Hundred Acre Wine Tasting at Wine Watch

"By making this wine vine known to the public, I have rendered my country as great a service as if I had enabled it to pay back the national debt."
~ Thomas Jefferson

If only a modern day politician could contribute as much to the quality of our life as the late great Thomas Jefferson.  He was one of the first advocates of wine in the United States and he is one of the reasons why we have the greatest selection of wines from all around the world in the U.S. today.  So, remember...no matter how bad it gets, we still have great wines here in the U.S. of A.

Speaking of GREAT wines from the U.S.A…. I need a few good men or women to help me drink some really fine wine on this occasion- our first Hundred Acre California Cult Cabernet Sauvignon vertical tasting.

What makes a "cult wine"? Do the producers pick the grapes at night under the full moon? Do they make it under a secret oath or while sacrificing a small farm animal? These ultra expensive, hard to find wines from California just have more customers than they do bottles to go around.  The simplest factor in the economy kicks in with these wines, good old supply and demand.  

Join us as we experience 8 different wines from one of Napa Valley’s Cult producers Justin Woodbridge’s Hundred Acre wines from the Kayli Morgan Vineyard, a tightly-spaced vineyard situated on the Silverado Trail, north of St. Helena, near the Rombauer Vineyard this 1500 case production wine has scored (100 Points) from the Wine Advocate several times.  The Ark Vineyard, from a vineyard at the base of Howell Mountain is also very limited at around 1000 cases per vintage.  We will also try one of the new wines from Hundred Acre the Precious which is made from Jayson’s favorite barrels and only 100 cases are produced of this wine making it the rarest of all the Hundred Acre gems. 

Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone will be making a few small courses to accompany the tasting wines.  This tasting is limited to 14 tasters and the fee for this event is less than the cost of any single bottle of wine in the table this evening at $295 + tax. For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

Hundred Acre Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Saturday, January 21st
7pm

2001 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Napa
Price: $360      Sale $306.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(92 -94 points)   The 2001 (1,500 case of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon) may be the Le Pin of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a lascivious, powerful, smoky sex pot of great fruit intensity, purity, and voluptuousness. The texture is unctuous, the fruit level remarkable, and the wine gloriously pure, rich, and bursting with black currant and sweet cherry fruit as well as nicely integrated, toasty French oak. It will drink well for 15+ years. This exciting debut effort possesses an individualistic, distinctive style ... all to the credit of this brash newcomer, a tightly-spaced vineyard situated on the Silverado Trail, north of St. Helena, near the Rombauer Vineyard. This is an impressive effort fashioned by Philippe Melka, who believes this site has "unlimited potential."  Wine Advocate #142, Aug 2002

2002 Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

(98 Points) As for the 2002 Hundred Acre (1,200 cases), this is a terrific example of great Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. A seamless wine with extraordinary concentration, a dense purple color, a beautifully sweet nose of black cherry liqueur intermixed with cassis, graphite, smoke, and underbrush, it is layered, multi-dimensional, and opulent, with a long finish. Although more accessible and flashy than the 2001, it is capable of lasting 15 more years. Wine Advocate # 157 Feb 2005

2005 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Napa

(96 Points) "Incense, graphite, acacia flower, blueberry, blackberry and subtle smoke aromas jump from the glass of this rich, full-bodied, dense wine. Opulent and deep, with good acidity and a youthful personality (it resembles a 2- to 3-year-old Cabernet rather than one approaching 7 years of age), this is a multilayered, complex, full-throttle effort that will benefit from another 5 years of cellaring and should keep for 25+ years."  The Wine Advocate

2006 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Napa

(99 Points) In a vintage that tended to produce more rustic tannins as well as more structured, masculine wines, the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Vineyard has turned out brilliantly. Like its siblings, it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color, low acidity, incredibly sweet, ripe tannins, and notes of melted chocolate, kirsch liqueur, and a hint of cassis. Opulent, intense, and full-bodied with fabulous fruit purity and depth, this is a tour de force in winemaking. It is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage. It will drink well for 15+ years. One of California's (perhaps the world's) most flamboyant, talented, contrarian wine producers is Napa Valley's Jayson Woodbridge, the owner of Hundred Acre winery. Woodbridge has been running in high gear since his debut 2000. His 100% Cabernet Sauvignons are made primarily by him, with some consulting advice from Philippe Melka. His first effort was from his home vineyard, Kayli Morgan, which is situated east of St. Helena. That offering was followed by a Cabernet from the 15 acre Ark Vineyard on Howell Mountain. Woodbridge recently purchased a tiny, well-situated hillside parcel above the Eisele Vineyard, southeast of Calistoga. His special projects include the Cabernet Sauvignon Precious (in issue #174 I mistakenly called it Previous), a wine harvested grape by grape rather than bunch by bunch, and his Cabernet Sauvignon Deep Time, which sees extended oak aging (36-42 months). All things considered, this is an extraordinary group of wines. They are not easy to secure unless you are on Hundred Acre's mailing list, but they are truly profound offerings that showcase a variety of Napa Valley terroirs as well as different harvesting and barrel aging techniques. The newest enterprise is the Dark Matter Zinfandel, a Zinfandel that is pushed to the limits of ripeness from the high elevations of Howell Mountain. The most common characteristic among all of the Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignons is their incredibly opulent, creamy textures. That character vindicates Woodbridge's harvesting decisions as he seems to achieve extraordinarily sweet, noble tannins in all of his wines. There are approximately 250 cases of Jayson Woodbridge's special projects, including the Precious and Deep Time cuvees. Wine Advocate # 180 Dec 2008

