Gala Easter Dinner

Easter dinner was a small but joyful event this year, calling for some exceptional wines. We opened a 2006 Fantesca Cabernet Sauvignon and in honor of second sons birth year, a 1984 Duckhorn Cabernet Sauvignon.

Fantesca Vineyards

Fantesca is located in the Spring Mountain AVA in Napa Valley. We first visited during our September 2009 Napa Valley trip and were warmly welcomed by Duane Hoff, the owner (with wife Susan) and proprietor. The property was originally part of a dowry from the wife of Charles Krug. The Hoffs bought the property in 2004. Nils and Kirk Venge were the winemakers for the 2006 vintage. Fantesca consists of 14 acres planted almost entirely to Cabernet. Sauvignon.

Bill, Rick & Duane Hoff

The 2006 Fantesca Cabernet is a beautiful, deep garnet color. It's big, bold and fruit forward. On the palate, red fruits predominate with dark, sour, cherry and black raspberry most apparent. This is a complex, layered wine with additional notes of vanilla and oak. I opened this for an hour before serving and should have allowed an hour more. This is drinking very well right now but is structured to go another 10 years.

Having Drew and Alyssa with us, provided an excuse to open a 1984 Duckhorn Cabernet in honor of Drew's birth year. The Duckhorn was a medium red in the glass with just the slightest hint of orange at the rim. Tannins were modest, well integrated and the wine was well balanced. There was some fruit left but the wine overall was pretty earthy. This was decanted for about 2 hours and never seemed to open up. It was certainly drinkable but a bit flat. At this age it may have needed 3 or 4 hours to breathe. Something to remember with my last bottle.

Both wines were a nice accompaniment to an Easter dinner of HoneyBaked ham, au gratin potatoes, haricot verts and deviled eggs.