By: LA Perkel
Bob is no stranger to Graileys. He is, in fact, becoming a much-loved regular guest. He was in town last week for the annual Dallas American Heart Association’s Cotes du Coeur charity event. And he made it a point to stop at Graileys bearing gifts. He generously shared a few bottles of his current releases with our members to taste. Personally, it was refreshing to see a Riesling from Napa Valley, quiet uncommon these days considering how Napa is largely synonymous with Cabernet Sauvignon nowadays. It was likewise a treat to taste a vertical of his Cabernet Sauvignon from 2006, 2007, and 2008 vintages and experience the nuances brought by vintage and bottle age differences. Bob’s Cabernet program is anchored by Glendale Ranch Vineyards, a 15-acre property located in the upper part of Conn Valley east of St. Helena.
2010 Riesling, Napa Valley
This comes from the few remaining acres of Riesling vines planted in Napa Valley; most have been uprooted in favor of the sought-after, more expensive Cabernet Sauvignon. Bob’s “pool lemonade” is youthful and fresh showing white peach, honey, and melon aromas. On the palate, it is off- dry and vibrant with ripe nectarine and peach flavors providing balance to the brisk acidity.
2008 Walton Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
The Walton label is named after Bob’s wife Marianna’s maiden name. First released in 2006, this wine is made in an approachable, fruit-forward, supple-textured style. It shows upfront aromas of cinnamon, mulberry, cassis, blackberry, sweet oak, and vanilla lead to a palate that is dry, full-bodied, with ripe and soft tannins. This wine is showy right out of the bottle; a perfect red to open while you wait for the Egelhoff Cabernet Sauvignon to aerate.
2006 Egelhoff Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
Released 2 years ago, the extra bottle age has really done this wine a lot of good. It is at a great drinking stage right now. Complex, elegant, layered aromas of leather, black cherry, red plums, blueberry and sweet toasty oak. The palate is full-bodied but not heavy. Harmonious, silky textured with fine and well-integrated tannins on the palate. Amazing acidity that kept the wine lively. Persistent finish marked by blueberry notes.
2007 Egelhoff Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
This is a powerhouse of a wine with plenty of ripe tannins, explosive dark fruit flavors that were balanced by good levels of acidity. An excellent example of the much-heralded 2007 vintage. Dense and concentrated with rich black cherry, cassis, sweet spice, and crushed blackberries. This wine showed considerably more structure and power than the 2006 vintage.
2008 Egehoff Cabernet Sauvignon
Big, concentrated, but balanced. Dark berries on the nose with cedar, sweet spice, and mocha lead to a compact, well-structured palate brimming with intense fruit flavors. Although the wine is drinking now for its ripeness and flavor intensity, this has the structure to last another decade in bottle.