Getting caught up on unsolicited (wines sent that I didn’t expect) and solicited (new friends that have the gift – of wine) produced this hodgepodge of tasting notes:
Hawk and Horse
http://www.hawkandhorsevineyards.com
2007 Red Hills
Lake County
Cabernet Sauvignon
14.1% alcohol
The color was a clear, beautiful ruby with slight tawny edge in one ounce tasting, purple in full glass. The nose ran from dust, white pepper, wet wood, cherry, dark plumy fruit, smoke, red licorice…very aromatic. The taste was of mellow tannins, bright mature fruit, and a little dry/dusty. And for the finish, the fruit pleasantly gave way to tannins, medium length, I’d say drink now, or wait and see if more complexity comes with age.
86 Eve pts.
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2006 Red Hills
Lake County
“Latigo” Cabernet Sauvignon
“Dessert wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon wine grapes”
16.55% alcohol
A burst of deep chocolate, blackberry and white pepper on the nose was followed by a taste of vanilla and raisins, a viscous mouthfeel, very much like a Port, and a short, but not unpleasant, finish.
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Justin and Foxen
Thanks to new wine friends Molly and Derek, and my husband for taking us all to Roy’s for dinner, we were the lucky recipients of two wines from the Molly-Derek collection. (Due to the lighting, and the distraction of the great meal and service, my notes are sans color notations – too dark – and a little frugal. But, rest assured, each was given its fair due of drinking.)
Justin 02 Isosceles
Paso Robles
93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 % Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc, unfiltered.
Aromas of dark, mature cherry was followed in slow succession…wait for it…of blackberry, black plum, mushrooms, and wet oak with a slight bit of eucalyptus. The taste was slightly dry, an almost dusty mouthfeel and cigar smoke that made you think of the age on the wine. But that was quickly brought to perfect balance with the slightly-sweet plum, bringing a conclusion filled with juicy jamminess.
Molly had wanted the wine decanted, but it was too late as we were halfway through the bottle.
Then I remembered my Travel Vinturi in my purse, my favorite new gadget, and we tried the wine again. I then noted more mushroom, bell pepper, slightly drier, a little less fruit, more tannin, yet with nice black cherry noted by Molly. Drink now. 99 Frigging Eve pts.
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08 Foxen Sea Smoke Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Rita Hills
Unfiltered.
Decanted 15-20 minutes. An aroma of deep fruit, mint, wet stone, anise, black pepper and black fruit followed by a taste of both the black fruit and black pepper pushing right up front, beautiful mouthfeel. Not a standard “bright cherry and stemmy” flavor that I usually note in Pinot Noirs, this Foxen was a bit of a surprise for me. And I was doubtful it was due to only 3 years in the Molly-Derek cellar… I’d say drink now, but save a bottle for next year, and the year after, and the year after that…