On November 13, courtesy www.LearnAboutWine.com, we sat in on a one-hour seminar delivered by Jean Hoefliger, winemaker Alpha Omega; Aaron Pott, winemaker; and Lars Ryssdal, General Manager, Ackerman Family Vineyards. And after a tasting of their wines we then enjoyed a tasting from top California (mostly Napa) Cabernet Sauvignon winemakers. So, without further adieu, lets get our glasses out!
Hoefliger and Pott
According to Learn About Wine: Jean Hoefliger was born and raised in Switzerland. His initial experience took him from Switzerland to Bordeaux, and South Africa, making wine at the esteemed estates of Chateau Lynch-Bages, Chateau Carbonnieux, and Meerlust. He is now the winemaker for Alpha Omega Winery.
Aaron Pott studied oenology at University of California, Davis. While studying at UCD, Pott explored all aspects of the theory of winemaking while working part-time in the research laboratory at Robert Mondavi Winery. Named one of Food and Wine Magazine’s Winemakers of the Year 2012, Aaron’s personal bio on the Pott Wine website here.
Ian Blackburn, the founder of LearnAboutWine, welcomed attendees to the 5th annual Stars of Cabernet and then introduced “two of his favorite…passionate people” of the Napa Valley, Hoefliger and Pott, and later Ryssdal, who each in turn introduced their wines:
Flight One 2011 Vintage
Alpha Omega ERA Napa Valley 2011, 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Nose: Blackberry, plum, blueberry, dark seeded fruit jam, fig.
Taste: Deep, dark fruits, green peppercorn, cigar, very dark chocolate, extremely nice. Just fewer than 800 cases produced.
2011 was a cold vintage year, according to Hoefliger. The cold front ended up being amazing conditions that accounted for wines’ ripeness, lower alcohol and acidity, and balance. The blocks were picked at the balance wanted. The colder years’ wine, according to Hoefliger, can tone down with age. He compared Napa to Bordeaux; as Napa has an extraordinary climate – as 99.9% of the years are almost perfect to make wine.
Aaron also talked about 2011 weather conditions; the amount of rain protected against mold and that Cabernet “is duly suited to difficult climates.”
Pott Wine La carte et Le Territoire, Napa Valley 2011, Cabernet Franc and Merlot
Nose: Drier fruit, dusty, stems, mint on the nose.
Taste: Nice ripe and bright cherry, plum, a layer of dusty tannins.
Very few wines are grown in St. Helena, according to Pott, there are many gravel benches but land is either built with residential property or too expensive for grape growers.
Potts discovered wine when he tried to order a glass of milk in a French restaurant and was told, “Milk is for babies”, and handed a glass of wine instead. He learned about winemaking from 1993 to 1998 in France. Then he made wines for Beringer’s properties in other countries. In 2001 he started making wine in Napa, 2004 he came to Quintessa, and by 2008 he started his own brand and began doing consulting work for other wineries.
Hoefliger was born and raised in Switzerland. He planned on going into the family business: so he went to law school and delved into banking. At the same time he was spending his money on wine so he switched – to learning about and making wine. He tasted 63 lots of wine one day and decided then and there that he “never wanted to leave that field again.”
In his career Hoefliger has made wine in South Africa and Bordeaux, went back to Switzerland to finish his degrees, but then ultimately returned to Bordeaux to finish winemaking instead. This time Lynch Bages got his resume and called him, and he worked with them for 2000 and 2001. But Hoefliger soon tired of France. He wanted the creative side back, and making wine in America fit that bill.
Ackerman, Napa /Valley 2011 – Barrel Sample
Nose: Red cherry, antiseptic, menthol.
Taste: Acidic, red fruit, cigarette
Ryssdal talked about Ackerman wines, and their organic and sustainable winery facility on Howell Mountain. The barrel sample is from all new barrels.
Flight Two
Ackerman Family Vineyards, Napa Valley 2003 $125 a bottle.
Nose: Raisin, menthol, black licorice, anise, spearmint, stewed plums.
Taste: Cigar, dried fruit, tree bark.
Monteverro, Toscana by Jean Hoefliger, about $160 a bottle.
Nose: Anise, tobacco, black fruit, milk chocolate covered almonds.
Taste: Nice, balanced, palate-drying yet good fruit, spice, cracked black pepper, another good one.
Pott Cabernet Sauvignon from Stagecoach Vineyard. Lower yields, classic Cabernet Sauvignon. About $110 a bottle.
Nose: Pungent stewed veggies, tomato, aromatic, velvety, silky dark red fruit.
Taste: Very nice. A good balance of fruit, spice rack, not overdone, nice firm tannins and titillating finish. Want more.
