By: AJ McClellan
Ryan came in we were all very impressed with the great quality of his wines in a fantastic price range. This year was no disappointment as the current releases held their own with superb quality and one of the best values in their price range.
2009 Hill Family Saucignon Blanc – Very light on its feet with crisp tropical fruits and a slight roundness added by 5% Semillon.
2008 Hill Family Carlys Cuvee Chardonnay – This wine always impresses and is a great bang for the buck Chard. Light and crisp with its no malolactic style it shows peaches, lemon, and key lime pie.
2007 Hill Family Stewart Ranch Pinot Noir – Another of my favorites, dark cherries and fresh plums with a deep floral note and a pleasant cooking spice.
2007 Hill Family Beau Terre Merlot – A true Merlot with jammy blueberries, fresh boysenberries, and streaks of pine and cedar through the well balanced heavy set wine.
2007 Hill Family Cabernet Sauvignon – I have been enamored with 2007 Napa cabs for the better part of a year now but this Hill Family Cab still surprised me with its elegant ripe fruit and full bodied palate ending in a perfect balance. The feather in this wines cap is the price, for only $59.99 this wine is one of the best values on the market.
1997 Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux – This was a wonderful Burgundy with outstanding fruit and elegant earth notes that played in perfect harmony with the stunning floral notes and bold minerality.
1998 Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Les Vergers – I was very impressed with this bottle of wine. Light notes of honey covered straw and slightly burnt caramel with pleasantly ripe peaches and red pears.
1997 Faiveley Echezeaux – This wine took a while to open up but once it did it rivaled the Grivot with great acidity and soft tannins that were silky in the mouth.
1996 Torre Oria – A great bottle of wine that is in its perfect drinking window right now. Soft black currants and cherries with a wet soil component.
1969 Remoissenet Nuits Saint Georges 1er Les Cailles – This was one of the better 69 Burgs I have had. As a youngster I am sure this wine was tight and difficult to drink but 40 years later it is soft as cashmere with a kaleidoscope of fruit, earth, spice, and dry flowers. Amazing bottle of wine…
1995 Chateau La Nerthe Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes – A great bottle to end the night on. The La Nerthe was drinking like a champ with well integrated tannins and a plethora of dried blue and black fruits. The finish showed a light dusting of pepper with crushed cloves and a dash of tar and leather.