Winery - Basel Cellars
* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Roughly three-fifths Merlot and two fifths Cabernet Franc. Though the blend and oak treatment are quite similar to the 2005, this new release comes out with far better balance and structure. The oak flavors are lighter, the tannins are polished and lightly herbal, as befits Cabernet Franc, and there is a hint of steel in the backbone of this tight, svelte effort.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This wine carries a new label, very spare; the drawing of house and vineyard is gone; it’s all white with simple type. The wine is simple, soapy, light and showing just a watery impression of citrus, banana and tropical fruits.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This 100% varietal bottling is the first release for this Mirage vineyard designate. Some interesting floral highlights to this wine; the fruit has light flavors of boysenberry and blackberry. Flavors are mostly all up front, without much depth or specific varietal character, but it’s pleasant enough. Just a little chalky in the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This vineyard designate from Chelle den Millie is spicy and tart. There is medium concentration to the fruit, a mix of cassis and black cherry. The overall potency is heightened by strong scents of herbal spice and grippy tannins, ripe but still showing some of the varietal leaf and moist earth flavors.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Right out of the bottle come slightly hot, spicy, sharp flavors of bright raspberry and strawberry. This is all press juice from the vintage, and it carries some bite, along with lively, assertive, acidic fruit and lovely floral aromatics. It’s a screwcap red—approachable and fruity, but not simple or soft. Au contraire, it’s substantial and spicy, with plenty of acid and definition.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
This is pure Cabernet, sourced from Ste. Michelle’s Cold Creek vineyard. It’s firm and solid, nicely styled and clean, pure and focused. It shows the definition and supple muscularity of the vineyard, with tight black cherry and blackberry fruit, enhanced with streaks of smoke, earth and licorice.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Winemaker Trey Busch gets more confident and assured with each new vintage, and this is his best cab yet. It’s 100% cabernet sauvignon, from the Lewis, Seven Hills and Spoffard Station vineyards. Light scents suggest cherry tobacco, and cherries are the main theme here, ripened to 14.7% alcohol, but balanced, firm and packed with fruit. The blend was done right after fermentation, which gives it a head start at this young age, and the tannins and oak are beautifully managed.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
An excellent example of spicy, peppery Washington syrah, this has a lifted bouquet of herb, pepper and toast, tart cherry/cranberry fruit, and fine grained tannins. Scents and flavors of coffee and toast are beginning to integrate into the body of the wine, which may well merit a higher score with another few months of bottle age.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
A Bordeaux blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and the rest cab franc; all free run juice given the full tilt new oak treatment. Big and fruity, it’s immediately delicious, though the acidification sticks out a bit and tangles up the finish.
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* Expert NoteJanuary 12, 2012
Tannic with green tea and tobacco notes prevalent. The fruit is dark and wrapped in the thick, smoky tannins; flavors show blackberry, black cherry and roasted coffee. The Cab Franc dominates here; this is muscular and brawny; almost 15% alcohol.
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