| | My first time to hook up with the Atlanta Vielles Vignes group and it was indeed a pleasure to meet some of them for the first time as well as a few new additions to this group. A generous, gregarious and well organized event by John B. for a group of 11 at the always excellent Bone’s steakhouse. Flight 1 Flight 2 - 1982 Château Sociando-Mallet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Quiet and slightly turned on the nose. Dark cassis and cherry in an amazing layer of oh-so-soft, supple, and smooth tannins. Flavors are finely integrated, but have a slight vinegar edge that I couldn’t shake off. This bottle was past its prime. (85 pts.)
- 1994 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Floral nose of violets and red fruits with surprisingly rich, supple tannins rendering this full-bodied gem of black fruits and currants with amazing youthfulness for a 10 yr old Napa Cab. Has pencil shavings on the edge giving it wonderful depth and settles nicely into a lengthy finish. This has years more cellar life ahead. (94 pts.)
- 1996 Dominus Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
Good nose of cassis and violets. Flavors of deep, dark red fruits with a touch of graphite. Nicely balanced with good acidity and a lifting finish. Seemed just a little tight. (91 pts.)
Flight 3 - 1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
Cherry nose. Bright cassis, shiny red fruits and sweet vanilla on the nice attack. Very fine tannins on the surface, but could not give the fruit much needed depth. Consistent palate that finishes a bit too quickly. (89 pts.)
- 1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
Nose of cassis and spicy blackberry. Great depth of fruit with rich cassis and black fruits that dance on the tongue and are wonderfully balanced with anise, light notes of mocha, and graphite. Consistent throughout the full bodied palate, this has rich, fine tannins and a nice lingering finish. (95 pts.)
Flight 4 - 1996 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
Good nose. Bright, expressive cassis and red fruits with vanilla throughout and a lightly spiced frame. Silky fine, yet prominent tannins and good depth leading to a generous finish. (92 pts.)
- 1995 Joseph Phelps Insignia - USA, California, Napa Valley
Slightly reticent nose. Dark, brooding black fruits and cassis and spice with great density in lieu of depth and significant tannins. Has a hint of violet. The finish was pleasant enough, but disappointing. This just had to be closed or a slightly off bottle – not what I had expected. (90 pts.)
Flight 5 - 1997 Peter Michael Les Pavots - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Expressive, rich nose with a touch of floral quality that follows through on the deep, dark cassis flavors, nicely layered in great depth with some vanilla and a hint of violet and dusty graphite. Supple, silky tannins with understated minerality and terrific balance that just maintained incredible consistency on the palate from the start through to the heady, never ending, finish. My WOTN. (96 pts.)
- 1997 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
Nose was too volatile. Bretty, muted fruits - flawed. I could not drink this.
Flight 6 - 2002 Del Dotto The David - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Nose of red fruits and cassis. Soft, plush and richly layered flavors of cassis, red fruits and a hint of plum along with a touch of graphite, anise and prominent sweet vanilla oak. Otherwise, nicely balanced and well integrated with acidity. Increased mocha and oak on the broad mid-palate. Very fine tannins with a nice finish. (92 pts.)
- 2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
Powerful and loaded with dark cassis infused with mounds of mouth filling chocolate expanding on the hefty, generous mid-palate and framed with solid anise notes. Significant, yet supple tannins are kept in check with the tremendous depth and excellent mouthfeel that never lets up until the wonderful finish. (95 pts.)
Flight 7 - N.V. R.L. Buller & Son Premium Fine Tokay - Australia, Victoria
Had this with the chocolate dessert (selected to pair with the Pride) which unfairly rendered this too sweet and too much molasses syrup. Terrific finish.
What a great evening of steak, Napa (mostly) Cabs and a wonderful group of people! I’m sure the wait staff was tiring of me by the end of the evening for not letting any of my glasses go, but I just enjoy being able to go back and forth comparing the wines against each other. The Insignia vertical was greatly appreciated. I didn’t count the votes, but I think the group consensus for WOTN was a tie between the ‘02 Pride Reserve and the ‘97 Les Pavots.
Thanks and I hope to join the Atlanta VV group again - and soon. |
