins. This is one two-fisted, bare-knuckled, rip-snorting roadhouse
brawler of a wine from the mean streets of the DCV9 Estate
Vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley. It’s crying out for red meat. Let its
black cherry and pepper flavors linger on the finish just as long it
pleases…we sure wouldn’t tell it to leave.
And if you’re one of those Zinfandel fans wondering where this AVA’s
flagship red is, well, Dry Creek Vineyard often uses this selfsame
Petite Sirah as a blending ingredient in Zinfandel. It isn’t every
vintage that’s good enough to warrant bottling on its own. This one was.
Are
you intrigued by this glimpse of Dry Creek’s dark side? Excited? Even a
little scared? Of course you are. But if you can handle it, the
forbidden thrills and esoteric pleasures of the dark side will take you
to new heights of wine ecstasy. So take that nice Fumé Blanc home to
meet mom – but have a little fun with these wild, untamed reds first.
We won’t tell if you don’t.
2003 Mood Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
Grapes: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: 100% Dry Creek Valley
Production: 426 cases
Harvest: September 23 – October 9, 2003
Fermentation: Fermented 21 days at 85º F
Barrel Aging: 20 months in French and American oak
Alcohol: 14.5%
Total Acidity: 0.64
pH: 3.76
Residual Sugar: Dry
2003 Petite Sirah
Grapes: 100% Petite Sirah
Appellation: Dry Creek Valley
Production: 429 cases
Harvest: October 2, 2003
Fermentation: Fermented 18 days at 85º F
Barrel Aging: 30 months in American oak, 45% new oak
Alcohol: 13.3%
Total Acidity: 0.46
pH 3.70
Residual Sugar: Dry
Rules and restrictions:
Thanks to stick-in-the-mud buzzkilling state legislators, wine may only be delivered to the following states:
If your state’s not on the list, you’re out of luck… for now. Keep up with the ever-changing laws over at ShipCompliantBlog.com, and/or sound the alarms with your state assembly person through FreeTheGrapes.org. Meanwhile, all Federal, state and local laws are complied with in providing this wine.
Posted in Wine News on May 28th, 2008
If you are visiting us for the first time, Welcome! The Wine Spies feature one exceptional wine each day – and we only bring you wines that we ourselves seek out and love. Always, the wines are great. Sometimes even better than that, as is the case with today’s wine from Cima Collina.
Operative: Agent Red
Objective: Return to Cima Collina to uncover the truth about their 2006 Pinot Noir. Our assets report that the wine is among the best Pinot Noir they have tasted. If true, secure an ample allocation for our Operatives
Mission Status: Accomplished
Current Winery: Cima Collina
Wine Subject: 2006 Monterey County Pinot Noir
Winemakers: Annette Hoff
Backgrounder: The first time we featured a Pinot Noir from Cima Collina, Agent Red had a difficult time infiltrating the winery. It was worth the effort, though, because now Cima Collina is a fully vetted Wine Spies winery and our Operatives can count on being privy to their best releases. Today’s Monterey County Pinot Noir is among the finest we have had the please to taste and we recommend to our Pinot-loving Operatives that they scoop up this limited-availability wine – before we run out.
Look – Deep and perfect ruby-red with great clarity, a springy bounce and thin, widely-spaced legs that run down the glass at varied speeds
Smell – Richly layered and warm, with deep fruits of cherry, mild forest floor, fresh earthen spices and toasty oak
Feel – Cool, light and round, this wine speeds its was across the front palate and then grips first at the front of the tongue, where a slight warmth and dryness makes its way to the back of the mouth.
Taste – Sweet, fresh, bright and slightly tart with flavors of bing cherry, pomegranate, plum, cedar and mild forest floor
Finish – Long, lush and lingering, the flavors and feelings that this wine leaves behind develop and change over time, making it a wine to sip lovingly while take the time to appreciate its subtle nuances
Conclusion – Pure pleasure, this wine is everything you could wish for in a Monterey Pinot Noir. Attribute its great aromas, feel and flavors to the meticulous labor that went into making this wine. With daily attention to its progress, this wine was tended with care by winemaker Annette Hoff, who virtually lived with the grapes post-harvest to ensure the proper extraction on flavors and color. Annette’s attention to the grapes, coupled with her winemaking ability and her brilliance in selecting and sorting the fruit that went into this wine, all combine to deliver a wine that is exceptionally flavorful, fun to drink and even better to share over a great meal with friends and loved-ones.
Annette Hoff
Annette began her winemaking career in Napa Valley under Winemaker Bill Dyer at Sterling Vineyards. In 1994 Hoff was chosen to oversee the winery’s in-house, yet self-running experimental winery. She move south in 1996 to Carneros and Saintsbury Vineyards where she took the enology position and confirmed what she’d always known: Pinot Noir was her first love.
