Spottswoode Vertical 93,94,95,96 & a Bevy of '94 Napa Gems Among Others

We went together with a group of 10 and purchased a vertical of Spottswoode Cab from 93-96. Everyone brought an additional bottle with Napa pre-97 featured. Steve O got us the private room at Capital Grille and the rest was history. Great food to pair and some wonderful wines. Fantastic night!

• NV Bérêche et Fils Champagne Brut Réserve 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 15-20 minutes. Same bottle as Chablis28, and I have to agree, this was the best bottle to date - though I did enjoy the others - this was clearly on a different level. Great structure present, nice fruit, green apple, brioche, toast, earth and some saline on the finish. Very nice precision. 91+ to 92pts.

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• 2002 Camille Savès Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 20 minutes. Apple, red fruit, full bodied, apple skin, quince, mineral, medium plus finish. Very good. 92+pts.

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• 2002 Saint-Chamant Champagne Brut Cuvee de Chardonnay 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light medium gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. this was the last of three bottles and this is continuing to develop more complexity and depth. This has a mix of power and weight, but still has finesse, quince, citrus, almond, creamy texture, slightly oxidative in style - but certainly not detrimental in any way. Earthy, yeast, great wet stone minerality, very lively, long on the finish. I wish I'd have picked up a few more of these to follow down the road further, but also always good to go out on a high note. 93+pts.

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• 2011 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Pale greenish color. Drank 1 glass over 20 minutes. Same bottle as Chablis28. Piercing, intense, riveting, filled with pear, citrus and lemon rind, floral and bracing sea shell minerality. Drinking this a couple days after the '10 was a staggering reminder of how good this wine is year in and year out. But, these two were particularly stunning. While the '10 was otherworldly, I think I would like to have had them side by side just to confirm the notion that it truly was superior. Beautiful - thanks Dave.

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• 1996 Robert Ampeau & Fils Meursault 1er Cru Charmes 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Light-medium pristine yellow color. Drank glass over 30 minutes. Another great wine in perfect condition. We had two of these on back to back nights from Ampeau, this a '96 Charmes and the other a '95 La Pièce-sous-le-Bois. Both were outstanding and in perfect condition. Man I love aged white burgs when they're like these two. There's an immediate sense of toasted oak, clear, but melded in a complimentary way; sauvage character, almost meaty in a way, a mix of white fruits, and toasted oak, hints of matchstick, lemon oil, full bodied and long. 93+pts.

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• 1993 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark red color. Slow-O for an hour; drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. This was part of a Spottswoode vertical (93,94,95,96) tonight. This was my second favorite of the vertical. I have a slightly different impression of this than Chablis28, though i agree in general. This seems more resolved and realized, but I found it continuing to express itself in new ways over the course of 90 minutes plus. Lovely red fruited nose, cherry, bing cherry, subtle spice that builds into a complex mix of exotic spice after an hour in glass. The palate is at once silky and layered, Lopez-like laqueur, cherry, dusty, sleek silky tannins with plenty of life, and a long finish. The texture is splendid, and that spice, whoa, impressive on the finish as it builds. While this is at peak, i think it can hold for some time. This together with the '94 were the most impressive for me.

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• 1994 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color. Decanted for an hour after surgery on a disintegrating cork; drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. This was part of a Spottswoode vertical (93,94,95,96) tonight. My favorite of the grouping, this was a beautiful wine and the decant served it well. Wonderful nose with red cherry, mint, mulberry, spice and more earth than the '93. Despite the decant I found this to be opening slowly in glass. But as time went on more and more layers were revealed and the depth and resonance shone through. The palate is more medium full bodied versus the '93, a mix of layered red and darker fruits, dark cherry, red cherry, cassis, wow - impressive, hints of mint, damp earth, glycerin, long and beautifully textured with such purity. Wine of the vertical with the '93 second. Plenty of life here it needed the air. 95+pts.

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• 1995 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color. Slow-O for 90 minutes; drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. This was part of a Spottswoode vertical (93,94,95,96) tonight. This was bigger than both the '93 and '94 before it. The nose is really the star on this wine, damp earth, truffle, mint, bigger riper dark fruits, blackberry and blackberry liqueur. The palate is very concentrated, youthful - this could have used a couple hours in the decanter; dense, blackberry liqueur, slightly bristling tannins, good length. Not as elegant or refined as the others, but also feels like it needs more time. 92+ to 93pts.

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• 1996 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color. Slow-O for 90 minutes; drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. This was part of a Spottswoode vertical (93,94,95,96) tonight. Not as big as the '95, this had a sauvage character, meaty and savory, red fruits, with some dark red fruit too. More subtle dried earth notes, cassis, medium full bodied, on the palate, sour cherry, takes on more weight in glass, more tannins and some alcohol, long finish though. 92+pts.

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• 1994 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour plus. Another great wine from Dick Arrowood and "just" the regular Sonoma version. I love the intense cassis notes on the nose and palate, perfumed, boysenberry, spices, tangy, really earthy, intense with good ripeness to the fruit. Seems to get darker over the hour and then the oak starts to dominate the fruit a bit and the tannins seem more apparent. Very, very good - but may not want to sit on these.

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• 1994 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Very dark red color. Splash double decanted 30 minutes. This was showing great. Dust, bright nose, intensity of fruit, a gorgeous perfume of leather, mountain wild flowers, graphite, and red fruits. Tart and tangy, firm round tannins, and dark chocolate - delicious. Craig's bottle - thanks!

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• 1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 90 minutes. This started off gang busters, good sense of fruit, potpourri nose, very floral, ripe and concentrated, aromatic, dark fruits with good lift. Seemed to tail off after an hour plus. 94+pts.

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• 1985 Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  What a shame, as you could still clearly tell this was fantastic wine. The nose still came through in its detail and complexity, but the palate was marred by the cork taint.

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• 1997 Château Suduiraut 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Medium dark gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Really nice, round and silky texture, orange, citrus, pineapple, spice, excellent balance and texture.

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