Tasting Notes from the Catacombs: This wine blew my expectations. Just saying. With huge aromas of campfire smores , espresso and American chocolate this little guy caught me off-guard. On the palette I immediately picked up hints of forest floor and huge black cherry. Medium finish, medium acidity making this wine a perfect BBQ wine. This wine reminded me of how shocked one can be when encountering a memorable moment, not unlike the high kick David Lee Roth does in the video “Just Like Paradise”.
Not to mention that if there was someone who would probably appreciate this All- Terrain Wine Transport more than anyone, it would be David Lee Roth because he is an avid cliff climber.
Background:
Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford are owners of Clif Family Winery & Farm based in St. Helena, CA and Clif Bar & Company based in Emeryville, CA. Both companies are named for Gary’s father, Clifford, who spent many years hiking and skiing in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains with his son. Gary and Kit’s love of food and wine began with cycling trips through Europe. A day of cycling would inevitably end with a long meal and a great bottle of wine. The purchase of their property in Napa County in 1998 fueled their passion for wine and food, and its connection back to the land.
Winemaker:
Sarah Gott and Bruce Regalia
Ms. Gott it is my pleasure to introduce to you Mr. David Lee Roth
Region: Stagecoach Vineyard / Atlas Peak / Napa Valley
Alcohol: 14.7%
Price: 45 bones
Zombie Score: 96 Torches
Tasting Notes from the Catacombs: Massive minerality in the nose of flint, burnt incense & bloodstone. Upon palate entry, hints of black cherries like in black forest cake are present with some subtle smoke on the finish. This finish is super unique and speaks to a perfect marriage between terroir and barrel. With essence of sweet fireworks aroma (gunpowder) in the aromatics - this wine is more than just nostalgic… of which only happens now and then. This wine is annual - it needs to be drank every Fourth of July!
Vineyard Background: Owned by the Krupp Family, Stagecoach Vineyard (named after the horse-drawn coaches
that once travelled its hills) is located high above the valley floor in the easternVaca Mountains at elevations of 900’ to 1,700’. Rocky, well-drained soils and cool morning fog that turns to long warm days combine to create wines of great complexity.
Tasting Notes From The Catacombs: Huge plasticine & black olives gives away this wines old world approach right out of the gate. When sipping on this wine the mouth feel tells me that there must be more to this wine than just the silky Merlot. I detect a blend of Cab Sauv and possibly Cab Franc. So much of this wine needs food. Although there is some blue fruits present, I feel as thought the acid is not at all being supported by the alcohol which in turn gives this wine a disappointing finish. I have had a few other wines from Clos Du Val and do see a similar style trend going on.
Zombie-rant: I am growing tired of vineyards being ran by accountants! It is obvious that what we are tasting in these wines are a direct outcome of vines being pushed to hard without a rest between yields. The outcome shows how the climate, nutrient depletion, dead soil, and lack of sustainability become locked inside a bottle.
If the winemaker & vineyard manager were able to have their druthers, I am sure they would agree that the pressure being placed on the fruit is not driven by their own artisan style of winemaking but rather the demand of producing vintage after vintage of less than stellar crop.
Tasting Notes From the Catacombs: With a rich floral introduction in the nose, this Petite Sirah took me for a ride on a reality bus of deep rum raisin, Dr.Pepper, and sweet pipe tobacco. This is TRUE Howell Mountain earth & fruit being expressed with no fake barrel regiment masking the terroir. It is a bit h
ard to believe that this is 100% Petite Sirah due to the huge yellow & red flowers brimming with life. Amazing briar fruit of Saskatoons and Chokecherries spills over the palate with supple tannins and gorgeous structure supporting aging possibilities up to 8 years. This wine is a must drink and must buy. Just saying - a good Howell Mountain Reality Check!
