Greg La Follette, who made this wine, understands the Van der Kamp vineyard, where this wine comes from, better than anyone. It’s a startling wine, rich and full-bodied, yet utterly delicious in youthful appeal. With a fine, dry structure, it offers enormous flavors of cherries, raspberries, currants, mocha, cinnamon and smoky oak, and the finish lasts for a full…
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
Enormously rich, a powerhouse Syrah packed with ripe red and black currant, cassis, blueberry, chocolate, coffee, cedar and spice flavors. The structure earns the wine extra points, with ultra-refined tannins and crisp acidity. Decadent, and at its best now, in its flashy youth.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
Famed winemaker Cathy Corison brings her restrained touch to this Cabernet for Lookout Ridge’s guest winemaker series, which benefits charity. It’s a dry, tannic wine that’s a little too young to drink now. But it’s classically proportioned, with lush currant and cedar flavors. Made from Corison’s Kronos Vineyard, it will be best after 2011.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
This is a New World, cult-style Cab whose high alcohol creates an impression of sweetness, but not of heat. It’s succulent and delicious, a mouthful of black currants, cherry jam and milk chocolate that’s balanced with lush tannins and acidity. Drink this decadent wine now.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
Erickson is the winemaker at Screaming Eagle, and he participated in this charitable project for Lookout Ridge. A blend of the two Cabernets, it’s soft, unctuous and decadent, in the modern cult Napa style. Floods the mouth with pastry-filling blackberries, cherries, currants, cassis, chocolate and bacon. Drink now through 2010 for freshness.
— S.H.
(5/1/2009)
At five-plus years of age, this Chard’s fruit takes a backseat to stone, mineral and herb flavors, in addition to its original oak. It’s bone dry, with crisp acids. Complex and interesting, it finishes with a dusty earthiness. Drink now.
— S.H.
(6/1/2005)
Starts with a blast of charry oak, and turns fierce in tannins and acids in the mouth, as well as searingly dry. Somewhere in there is intense black-cherry fruit. Important to decant this young, tough wine well in advance. It’s a gamble, but try cellaring for a few years.
— S.H.
(6/1/2005)
Fans of sheer volume will exult, but this wine, good as it is, is a bit overblown. It overwhelms with oak as well as berry flavor so ripe, it approaches chocolate-coated raisins. It is an interesting, well-made Pinot, yet would benefit from greater elegance and a lighter, defter touch.
— S.H.
(6/1/2005)