At the close of our seminar Blackburn asked, “What favorite moment are you picking that wine for?” as tasters usually note their favorite and these 2011s all deserve note. These are pulling back to a more elegant state, according to Blackburn, with less alcohol than in the past for Cabernet Sauvignon.
I did not taste everything, so forgive me if I missed your favorites, but I noted *Favorite wineries and **Favorite wines of mine below:
Somerston
2012 Priest Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley
2011 Priest Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
2010 Stornoway, Estate Grown, Napa Valley
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Grown, Napa Valley
*Round Pond
2012 Rutherford Sauvignon Blanc
2011 Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
ZD
2012 Chardonnay
2010 Napa Valley Cabernet
2010 Reserve Cabernet
Louis M. Martini
2010 Monte Rosso Cabernet
2010 Napa Valley Cabernet
2011 Sonoma County Cabernet
2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Lot 1
Truchard
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
*Joseph Phelps
**2010 Insignia
*Mt. Brave
**Mt. Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon
*Anakota
Montana Cabernet
**Dakota Cabernet
*Rombauer
2012 Chardonnay
2009 Diamond Cabernet
**2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Signorello
2011 Hope’s Cuvee Chardonnay
2010 Estate Cab
2010 Padrone
Lail
2012 Blueprint Sauvignon Blanc
2011 Blueprint Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 J. Daniel Cuvee
Snowden
2010 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
*Hall
2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Tournesol
2012 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon
2012 Rosé of Pinot Noir
2008 Proprietor’s Blend
*Steltzner
**2011 Claret
2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
**2009 Malbec
*St Supery
**2010 Rutherford Merlot
**2010 Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
**2010 Dollarhide Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
*Duckhorn
2011 Decoy Napa Valley Red Wine
**2011 Decoy Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon
**2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
**2010 Paraduxx Z Blend Napa Valley Red Wine
*Knights Bridge
**2011 Pont de Chevalier Sauvignon Blanc
**Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
**Dr. Crane Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 Pont de Chevalier To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon
*Cain Five
**NV9 Cain Cuvee
**2009 Cain Concept – The Benchland
**2008 Cain Five
*Frank Family
**2012 Napa Chardonnay
2012 Napa Carneros Pinot Noir
**2010 Napa Cabernet
2009 Rutherford Reserve Cabernet
2011 Napa Zinfandel
Kelleher
2012 “Block 21” Sauvignon Blanc-Napa Valley
2008 “Brix Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon-Oakville
2009 “Brix Vineyard” Cabernet Sauvignon-Oakville
*Heitz
2012 Sauvignon Blanc
2008 Napa Valley Cabernet
**2007 Trailside Cabernet
**2006 Martha’s Vineyard
Peju
2012 Sauvignon Blanc
2010 Merlot
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
*Ackerman
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Cabernet Sauvignon
*Pott
2011 Her Majesty’s Secret Service
2011 The Arsenal
Laurel Glen
2009 Estate Cabernet
2010 Vineyard Estate Cabernet
2011 Counterpoint Cabernet
Silver Trident
2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2011 Russian River Pinot Noir
Chappellet
Pritchard Hill Cabernet
Tierra Roja
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Rocca
2009 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Grigsby Vineyard, Yountville]
2009 Merlot, Grigsby Vineyard, Yountville
2009 Syrah, Grigsby Vineyard, Yountville
2009 Vespera, Proprietary Red Blend, Napa
Rosenthal
2008 Block M
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Surfrider Cabernet Sauvignon
2008 Surfrider Meritage
Veedercrest
Gentleman Farmer
2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Alpha Omega
2011 Chardonnay
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
The Debate Missouri Hopper
The Debate To Kalon
The Debate Dr. Crane
*Tanner DaFoe
**2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Robert Oatley
Signature Select Margaret River Cabernet
Finisterre Margaret River Cabernet
*Hawk and Horse
2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
2009 HHV/ Block Three
**2009 Latigo
Wente
2011 Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay
2011 Charles Wetmore Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay
2010 The Nth Degree Cabernet Sauvignon, Livermore Valley, San Francisco Bay
*Grgigh Hills
2010 Chardonnay
2009 Merlot
**2010 Cabernet
**2009 Cabernet
*Bacio Divino
2012 Lucie Chardonnay
2011 Lucie Pinot Noir
**2009 Reserve Cabernet
2010 Vagabond Syrah
Silverado
2009 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Greyscale
2011 Cuvée Blanc
2009 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Alexander Valley Vineyards
2011 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Alexander School Reserve Cabernet
2009 CYRUS
Steven Kent
2010 Lineage
Heritage Link Brands
Seven Sisters “Odelia” Sweet White
House of Mandela Royal Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
House of Mandela Thembu Collection Cabernet Sauvignon
Seven Sisters “Dawn” Pinotage/Shiraz
*Collier Falls
**2010 Hillside Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 Hillside Estate Zinfandel
J. Davies
2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain District Napa Valley