$100 bottle tasting

Targeted to be $100 per bottle wines with a lower priced bottle for interest. Wines tasted blind. Price was pushed higher a bit with some excellent bottles.

• 2002 Château Léoville Las Cases 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Rim starting to lighten up. Cool blue fruit nose with a metallic note. Blueberry, cool toned, gunmetal, mineral; very well integrated with layers of flavor and excellent balance. Dry, firm finish with a lot of tannins, but fit in well with the rest of the wine. I think it is very young and has excellent potential. Second best rated wine of the night. 50+4+14+18+9 = 95

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• 1993 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  I loved this wine, but it was the lowest rated wine of the night. Color was showing some age, but not 20 years worth - Lighter brick rim, burgundy core. The nose felt very French in nature with barnyard, minerality, and metallic notes. The taste profile was right on with blueberry and blackberry flavors supporting layers of graphite, forest floor, wet stone, wonderful earth tones. Not what you expect from Napa, but classic Dunn. I think it is time to drink these. The nose lacked fruit and I am guessing that it is sliding toward more earth notes and less fruit in the palate. No rush, but plan on drinking these in the next few years?

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• 2003 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Inky purple color, opaque, almost black. Sweet vanilla nose with a little wet forest. Warm, rich cherry flavors and smooth profile. Layers of cherry, blueberry. Medium/long finish. A lot of balance for such a powerful wine. It has a lot of time left. This was the favorite wine of the night. 50+5+13+17+9=94

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• 2009 Volker Eisele Family Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This was an excellent wine with medium red color. The nose was sweet, warm toned, with floral and spice. Blueberry, cherry, vanilla, smooth and well integrated. Good depth of flavor and complexity. Very well made. Young, but drinking very nicely after a couple hour decant. 50+5+14+17+8=94

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• 2006 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Served next to $100 wines and it was noticeable lower, but it held up well. Purple core, nose of spice and vanilla, palate of warm blue fruits, kiwi, vanilla, and cola. Medium finish. Lacked depth mainly when compared to other bottles. 50+4+13+16+7 = 90

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• 2004 Sipp-Mack Riesling Rosacker 90 Points

  France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

  Golden color, citrus and peach nose. Palate was very balanced and there was some depth in the wine which made it interesting. Peach, apricot, grapefruit. Good acidity and sweetness. Finish was short/medium.

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• 2010 Chateau Margene Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Dark purple, dark cherry nose with vanilla. Smooth profile with blueberry, cherry, cola, and vanilla. Long finish with massive structure, but not harsh. Good acidity provides balance and tempers the wine. Excellent young wine that should improve with time. Hold these for awhile.

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Great evening with friends and great wine!