|
Featured Producer
& Wine (s) on Rick's WineSite Journal |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
Nils Venge is
a legend in Napa Valley. In addition to being consulting winemaker to many
top producers including Del Dotto and Plumpjack, he has his Venge and Saddleback family labels, and
with son Kirk is coming out with wines from their property Rossini Ranch. Nils was a featured producer during our 2002
Napa Wine Experience
. He and Kirk worked with Dwayne and Susan Hoff
at Fantesca in their early releases.
|
|
Venge earned a degree in Viticulture from the University of California at
Davis, with a minor in Enology, after a tour of duty with the U.S. Navy.
He began his career in the wine industry as vineyard manager for the Charles
Krug Winery, moving to Sterling Vineyards in the early 1970s.Soon thereafter, Venge made
the leap into professional winemaking when he took a position as the first
winemaker and general manager for Villa Mt. Eden in Oakville, California
(now the site of PlumpJack Winery). An outstanding run of exquisite
Cabernets from 1975-1979 not only put the winery on the map, but also
established Venge as one of the industry's new stars.
Another milestone year occurred for Venge in 1982. Not
only did he become a minority partner with Dennis Groth in the newly-formed
Groth Vineyards & Winery, but also established his own winery, Saddleback
Cellars. It was at Groth that his 1985 Reserve Cabernet earned a 100-point
rating from Robert Parker Jr.-the only perfect score ever awarded to an
American winery. In 1994, Venge split with Groth to pursue his own endeavors
at Saddleback and to act as a consultant to other wineries in the area. |
|
|
|
L to R above - Nils in Penny Lane
Vineyard, Nils and Kirk Venge at new Rossini Ranch Vineyard; Nils, Kirk,
& AJ in front of new cave being dug at Rossini Ranch; Nils in winery,
and with AJ at Penny Lane, Nils and Margrit Mondavi at Tra Vigne. |
|
|
|
|
Journal entries: Date, Wine,
Rating, Price, Comments |
 |
July 23, 2010 -
Venge Vineyards Family Reserve Scout's Honor 2007 -
RM 89; Dark color, full bodied, intense full forward black fruits, spicy
rich ripe plum;, anise, hints of smoke and subtle cedar overtake the
fruit until the big full long spicy berry fruit finish. Bought it for
bar-b-que, drank it with dark rich chocolate desert. Can't wait to try
it with bbq ribs! Tasted at home w/L.
http://cellartracker.com/w?751609 |
|
|
|
 |
October 12, 2009 - Venge Napa
Valley Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997 - RM 87:
Earthy, leather, hint of cedar with subdued black
cherry and black berry fruits on the moderate finish. Tasted w/ L at
Angeli's Restaurant. |
|
|
|
August 28, 2009
-
Venge Napa
Valley Oakville Penny Lane Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997 -
RM 88; Hint
of cedar aroma and taste gives way to plum and spicy cherry with
a touch of anise.
http://cellartracker.com/w?50439.
Kathryn Hall
Sacrashe Vineyard Rutherford
Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 -
RM 89 - Long
lingering bouquet and flavors of floral and eucalyptus give way
to earthy leather with subtle black cherry on a long firm tannin
finish.
http://cellartracker.com/w?610689. Tasted w/ L, Mark
D and Kathy at Angeli's
Restaurant. |
|
 |
December 20, 2008 -
Lanson NV Brut Rose Reserve Champagne - Del
Dotto Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 -
Venge Family Reserve Oakville Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 - Matthews Cellars
Yakima Valley Meritage Red Wine 1998 - Alois
Kracher Chardonnay TBA (Trockenberren Auslese)
Neusiedlersee Nouvelle Vague No.9
1998 - Beringer Special Select
Late Harvest Riesling 1993 - Cavalchina Passito
Veneto IGT 2004 - Mt Pleasant Missouri Augusta
Vintage Port 1988;
Tasted at festive holiday
dinner party w/ L hosting Bill and Beth, John
and Kathy McM, and Pete and Patty T.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
October 12, 2009 - Venge Napa
Valley Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997 - RM 87:
Earthy, leather, hint of cedar with subdued black
cherry and black berry fruits on the moderate finish. Tasted w/ L at
Angeli's Restaurant. |
|
|
|
 |
July 27, 2008 -
Venge Napa Valley Oakville Penny Lane
Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997 - RM 88 - Consistent
with earlier, but not last tasting - predominant cedar aroma and taste
gives way to plum and spicy cherry with a touch of anise. Tasted w/ L,
Erin & Johnny, Barb & Kevin - early birthday celebration for Johnny -
presented him with new set of clubs. Tasted at Angelis' w/ Alec serving.
|
 |
July 9, 2008 - Venge Scout's Honor
Napa Valley Zinfandel Blend 2005 -
RM 89 CG 91 - Fruit forward
full bodied black fruit, spice, tar, anise and a touch of 'heat' that
detracts slightly from this wine's approachability and enjoyment.
eucalyptus. 68% Zinfandel; 17% Charbono; 15% Petite Sirah. Tasted w/ BJB
at Tallulah's in Arlington.
|
 |
May 4, 2008 - Venge Napa Valley
Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 1998
- RM 90 - Bright red berry, cherry, a hint of anise on a
long polished firm tannin finish. Tasted w/ L BYOB at
Angeli's Restaurant,
our favorite
neighborhood bistro.
RP Review - "The outstanding 1998 Venge Family Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon (285 cases) is more accessible and
up-front than this cuvee tends to be in Napa's greatest
vintages. There is an overlay of vanilla and heavy, spicy
oak in this restrained, feminine effort. Venge's hallmark
gorgeously sweet cassis fruit, is more accessible, without
the volume and power of top years. Anticipated maturity:
now-2015." Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #142
(Robert Parker, 08/01/2002)
Rating:
90
Drink from:
2002 to 2015 |
|
|
November 18, 2007 - Venge Family
Reserve Penny Lane Vineyard Oakville Sangiovese 2000 - RM 88 - $40 -
Medium bodied blackberry, charcoal and smoky cherry and a hint of
anise on a long firm
tannin finish. Tasted w/ L BYOB at
Angeli's Restaurant.
