Wine Tasting with Rick Joyer (including a 100 pointer and other gems)

When I found out that fellow board member Rick Joyer was coming to Austin on business, I wanted to show him just how good we Texans take care of our guest. With his approval, I put together a small tasting of 8 Austinites and Rick at one of our favorite BYOB haunts on short notice and we had a great evening.

The food was outstanding as always, but the lineup of wines was among the best we have ever had at any of our tastings. All wines were served blind (except me since I coordinated the serving order and wrote the tasting sheets) and the lineup was as follows:

• 2003 Aubert Pinot Noir Reuling Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Wine #1 / Tasted Blind: Dark hued ruby red color. Nose of candy and spice. Flavors of tree bark, sweet red and dark red fruit. Solid structure and tannins to resolve. Very good wine, but not as good as I would have hoped for a wine of this reputation.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1985 Joseph Phelps Insignia 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Wine #2 / tasted blind: Dark ruby color. Intoxicating nose of leather tobacco or cigar box, some mild spice and noticeable menthol and eucalyptus notes. On the palate, this wine delivered all the promise the nose offered. Still has amazing stamina, but is definitely ready to drink. Awesome wine.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1990 Dominus Estate 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Wine #3 / tasted blind: Super dark red color with no signs of bricking. Had awesome aromas and flavors of cassis, berry, and classic leather and cigar box. Very focused and pure fruit and clearly reminiscent of medoc Bordeaux. This bottle must have been stored impeccably. Still has upside potential IMO and can be cellared for a few years without being in decline.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1990 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 97 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Wine #4 / tasted blind: What can one say about this wine...super tannic still, but awe-inspiring flavors of kirsch liqueur, garrigue, lavender, and other dried herbs, mixed with earthy undertones and absolutely stunning fruit that is accompanied by an animalistic rusticity. I would be a happy man to own even a single bottle of this. The wine still needs time to resolve the tannins and consensus seemed to be that another 5 years would really benefit it.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Wine #5 / tasted blind: First wine of the night with a color that was verging on purple. Lots of cassis and blackberry fruit that is very pure and sweet. Tannins are surprisingly fine grained and resolved. Has definite cigar box aromas and an interesting taste of beef blood that gives the wine a slightly saline and rustic character without even so much as a hint of barnyard. This is drinking very well right now and although the wine will likely develop for many years, there is no reason not to drink it now IMO.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2001 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT

  Wine #6 / tasted blind: Color seemed almost impenetrably black. Berry flavors of balckberry, verging on blueberry. Some distinct tar and tobacco flavors. This is a tannic, dense beast of a wine that I suspect should not be consumed for at least 5 years. Certainly a wine in the modern style. Seemed to be loved by some at the table and less liked by others...a crowd splitter.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Twomey Merlot Napa Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Wine #7 / tasted blind: Huge wine with massive extraction. Cherry, plum, mocha/espresso. Really very fruit forward right now, but has a good structure underneath if I detected that correctly. Probably not a wine for pure traditionalists, but this taster enjoyed the wine for what it was.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, Washington

  Wine #8 / tasted blind: At first, this wine was served a little too warm and I found it nearly undrinkable. There was brabmbly fruit and a touch of heat, which immediately reminded me of bad Aussie Shiraz. Interestingly enough, one of the tasters suggested we chill the Quilceda down to cellar temp via an icebucket. The result was a totally different wine IMO. The heat was gone and the wine seemed much better integrated. I could still taste the primary fruit, but I could also see the potential the wine has. Interesting blueberry flavors and some plum and tobacco. Very pure. I wonder if some who have tried and hated this wine may have drunk it without sufficient air exposure and at the wrong temp. I also wonder how this is a 100 point wine. I can definitely see why it is a controversial wine, but can only say that I really enjoyed it, see its potential, but don't think this is even in the same league with the other 95-100 pointers I have been privileged to taste.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2004 Mitolo Shiraz Reiver 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Wine #9 / tasted blind: Dark monster of a wine. Black, purple, impenetrably opaque color. Smelled heavenly of pain grille, tar, and camphor mixed with pure blue and black fruit. Slightly roasted coffe bean flavors and massive structure. Not even a hint of alcohol in this wine, despite incredible viscosity. I loved it and will buy some of this.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Many thanks to the Rick for gracing us with his presence. Thanks also to all the Austinites who made this a night to remember with their presence as well as their generous vinous contributions. We shall do another tasting in the very near future. Cheers.