Tasting Group Holiday Party (Mouton, Laurent, Essencia, Hundred Acre, Staglin, +++)

Last night, my tasting group met for our holiday tasting. Like last year, our friend Robert opened his cellar and we all chipped in to help with the costs. Plus, some of us brought some extras. It was at a new (old) place this year. We sat in the lounge and had the place to ourselves. The wines were consumed over 3.5 hours. Its a great group of guys and the topics of conversation were far ranging. The food was very good. As for the wines, this is the order they were served in.

• 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was quite good. My first time trying this. Light gold in color. Nice mousse. The nose has toast, slight lemons, and ginger. Very nice. Got broader with air. On the palate, this is complex. Great backbone of acidity. Very smooth finish. Everything about this wine seems understated except the synergy of the parts makes the package great (if that makes sense). Anyway, drinking very well now. Probably no hurry but seems to be at its first peak. There is a slight oxidized/nutty note on the finish that is very enjoyable right now.

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• 2002 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Haut-Lieu 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  I was nervous about opening this due to premox concerns. Deep golden in color. While there is a touch of oxidation, its probably reasonable for the age and this was drinking well. (I do admit to not being sensitive to oxidation). The nose has slight orange notes, a hint of sea air, a slightly burnt orange peel quality to it as well. On the palate, this is slightly sweet. Nice minerality. A bit of pineapple. A very slight nutty/oxidized note but not out of place. Quite complex. A sip at the end of the night showed a much cleaner wine IMO. Perhaps some air time might be in order (slow ox).

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• 2010 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  If you like this style, you would probably like it more. Light golden in color. The nose is lemony with plenty of vanilla and fresh cut lumber. On the palate, there is a delicious vanilla creme quality that, though this is dry as a bone, reminded me of dessert. There is also a nice chalky quality to it that balances it a bit. Slight heat on the finish. This is well made and if you like this style, this is probably one of the better ones.

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• 2005 Dominique Laurent Clos de la Roche 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru

  What a great showing. Consistently one of my favorite Burgundy producers. I was surprised how open this was. Ruby purple in color. The nose has a nice merde-funk to it. Also cherries, plums and dark cherries. On the palate, this is soft but still has a nice structure. Easy sipping but then it has this great layered complexity. Layers of cherries, earth, dried cherries and damp forest floor. Good balance. Smooth finish. Very food friendly. In general I would hold Grand Crus from 05, but based on this bottle, if you have a few, it should be checked on. No hurry, but so great now.

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• 2005 Rivers-Marie Pinot Noir Occidental Ridge Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Interesting to have this side by side with the 05 Laurent CdlR. This is drinking so much younger. Very deep ruby/purple in color. The nose is very nice with dark cherries, sour cherries and slight weedy/herbal note. Though green, I liked it and did not find that quality off putting. Interesting. I meant to go back to see if it blew off, but forgot. The palate has great sour cherries with nice acidity. Perhaps the slightest of root beer notes. Very food friendly. I think there is still further potential here.

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• 2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Really nice showing. It was probably in the wrong place in the lineup as it took a sip or two to re-calibrate. In any event, once I did, this was great. Not really showing much age, although obviously not a baby. Purple in color. The nose has plums, black raspberries and a slight floral note. On the palate, more black cherries with a strong and nice black licorice note. Good acidity. Tight complexity that slowly unwound in the glass. Great showing. As I still have a few left, I was glad to see that there is no hurry.

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• 1995 Château Mouton Rothschild 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Really nice showing for this. Of course, it is always a pleasure to drink a First Growth. This got more than a few votes for WOTN. Purple in color. The nose is outstanding. Plums, cedar and red berries. Also some cigar box. On the palate, it is not as expressive as the nose. Cassis, some damp earthy/forest floor qualities. It unwinds in the glass to show a nice complexity. Still, blind I might have guessed a decade younger. Its best days should be ahead for well stored bottles.

