Tampa Spring Break (the third)

Three times makes it thrice as nice. Or something like that. Here we go again with Tampa Wine Spring Break. I had thought that I was in good drinking shape, but I will tell you this was indeed 4 sprints that felt like a marathon. Great company and some great wine and overall very well done event.

We got there a bit before the other NYers so decided to meet them at check-in with some bubbles which caused them to bring out bubbles and before you knew it we were in a pretty bubbles pre-game situation. Not the worst way to start a fun filled weekend.

• 2011 Soter Brut Rosé Mineral Springs Ranch

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  (2/16/2018)

  Bubbles to start Tampa wine spring break! I love these. More austere in nature. Perhaps the most prevalent part of this is the acidity which is almost a touch biting. There's some raspberry though and a general lightness and freshness to it that I really like. Enjoyed.

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• NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier

  France, Champagne

  (2/16/2018)

  Very nice easy champagne. Touch of toast and brioche. Smooth and supple. Didn't pay attention as much as I prob should have, but sitting outside on a Friday afternoon with friends unwinding from a long week this just tasted delicious.

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• 2005 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Rosé Brut

  France, Champagne

  (2/16/2018)

  First time with this wine. Quite nice and enjoyable. Wish we'd had regular wine glasses instead of the flute since a bit harder to get all of the bouquet and similar. It's a wine that is tart red fruits (thinking cranberry and maybe a bit of raspberry). Young and a touch tight, but also very nice and with time in the glass a bit more expressive (didn't get too much time in the glass though). I enjoyed it.

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I never quite sorted what exactly the theme was (finesse or old world), but overall a fun night with some interesting wines.

We started with a tuna tartare not on the menu (most ppl finished the Clouet with that).

Then:

First Course
Carmelized Grilled Sea Scallops
leek & butternut squash risotto, lemon butter
(officially went with the champagne)

Second Course
Kona-crushed Lollipop Lamp Chops
yukon mashed potatoes, broccolini, 15-year aged balsamic
Tondonia & Canon

Third Course
Boneless Beef Short Rib
cheddar grits, heritage carrots
Valdicava & Galatrona

Fourth Course
Wood-Grilled Filet Mignon
trio of roasted mushrooms, red wine sauce, haricot verts
2000's Bordeaux flight

Fifth Course
Poached Pears
gorgonzola cheese, prosciutto
Chave & 1996 Pichon

• NV André Clouet Champagne Un jour de 1911...

  France, Champagne

  (2/16/2018)

  This champagne has a special place in my heart and I'm sure that colors how I think about it, but for me this is one of the most perfect champagnes. It's light and almost a hint of sweetness and green apple and maybe even white peach (but very crisp). A bit of minerality or 'rock' to it. Very tasty. A nice start to the night. Revisited at the end as well and it's much more expressive in the larger glass.

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• 1981 R. López de Heredia Rioja Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  (2/16/2018)

  For some this wine came across as quite fresh and almost young for the years. I actually thought first of kindof old school library. Definitely a bit of stewed tomato or tomato paste. I get shoe leather and then maybe just a touch of fruit. Tasty wine.

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• 1982 Château Canon

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (2/16/2018)

  Funny - have run into this wine quite a bit lately. From a magnum. The first though is just how fresh it is. This does not taste like a 35 almost 36 year old wine. It's very pretty. Oddly enough it comes across as more left bank than right to me. I get black fruit and violets. In the glass with time the spiciness starts to build. It's a pretty wine and quite enjoyable.

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• 2006 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  (2/16/2018)

  This is a total baby and coming on the heels of two well-aged wines there's a bit of an adjustment period. I think it was opened and maybe decanted for 20 minutes before serving. Could use some more time. The first impression is a very drying tannin. Then some red currant. Also a nice freshness to it. A wine that just needs more time, but could be quite lovely.

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• 2007 Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  (2/16/2018)

  Another very young wine that probably needs a bit more time, but is still quite fun. There were some for whom the nose was a bit offputting (I didn't get that). It opened quite a bit in the glass. Red fruits and some pepper and a smooth (almost velvet) quality to the wine. With time more balsamic vinegar and some funk. Expressive. Enjoyable.

