Trip to Napa Valley — I

We visisted Clos du Val, Cliff Lede, Raymond, Robert Mondavi and Cosentino. I would put some tasting notes in this article, and some interesting pictures in the other one.

Actually, I tasted nothing in Robert Mondavi, because I had their wines before. So, only impressive wines from the other four wineries are wrote down.

Clos du Val

2005 Pinot Noir Reserved has cherry nose and slightly somky palate.

1997 Cabernet Sauvignon has typical black currant and black berry aroma, and the tannins is smooth and obviously ready to drink now. 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon is very similar to the 1997, but the tannins is more dense and still harsh, not for drinking now.

2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Stags is not so special, compare to 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserved. The Reserved one has elegant aroma of spices, and has better tannins.

Wines from Clos du Val are good, but the prices...

Cliff Lede

The current owner bought this winery because the previous past away. The current owner grows up Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc majorly, but the previous owner majorly made sparklings from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Those sparklings now are library wines and discontinued, so I taste these sparklings here.

2000 Blanc de Blanc S. Anderson. Blanc de Blanc means make white wines from white grapes, so this wine is made from Chardonnay. Grava, peach, green apple and citrus. The bubbles does not last very long.

2001 Brut S. Anderson. 69% Chardonnay and 31% Pinot Noir. The sparkles last longer, but rougher. Very similar to what I had in Korbel a few weeks ago. Citrus and passionfruit. Finish comes with light but crisp acidity.

2001 Blanc de Noirs S. Anderson. Purely from Pinot Noir. Citrus and berries, wao~, it combines typcial aromas of white wine and red wine. And the sparkles are subtle and last lingeringly. Finish is clean and refreshing. I love this one.

Raymond

2007 Rose of Merlot Small Lot Napa Valley. My first rose from merlot. The aromas tend to a red wine, and have a special raspberry nose. The taste is the mix of red and white, a little bit tannins with berries and citrus.

2006 Lat Harvest Chardonnay Eloquence. Gold color with concentrated aromas of honey and baked apple. Chewing mouth feel with sweet and sweet and sweet. I think everybody likes this.

Cosentino

2005 Cabernet Sauvignon. Black currant, black berry, flowers, lether and smoky. Tannins are matured. Good.