2008 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Napa

(94 points)  The 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Ark Vineyard, from a vineyard at the base of Howell Mountain, is deep, sensual and powerful. It shows terrific richness in its dark cherries, plums, mocha, licorice and tobacco. This is a totally gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon loaded with character. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.   Wine Advocate #198 Dec 2011

2010 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Precious Napa
Price: $595.00 Sale $450.00
Quantity in Stock: 1

(99 Points) Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the silky 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Precious boasts amazing amounts of creme de cassis, licorice, spring flowers, charcoal and graphite. The quintessential Woodbridge wine, it is busting with sensuality, exuding enormous fruit, and built like a skyscraper. Abundant notes of cassis and the soft, velvety tannins are fabulous. This wine can be drunk now or in 20-30 years.

Proprietor Jayson Woodbridge, one of the wine world’s most compelling, outspoken, irreverent, bigger-than-life personalities, can get away with just about anything he wants to say or do simply because year after year he proves what great wine is all about from his 15-acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard east of St. Helena, his 15-acre parcel on Howell Mountain, and another vineyard on the upslope of the Eisele Vineyard (recently acquired by Chateau Latour in Pauillac), called Few and Far Between. Woodbridge was recently profiled in a wonderful graphic wine magazine called “Loam Baby,” and may have set a Guiness Book World record for the number of times the word “F***” was used in that interview. I first met Woodbridge, who hales from Canada, when he released his first vintage, 2000, which is still going strong and showing more staying power than I would ever have imagined even though I loved the wine from the beginning. It remains a sensational wine at age 13. He currently has six cuvees of Cabernet Sauvignon, the Kayli Morgan Vineyard, the Arc Vineyard on Howell Mountain, the Few and Far Between Vineyard in Calistoga near the Eisele Vineyard, a wine called Deep Time which spends considerably more time in barrel than its siblings, a wine called Precious, and depending on his mood, another wine called Fortunate Son. He also makes a hedonistic, attractive Pinot Noir from the Stanly Vineyard called Cherry Pie, and he has had enormous success with the high quality yet bargain-basement priced selections from around the world called Layer Cake. The Few and Far Between Vineyard is a 5-acre parcel on what Woodbridge calls the “upside of the Eisele Vineyard.” The only blend in his portfolio, this cuvee includes 15% Cabernet Franc. The first vintage was 2008, and this is another exceptional wine, with the 2010 achieving perfection and the 2012 capable of doing so. I only tasted two vintages of the Precious cuvee made from Woodbridge’s favorite barrels. Normally he limits production to 100 or so cases, which would be four barrels. I only tasted one vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon Deep Time because it spends up to 40 months in barrel and almost becomes like a great chef’s reduction sauce because of evaporation. It is normally a selection from the Kayli Morgan Vineyard. It is a remarkable wine, but very little is available.  Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013

2011 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Ark
Price: $525.00 Sale $425.00
Quantity in Stock: 4

(94-96 Points) To further emphasize the success Howell Mountain enjoyed in 2011 is Woodbridge’s 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Arc Vineyard. A fabulous bouquet of mulberries, jammy cherries and black currants intermixed with hints of lead pencil shavings, forest floor and background oak is followed by a surprisingly full-bodied, concentrated, ripe, rich, layered, compelling wine. This is a great success to enjoy over the next 15 or so years.   Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013

2011 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Napa
Price: $525.00 Sale $425.00
Quantity in Stock: 2

(89-91 Points) The lighter, medium-bodied, charming 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan reflects some of the vintage’s issues with less than ideal ripeness. However, Woodbridge has not pushed extraction nor tried to produce something that the grapes just couldn’t provide. It is a more delicate Kayli Morgan offering sweet tannin, ripe black cherry and black currant fruit, not a trace of herbaceousness and a silky, seductive texture and finish. It should probably be consumed in its first 10-12 years of life. Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013

Menu

Selection of Cheese:  Beemster Gouda, Reggiano Parmesan

Beef tartar ravioli with sundried cherry cola infused browned butter

BBQ Pork Loin with Mole Sauce and Black Bean, Bacon and corn Salsa

There are only 14 spaces available for this event and the price is $295 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

A bit about Hundred Acre:

Hundred Acre is the ultra-premium cult Napa Cabernet and Barossa Shiraz project of Jayson Woodbridge, owner, vintner and visionary of Layer Cake. His motto is clear and concise, “stand amongst the very best or not at all”; he’s spared no expense assembling two of the most most exciting wines from Napa and Barossa.