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• 2000 Château L'Evangile

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  (2/16/2018)

  One of my favorite wines of the night. It's super young and powerful and yet also kindof pretty. Dark red fruits. Hints of velvet. Was opening up all the way through the glass. Had been opened and double decanted prob 3 hours before. This is a wine I'd love to see again in maybe 20 years.

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• 2000 Château Pavie Decesse

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (2/16/2018)

  Lovely wine. Darker and smokey and cracked black pepper. If you had told me this was Northern Rhone I'd have believed you (aka - totally in my wheelhouse). Very young as well and a wine that is only getting better with time. Powerful. Black fruits. Not at all what I expected. More time in the glass seems to just improve the structure of it. Another favorite of the night for me.

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• 2000 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (2/16/2018)

  Interestingly enough of the flight this was the one most open for business in the beginning. There's umami and black fruits and a bit more acidity and shoe leather. More time in the glass and it turns into an old library with a touch of the musty book quality to it. Good wine.

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• 1994 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Hermitage

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  (2/16/2018)

  There's always this animalistic quality to Chave that stands out. Meaty and briney and olives and just a carnal style of wine. Touch of smoke. In a round of Bordeaux this stands out and is quite enjoyable.

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• 1996 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (2/16/2018)

  More austere bordeaux style after all of the 2000's. It's also a touch on the young side. Darker. A bit harsher in the acidity. But as I adjusted back to this style I appreciated the more restrained version. It's good.

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After dinner (which in true Florida fashion ended at 10:30 pm) we went back to the hotel and popped a few more corks. This is still early in the weekend so we're all going strong.

• 1962 Château Suduiraut

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  (2/16/2018)

  Just for fun. This is perhaps a bit over the hill, but it's also kindof fun to try (and older than many of the ppl at the table). A touch oxidated. Some caramel but without the sweet. Interesting.

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• 2013 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  (2/16/2018)

  Man I love these wines. The end of the night and I think I had a decent portion of the bottle. It's light and pretty and red cherries and just a wine that is so fun and relatively complex (for the price) and yet also enjoyable and easy.

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There was quite the spread for this one which included a 'bonus bottle' found in Larry's cellar that morning (perhaps my wine of the tasting - 2007 Petit Sirah). Many thanks to Matt for making the trip.

In addition to these wines there was also a chardonnay, but I'm not really a good person to speak about those.

• 2016 Buoncristiani Triad Blanc

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Blend of Viognier, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. It's interesting because you can get each of the grapes at different points in the palate. Starts with almost a rock candy and then white flower petals and a hint of honey and then the finish is more of a Chard.

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• 2014 Buoncristiani Pinot Noir

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  A little bit stemmy in nature. Red fruits. Hints of spice. There's a cleanness/coolness that happens right in the middle of the sip. And then finishes with some pepper.

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• 2007 Buoncristiani Petite Sirah Fratelli di Buoncristiani Serie Garagiste

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Probably my favorite of the tasting. The age has provided some nice balance to the wine. Blackberry, touch of cedar and tar, good backbone. Still actually drinking more on the young side. Hint of sweetness and then cracked black pepper. Tasty.

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• 2014 Buoncristiani OPC Proprietary Red

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Interesting blend (second wine is Syrah which you don't see all that often). Very bright and fruit forward. Again some of the stemminess which I like - helps to balance the fruit.

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• 2014 Buoncristiani Malbec

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  One of my favorites of the tasting. This is a bit hedonistic in nature. Pours this super dark purple color and then it's almost a jammy fruit style but with a touch of volcanic grit to it as well. Drying tannins. Would be interesting to see what 15 years does to this.

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• 2014 Buoncristiani Petite Sirah Fratelli di Buoncristiani Serie Garagiste

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Perhaps a bit unfair since it was next to it's older brother from 2007 and the years clearly added some depth and intrigue to the wine. This comes across as just super young. Hints of stems. Some grape jelly. Not yet quite pulled together.

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• 2015 Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Again a more fruit forward style. Darker in nature. Lots of blueberry. A touch of sandalwood. Very young wine that needs a lot of time, but appreciate the backbone and structure of it.

