Tasting notes: *** Chez Ray Rodger's Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino CA, 2008 (SR8V)

By way of background:  This is Chez Ray Rodger's Vineyard Syrah, Mendocino CA, 2008 (SR8V).  Grapes, yeast and process are described here.

In the glass: Dark magenta, opaque from about a half inch from the edge. 

On the nose: Poured cool without a decant and swirled vigorously, shows a soft and furry, lightly oaked fruit nose. 

On the palate: The first element on the palate is round ripe fruit compote, a mix of black and red berries.  It is soft and turns aromatic after a few seconds, bringing some violet aloft.  Finish is brief, but full and clean.

In summary: Overall, a soft, solid, mid-palate experience, generating three stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.

Tasting notes: ***** Chez Ray 2007 Alexander West Side Syrah, Sonoma CA (SA8A)

In the glass: Dark magenta, opaque from about a half inch in from the edge.

On the nose: Poured cool without a decant and swirled vigorously, this syrah shows shy, sweet, dark violets.

On the palate: The first element on the palate is a bold, lifted, cloaking sweet deep violet robe in the mid-palate.  It lifts up to the roof of your mouth, coats it, and slowly slides down the sides of your cheeks, releasing deep, sweet whiffs of black violet fruit as it sinks.

And the finish: Soft, fragrant, lasting.

In summary: Among the best we've seen from Chez Ray.  the Alexander West Side Syrah's have shown their preeminence across a range of yeasts.  Overall, an absolutely compelling Chez Ray offering, rating five stars on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.

*** Chez Ray Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley CA, 2007

Original review, December, 2010:  This is a first bottle sampling of the Chez Ray Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley CA, 2007 vintage (code CR7), whose preparation was described here.

In the glass Chez Ray Rutherford Cab 2007 shows as deep, dusty magenta red, with brick hues at the edges of the glass.  That brick coloring seems a bit surprising for so young a cabernet (I'd be expecting more purple this at this young age).

Served cool and with a brief decant, this high-end vineyard cabernet shows rich, concentrated prune juice on the nose.

On the palate, this remains dry and tight, with just a hint of remaining funk (that will probably still blow off).  Good tannins and grit in the structure, but it is still hiding the fruit.  Will need to mellow in the bottle a year or two longer.   Right now, two stars on the Spirit of Wine scale, with a big plus for potential.
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Updated review, a year later, December, 2011:  Medium deep red in the glass, still brick at edge.  Lighter prunes, some old red currants on the nose.  Light, delicate red fruit is emerging in a base of sleek tannins.  This is coming into its own, touching three stars.  Creating an almost pinot noir-like experience, with potential pairing with foods that would similarly complement: I'd consider turkey and salmon.

***+ Chez Ray CRR7 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley, Sonoma

CRR7 (2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Russian River Valley, Sonoma):

Tasting notes from blending party, May, 2011:

Ray: color medium brick; aroma deep fruit and alcohol; flavor clean bright but light, 2+ for bright fruitiness.  Karin: delicate flavor, sweet finish, 3.  Jim, good fruit.  Eric, L aroma not much smell; flavor, very nice tannins, strong finish, rich flavor but not too remarkable (though very enjoyable!), 3+.  Rob: color, deep red; aroma, tarry; flavor, alcoholic, 2.

Updated review, over six months later, December, 2011:  Deep ruby red in the glass.  This bottle was corked!  Cracked open a second bottle....  Same color.  Shy red fruit on the nose, some hint of plum.  Soft and rich palate, though, excellent mouthfeel, gentle red and black berry flavors.  Three stars with a plus for its outstanding mouthfeel. 

Barrel Tasting Review: *** Chez Ray VSP Cabernet Sauvignon, Lodi, California, 2011

This is a brand-new 2011 Chez Ray cabernet sauvignon ( CL11 ), vinted from fresh Lodi vertical-shoot-positioned (VSP) cabernet sauvignon and prepared according to this overall plan.  The last step, aging with additional wood chips, was not done for this sub-batch, which was sulfited and bottled early.  Let's see what we've got...

In the glass, this is light to medium red with hints of purple at the edge.

Served cool and swirled aggressively, shows subtle purple fruit with hints of charred oak - but just hints.  Some underlying Band-Aid aromatics.  Seems like this may be light, fruity, but flavorful.

On the palate, the fruit is still apparent, but sleek and not cloying, just slightly off-dry in tone.  In fact, the mid-palate does show more mineral than fruit, with a light tangy acidity that brings the finish along into your cheeks.

Seems young, but promising.  When it grows up, however, it will have more the body more of a pinot noir than of a robust cabernet sauvignon.

Three stars now on the five-star Spirit of Wine scale.