Accompanied by a team of Napa Valley’s brightest stars, Phillipe Melka consultant (to the winemaking team) and Jim Barbour vineyard manager, Woodbridge traveled the world and has managed to create the finest wines from vineyard-specific sites in the world's best growing regions. Starting with a Cabernet produced solely from Kayli Morgan, his home vineyard situated east of St. Helena, Hundred Acre wines quickly became some of the most sough-after of the ultra-premium market after high praise from big names like Robert Parker Jr.

Woodbrige took great risks and bore great costs to produce hand-crafted wine from vineyards he purchased in South Australia's Barossa Valley. Each step of the winemaking process, from hand picking the vineyards in numerous passes, hand sorting the fruit berry by berry, the forest and age of wood are carefully selected and measured.

Everything is hand crafted, hand pruned, scrutinized and aligned for his desired response.  Each wine represents single estate vineyards with 100% single varietal from the Napa and Barossa Valleys: Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Cabernet Sauvignon, Hundred Acre Ark Cabernet Sauvignon and Hundred Acre Ancient Way Shiraz.

Other wines from Hundred Acre available in the store:

2007 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan Napa
Price: $850.00    Sale Price: $650.00
Quantity in Stock: 4

(100 points) A profound wine from a superb Napa vintage for Bordeaux varietals, the 2007’s nose may cause one to overdose on blue, black and red berry fruit. The extraordinary intensity, purity and depth in this rich, flamboyant, exuberant wine are mindboggling. This bigger-than-life Cabernet Sauvignon appears set for 20-30 years of aging. It can be drunk now, but because of its sweet, velvety tannins, it will still be offering sensational drinking in 2040. (RP) (6/2012) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2010 Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon Far and Few Between
Price: $750.00    Sale Price: $600.00
Quantity in Stock: 4

(100 Points)  The 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Few and Far Between has a minerality that is also found in the Howell Mountain cuvee as well as deep, luxurious, beautiful black currant and blackberry fruit intermixed with hints of jammy black cherries, licorice, camphor and charcoal embers. Exceptionally full-bodied with sweet tannin, surreal richness and remarkable purity as well as delineation, this pushes ripeness and intensity to nearly over-the-top levels, but it pulls back to simply create a wine of genius. This 2010 should age effortlessly for two to three decades, but there is no reason to delay your enjoyment.

Proprietor Jayson Woodbridge, one of the wine world’s most compelling, outspoken, irreverent, bigger-than-life personalities, can get away with just about anything he wants to say or do simply because year after year he proves what great wine is all about from his 15-acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard east of St. Helena, his 15-acre parcel on Howell Mountain, and another vineyard on the upslope of the Eisele Vineyard (recently acquired by Chateau Latour in Pauillac), called Few and Far Between. Woodbridge was recently profiled in a wonderful graphic wine magazine called “Loam Baby,” and may have set a Guiness Book World record for the number of times the word “F***” was used in that interview. I first met Woodbridge, who hales from Canada, when he released his first vintage, 2000, which is still going strong and showing more staying power than I would ever have imagined even though I loved the wine from the beginning. It remains a sensational wine at age 13. He currently has six cuvees of Cabernet Sauvignon, the Kayli Morgan Vineyard, the Arc Vineyard on Howell Mountain, the Few and Far Between Vineyard in Calistoga near the Eisele Vineyard, a wine called Deep Time which spends considerably more time in barrel than its siblings, a wine called Precious, and depending on his mood, another wine called Fortunate Son. He also makes a hedonistic, attractive Pinot Noir from the Stanly Vineyard called Cherry Pie, and he has had enormous success with the high quality yet bargain-basement priced selections from around the world called Layer Cake. The Few and Far Between Vineyard is a 5-acre parcel on what Woodbridge calls the “upside of the Eisele Vineyard.” The only blend in his portfolio, this cuvee includes 15% Cabernet Franc. The first vintage was 2008, and this is another exceptional wine, with the 2010 achieving perfection and the 2012 capable of doing so. I only tasted two vintages of the Precious cuvee made from Woodbridge’s favorite barrels. Normally he limits production to 100 or so cases, which would be four barrels. I only tasted one vintage of the Cabernet Sauvignon Deep Time because it spends up to 40 months in barrel and almost becomes like a great chef’s reduction sauce because of evaporation. It is normally a selection from the Kayli Morgan Vineyard. It is a remarkable wine, but very little is available.  Wine Advocate #209, Oct 2013