By: AJ McClellan
We were privileged to have John Conover, partner for Plumpjack and Cade wines, drop in yesterday to taste us on his new lineup. Both labels showed up nicely for the tasting and afterwards we popped a few bottles to thank John for taking the time to see us.
2009 Cade Sauvignon Blanc – With no malolactic fermentation this Sauvignon Blanc stands out in a crowd. Tropical fruits on the nose with a hint of straw on the palate and there was a steely finish. This wine was surprisingly heavy on the palate for a Sauvignon Blanc which is a nice change of pace.
2007 Cade Napa Cabernet – Very soft wine with a nose of blackberries, plumps, and crushed rocks. The wine was easy going on the palate with deft tannins and an elegant fruity finish.
2007 Cade Howell Mountain Cabernet – This Cade was a little more powerful but still sticking with the black fruit theme. The palate was structured and still a little stiff with juicy overripe plums and black currants.
2008 Plumpjack Merlot – This wine was drinking like a Merlot on steroids. Big ripe red and black cherries with hints of smoke and a nice soy sauce finish.
2008 Plumpjack Oakville Cabernet – Another excellent cabernet from this renowned estate. The nose spoke of under ripened boysenberries, currants, and black cherries. There was a note of tobacco with old leather and a rocky minerality on the back end of the wine. The palate was still a little stiff but with some age it will soften and turn into silk.
2006 Le Bon Pasteur – This wine was a pleasant surprise. It is not very often you can find great Bordeaux that drinks this elegantly out of the gate. Immediately upon opening, notes of dusty cherry, straw, forest floor, and worn leather split from the bottle. Once in the glass the nose showed more ripe red fruits with a great earthy background. The palate was soft and approachable with notes of tobacco, tar, cedar, and cardamom. The tannins were elegant and well developed for a wine this young. Great drinking Bordeaux that has the stuffing’s to age for another 10 years.
2004 Franois Gaunoux Meursault 1er Le Goutte d’Or – A fun little Burg that showed a round honeyed nose out of the gate. There was a subtle hint of honeydew, peach, honeysuckle, and white flowers on the back end of the nose. The palate was full and round with a little heat that blew off very quickly. The fruit was more subdued on the palate but the mineral notes were running rampant with a finish of limestone and flint mixed with honey this was a great and interesting wine.
