| | Impromptu dinner hosted by Chris Hughes. Great food courtesy of our host, great wine courtesy of everybody. Champagne to start, ok it's not New World, it's Champagne - 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne Andy Warhol Label - France, Champagne
Not quite as good as I remember from when tasted just after release. Citrus on nose, followed by apple and lemon flavors on palate. Good flavors through middle, slightly shorter than I remember, then just a trace bitter on finish. (90 pts.)
Whites - 2009 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Incredibly lush fruit on nose with an abundance of oak spice. Plenty of peach and candied apple flavors on palate with lots of power and spice. This really holds its 15.5% in check nicely, and is most likely a wine to drink 2013-2016. (93 pts.)
- 1993 Marcassin Chardonnay Hudson Vineyard - USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros
Tasted double blind. Slightly musty to start on nose. After 15-20 minutes the must fades away and this shows big fruit and lots of oak on nose. Big, ripe fruit from start to finish on nose and palate. Still showing oak from middle to finish, with a bit of harshness on end. (90 pts.)
New World Reds, served in 4 flights - 1990 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Soft fading plum on nose along with some interesting secondary aromas. Moderate plum and black cherry on palate. Fruit is pleasant but clearly on its last legs. (87 pts.)
- 1997 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Started with fresh black Cabernet style fruit. Seemed to show some subtlety that I initially thought was from some Merlot in the blend, but now realize was from well-made, well-aged fruit. Perfectly structured, this is really an elegant CA Cab with excellent balance and nuance. Happy to find a 13% CA Cab. This wine lengthened and developed more complexity ove rthe course of several hours, so I think this will keep getting better for at least another 5-10 years. (93 pts.)
- 1999 Alban Vineyards Syrah Seymour's Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
Tasted double blind. Let me start by stating I am rarely a fan of Alban, often finding too great a sulfured and reductive character. This same character really came through tonight, along with dense black fruit and a fair degree of spice. Moderate length and finish. Others liked this wine much more than I did tonight. (87 pts.)
- 2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c - USA, California
Tasted double blind. Sweet black and blue fruit on nose. Clearly made in a super-modern style, but still balanced without any awkward over-ripeness or alcohol. great spice all the way from start-to-finish. (94 pts.)
- 2001 Penfolds Grange - Australia, South Australia
Tasted double blind. My first time trying this wine, and this was really surprising to me, and not in a good way. Super-ripe in every way with lots of sweet fruit and spice. Elements of vanilla, chocolate and chocolate-covered cherries. Perhaps 10 years from now this will start to taste like the Grange i've gotten to know from earlier vintages. Hard to assess vs. what others have said about this wine, I'd have considered it just under a "90 point" wine tonight.
- 2006 Bodega Catena Zapata Malbec Catena Alta - Argentina, Mendoza
Tasted double blind. Not at all familiar with this wine. Black cherry and currant on nose. Good balance, good fruit, ok textures and acidity, but nothing really memorable, interesting or sophisticated. (89 pts.)
- 2003 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Tasted double blind, but this was the bottle I provided so knew. I've opened this wine with most of tonight's group several times over the past 5-6 years, so the group was able to identify it fairly easily from its massive black pepper and overall excellence. Black fruit behind the black pepper on nose. Same cherry falvors along with black pepper and licorice flavors and some rosemary in background on long finish. This has barely changed since I first tried it 5+ years ago, so expect it will have a good, long life going forward. (95 pts.)
- 2000 Ghost Horse Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
Tasted double blind. Black simple fruit. Nothing remotely interesting. Others told me the story behind this caricature of a PT Barnum wine story. (83 pts.)
- 2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah The 17th Nail in My Cranium - USA, California, Central Coast
Tasted double blind. Clearly and immediately sensational. Black currant and black cherry with black pepper, licorice, then floral hints. Slightly sweet fruit with massive spice and really incredible balance, length and textures. (96 pts.)
Fun Bonus Wine - 2006 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Summa Old Vines - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Tasted double blind. Clearly a New World Pinot Noir, this wine was tough to assess after 10+ bottles of New World Cabernet and Syrah. Great red fruit on nose and palate, with nuanced spice coming through from middle forward. Good acidity and textures, this kept getting better after its late night pop-and-pour. Give it more time. (91 pts.)
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