Notes from the Archivist

"Blue Dog"

Today we’re dropping another direct collaboration release. For months we’ve been patiently waiting for the first duet with…CHIRON!

By now you’re probably familiar with the name (pronounced SHE-RONE btw). But if you’re among the unwashed, this is Bobby’s own label. For 10+ years he’s been quietly making some of the best wines from his discreet outpost in southern Napa. If you’ve had the wines, you know the style – big and luscious but never over-the-top. Balanced and precise.

You are essentially getting the $125 Bulldog Vineyard Cabernet from Chiron for $49. This is another super limited release, with just under 50 cases available.

This comes from Bulldog Vineyard in Oak Knoll. A meticulously farmed, 2.5 acre plot powering a handful of other exclusive small production cabs. None of which come cheap.

Named “Blue Dog” because of the blue and purple fruit it shows off, but also apt because this is a stocky, sturdy young Cab with a blocky build. Not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure, and one that benefits from a nice 1-2 hour decant at this young age. I think this will turn from guard dog to lap dog in a few years but with some air time it’s ready for business. Opening with a drenching of black plum, mulberry, and wild lava-baked blueberry, along with crushed gravel and dusty violet. A modest dose (65%) of new French oak brings just the right amount of toasty spice into the picture, and sturdy, fine-grained tannins frame a lengthy finish that stays on watch.

Not much of this one, and it’s a lot of bark for a wine without a price that bites. Adopt a few today, and you’ll have a trusty pull for years to come.

Quick side note – we dropped off this, along with the recent sparkling release No. 009, and a few others for scoring. We’ll update with a score as soon as we hear back.