AJ McClellan
Pam Starr came into town yesterday to taste our members and us on her wines. Everyone was blown away, especially myself. All of her wines were very well structured and completely in balance. Everything that we tried was spot on and in perfect harmony.
Pam was the winemaker for Spottswoode form 1992 to 1997, after which she started Crocker & Starr as well as coming on as consulting winemaker for Garric Cellars and Adastra. Pam was an absolute delight to be around, regaling the room with endless stories regarding everything from her winemaking experiences to stories about her dog and the wines she had tried the night before.
Above Dlynn Proctor and Pam Starr
We tasted two different labels from Pam. First were her Bridesmaid wines, a joint venture between Pam Starr and Drew Neiman. Each year, Pam and Drew contact fellow rock star winemakers in the Valley in search of small lots and unique barrels of wine. As those in the wine business know, not all wine made goes into a final blend, and there is often excess juice — so what better to do with it than blend it up? As master mixologists, Pam and Drew create red and white blends from some of the most revered Napa Valley vineyards, whose sources are known only to them.
2007 Bridesmaid White Wine – This blend of 80% Semillon and 20% Sauvignon Blanc was fresh and complex, tasting like sweet honeydew melon, ripe peaches, and apricot with a touch of cream. There is a wonderful mineral quality, fresh milled flowers, and a lively acidity that gives the wine an effortless balance.
2005 Bridesmaid Red Wine – A blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc, this wine’s very dark color portends the deep, rich, concentrated flavors that include black cherry, mulberry, cola, nutmeg and black licorice.
Next we tasted Pams pride and joy, Crocker & Starr. Charlie Crocker and Pam Starr established Crocker & Starr on 100 acres near St. Helena that has been uninterrupted farmland since the 1870s (the old Dowdell estate). Charlie and Pam pride themselves on the fact that the vineyards at Crocker & Starr are organically and sustainably farmed.
2008 Crocker & Starr Sauvignon Blanc – Bright lemon / lime zest with notes of grapefruit and white peaches up front and subtle layers of tropical fruit lingering in the background. There is a fabulous minerality of cobble and limestone on this wine, giving it a life of its own and an ever so light touch of vanilla on the finish.
2006 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc – Big jammy nose of blueberry, black cherries, allspice, dark chocolate, tobacco, and freshly bloomed violets. With a texture of velvet and tannins of silk this wine is seamless with the richness of chocolate sin cake. The palate is as complex as the nose offering freshly roasted coffee and grounds and dark chocolate; the fruit is ripe and full without being overpowering. This is a great value wine.
2007 Crocker & Starr Cabernet Franc – Lighter than the 2006 but with great potential. This wine had a floral bouquet of purple flowers and red roses with a backing of sugared plums and roasted prunes. There was more milk chocolate than dark chocolate but the mouth feel was still velvety and easygoing. Good tannin structure with a balanced body; overall a well constructed wine.
2006 Crocker & Starr Stone Place Cabernet Sauvignon – Black cherries, dark chocolate, brown sugar, and truffles all rolled into one delicious wine and sealed with super smooth tannins and a crisp acidity. This is a great wine that is extremely well put together and has a fantastic depth and complexity. This was the first bottle to go during our tasting, and for good reason.
Most of the wines mentioned above are available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing some vino please click here.