TNs: 1998 Pegau Reservee, 2002 Domus Aurea, 2004 Numanthia Termes & 2004 Terrunyo Carmenere Peumo Vineyard

My cousin organized a steak grill out for his family and several friends. He grilled a big slab of New York steaks and I brought the wine. It was a very pleasurable afternoon with a lot of teasing, laughs and just plain 'ol fun. The only drawback to the event was that we drank all wines from plastic cups.

• 1998 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 93 Points

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

  Had at Abejo's club house w/ Vane, Amanda, Juan Aretos, Delia, etc.
  
  I took this magnum to my cousin's plot warming party. This wine showed better than ever, unfortunately I have already consumed the 4 magnums I owned. The color is less than stellar for those of us spoiled from ripe-year Bordeaux and Cali Cabs. For me, Chateauneuf du Pape is all about the nose. This was the most expressive this wine has shown for me. Complex, spicy and earthy, this is a complex nose! The palate follows through with more spice and red fruits as well as a surprising tannic edge and a long, minerally finish. A definitive winner, even when Chateauneuf du Pape rarely hits on all cilinders for me.

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• 2002 Viña Quebrada de Macul Cabernet Sauvignon Domus Aurea Clos Quebrada de Macul 93 Points

  Chile, Maipo Valley

  Had at Abejo's club house w/ Vane, Amanda, Juan Aretos, Delia, etc.
  
  Very dark ruby color. Appealing and tell tale Chilean cab nose redolent of eucalyptus, damp loamy soil and black currant. In the mouth this is full bodied, intesely flavored and offering very ripe tannin. This version is a lot less rustic than older versions such as the 1997 & 1998. A very pleasant surprise. Ignacio Recabarren has been refining this wine in the last few years.

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• 2004 Concha y Toro Carménère Terrunyo Peumo Vineyard Block 27 91 Points

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  Had at Abejo's club house w/ Vane, Amanda, Juan Aretos, Delia, etc.
  
  I picked a couple of bottles of this 95 pointer from Jay Miller and I was dying to try it. The color is incredibly appealing, full, opaque purple. The nose lacks the herbaceous predominance that plagued early Carmenere varietal wines from the 1990s. This was obviously picked ripe, but I cannot really pinpoint a varietal style here. Smells similar to Syrah and Cab Franc. The palate offers a full bodied wine that is somewhat monolithic as it offers black fruits and nothing more. A very ripe, enjoyable wine, but lacking the aromatic complexity that I require to score the wine higher. Two bottles.

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• 2004 Bodega Numanthia Toro Termes 92 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Toro

  Had at Abejo's club house w/ Vane, Amanda, Juan Aretos, Delia, etc.
  
  I took this to my cousin's plot warming party. This is the wine I intend to serve in my wedding, so I was dying to try it. The purplest color I have seen in a long time, this almost looks artificially colored! The nose is very flowery (violets?), offering additional black fruit aromas. There is an attractive smokiness and a full body that is neither heavy nor tannic. This was a hit with many. i was gladly suprised it wasn't as rustuc and structured as other Toros.

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