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• 2014 Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon The Core

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Double decanted and still this wine is pretty big and bold. Like many 2014's approachable in the young age. Mostly black fruits. Good structure to it. A wine that clearly can age.

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One option was to nap between wine events. We went with the other options - 'drinksies' for the afternoon and then repopped the corks after Saturday night dinner

• NV Christophe Mignon Champagne Brut Nature

  France, Champagne

  (2/17/2018)

  I was totally into this (so much so that I took all of the leftovers for this bonus bottle session). It's a touch spicy, a touch irreverent. I didn't take detailed notes, but it was a bit different than you expected your bubbles to be, but in a good way. I guess maybe driven by being 100% Pinot Meunier. But overall just fun and maybe some more complexity to it all. Great for the price.

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• 2012 Kapcsándy Family Winery Grand Vin Rosé State Lane Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  (2/17/2018)

  Mostly I don't totally buy the concept of aged rose, but this makes me consider whether that's a varietal concept. With the Cab Sauv and some age this wine seems to get a bit more heft from the age without really losing the fruit or freshness. It's a bit of a deeper style red fruit that is more akin to red wine (like red currant instead of strawberries). Nice and very enjoyable.

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• 2005 Y de Yquem

  France, Bordeaux

  (2/17/2018)

  These are so fun. As a previous taster noted, you can def tell it has some of the same skelaton as a D'Yquem. The balance and structure are so precise. And while these can be bigger white wines, that balance makes this wine feel not overdone. It's really quite pretty.

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• 2014 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes

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

  (2/17/2018)

  Opened and decanted. For our first bonus bottle session of the day we have 4 wines and this was the only one to be totally kicked in that first round. Easy to see why. It's got a depth of character and the a lovely roundness and really is the white wine for red wine drinkers I think. I didn't take detailed notes, but I enjoyed every sip of this one.

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I know that the old world stuff is meant to rock people's world and new world just isn't that, but this was the dinner where I had multiple wines that stood out. First of all the Granges which we left decanting till the end so they were just singing. And then that 01 Colgin. Weekend is not over as I write this, but I wouldn't be surprised if those were my wines of the weekend.

In addition to the ones below there was an Aubert Chardonnay but as I don't get the varietal at all I opted to leave it for ppl who appreciated it more.

Hearts of Romaine
Candied orange, celery hearts, brioche croutons, meyer lemon & anchovy vinaigrette
bonus bottle champagnes

Hudson Valley Duck Breast
toasted pumpernickel, cherry mostardo, foie gras butter
Syrah/Shiraz ex. Grange

Filet Au Poivre
white truffle potato grain (yes as good as it sounds), grana padano crisp, courvoisier sauce
Kapcsandys and Realm

Dry Aged Kona Strip
roasted root vegetable puree, carmelized shallot butter
Other Cabs

Assortment of Fine Cheeses
blue, gouda, brie, parmesan
Grange

• 2006 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs

  France, Champagne

  (2/17/2018)

  Bonus bubbles. No detailed notes. This was poured during the pre-dinner when everyone was mixing and mingling. It's definitely toasty brioche style champagne. Prob one we should have spent more time with or given more attention to. I felt like too young really to be drinking now and a wine that is worth aging.

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• NV Charles Mignon Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Comte de Marne

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (2/17/2018)

  The packaging on this really fools you - it has a pink label and a pink foil and you swear it must be a rose and then it pours as straight champagne. So I had a moment of recalibration. Again poured during the mix and mingle phase so it wasn't a wine that got a lot of contemplation. I remember thinking it was quite good though and a nice set of bubbles and while the Ruinart felt a bit like baby killing, this was more open and ready to go right now. Enjoyed.

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• 2005 Two Hands Shiraz Ares

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  This is one of those very intense aussie wines. I think they may with some time chill out, but right now it's hardcore and alcohol very prevalent. The acidity is there too though which helps (and leads me to think that with time this could be quite good).

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• 2006 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  My favorite of the three syrahs prob partially due to this having some age and being a bit more muted in style to the Aussie. Dark plum and black pepper (which could also have been a reaction to a steak au poivre where the emphasis was more on the later than the former). Still get a bit of alcohol on it, but it blew off over time. To me still needs some more years, but very good.

