We had our first hunting weekend of the year at my farm so I did a small dinner for the hunters. Starter course of a Ohio version of Coluibiac made with walleye and crayfish served with 2007 Roche Unoaked Sonoma Chardonnay. Nice, bright and lemony with a medium body. I paid under $15 for the bottle and was a great QPR. With grilled rack of lamb I opened 2003 Robert Foley Claret. Foley was the winemake at Pride for years. This is a 100% Napa Cabernet Sauvignon from a variety of sources. Inky black in the glass. Ripe nose of cassis and blackberries. Very smooth and polished on the palate with big rich flavors but not over the top. Well made and well balanced. Plenty of ripe black fruits with black coffee and anise on the finish. "A-"
2003 Robert Foley Claret
Oct 04, 2010
2 Replies
Nice notes. Pretty funny they'd make a "Claret" that was a 100% CS. The Roche sounds nice, new one to me.
I found it strange that they would call a 100% Cabernet wine "Claret" especially since Bob Foley is a pretty well respected winemaker who knows his way around the world of wine. My understanding is that originally (1998) the wine was a blend but for some reason they quit adding merlot. Roche is a small family winery in Sonoma. The vineyards are literally right next to the Sears Point raceway (now called Infineon I beleive) and the sales office is in Sonoma right next to The Girl and The Fig restaurant. Main production is Chardonnay and Pinot with a little sweet wine.
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