Week is half over and, well, it’s been one of those weeks. Didn’t plan to have 2 bottles of wine but when a friend/co-worker said she needed a drink, I KNEW!
How glad am I that we did. She and I have very different taste buds and yet both of us enjoyed our wine choices.
First up:
2006 Watkins Family Nuns Cliff Vyd Sonoma Cabernet Duo
Cabernet Sauvignon • California • Sonoma Valley • Red Wine
The Winery: http://www.watkinsfamilywinery.com/
2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Nuns Cliff Vineyard Sonoma Valley
Retail Price: $40.00
The beautiful terraces of Nuns Cliff Vineyard arise at 1400 feet, high above the cliffs overlooking Nuns Canyon. The west facing vineyard slopes are planted in red volcanic soils, considered by many winemakers to be the best Cabernet Sauvignon ground on the Mayacamas Mountain Range dividing Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley. Blue/black in the glass, this wine exhales a heady perfume of juicy black fruits, toffee, and spicy notes of peppercorn and sage.
The Tasting: Me o my, this is a dark inky red out of the bottle. First whiff told me this was going to be delicious! Cocoa and caramel greeted me. The palate has classic Cab notes of cassis, dark fruits and toffee, all glided along the palate by warming alcohol. The tannins still have a little grip, but they’re nice and soft, adding a gentle bite to the end of a sip. By the 2nd glass, the tannins had mostly disappeared and each sip was velvet and silky. It’s a big-bodied wine and went very well with my steak salad. Can’t wait to have the 2nd bottle! (14.6% ABV)
2nd up:
2007 Miller Wine Works Kendric Vyd Marin Pinot Noir
Pinot Noir • California • Marin County • Red Wine
The Winery: Not a shy Pinot: this wine would sing out loud when paired with fresh salmon and grilled portabellas, or roast game birds with truffled polenta.
The Tasting: I don’t like Pinot Noir (or do I?) but I bought this wine because it is my last name. C’mon Miller Wine has to be good, right? Well danggone it, this wine was delicous! Even if we drank it after the cabernet sauvignon.
Compared to the Cab Sauv prior, at first glance, I was concerned about this wine. The nose smells like nail polish and its appearance is thin and runny. However, it remains balanced and seductive. The nose is open, with engaging aromas of red cherry, acid and italian sausage/pepperoni on the finish. Young and exuberant, this is a very versatile and sexy Pinot Noir. Pour and enjoy this beautiful wine!
I’ll try more Pinot Noir in the future, for sure!
