Ronn Wiegand Reviews & Notes of Cali 351 Wines
For more than 30 years, Ronn Wiegand has sourced and tasted the world’s best wines. He was the first person in the world to hold the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier wine titles.
Ronn is regularly quoted in the national media. He routinely tastes more than 5,000 wines every year, and is considered one of the best wine tasters in the world. Ronn publishes Restaurant Wine and TasteTour Wine Guides and Wine Charts.
Ronn’s comments & reviews of Cali 351 current & future releases:
05 Cabernet Sauvignon - $49.00
Getting better all the time, still 2-4 years from its best; one of the better 05 Napa Cabernets under $50; has 10 years more years ahead of it. Deeply colored; intensely flavored, and complex in character (red fruit, cassis, blackberry), with overtones of spicy oak and tobacco. Well balanced; long finish. Could be aged further. Showing very well. One of the better wines of the vintage for the price
06 Chardonnay - $30.00
Fully mature (but not tired) and excellent Napa Valley Chardonnay that is ‘in full bloom’. Will hold at least 6 months as is; possibly a year. An excellent wine; it has matured really well. Sell it as a top value, Napa Chardonnay at its ‘peak drinkability’. Fleshy and full bodied; ripely flavored, with some oakiness; medium long finish. Now at its best but holding well. Tastes of pineapple, lemon peel, toast, vanilla, and spicy oak.
07 Pinot Noir - $49.00 (190 cases left)
Nearing its best, will hold well for another year+ (and live 1-2 years beyond); good pricing, primarily because 2008 was a much weaker vintage--sell it for what it is ‘the best of Carneros Pinot Noir’ from a ‘top vintage’. Supple, richly flavored, and full bodied; a wine that is maturing well, and properly, now showing hints of bottle bouquet. Delicious.
07 Sauvignon Blanc - $24.00 (200 cases left)
Extremely vibrant for a 07 SB--still in ‘full bloom’; delicious, and very vibrant (crisp) on the palate. Will hold at least 6 months in its current state; probably 12 months. I would present it like the 06 Chardonnay. Supple and full bodied, this is a mature wine, with herbal-citrusy character, and a medium long, crisp finish. Now at its best, but will hold this state for at least 12 more months, and live another year.
