Son's High School Graduation

My son graduated high school yesterday. After the ceremony, we celebrated with a dinner. I brought along some birth year wines and some newer wines for the crowd. It was a great evening to culminate a great family event. For the record, my son was surprised that wine could hold up as long as he has. His favorite was the lemon soda he ordered, although he found the Dom to not be as bad as most of the wine I have made him try.

• 1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Son's birth year wine, opened for his graduation. Light golden in color. The nose is nice. Slight mushroom quality. Nice ginger. Some citrus quality. On the palate, drinking nicely. It opened up for a couple of hours. So smooth. Nice balance and acidity. Did I say smooth? Showing tight layering that opened up with air. A beautiful starter.

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• 1996 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux Flawed

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  Dark golden in color. Sadly, this came out oxidized. The nose has a "sherried" quality. On the palate, this is a bit sickly sweet. But wait, I left it in my glass and noticed two hours later that it was now golden in color. The nose was orange peel, slightly candied, with some sea air. On the palate, this is delicious. Candied orange peel, slightly salty, sweet but not cloying. WFT? Back from the dead! I pour some from the bottle and its as before - oxidized. I left all the bottles for the staff, but I hope by the time they get to this it has recovered. Really interesting.

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• 1996 Château La Grave a Pomerol Trigant de Boisset 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Pop and pour. This is a bit past peak, but still drinking well. I bought this on release. Ruby/purple with slight bricking. On the nose, cherries, dried cherries, slight funk. This is moderately complex with slight layering. Cherries, earth and tobacco on the palate. Nice texture. Medium bodied. Nice finish. Drink up, but a nice showing.

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• 1996 Fernando Remírez de Ganuza Rioja Reserva 96 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alavesa, Rioja

  First bottle from a case bought for my son's birth year. I have had other bottles with brett issues, so I was concerned. This was perfect. Pop and pour, it was better after a couple hours. Purple in color. Slight ruby. On the nose, cherries, dark cherries, tobacco, slight earthiness and some pencil lead. Full bodied. Not young, but doesn't seem at peak yet. Lush texture. Black cherries and plums with some cigar tobacco and fin tannins. Nice balance. food friendly. Long finish. Hope all the bottles show this well.

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• 2010 Bevan Cellars Ontogeny 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Love this wine. Not as good as the upper level Bevan's perhaps, but still very nice. Purple in color. The nose is cassis, cigar tobacco, cherries, slight menthol note. On the palate, still young, it got better in the bottle all night. Juicy yet silky texture. Lots of cassis and cherries with depth. Nice balance. Long finish. A favorite of some at the table.

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• 2007 Saxum Heart Stone Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Really nice showing for this. I loved it. In a great place. Purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, leather, smoked/charred meats, and black pepper. On the palate, this is lush. Juicy acidity with great plush black raspberry fruit. Delicious. Complex but tightly layered. Food friendly at this stage. Not noticeable heat or alcohol.

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• 2011 SonkinCellars Persona

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  This is in a good place. Kind of cool to be able to open this for a family celebration. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. My wife was surprised at how ready to drink this is compared to earlier vintages. I would agree. If you have more than one, its worth opening now (and if you don't, buy one ;-) ).

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It was great to have some wines be a part of the celebration. Obviously they took a back seat to my son's accomplishments and the family and friends that were there to share it with us. I hope we can have many more days like this.