Tasted with the Producer, Nils Venge,
and sourced this wine from the Vineyard during
Napa Wine Experience 2002. |
|
October 6, 2007 - Venge Penny Lane Vineyard Family Reserve
Sangiovese 1999 - RM 88 - Nils Venge, legendary winemaker
for many notable Napa producers has championed Napa Valley Sangiovese
under several labels including Del Dotto and here, his own. Full firm
forward fruit, dark, flavors of black fruit and a hint of cedar and
bark. Great complement to robust Italian dinner. Tasted BYOB w/ L Mark D
and Lisa at Angeli's Restaurant. Tasted with the Producer, Nils Venge,
and sourced this wine from the Vineyard during
Napa Wine Experience 2002. |
|
January 11, 2007
- Venge Napa Valley Oakville Penny Lane Family Reserve
Sangiovese 1997 $30 RM 86 WS 86 Medium bodied, predominant cedar
aroma and taste coupled with earthy leather and a slight grassiness that
detracts from the fruit of spicy
cherry and anise which fall off in a soft finish. |
|
Oct 29, 2005
- Venge Family
Reserve Penny Lane Vineyard Oakville Sangiovese 2000 - RM 88 - $40 -
Medium bodied blackberry, charcoal and smoky cherry with a long firm
tannin finish. |
|
Oct
4, 2005 - Venge Family Reserve Oakville Napa Valley Merlot 1998 -
RM 89 - Full bodied fruit filled with slightly tart black cherry, cassis
and a hint of tar with a full tannin filled long finish. |
|
June 26, 2005
- Venge Family Reserve Napa Valley Merlot 1998 - RM 89 $39 -
Dark, inky color. Big, full body - full forward fruit of slightly tart
cherry on the front palate gives way to full currant and wild berry
flavors with a full lingering oaky finish. |
|
Feb 27, 2004 - Venge Napa Valley
Oakville Penny Lane Family Reserve Sangiovese 1997 $30 RM 89 WS 86
Predominant cedar aroma and taste gives way to plum and spicy cherry with
a touch of anise.
|
|
Feb 22, 2004 - Saddleback
Napa Valley Old Vines Zinfandel 1997 - RM 91 $33
Wow! Forward fruit - tar, raspberry prunes currant and a hint of
licorice and spice with a incredibly long mouthful puckering plum finish.
Great complement to rib dinner.
|
|
Dec 6, 2003 - Venge Napa Valley Oakville
Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 1993 $90/48 WS 88 RM 87. Slight
tartness in this cherry fruit that gives way to berry, herb and anise, blackberry. This wine and producer were featured in our
Napa Wine Experience 2002.
|
|
Jan 19, 2003 - Saddleback Napa Valley Old Vines
Zinfandel 1997 RM 91 $33 Wow! Not for the faint
of heart. This is a huge hedonistic wine - powerful massive forward fruit
- tar, raspberry prunes currant and a hint of licorice and spice with a
incredibly long mouthful puckering plum finish. A signature wine from Nils
Venge winemaker for Del Dotto as well as his own Venge label. (Rated
lower due to emerging slight tartness on the open.) |
|
Dec 15, 2002 - VENGE Napa Valley Sangiovese 1999 $30
Delicious fruit flavorful spicy dark cherry,
berry and plum. |
| Aug 26, 2002 -
Venge Family
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1996
RM 95 RMP 96 $75
Exceptional full bodied intense concentrated
blackberry, smoky oak, cassis, with layers of fruit. More to follow on
fabulous Del Dotto selections.
|
| Aug 24, 2002 -
VENGE Family Reserve
Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 RM
95 $95 Big full bodied intense flavorful blackberry, oaky cassis and
dark cherry. VENGE Napa Valley
Sangiovese 2000 RM 91 $30 Delicious fruit flavorful spicy dark cherry,
berry and plum. Tasted with the producer Nils Venge at my favorite Tra Vigne
in St Helena Napa Valley (see Napa Wine
Experience 02. |
|
Mar 1, 2002
 Saddleback Cellars Old
Vines Zinfandel Napa Valley 1997 (RM92) ($30) Huge hit of fruit -
red raspberry, plum, currant and blackberry with an earthy chocolate
finish. This is a signature wine of Nils Venge - wine maker for Del Dotto
and others as well as his own label Venge - its a real treat. |
|
July 5, 2000 - Venge 1996 Scouts Honor Family
Reserve Napa 86% Zin, 12% Sangio - Nils V is consulting winemaker to Del
Dotto and several other boutique producers - I was expecting much more fruit
in this one - didnt live up to his Saddleback label (see
review). (RM88) ($30) |
|
March 17, 2000 -
Saddleback Cellars Old
Vines Zinfandel Napa Valley 1997 (RM92) ($30) As Del Dotto says, a
real fruit-bomb! Huge hit of fruit - red raspberry, pear, plum, currant and
blackberry with an earthy chocolate finish. This is a signature wine of Nils
Venge - wine maker for Del Dotto and others as well as his own label Venge -
its a real treat. Just received a large selection of his wines from TCWC so
watch for more reviews of his wines. |
|
July 3, 1999 - Venge Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 -
Tasted at Napa Wine
Experience 1999 at Meadowood Resort dinner featuring Plumpjack
Winery Associate Winemaker Mary Pisor. |
|
|
Back to
WineSite Journal |
|
|
