High-end Cali Cabs with Bryan's Steaks

A group of e-Bob friends got together to try Bryan's 35 to 40 day dry-aged, bone-in rib eyes. High-end California Cabs accompanied the food. Tons of good food, wine and company! Great night. Rough Sunday morning . . .

All wines tasted blind.

• 2006 Scholium Project Naucratis Lost Slough Vineyards 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

  Aromatic with grapefruit and hay. Zingy on the palate showing citrus notes. Acids provide crispness and edge to the fruit.

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• 2005 Auteur Chardonnay Donum Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Aromas of sweet tropical fruits, coconuts and smoke. Palate has forward full, and creamy pineapple fruit. Some smoky vanilla notes. Well balanced with acidity lifting the fruit into a long, full finish.

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• 2004 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Very aromatic. Beautifully balanced wine with loads of fruit and lively acidity. Great creamy mouthfeel. Pineapples, butterscotch, vanilla and hazelnuts.

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• 2004 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Reticent and uninspiring nose. Big-bodied on the palate with bold vanilla and smoked meat notes. Forward white fruits match the liberally use of oak. Outclassed by the Aubert and Auteur.

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• 2004 Alban Vineyards Viognier Alban Estate Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Beautiful floral and spicy fruit aromas. Silky texture and good length. More spicy white fruits and lanolin notes on the palate. Well balanced.

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• 2004 Pax Vénus 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

  Tropical fruits and flowers on the nose. Palate has an astringency that compresses the length. Comes across a bit hollow.

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Thanks, Matt, for cracking this. Nice to get a glimpse --- good work, Kutch!

• 2005 Kutch Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Ruby red with a luscious nose of black cherries, smoke and cola. Rich and juicy fruit on the palate. Seamlessly constructed with a big mid-palate and long finish. Very nice.

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• 1988 Château Rieussec 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Light gold color with aromas of honey, botrytis and peaches. Lively, medium bodied palate has rich peach fruit. Intense up front with a medium length finish.

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'87 Mondavi was the group's and my WOTF. I thought this flight was a bit disappointing with the wines lacking sufficient fruit to marry with structure. Hopefully there just in an awkward phase.

• 1987 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark ruby and opaque color. Giving nose of cedar, vanilla and herbs. Leaner style with light-bodied fruit. Balsamic notes on the mid-palate. Very long but low intensity finish. Elegant. Picked up weight and density of fruit with time.

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• 1989 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 88 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark ruby with a shy nose of red currants and cedar box. Palate has light-weight, cedary currant fruit. Tannins appear resolved on the medium length finish. Just OK and not up to my expectations for Montelena.

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• 1990 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Dark ruby opaque color. Soft, yet complex nose of currants, cedar, herbs and vanilla. Lean palate has terrific complexity with earth, green pepper and herbs intermixed with red fruits. Crushing tannins on the mid-palate - and not enough fruit to compensate. Dry finish loses intensity.

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• 1991 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark ruby opaque in color. Nose has currants, cedar, vanilla and a distracting sour balsamic note. Light-to-medium bodied red currants on the palate complemented with herbs and tobacco. Still quite tannic - not sure there is enough fruit to compensate. Nice vanilla red currant in the finish.

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A big step up in this flight. The Insignia was my WOTN ... absolutely killer.

• 1994 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Lighter nose of dark currant fruits. Sweet, rich currant fruit on the palate. Full mid palate leads to a long finish of herbs and tobacco. Nicely done.

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• 1993 Dalla Valle Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Beautiful provocative aromas of herbs, smoke, cedar and tobacco. Palate has rich, sweet cedary fruit. Full round mouthfeel with fine tannins. Long, broad finish. Awesome.

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• 1993 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Effusive aromas of currants, herb, spice box and tobacco. Burst of huge currant fruits on the palate. Licorice, tar and herbs add complexity. Firm tannins are well balanced by lush fruit. Long and delicious.

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• 1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Gorgeous, effusive and rich nose has brown sugar, caramel and pure, laser-focused currant fruit. Palate follows suit with rich and pure red currants complemented by vanilla, chocolate and mocha notes. Silky suave tannins are melded with the round, lush fruits. Layer upon layer of delicious flavors! Seamless and long. Wow.

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Group's WOTF was the Pride Reserve - though the voting was fairly even across the four. It also had the most WOTN votes. I loved the Monte Bello.

• 1999 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Rich effusive nose has sweet caramel, currants and herbs. Ripe, lush currant fruit on the palate has confection-like component that I liked a lot. Big, bright mid-palate shows a ton of stuffing. Long full finish.

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• 2001 Pine Ridge Vineyards Andrus Reserve 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Sweet red fruit on the nose. Rich decadent fruit on the palate with brown sugar notes. Lifted palate presence, fine tannins and long full finish. Very well done a nicely balanced.

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• 1996 Ridge Monte Bello 97 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Gorgeous, aromatic nose with nuance and complexity has red fruits, tobacco and tar. Palate shows exquisite balance combining medium bodied, rich fruit with acidic edge and grainy tannin. Outstanding.

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• 1997 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Aromatic nose of sweet red fruits and tobacco. Palate has rich fruit and toasty oak and creme brulee notes. Tannins are gritty on the mid-palate. Nicely done.

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Notes took a major step down here. All of these wines showed primary and rich. I'm sure good things are in store for all of them - but would help to hold 'em.

• 2002 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Inky purple with an explosive nose of sweet red fruits, licorice and leather. Palate has rich, round fruit showing sweet currants and brown sugar. Delicious.

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• 2001 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, Washington

  Effusive nose. Big, dense palate has rich, sweet fruits and firm tannic structure. Broad and long.

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• 2002 Robert Foley Claret 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Nose has big, sweet black fruits and licorice. Rich, extracted black fruit on the palate. Long, sweet finish.

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• 2004 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Rich, sweet black currant nose. Primary, rich extracted fruit on the palate shows brown sugar and vanilla. Tasty with lots of upside.

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Any of these wines would've been a great dinner companion. Over a dozen of them, hedonistic madness! Thanks to all for the great wines and company!