Duckhorn Tasting

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

ABC Liquor & Fine Wine in Long Beach hosted a Duckhorn tasting tonight.  I was lucky to find a parking space immediately. This area of Long Beach is almost to Belmont Shore and is notorious for the lack of parking. And I did really want to avoid parking under lamp posts and trees. The birds are notorious here also.

For some reason tonight's tasting seemed in a little bit of insanity. Too much noise, not enough talking from the rep. 

 Imre the wine buyer for ABC was flitting away constantly. It seems several of those in attendance had been on a wine trip with Imre and they visited Duckhorn so the conversations were running that way. The rep from Duckhorn was accommodating but the situation was not in her control.

We started out with a 2010 Duckhorn Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc. Excellent wine, not to acidic and muted tropical flavors.  Next was a 2009 Migration Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Nice Chard but I have had  many as good and lower priced. It also was on the oaky side. Drinkable for me but I would never buy it.

2008 Migration Anderson Valley Pinot Noir was poured. It had the smokey taste to it. That year there was a large fire in Mendocino County and it affected the flavor of some of the wines. This particular wine showed it.It also was a little one dimensional to me. Weak after finish. Then they poured the 2007 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. What a difference. This wine was complex, lots of layers, well balanced. But it also was $20 more than the Migration.

The 2007 Paraduxx Napa Valley Red Wine was tasted.  I frankly thought this was the best wine of the evening.  A 2008 Duckhorn Napa Valley Merlot was next. Nice Merlot if that is your wine. Not mine so I won't judge. Those who were Merlot fans really seemed to like it. And of course every time a rep pours a Merlot the movie "Sideways" is always referenced, Its time to that movie a burial.

All in all a good tasting and I did stay for awhile afterwards talking with several people. Enjoyable evening.