Wines of Huneeus Estates

Another great event at Haskell’s Minnetonka. These are the best bang for the buck events in the Twin Cities. $30 and they provide light appetizers as well. Here are my notes with the bonus 2022 for the savvy attendee.

CellarTracker! The Wines of Huneeus Estates

• 2024 Quintessa Sauvignon Blanc Illumination – USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
  Honey suckles, white flowers, apricot, stone, spice and dust. Medium finish with a touch of sweetness. (91 pts.)

• 2022 Flowers Chardonnay Sonoma Coast – USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  Well a year and a half has helped. Shells, orchard fruit, apples, spice, orange peel, dust and minerals. Medium plus finish. (92 pts.)
• 2023 Benton-Lane Pinot Noir – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
  Not an interesting wine at all. Cranberry, earth and rose petals. Short finish. Very weak. (83 pts.)
• 2023 Flowers Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast – USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
  Like this vintage better than 22 but still not a buyer. Cranberry, rose petals, burnt toast, riper cherry and spice. After taste a bit bitter. (88 pts.)
• 2022 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley
  These are the perfect wines to get people off of the Prisoner, Caymus, etc. They are fruit forward but balanced. Red currants, plum, cherry, spice, tobacco, wood and earth. Nice complexity and medium finish. (90 pts.)
• 2022 Leviathan Red Wine – USA, California
  Wine maker from Screaming Eagle. Never really thought much about these and this vintage is no different. Kind of boring with riper fruit, earth, dark chocolate and spice. Not a fan. (84 pts.)
• 2021 Quintessa – USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
  Ok this is a big time wine but 100 points? NO. Will never get there. Young and shows great promise with pencil lead, wood, blueberries, smoke, dark chocolate, cherry, vanilla and earth. Very concentrated wine and I could see this at 97 in a decade. 94-97. (94 pts.)

• 2022 Quintessa – USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
  Ok this was cool at the tasting. The distributor opened this at 9:00 am to serve around town. This wine is rocking and one of the best Napa Wines I have tasted this year. The 21 was not opened early and maybe suffered in comparison. This was super smooth with plum, cherry, wood, floral, cigar, leather, floral and baking chocolate. Medium to long finish and love this wine!!! 95+ (95 pts.)