Black Ridge Vineyards 3/22/09

This was their grand opening weekend. It was fun to stop back by, chat a bit, retaste a couple wines, taste a couple new ones and some barrel samples. The winery is above Lexington Reservoir (which you can see in the above pic). They have 22 acres planted and all their wines are from estate grapes. They are also selling grapes to some nearby wineries, including Big Basin, Testarosa and Fleming-Jenkins. The wines are made by Bill Brosseau with assistant winemaker Ashley Dubois.
BRV will now be open the third weekend every month. Well worth a visit.

'07 Viognier
Nose - stony pear, with hints of peach, litchee, citrus.
Waxy, with lemon pith, snoked meat, mandarin and peach. 89 pts

'05 Cabernet Sauvignon (with 5% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc)
Nose - Reminds me of Bates Ranch. Black currant, cedar and spice.
The black currant fruit is well framed by cedar, smoke and nutmeg. Middle weight, with a rustic minerality, it shows red plum and a touch of char on the finish. This is filling out and just starting to show secondary character. Should be really nice in about 2 years. 90 pts

'06 San Andreas Red (69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petite Verdot)
Nose - spice red fruit and a hint of VA(?)
Rich, with clove and nutmeg, cassis, red plum, hint of green, and a dusty peppery mouthfeel. Coming together well, but needs another year. 91 pts
...and no hint of VA on the palate.

'06 Cabernet Franc (100%) Club only release
Nose - freshly cut oak, balsa, shy fruit, hint of resin.
Dark, spicy, sultry, hint of resin, black plum, cassis, cedar, smoke. Smooth, with a peppery bite on the finish. 91 pts

The barrel samples are a Cabernet Ashley is making. Two barrels - one is new oak and one is 3 year old oak:

'07 Cabernet Sauvignon barrel sample - 3 year old oak
Nose - exuberant pure purple fruit, hints of sandalwood and orange zest.
Pomegranate and black plum, leading to nutmeg and cassis, then cedar and lime, with a meaty, zesty, smoky finish. 92 pts

'07 Cabernet Sauvignon barrel sample - new oak
Nose - balsa, plum, cardamon, lemon zest.
Smooth purple fruit, with a touch of resin and spice. Black plum, cassis, touches of strawberry and raspberry, with cedar and smoke on the tail end. Very intense! 93+ pts

These two should blend really well. I'm impressed.

More pics: http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2699642740102270864nFaDwa