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• 1967 Château Montrose 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  The cork was crumbling on removal. Luckily, we had a Durand. It got the cork out but it crumbled on hitting the air. The wine was at the top of the neck. Dull ryby/purple/brown in color. The nose was actually very nice. Cedar, leather, tobacco and cassis. Still some firm tannins. More black cherry on the palate. Slightly sour on the finish. Pretty impressive survivor from this vintage. Quite a treat.

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• 2005 Portfolio Limited Edition 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Purple in color. The nose has cassis and cedar. On the palate, cassis and some earthiness. Drying tannins. Slight heat on the finish. This is very good, but seemed a bit past prime which was surprising. Just not the complexity I might have expected either.

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• 2006 Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon HãLo Hillspring Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District

  Holy crap is this bottle heavy. Must be 6 pounds. Purple in color. The nose is cassis, cedar and saw dust. On the palate, this is sweet jammy pie filling. Also a bit chalky. Hugely tannic. It took a moment for my palate to adjust after the Mouton. Once it did, this was quite enjoyable. I am sure some would find this the antithesis of wine, but that's too bad. There is a lot of hedonistic pleasure here. Drinking very young, blind I might have guessed a 2013. Given the fruit and tannins, I would say this has a long life ahead.

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• 2007 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon 25th Anniversary Selection 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  I had this back in August and was blown away and this bottle was equally as good. Inky purple in color. The nose is dusty with Framboise, cassis and spice. What a great texture. Alluring. Very deep. Compared to the Trefethen, so much more interesting but yet also had tons of fruit. Great acidity. Very young, it seems like it has a couple of decades left. My WOTN. A real treat.

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• 2006 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termanthia 96 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  This garnered a few first place votes as well. Coming after a couple of big Napa Cabs helped it s the oak did not seem out of place. Deep inky purple in color. The nose is dusty with black cherries, boysenberries, spice, sandal wood and chocolate. On the palate, this is a huge wine but with great acidity. Sweet black cherries on the palate. Plenty of oak still but I am sure this integrates with time. Decades left for this wine, but if you like them big, this is really enjoyable right now.

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• 2006 Hundred Acre Vineyard Shiraz Summer's Block Ancient Way 95 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  And we turn it up another notch in intensity. This one goes to 11. Inky purple in color. The nose has black raspberries, iodine, black pepper, violets and slight grilled meats. On the palate, this is slightly, only slightly, more restrained than the nose. Lush black raspberry fruit. Firm tannins. Actually a nice deep complexity. There is also a mouth puckering acidity, especially at the finish that keeps this vibrant. I think this has a couple of decades to come together and mature, but it is really enjoyable right now as a fruit laden wine.

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• 1998 Paloma Syrah 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  This was ill served by being late and next to the hundred acre. It is so much more elegant and refined. The alcohol is about 2.5% below that one. In any event, ruby/purple in color. The nose is very nice with dark cherries and a bit of black pepper. Elegant. Nice texture. Good finish. Worked well with food.

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• NV Graham Porto 30 Year Old Tawny 91 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Always a nice way to finish an evening. Iced tea in color. The nose shows some alcohol but also some toffee and slight coffee notes. On the palate, this is warming. Nice toffee notes. Some alcohol on the finish. I would have liked to spend an hour with this watching it open. This was pop and pour. I suspect the leftovers taste even better today as it seemed to need air.

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• 1996 KFT Tokaji Stanza III Eszencia 97 Points

  Hungary, Tokaji

  Wow. From a really interestingly shaped bottle. I think Trent said it was 200ml. We each got a small pour but that was plenty. Brown in color. The nose was really nice. Someone said Apple butter and that wasn't far off. Maybe some raisins too. Easily the thickest and most viscous wine I have had (beating out an Avignonesi Vin Santo). Like sludged motor oil. Wonderful acidity. Macerated, oxidized apples and honey. Hard to describe. A little went a long way. A really cool experience and a fun wine. Thanks.

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Thanks to Robert and the entire group for a wonderful year of friendship and wine. Here's hoping we can come close to doing as well next year (or maybe even better ;-0 ).