Her fondness for Pinot drove her west, far west, in 1998 when she went to New Zealand to undertake a study of that country’s approach to Pinot Noir production working at various wineries in a freelance fashion. But it was only a few months when Estancia called and asked Annette to become the winery’s Pinot Noir Winemaker in Monterey. So, she headed west, back to the states, where she discovered a region she became convinced could be Pinot Noir and winemaking heaven. In 2004 Richard Lumpkin went looking for a winemaker as passionate about the Monterey wine region as he had become. He found Annette and asked her to manage Cima Collina and make the wines. It was the chance to apply her knowledge of winemaking and enthusiasm for artisan wine from the ground up. Annette released her first Cima Collina wines in 2005.
Now that Cima Collina is a fully vetted winery, The Wine Spies are privy to their wines. When intel reports began flooding in about today’s wine, we only needed to ask Cima Collina for a private tasting.
To see how our relationship with Cima Collina began, what follows is our original mission report:
For more than a month, Agent Red had tried and failed to bring us a Cima Collina wine. Wine Spies HQ gave him one final chance to land this exceptional Monterey County Pinot Noir from fabled lady winemaker Annette Hoff. Read the mission report below to see how he finally managed to snare this great wine!
Not every mission goes as smoothly as I would like them to. While this particular mission did not go horribly awry, it did take me an awfully long time to complete.
I first learned of Cima Collina wines from an Asset of mine, a private informant that has alerted me to more than a few great Monterey-area wines. This Asset, we’ll call him ‘_Monte_’, sent me an alert on my SpyComm device and told me to rush to try what he called Cima Collina’s ‘perfect pinot’. Included in the alert was all of the intel he had gathered on the wine, the winemaker, the vineyard and the winery. Everything sounded impressive and I trusted Monte’s judgment, so I headed to their tasting room in the village of Carmel-by-the-sea, a few miles south of Monterey.
While I pride myself on a good sense of direction, Carmel initially proved a difficult place for me. The town uses no street addresses! Instead, people navigate their way around by heading to ‘addresses’ such as: “_The West side of San Carlos, between Ocean and 7th, in the Paseo Courtyard, behind Kocek Jewelers_”, which happens to be the Cima Collina tasting room. Well, after a few mis-turns, I finally found the tasting room, which also houses a lovely gallery where the works of local artist are on display. On tasting the wine, I was immediately impressed and knew that I should procure an allotment for our Operatives. I got the business card of the manager of the winery, and was on my way.
Rather than place the winery under further surveillance, I decided to take a more direct approach and simply ask for the wine. Sounds simple, right? Well, after extended rounds of phone-tag, I decided to visit Cima Collina at a then-upcoming tasting event in downtown Monterey. There were many wineries at this particular event and when I found the Cima Collina table, it was mobbed. After fighting my way to the front, I introduced myself to the Winemaker and explained my plight. She was sympathetic and told me to keep trying. She explained that her wines were very popular and that they had been inundated with purchase requests. So, I kept trying. And kept missing. Then at another wine event, I met the hard-to-pin-down manager himself. Because he was so busy at the event, he asked me to keep trying him.
More of the same ensued and then, finally, just yesterday we actually spoke on the phone – and we simply and jovially arranged to secure some of this fabulous Pinot Noir for our Operatives. Busy wineries don’t get that way without a reason. A busy winery is usually a sign that something special is going on. In the case of Cima Collina, it was all about their fantastic Pinot Noir, and this one is my favorites!
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SUPERBE 1 BOUTEILLE DE PETRUS 1990 EUR 101,00 |
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CHATEAU DYQUEM 1999 LUR SALUCES EUR 76,00 |
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CHATEAU MARGAUX 1996 MILLESIME RARE 99 100 PARKER EUR 151,00 |
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CHATEAU LATOUR 1987 EUR 51,00 |
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2 x CHATEAU CHEVAL BLANC 1983 EUR 76,00 |
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CHEVAL BLANC 2004 EUR 122,00 |
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1 BOUTEILLE PETRUS 1 9 8 6 EUR 202,00 |
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Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 1999 Jeroboam EUR 1.510,00 |
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CHATEAU SOCIANDO MALLET 2005 LOT DE 3 EUR 61,00 |
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Château dYquem 1998 EUR 96,00 |
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Introuvable Sauternes Chateau CLIMENS 1961 Barsac EUR 60,00 |
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1 BOUTEILLE PETRUS 1 9 9 0 EUR 227,00 |
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1 BOUTEILLE PETRUS 1 9 8 9 EUR 226,00 |
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1 BOUTEILLE PETRUS 1 9 8 2 EUR 560,00 |
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Chateau Latour 1997 Premier Grand Cru EUR 77,00 |