Robert Foley in person
An overflow crowd was amply rewarded by the wines and Bob Foley's detailed and thoughtful explanations.
June 17, 2022
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One of the largest turnouts we have had in recent tastings. An overflow crowd was amply rewarded by the wines and Bob Foley's detailed and thoughtful explanations. A large contingent from the MIT wine appreciations to society posed many challenging technical questions, and he rose to the occasion.
The Charbono was a different and unexpected take on Napa Valley red lighter than most. With a more reasonable alcohol level of 13%, it was satisfactorily different with nicely herbal flavors and was the most taken home by tasters.
People liked the Hawksbill Rose very much. It combines the best characteristics of its three grapes; structured Cabernet, broad Merlot, and spicy strawberry fruit of pinot noir. We had none at the tasting and have learned that its arrival will be delayed until the beginning of July. Our tasters liked it a lot.
People liked and bought the Carneros Pinot Noir . Only bottles are left.
The Claret and Cabernet both lived up to their expectations. Both were stellar, if no less potent than many of their peers. Both are drinkable now with airing, but both will improve much for ten or more years in the future.
One note: several people forwarded recent news that Foley Family had bought Silverado. That is a different Foley. Bob is all about hand-crafted wines, very different from the Silverado model.
2019 Chardonnay; Mouth: Dry clean firm, properly California but nicely solid dry restrained; Very Good - Excellent 43; Case, 36.99
2021 Hawksbill Rose; Color: Very pale pink; Aroma: Fresh lilting clean acid, light touch of Meyer lemon; Mouth: Clean, dry solid center dry very n ice breadth, fine acid, nice length; Very Good Plus 29.99; Case, 24.99
2017 Charbono Color: Very dark black; Aroma: Spicy oak deep oak melange of oak & acid spice; Mouth: Clean deep, firm, lifted, a cedar edge clean and lithe; Excellent 43; Case, 36.99
2017 Griffin; Color: Very dark black intense; Aroma: Heady dense, clean spicy & rich; Mouth: Clean light, smooth, firm, light on its feet for Napa, fine acid rather long clean edgy lower toned; Very Good - Excellent 48; Case,39.99
2015 Pinot Noir Hudson- Organic; Color: bright red black; Aroma: fresh rather pretty, , fresh clean, pinot; Mouth: smooth clean light fresh, juicy, firm, rather clean mineral, firm, plummy finely structured dense, spicy finish; Very Good - Excellent64; MCase, 54.99
2016 Merlot; Color: Dark purple edge; Aroma: Fresh, lively, full restrained plum, fragrant, Deep rather full, smooth; Mouth: A grace note of wood direct, plummy, but opens to fine tannins, lean; Very Good - Excellent 65; Case, 54.99
2016 Cabernet Sauvignon; Color: Almost black; Aroma: Very dark, very reserved, mocha, almost black tasting less lifted than claret; Mouth: Smooth, very dark, notes, thick and intense clean dark-hued, a fine acid edge; Outstanding 99; Case, 84.99
2016 Claret; Aroma: Very deep reserved, of a piece, some bright nose, precise; Mouth: Precise, smooth textured ripe, lifted, excellent, smooth light are, fine, fine acid, weights; ess, rather intense, very refined; Outstanding $145 Case, $123
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- Len Rothenberg
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