Birthday Week

Decided to treat myself this week. It has been a grind this year and this week seems like a good time to take it easy.

• 2004 Château Smith Haut Lafitte

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (10/9/2011)

  Popped and poured. Nice nose of dark fruit, cedar, espresso. Palate had dark fruit, mocha, cedar, graphite, mineral, tobacco, but it was walled off by tannins that were nicely balanced with acids. Big time structure promises a bright future. Feels a little bit shut down right now. Not going to score now, if I had to put a number to it, 90. I could easily see this climbing into the 94-95 ranger in 7 to 10 years.

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• 2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

  (10/10/2011)

  Popped and poured. Nose of black cherry, pie cherry, cola, smoke, raspberry, tea, cranberry, brown sugar. On the palate, black cherry, cola, pie cherry, strawberry, vanilla, spice, black tea. Great sappy transition to a crisp finish with nice gripe. Drink over the next 5-7 years.

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• 2004 Saint Jean du Barroux Ventoux L'Oligocène 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  (10/10/2011)

  Consistent with previous notes. Drink over the next two years.

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• 2005 Waterstone Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/11/2011)

  Popped and poured, nose of sour cherry, black currant, mint, black cherry, tobacco, cedar. On the palate, sour cherry, blackberry, tobacco, bell pepper, mint, vanilla, spicey oak. Nice dry finish with great grip. Drink or continue to hold

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• 1997 Château d'Yquem 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  (10/11/2011)

  Not as golden as the previous botle. Nose of dried apricot, peach, honey, orange zest, spice. On the palate, apricot, peach, pineapple, honey. Still has the vibrant acididty and nice long finish. Simply not as nuanced as the last bottle.

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• 2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (10/12/2011)

  Popped and poured. Very nice nose of black cherry, cola, spice, and mushroom. On the palate, sour cherry, black cherry, spice, black tea, mushroom, vanilla. Finishes with great balance but a slight bitter edge. More restrained than the typical full throttle KB style. Should be something special when it has a little more time to integrate.

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• 2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  (10/12/2011)

  Popped and poured. Nose of sour cherry, tar, rose petals, leather, earth. On the palate earthy red fruit, leather, vanilla, earth. Nice long finish. Almost there, needs another year.

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• 2007 Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  (10/13/2011)

  Rating withheld. This is a long way from being anywhere near ready to evaluate. The nose was really good with sour cherry, tar, cedar, florals, and tons of spicey oak. On the palate, fruit was completely walled off by fierce tannins. Has a good acidic spine but for right now, the tannins dominate. With a gun to my head I would say 90 pts.

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• 2004 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 90 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto

  (10/14/2011)

  Part of Birthday Week. Popped and poured. Faint nose, cassis, cedar, mint, mocha. On the palate it was thin with black fruits, mint, sour cherry. Finish seemed a little clipped. As the night went on, if fleshed out very nicely to become more consistent with previous notes. Still, not as good as previous bottles, maybe in a bit of a dumb phase?

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• 2005 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (10/15/2011)

  Decanted for one hour. Consistent with previous note. Still improving. Drink or hold.

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