BV Georges de LaTour Private Reserve Cabernet

2002

Beaulieu Vineyards

Napa Valley, California

Another exceptional wine review contributed by our friend PasaRoblesCab (be sure to read the bolded text at the end):

Red and black fruit on the nose with some vanilla, and cedar. Beautiful open nose, with some plum.This is definitely one of the top three wines that I have ever had. It is next to the 1998 Mouton-Rothschild.

An incredibly powerful wine that has possibly the greatest mouth feel I've ever tasted; it's like velvet, heavy but smooth. You can see the legs in the pic. Silky tannins balanced with perfect acidity. The mouth has cocoa, slight leather and some plum with a finish that lasts for longer than a minute. It was hard to let this sit and breathe, I wanted to keep drinking. Reminded me of the 2002 Stags Leap which was another gift and way out of the budget.

A little inside story:

I have been fortunate enough in my profession to meet people who have the finances to "collect" and "invest" in wine, most of them are hedge fund traders, Venture Capitalist, or have earned it the hard way, Inherited it!, Regardless, after holding their hand (and their wallet) for a year or so until our project was completed, I have gotten to know them fairly well and have become more or less part of their Non-City existence. I have been invited to parties, vacation homes and on occasion, asked to partake in more than wine and cheese! Anyway, I will save that for my book which has been an ongoing project. Once the topic of wine comes up I have been escorted to some of the finest cellars we peasants could only dream of having. Some in the bellies of mansions, some separate out-buildings on the compound. I have seen cellars that have enough wine to pay for my home and cars twice over. But, whether rich or middle class, it all comes down to taste. I have come across people who have a 10,000 bottle cellar that love to drink an ordinary run of the mill California Cab, the kitchen wine fridge is stocked with Blackstone and Mondavi. All rich people don't drink B.V. Reserve on a daily basis. Their party guests don't guzzle Crystal and Dom by the case. These people need to spend their money and they buy large quantities of good wine that is going to, guess what, increase in value! It's all about the almighty buck. Of course it is nice when entertaining to escort a few guests to the tasting room and have $5,000 worth of wine decanted and ready for the tasting, or let someone randomly pick from the depths of the mahogany racks. What I am trying to get at is, the $100 bottle of B.V. I thoroughly enjoyed and reviewed for "The Guy and The Gal" is just as good as the Donati last night and the J. Kirkwood Merlot that's ready to be opened tomorrow.

Submitted by PasaRoblesCab

WE rating: 92

$99.00 / 750 ml. bottle

http://www.bvwines.com/

Ancient Coast

Posting 4 of 4 Related:

2002

Ice Wine
Vidal Grapes (100%)
Niagra Falls Canada

Before I review this wine, I'd like to just give an update on the pairing of the Holy Trinity, 2000 with the Moroccan Chicken recipe posted on http://www.cheznathalie.com/ (go to "Topics" and the "Food / Drink" section). The two were most excellent together. The original recipe actually calls for the pairing to be with the 2001 Holy Trinity. But I believe this was probably close enough. The chicken is served with Greek yogurt mixed with chopped fresh mint leaves which especially taste interesting with the wine.

I got off track there a bit and never completed my wine experiences with Uncle Bob a week and a half ago. After the Arrowood Chardonnay (Posting 1 of 4 Related reviewed below) we had the Pride Merlot and the Pomerol (see "Posting 2 and 3 of 4 Related" reviews below). Following dinner, we all shared my aunt's fondant cake made at the bridal shower earlier in the day. My aunt, it seems, has an affinity for Ice Wine. So my uncle brought up the 2002 Ancient Coast. This was my first ice wine experience. I really enjoyed it. It was excellent with the cake - especially the chocolate cake layer - the chocolate flavor seemed to burst forward following a sip of the wine. The color was like a cognac and the flavor was like apricots and honey. Very, very good.

If you are unfamiliar, Icewine (or "Eiswein" in German) is a dessert wine made from grapes (in this case, Vidal grapes) that have been frozen while still on the vine. The sugar doesn't freeze, but the water does, resulting in a concentrated, usually very sweet wine. Freezing takes place before fermentation.

Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him:
a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure.

