California

Private Location
Tasted Friday, April 24, 2015 by m_arcon with 350 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 1995 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay Napa Valley 86 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nose: Very matured nose, unfortunately, distinctly over its peak. Very oxidative nose with a bit of bread & nut aromas.
    Palate: Sharp acidity on the mid-palate, caramel componten (oak), more a medium-to full body wine. A bit of saltiness on the finish.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 1986 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Bella Oaks 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

    Nose: Iron, blood, a bit of oak, wet earth. With more time in the glass I recognize more red fruit notes alongside some eucalyptus. A subtle, not a "in your face" nose. Maybe the most elegant one in the whole tasting.
    Palate: Although this wine is nearly 30 years old, the acid is still super lively. Tannins are nearly full integrated but still recognizable. Medium body, good tension on the mid-palate, medium+ finish with great red fruit aromas. For me the best wine of the evening to drink RIGHT now.

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  • 1986 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nose: At first, like Dirk mentioned before, a lot of unpleasant notes like burned rubber, brett and frail oak. But gets better with air.
    Palate: Medium bodied wine with nice acidity and a bit more "fat on the bones" than the Heitz before. But I miss the tension & elegance. Medium lenght.

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Flight 3 (2 Notes)

  • 1985 Dominus Estate 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nose: Little red dried berries, a bit of oak, tabacco, herbs, leather, cinnamon, strawberry, pencil lead and a hint of tomato. Complex nose.
    Palate: Lacks a bit the complexity from the nose on the palate. Not the punch & length. More on the medium-body side. Think the wine is now at its peak and will not getting better in any sense. Drink up.

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  • 1985 Château Palmer 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Nose: Fully developed with nose with a mix of black fruit, iron, a hint of cinnamon, brett and cedar. Medium intensitiy.
    Palate: Appears younger to me than the 90 or the 89 I´ve had about half a year ago. Tannins are still strong, medium bodied with good power and length. Still some age potential left, but I´m not sure if this wine will get better.

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Flight 4 (2 Notes)

  • 1992 Opus One Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Cork is the devil.

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  • 1992 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nose: Beautiful nose with aromas of black fruit, noble cedar wood, a bit of malt and tobacco. Not very complex, but quite nice.
    Palate: Juicy acidity, still a lot of fruit, a lot of power, nicely integrated wood, slight glycerin, "spicy" on the mid-palate, a bit of caramel on the back-end, long finish. Still very young. Would be interesting to see if it could develope another secondary "sphere" with more time. Best wine in this tasting for me because it does the connection between fruit & oak very well.

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Flight 5 (2 Notes)

  • 1997 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Nose: Very, very fruity (plum, black cherry) with some additional notes of cedar and vanilla. Super young.
    Palate: In my personal opinion this wines is to big & bold. A shitload of fruit, oak and tannins meet a medium acidity, a lot of power and length. I know theres a lot of potential under the surface but its simply not the stlye of wine I really like. Though its incredible how young this wine shows although its already 18 years old. This can easily age for another 20 years.

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  • 1997 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

    Nose: At first a slightly "off-ton" but it disappears with some air. Appears young and a bit tight. A bit of brett & eucalyptus.
    Palate: Tannins are very present, medium+ to full body, lacks a bit of acidity, to much oak for my taste. Not the finish & punch of the Pahlmeyer.

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