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• 2012 Saxum James Berry Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (2/17/2018)

  Total and complete baby. I'm not entirely sure this wasn't in a bit of a 'dumb' phase. It was much more muted and less expressive than the others in the flight. Hints of fruit. I think worth revisiting in another five years.

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• 2006 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon State Lane Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  (2/17/2018)

  Drank next to the 2008. Very young. Some pepper. Well balanced - multiple points in my notes I remarked on the structure. Touch of black fruit. It's a standard Napa style wine. To me prob more ready in 15 years than today, but I liked it.

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• 2008 Kapcsándy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville

  (2/17/2018)

  Again well balanced and structured. There's some plum and other fruits. It's a bit more intense and napa in style. I think again too young to be drinking now. Let it sit for another 10-15 years and come back. But I liked it.

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• 2004 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (2/17/2018)

  In a Napa flight this was very much the intense Napa wine. Fruit forward. To me it was just a touch overdone. Didn't quite have the structure that the Kapcsandys had. I think needs more time. Not sure it's totally my style.

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• 2001 Colgin Cariad

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  A wine that I have always love. At this point in the night my notes are mostly crap. But this is a beautiful wine. So beautiful I keep it for the last course and the Grange. It's still young and this tasting def made me think hold for more time, but it's well structured, it's got nice black fruits and is very tasty with just the right amount of spice. I liked it.

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• 2006 Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon The Core

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  Very rich. Very intense. This is a wine that is not joking around. Even with some years I'd prefer it with a bit more. 100% CS from Coombsville. One of the later wines so not super detailed notes. I had hoped given the older PS we had that this would have chilled out a bit, but not as much.

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• 2009 Favia Cerro Sur

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/17/2018)

  I too like the percentages, and yet somehow this was not 100% my wine. 2009 is a hot vintage and a tough vintage and this was towards the end of the night of a lot of more intense wine but just before some of the favorites and so I don't have very detailed notes. Needs more time. Not there yet.

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• 1985 Penfolds Grange

  Australia, South Australia

  (2/17/2018)

  Ok, so I'm partial to Grange so take the note with a grain of salt. This wine did not start easy. We opened in the afternoon from a mag and it's borderline corked and def low drinkability. So two double-decants and we go the restaurant where we decant again. 4 hours later this wine is blow you away. I mean possibly my wine of the weekend this made me stop and reconsider life and demanded attention and was just SO GOOD. Next to the '98 which is the year and over time that will be the better wine, but tonight with the treatment it's the '85 for me and writing this note a few tastings later I'm struggling with how another wine wins. But I am a Grange person. And old Grange. And so for me this was basically perfect. I haven't scored in years, but I'm tempted to throw the 99-100 up there. Needs a good decant. Not drinkable immediately, but beautiful with time.

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• 1998 Penfolds Grange

  Australia, South Australia

  (2/17/2018)

  If there was only one wine and one vintage in the world, this is it for me. I'd own cases. Life would be ok. My (drunk) notes say 'perfect'. This is a wine. It's way too young and so not ready to drink and yet we opened and decanted at the beginning of dinner (and only because I raised a fuss did this move till the end of dinner). This is an amazing wine. It's meat and herbal and eucalyptus and fruit and fill in the blank wine flavor because this has it and it's something. I love this wine.

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• 2005 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  (2/17/2018)

  Last wine of the night and I didn't take detailed notes. Another bonus bottle. From a hot vintage and there was perhaps a desire to have a bit more acidity. Nice and sweet though and a decent end to the meal.

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Lots of really great wines that stood out here. I liked the Cuvee da Capo quite a bit and the MTR and the Frog. Always a bit humbling to do the blind tasting, but fun as well.

Food was:

Course 1 Fresh Fruit Crepes with Cream

Course 2 Smoked Salmon Crostinis with House smoked salmon with Boursin cheese, capers, red onion and dill on a crostini

Course 3 Baby Spinach Fruit Salad with fresh berries, goat cheese, red onion, mandarin orange slices and candied pecans with a honey vinaigrette

Course 4 Beef Tenderloin Oscar, with jumbo lump crab, asparagus and hollandaise sauce and an over easy egg

Course 5 Herb crusted Lamb Lolipops with a Napa Cabernet Demi Glace

Course 6 Dark, Milk, and White Chocolate Dipped Strawberries with fresh cream.