Tasting Notes From the Catacombs: I really enjoyed the entrance of the nose on this wine. Immediately was able to pick up the classic Howell Mountain aromas of cassis, forest floor, and olive tapenade. With smooth beginnings on the palate heralding bright acids that scream deep cherry and Arabic mocha spice - this wine’s coffin lid is busting through the earth with it’s obvious Merlot undertones. I expected to be met with some massive gargantuan tannic resistance, but was pleasantly surprised by the elegance and balance with well integrated wood. I usually welcome a good Howell Mountain Cab - expecting large and bossy - however this one seemed more like it was a sleeping giant rather than a fierce Liger. Still, this one was more memorable than it was forgettable. This wine almost melted my face off. Almost. Good Wine tho.
Cooperage:5 Months sur lie in 50% stainless steel barrels, and 50% neutral French oak
Production:213 Cases Produced
Price: 34 bones
Zombie Score: 90 Torches
Notes from the Catacomb Cellar: Huge citrus notes that border on lime zest & and Bitter Melon. Clove and petroleum keep this wine grounded in their aromas and moving forward with a lanolin (semi- oil based) mouthfeel. Massive White tea & Papaya puree. Medium long finish. Big Alsatian style wine!
Great Pairing with Wensleydale Cheese!
Memory Rapture: Upon sipping this wine I felt as though I was instantly whisked back to my first Vepsa experience in Banff, Alberta - Canada. The smell of the gas burning against the cool snow laden mountain air. It also reminds me of some of the English band tunes I was listening to on that epic ride. The Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, Joy Division, & the PsychedelicFurs. My wife has a term that I have recently adopted for this type of music… ‘British Nose Plugger Music’. No matter what they sing, they sound so much cooler than Americans. For example: ‘Aie Nyeed yo tonaught!’ Would simply be translated ” I need you tonight!” and so on …
If I could Introduce Singer of the Psychedelic Furs, Mr. Richard Butler to Terra Valentine’s WInemaker, Mr Sam Baxter - I think they should start a band together.
Notes from the Catacomb Cellar: Get ready to storm the cellars for this one! Grab it - open it and discover the explosion of exotic spice, blackberry & sweet cherry pie all rolled up in this elaborate wine trap. Gorgeous overtones of sweet pipe tobacco brimming in a weighty mid-palated texture that puffs up the chest. There is an inkiness about this wine that is both in sight and in the flavor that I totally resonate with leading it to the finish. The end of this wine is screaming to be longer - but perhaps the shortness was purposed & planned for you to keep sipping. Just for the record, I drooled this wine until it was gone…did I need the long finish? Harldy. An epic ambush of a wine!
Memory Rapture: Tasting this wine screamed TATTOO INK & totally took me back to when I went to go get my first tattoo with my old friend Ted Larsen. We were both playing in punk rock bands in Canada at that time and knew that it was time to get some ink. Now I needed to get psyched up before just walking in to the tattoo parlour & Ted knew that the only thing that would get my blood pumping was listening to the band Grim Reaper. Metal shredding face melting guitar and wailings.
Every time I taste this wine - I will think of getting my ink with no regrets!
If I could introduce the Abstract Wine Maker David Phinney to Steve Grimmett of Grim Reaper I would…
Notes from the Catacomb Cellar: Don’t let the clean sophisticated structure of this wine fool you… it will turn on you! Beware at first of ridiculously amazing & well put together aromas of dark mocha & star anise. The mouthfeel of this wine is silky smooth with well balanced acid showing no obstacles in the finish. The flavor holds beautiful offerings of mushroom, truffle, sweet cranberry, and intoxicating deep berry notes with an under current of absinthe like black licorice.
Memory Rapture: This wine reminds me of the first time I heard Iron Maidens’ Seventh Son of a Seventh Son record. I snuck downstairs into my brothers room while he was gone and played the cassette tape. The feeling of being let in on a beautiful secret that only some people were in on. The ole’ wink wink from the metal heads when they realized I too had just discovered the amazing riffs and vocal wailings of the best metal record known to man.
This wine is one of those hidden secret wink winks. Get in on it!
I if I could introduce Goldeneye’s winemaker to Mr. Bruce Dickenson of the Maiden, I would ..right now.
Mr. BRUCE DICKENSON please meet … .Mr. ZACH RASMUSON
