Merlots (mostly), Masseto, Kapcsandy, ++

Cleveland Heights
Tasted Thursday, October 8, 2015 by Loren Sonkin with 450 views

Introduction

I mentioned to a friend that I had never had Masseto and it was at the top of my wine bucket list. He generously offered to open a bottle and put together a dinner/ tasting for 6 of us. The wines were served in the order listed. With the one exception, the wines were not served blind. Most of the wines were pop and pour or had a quick splash decant. This was a fun night and a very geeky wine night. The wines were consumed with dinner off the menu (I had Caprese salad and A spicy pasta dish). We were there for about 3.5 hours.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

1996 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley

Really in a good place right now. This had the "advantage" of being the only mostly Cabernet on the table of Merlots. Still, it seemed to show quite well. Also the oldest wine. This opened quickly once poured. Purple in color. The nose has dust, cassis, and cigar box. Nice texture. On the palate, there is a nice layering of complexity. Perhaps not amazing, but certainly enough to demand attention. Still has firm tannins, so no hurry. Not sure if this gets better. Lots of cassis and a bit of chocolate on the palate. Good intensity on the finish. Clearly Californian, I am sure this was considered full throttle on release. At this point, it has a lovely charm to it.

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1999 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT 96 Points

Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

My first Masseto. Cross that one off the wine bucket list. Purple in color, ruby on the rim. The nose is very tight on opening. This was splash decanted and served. Initially there is this sort of pepperoni pizza scent but that blows off quickly. Then dusty cherries and plums. Also, a slight herbal note (sage?). Very smooth. Complex layering. This continued to improve all night with the last glass being the best. Plenty of time left in this. Nice plums on the palate with some dark cherries. Long finish. A very unique wine for sure.

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2000 Attila Gere Kopár Cuvée 92 Points

Hungary, Dél-Pannónia, Villányi

This was a wine geek treat. It was served blind and decanted. The story behind it has to do with a blind tasting that James Suckling wrote that this wine bested a couple of Bordeauxs including the 1989 Petrus. See http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/A-Wine-Collectors-Shoot-Out_2334. The wine itself was interesting. Purple in color. The nose has a lot of dill on it. This blew off leaving dark and regular cherries, spice, dust and green bell peppers. At that point, I was thinking Rioja. We knew it was a 2000, or I probably would have guessed 1980's Cal Cab (not that it drank old). On the palate, there is a strong back bone of acidity which made me think Italy and not Rioja. Plenty of cherry fruit left. Medium tannins. Nice finish. In any event, blind, I guessed Old World, probably Italy. We were then told it has some Merlot, so i kept my guess. Old World, yes, not Italy. I was certain it was not Bordeaux, so I eventually settled on Eastern Europe, maybe Hungary or Greece. A sample tasted later in the evening was a bit smoother all around. Not sure where this goes from here. It was certainly an outlier type of wine (in a good way). A lot of fun and a real treat.

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2009 Kapcsándy Family Winery Roberta's Reserve State Lane Vineyard 95 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

This bottle had been opened and allowed to breather for 10 hours. Not enough time, but still showed well IMO. Bright purple/ruby in color. The nose is tight at first, but opens to chocolate raspberries. Also some licorice. On the palate, the texture is the amazing thing. Seamless. Bright ripe fruit, this was delicious. Lots of black raspberries and dark cherries. Very deep as it unwinds in the glass. Needs ten years to start to see the bottom. It didn't really change over the evening. Would love to try this in twenty years.

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2010 Duckhorn Vineyards Merlot Three Palms Vineyard 91 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley

A nice showing that on another day might be wotn, but seemed to be everyone's last place wine in this company. Purple in color, ruby at the rim. On the nose there is milk chocolate covered cherries, a slight minty/tarragon note as well. On the palate, this starts of with bright cherries. Medium tannins. There is a slightly distracting bitter/charred note to the finish though. This did improve with air, so maybe with a few years it sorts itself out.

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2011 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT 94 Points

Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

Quite the treat. Never had a Masseto and then two in one night. This was splash decanted and obviously needs a long time until maturity. Most of us thought this would eventually be better than the 99, but not on this night. Purple in color. The nose has dark cherries, minerals, coffee grounds and spice. On the palate, there is a wall of tannins. At the same time, it is delicious right now. Bold black raspberry and dark cherry flavors. Deep. Juicy acidity. Long finish. I know 2011 is supposed to be a great vintage in Tuscany, but this is a pretty special wine.

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2005 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière 94 Points

France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

This was pop and pour later in the evening because, well, it was a back up bottle. Purple in color. The nose is showing well with black raspberries, cherries, vanilla, cedar, and tobacco. On the palate, there is a nice varietal complexity. While still young, this is open for business. Nice dark cherry fruit. Luxurious texture. Rich. Good balance. Nice finish. Someone said they got sour cherries on the finish. I can see that, but not in a bad way.

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