Fight Night Wines V

Matt graciously invited a bunch of us over for the pacquiao fight. There were two blind whites, and then we had a lot of reds for the rest of the night. We had homemade pizza and watched the fights

the viogniers were blind and I brought the ZH to have another white

• 2006 Failla Viognier Alban Estate Vineyard 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  nose: rich and big nose of oils, white fruits, peaches, and bits of peach blossoms. Good depth, but almost too rich on the nose
  
  taste: full bodied with big tones of oils, peaches, tropical citrus', and tones of white fruits. There is some noticeable heat that bites on the back end
  
  overall: The heat is a bit much. This is also very big for a viognier and its hard to gauge it. If this got chilled down a bit, the heat may not be as noticeable

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• 2007 Jemrose Viognier Egret Pond 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

  nose: very white fruit based and hi-toned with succulent tones of peaches, limes, white florals and bits of citrus'
  
  taste: suave and fuller feel, but holds it well with rich tones of peaches, white fruits, citrus', and some bits of cream tones
  
  overall: A really good viognier. It didn't show any of the heat that the failla did even though it was also a fairly big wine. Has a good richness to it, the extra layer of depth made it stick out blind vs the failla

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• 2002 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand 91 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  nose: young, but showing really good depth and tones of apples, mineral, pears, and some bits of sweet citrus tones
  
  taste: very classy medium feel with nice and crisp medium/high acidity along with tasty tones of apples, pears, minerals, and some bits of citrus'
  
  overall: This is really good right now, but it felt like it was holding back a bit. The nose was a bit tight and the palate wasn't really showing itself off, this feels like it could use a few more years to really show itself

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there wasn't any real order to this per se, it was just grab for a bottle near you

• 1987 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  nose: very deep and balanced with a nice warmth to the tones of pencil lead, dark red cherries, leather, black currants, mint, and a touch of red florals
  
  taste: very elegant with a well balanced medium/full feel that is still showing off some tannins with mature tones of cranberries, dark red cherries, black currants, and mint
  
  overall: a great cab. This was also blind and did fool a bit as it had a bordeaux quality, but was hard to locate. This still has a way to go in a good cellar as the color was a good solid dark ruby with some bricking

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• 2002 Pax Syrah Walker Vine Hill 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  nose: big, rich, and dense nose of blackberry pie, blueberry compote, dark red cherries, smoke tones and a good amount of blue fruits
  
  taste: rich, and forward with a full bodied feel and tones of blackberries, blueberry compote, dark red cherries, smoke and some bits of liqueur tones
  
  overall: Not really showing any secondary characteristics. Its more rounded out and forward, but not over the top. Not sure how it will age further, and it did need a 2 hour decant to fully show

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• 2004 Stolpman Syrah Hilltops 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley

  nose: big and massive nose of blackberries, black cherries, aniestte, and blue fruits
  
  taste: full bodied and very rich with big tones of spices, black cherries, anisette, and blackberries with some heat showing as well
  
  overall: Not a bashful wine. This is a big beast of a wine that would be very enjoyable for those that like this style. The heat is a bit much for me and the tones are over the top

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• 2005 Lillian Winery Syrah 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  nose: deep and classy nose of bluefruits, smoke, blackberries, black cherries and some tones of mint. Has a riper style to it, but isn't over the top and has a real purity to the fruit
  
  taste: full bodied with silky tones of bluefruits, smoke, blackberries, black fruits and a touch of black cherries. There is a real richness on the palate with good tannins as well
  
  overall: A really polished syrah. Has real good fruit and has good balance to it at the same time. The aromas really jump out of the glass and the wine shows off its stuff real well

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• 2001 Pax Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  nose: real good and rich nose of blackberries, bits of black fruits, compotes, black cherries and bits of spice tones
  
  taste: well balanced, but definitely full bodied and forward with plush tones of blackberries, black cherries, spice tones and bits of currants
  
  overall: drinking great right now. In its prime, this doesn't seem like its going to add more depth and the tones are more toned down then really developing secondary tones

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• 2005 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  nose: very rich, deep, and perfumed nose of cedar, dark red cherries, cranberries, red and black currants as well as sour red fruits
  
  taste: really polished and silky medium/full feel. This has a lot of class and depth with beautiful tones of dark red cherries, cedar, cranberries, and red currants all backed up by chewy tannins
  
  overall: a young, but great cab. This has a lot of depth and polish that it just needs time to let it shine. There is a lot to like here, but I think the fact that it is fairly open is deceptive. The wine is showing great, but it has a lot more to offer

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• 2004 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  nose: rich and expressive nose of dark red cherries, oak, vanillians, and a lot of red currants. Good depth and good purity on the fruit, but the oak is a bit pronounced
  
  taste: full bodied with silky tannins and deep tones of dark red cherries, vanillians, cranberries, bits of red fruits, and a good dose of oak that kind of serves as a blanket on the fruit
  
  overall: the oak was a bit annoying and took away from the fruit. There is real good fruit there, so if the oak dials back a bit with age then this could be great

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• 2004 Château Calon-Ségur 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  nose: tight, but classy nose of pencil lead, leather, dark red cherries, cranberries and some bits of spice box. Elegant with good depth
  
  taste: showing off its youth with some big tannins. Underneath the tannins lie excellent tones of spice box, dark red fruits, dark red cherries, leather and some cedar
  
  overall: this needs some more time. A real nice and elegant calon that plays into the style. The tannins are pretty noticeable right now, but this is a real nice and balanced wine that should age gracefully

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• 2003 Arietta Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  nose: real big and bold with rich tones of liqueur, black cherries, sour cranberries, dark red fruits and dark berries. There is a bit of a stewed quality to the tones that is a bit off putting
  
  taste: good tannins back this up, but they are a bit hard. Rich and big, with full bodied tones of dark red fruits, liqueur, black cherries, and some sour cranberries
  
  overall: This is a bit tough and angular right now. Not sure how or if it will round into form. There is a bit of a stewed quality on both the nose and palate, and it certainly has a real hard and dark profile as well

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• 2005 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  nose: bold and rich with big tones of red and black fruits, black cherries, liqueur tones and bits of red licorice
  
  taste: full bodied with good supporting tannins and rich tones of black fruits, black cherries, and liqueur tones
  
  overall: A very good syrah, but this isn't really showing that next level of depth. A big and forward syrah, this isn't too over the top, but it is very ripe

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• 2004 Bodegas Peñalba López Ribera del Duero Cyclo 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  nose: dark and pungent nose of dark red fruits, red and black currants, black cherries, bits of leather and some cedary tones as well. Very well balanced with a real brawny style on the nose
  
  taste: really well balanced with great pure fruit and medium/full tones of dark red fruits, red and black currants, smoke, black cherries, and some cedar tones. Good tannins support this as well and show the youth of the wine
  
  overall: This could use a few years more to really get going. There's a lot to like here and it definitely has room to improve. There is a good amount of power behind it right now and could use a good decant if drunk right now

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A real fun night and a lot of great wine. Many left before the final fight, but a good time was had by all