San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 11/7/2015

Fifteen of us gathered for another splendid evening of wine, food, and camaraderie. The San Diego group welcomed back Mr. & Mrs. Seaquam from Vancouver, and also welcomed KSC02 from Montreal, and Mr. & Mrs. Ucladave from Los Angeles. The private dining room allowed us to mingle and converse. Food, service, and ambience were excellent as usual. On to the wines. I quote Seaquam liberally in these tasting notes because of his fine palate; his descriptions and comments always get people's heads nodding in agreement. Point scores are my own; rankings are by group vote in two categories: white and red.

• 2004 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  From magnum. Vigorous fine bead with beautiful profile of lemons, apples, yeast, limestone. Similar on the palate, pure and precise, seems primary. Would love to revisit in a few years.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Clear medium straw-yellow with persistent very fine bead. Bright fresh Meyer lemon, green apple, hints of ginger, daisies, chalk, and croissant. Seems mature to my palate; no need to wait any longer, but no rush to consume either. My #1 and group's SECOND PLACE among white wines.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Jacques Selosse Initial 91 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Fresh, pure, precise. Seemed like a lighter, more reticent version of the 1995 Heidsieck tasted just prior. I was impressed by the bright fruit and the minerality, while Seaquam commented on the yeastiness: "like breaking open a baguette fresh from the oven."

  Read 3 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Merry Edwards Sauvignon Blanc 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Clear light straw yellow. Smoky, musky (not musty) notes of lemon, grapefruit, and thyme, with a touch of cut grass. Delicious as usual.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Marcassin Chardonnay Three Sisters Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Clear light gold color. Glorious, captivating bouquet of golden kiwi, grilled pineapple, butterscotch, golden delicious apple, peach blossom, vanilla, acacia flower, with hazelnut and honeycomb emerging later. Creamy, rich, full body. World-class chardonnay. My #2 and group's THIRD PLACE among white wines.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  12.5% alcohol. Clear straw yellow. Bouquet of quince paste, grapefruit, chamomile. Seaquam noted "fresh sea air." The beguiling bouquet in no way prepared us for the electrifying acidity on the palate: sort of a violin and flute prelude followed by a trumpet blast. Strikingly fresh and tart; a thrilling wine with laser precision. And it's only going to get better. My #3; group's FIRST PLACE among white wines. Thanks ucladave!

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

• 1977 Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  14.8% alcohol. Hazy blood-brick-ruby red. Intriguing bouquet of Elmer's glue, juicy red cherries, raspberries, pine needles, musk, freshly varnished redwood deck, and mossy forest. Smooth and mellow on the palate, pleasantly tart. Delicious wine, very much alive. If it were a newly released young pinot noir, the peculiar aromas might be considered a flaw, but in this case they add interest.

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

• 1995 Château Calon-Ségur 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Allowed to breathe in bottle for three hours, then decanted one hour before tasting. Clear dark garnet color. Bouquet of blackberry briar and forest floor, with initial whiff of exposed mud flats that blew off. On the palate, Seaquam commented that this seemed "hard, angular, tannic, acidic." I agreed that it was austere and too young, but offering promising flavors of black currant liqueur. First of three bottles; I don't regret opening this at age 20, but will wait several years before the next bottle.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1999 Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino 92 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Inky garnet-black color. Bouquet of black cherry compote, leather, stony soil. Similar on the palate, pleasantly assertive tannins and mouthwatering acidity. Outstanding with food. My #3 among red wines tonight.

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

• 1984 Dominus Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Clear dark garnet color. Classic Old World style with bouquet of tobacco, creme de cassis, boysenberry, forest floor, mushrooms and beef blood. Similar on the palate; balanced, seamless. Freshened over an hour. Group's THIRD PLACE tonight.

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

• 1987 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Clear dark garnet color. Fabulous aromas and flavors of red currants, cherries, rhubarb, stony soil, forest floor, nutmeg and cloves. Rich, full body, beautifully balanced, amazing wine. My #1 and group's FIRST PLACE among red wines. Thanks ShaneT!

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

• 1995 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Clear dark garnet color. Glorious bouquet of framboise, kirsch, creme de cassis, cocoa, forest floor. Similar on the palate, beautifully balanced, seamless, with mouthwatering acidity and long finish. My #2; group's SECOND PLACE among red wines.

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

• 2008 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  From magnum. Clear inky garnet color. Extravagant, hedonistic bouquet of blueberry-blackberry pie, cloves, cocoa, melted licorice, creosote, camphor. Seaquam noted some Band-Aid. The fruit was ultra-ripe with a baked quality. Rich and generous on the palate, full body, low acidity, voluptuous. No surprise this wine and producer have such a devoted following.

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

• 2001 Schlossgut Diel Dorsheimer Goldloch Riesling Auslese 91 Points

  Germany, Nahe

  7.5% alcohol. Delicious, refreshing wine with notes of slate, peach, jasmine, lime, very light petrol. We drank this at the end of the night, but included it in the voting with all the other white wines from the first half of the evening, which may not have been fair.

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

• 1994 Graham Porto Vintage 93 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Delicious, smooth dessert wine with aromas and flavors of brandy, cherry cordial, kirsch, framboise, chocolate. Last wine of the evening; I was getting tired and did not spend enough time with this superb wine. Excellent with blue cheese, figs and chocolates. It was the #1 red wine of the night for two people and the #3 red wine for three others.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

In two previous San Diego offlines, Mr. & Mrs. Seaquam brought the top two wines of the night. This time they were dethroned in that respect by Mr. & Mrs. Ucladave. Thanks to all who attended for their generosity and their companionship. Cheers!