-The Wisdom of Jesus the Son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus, 9:10


8.0 out of 10
9% alc. by vol. / 375 ml. bottle
Approximately $20

Sebastiani Merlot

2002
Sonoma County
California

First, thank you to "PasaRobles" for your comments and personal experience. Your wine worthy recommendations are noted. But I must say that the wine pricing is NOT the same - $10.99-$13.99 for a 1.5 L bottle - almost double the amount of wine for at least $6 less per bottle. So if it is a budget constraint, Yellowtail probably isn't that bad for the buck.

I might actually try the Chenin Blanc when I have fresh scallops next week.


There it is!!! I saw it! "Spike's Sexiest Bartenders" being advertised on my site by Google - not by me. I tried to visit Spike's and leave my comments but couldn't. I want to know where the hell the male bartenders are.


Whose Opportunity?

Renovations, BMWs, reservations at dining establishments so fine,
Darfur, Somalia, AIDs, orphans, no clean water supply.
Electricity run amuck, closets full of clothes, clean water flowing freely to beautify the lawn.
Amidst violence, oppression, hatred and the list goes on,
barefoot women and children walk for miles to reach a bacteria-filled water hole.
Helpless elders watch their offspring of blank stares and protruding empty bellies,
feeling far beyond shocked to either cry or console.
A well-meaning friend tells me "There's nothing you can do. You're born where you're born, get over it and move on."
In some ways she's right - feeling bad's not good enough in this messed up world of extremes gone wrong.
Blackberries, flat screen TVs, rooms full of toys, everything bigger, better, faster is the norm it seems,
Half a world away from both, drinking Sebastiani by candlelight, children safely within reach, and a roof over their heads, I am fortunate enough to know not either extreme.

Nice wine. As a merlot lover, it was very welcome for a change. Beautiful, velvety deep crimson color - you can see the warmth - makes me want to wrap myself in it and go to sleep. Cherry, dark chocolate, smoked mushroom-earthy taste with spicy heat. Long finish. This would probably be fabulous with a beef dish or stew. I enjoyed it with my pen and paper only.

8.5 out of 10
$16.99 / 750 ml bottle
13.5% alc. by vol.
http://www.sebastiani.com/

Red. - 2002 Red Table Wine

Thursday, March 29, 2007
Red.
North Coast Red Table Wine
2002
Cost: $14.99/bottle NOTE: 1 liter size

Would Definitely Buy Again

As I peruse my local wine shop, I am lately aware of a small little black jug of wine simply called “Red.” I pass it by each week. Tonight I wanted a wine to accompany a very simple, albeit cheap, supper of rotini with spinach, garlic and tomato sauce.

After reading labels and looking at written reviews and recommendations, I was still undecided. The shop owner asked me if I’d like help. I told him my menu and asked if he had a suggestion. He said “Now, don’t laugh at me, but I’m going to take you over here to this little jug.” There it was. The little black “Red.” jug.

I must admit my heart sank, especially when I saw the screw-on cap! No way! I’m not buying that! All these thoughts ran through my head. Then I found myself thinking about the curiosity I felt briefly each week as I passed it by. I listened to the shop owner tell me that Martin Ray Winery puts out some decent stuff and he was hesitant when he was first introduced to the little jug himself. He had it with pizza and thought it was perfect. Because I was having a marinara sauce with my pasta, he made a calculated guess and thought it might be a match.

I was told to bring "Red." home, pour a glass and bring it back for my money if I didn’t like it. What did I have to lose? I brought it home. I must admit I thought I probably shouldn’t have a glass until my dinner is ready. I figured it quite possibly wouldn’t taste well on its own. Let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised! You can imagine The Guy’s sarcasm when I introduced him to what I brought home. I told him the wine was on the table. He took one look at the little jug and said “This is the wine? It looks like a bottle of syrup!” THEN, he saw the dreaded screw-on cap! No way! I’m not drinking this!!!!! You can imagine the thoughts he experienced as I did myself. He too was pleasantly surprised. The flavor increased with our dinner and continues following dinner. Good pick for the price.

Martin Ray Winery
Santa Rosa, CA
http://www.martinray-winery.com/