Scores as follows:

93.75 2004 Bond St Eden (Wine #14)
93.45 2007 Colgin Tychson Hill (Wine #2)
93.27 2012 MTR Memory Found (Wine #10)
93.22 2009 Bionic Frog (Wine #3)
93.05 2007 Alban Grenache (Wine #11)
92.78 2005 Roy Estates (Wine #4)
92.4 2002 Dominus (Wine #9)
92.35 2013 440 Degrees Herman Story (Wine #12)
92.3 2010 Pegau Cuvee Da Capo (Wine #1)
91.8 1997 Spring Mountain Cabernet (Wine #6)
91.7 2001 Henri Bonneau Reserve des Celestins (Wine #13)
91.6 2007 Buoncristiani Cabernet (Wine #7)
91.4 2013 Nine Suns (Wine #15)
91.3 2007 Eloge Conn Valley (Wine #8)
91.0 2008 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (Wine #16) - interesting as this was the winner last year (the '07 vintage)
90.43 2007 Clos Erasmus

For some reason I don't have the score for Wine #5, but I think it was towards the end.

• 2011 Hermann J. Wiemer Dry Riesling Magdalena Vineyard

  USA, New York, Finger Lakes

  (2/18/2018)

  This was just so spot on for the way to start the day. Sat new world dinner was a lot of wine and this was just light and fresh and bright. Hint of lemon and honey. Great acidity. A very enjoyable wine.

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• 2010 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée da Capo

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

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #1: One of my favorites of the tasting. It's got this great spice and red fruits character to it. While I'm mostly bad at bline, I think I would have gotten this as Grenache. Very fresh and bright and clearly well structured and overall just a very nice wine. Would like to have some of these.

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• 2007 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #2: Opened and decanted for 3 hours before rebottling and then serving. Even with that I thought the first impression on this was pretty tight and a touch too much alcohol. Once it settles in though it's very nice with darker fruits and lavender and a great complexity to it.

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• 2009 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #3: I am a very big fan of this wine. It's got this wonderful balance between the fruit and the funk and the meat and the spice. Blackberry and cracked black pepper and a hint of blood and soy and just overall a kick. Not the style for everyone (this wine got an 82 from someone), but works for me.

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• 2005 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #4: Started off a bit candied in nature to me but with time in the glass it lost that etheral quality and put on some more weight. Red currant and earth was most of what I got.

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• 2011 Long Shadows Wineries Côté Nicault Stone Tree Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wahluke Slope

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #5: This is the one that I don't have the score for for some reason. It's clearly syrah with some washington funk but a bit restrained as well. Lots of drying tannin. With more time in the glass felt a bit more intense.

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• 1997 Spring Mountain Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #6: I would have sworn this was old bordeaux. It has that leather and cigar and library character that I associate with that part of the world. In a great drinking window right now. Don't think it's getting better and prob will eventually start to fall off so drink up. Went great with the lamb chops.

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• 2007 Buoncristiani Cabernet Sauvignon The Core

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #7: Definitely new world, more fruit, soft and almost velvety in nature but with some acidity in there as well. Moderate age. Some spice and herbal.

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• 2007 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Éloge

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #8: Interesting - very different experience with this wine than the last time. Mostly I get cough syrup (like the cherry one). Some menthol and medicinal notes. A touch of cleanness and then sandstone. I would have thought Italian.

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• 2002 Dominus Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #9: Here again I'm getting some cough syrup. Very drying tannins. Not sure that this wine is actually ready to go - feels like it might be a bit young. Alcohol stands out some. Cherries.

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• 2012 MTR Productions Syrah Memory Found

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Super glad that we bought these a few months ago. This is a classic Washington State Syrah - fruity and funky and fun. Reminded me a lot of the characteristics of an old Cayuse. Very well integrated. Liked it a lot.

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• 2007 Alban Vineyards Grenache Alban Estate Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #11: This reminded me a lot of what I imagine tasting a bouquet of flowers would be like. Violets and boysenberry and very fragrant. Good.

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• 2013 Herman Story Grenache 440 Days

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #12: Get a bit of the funk again here but not quite as clean as the MTR was. There's blueberry and a touch of animalistic. Missing some precision.

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• 2001 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins

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

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #13: We just got a bunch of these at auction so fun to get to try it. It's definitely old world with leather more prevalent and fruit more in the background. Would not have guessed the grape at all though. Interesting wine that made me want to keep coming back to sip. Enjoyed.

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• 2004 BOND St. Eden

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #14: The winner of our tasting. This is higher alc and a bit fruit forward, but very crisply done and clearly a well made and well structured wine. I thought it was on the young side and could be better with even more time.

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• 2013 Nine Suns

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #15: Another fruit forward wine but much less acidity than in the BOND. It's got lots of boysenberry and is generally fruit forward. One of those wines that's more in the yummy category. I enjoyed it.

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• 2009 Saxum James Berry Vineyard

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #16: Surprised that this was a syrah. Definitely a fruit bomb. Some of it almost more candied in nature. Some tannin.

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• 2007 Clos Erasmus Priorat

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  (2/18/2018)

  Wine #17: This was the last wine of the tasting and by the time I got to it it was mostly sediment and chewiness. Hard to really rate fairly. Definitely needed to be filtered and then perhaps double-decanted.

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We ended up with an extra 'Pour to Impress' wine so opted to pop the cork in the afternoon.

• 1996 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  (2/18/2018)

  It's hard to go wrong with a LaLa and this was no exception. Had opened and decanted and rebottled in the morning and then served in the afternoon. This was opening up in the glass. Not the best LaLa I've had (not even the best LaLa of the day - the 1980 Landonne was killer) - but good and savory and hints of fruit and generally quite tasty.

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Can't hit Tampa for a wine weekend and not do Bern's so the NY crowd finished up with a big night.

One of my favorite Berns trips. There was a lot of just straight up great wine at this dinner (and a lot of really fun ones as well). The 1999 HoG was prob my WOTN although the '42 Ausone was really rocking and the '80 La Landonne I can still almost taste the next day.

We did of course hit the dessert room (we're not amateurs), but I cannot for the life of me remember what we had there (cue this was not a 'shy' wine weekend). I had my heart set on a 1993 Tokaji Essencia that we'd seen in the past, but sadly they were out of that one.

• 1987 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  (2/18/2018)

  Best word I can think of for this wine is just classy. It's a touch oxidized and you get the sherry notes and all of that. Well put together. It was a nice start to the meal.

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• 1975 Parducci Charbono

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  (2/18/2018)

  Second time with an old Charbono in as many months and man was this fun. It's all fruity and dark and brooding and nicely structured and somehow a very engaging wine. I enjoyed.

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• 1979 Leon Revol Cotes-Du-Ventoux

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Ventoux

  (2/18/2018)

  Blend of Grenache, Mouvedre, and Carignon. This was a birth year wine for one of the folks at the table. Super fun to try (also super cheap - like $20 off the list). Bottled especially for Berns. It's light and bright and easy and clearly still going strong.

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• 1978 Joseph Phelps Syrah

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  If you served this blind I'd be hardpressed to think it wouldn't be marked as a Rhone almost every time. It's meaty and brooding and a touch animalistic (in a good way). Enjoyable.

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• 1922 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  (2/18/2018)

  How can one not order a super old Bordeaux at Berns? And so we did. Served alongside a 42 Ausone and a 57 Grad Puy Ducasse. This was wearing it's age some. A bit moldy and mushrooms and all of that. Touch of funk. Finished quickly. Not a wine to hang out over too much time with.

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• 1942 Château Ausone

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  (2/18/2018)

  One of my favorite wines of the weekend. This is war time and was perhaps a bit of a flyer, but totally worth it. Drinks younger than you would imagine given this is older than my parents. It's a lot of library and leather and crisp bindings and all of that. Very good.

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• 1957 Château Grand-Puy Ducasse

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (2/18/2018)

  Recommended by the Berns somm as 'if you just have one Bordeaux, this is the one you need to have'. It was definitely in a sweet spot. Well aged. Black fruits and black licorice . I thought overshadowed a bit by the Ausone in the same flight, but still good.

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• 1980 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  (2/18/2018)

  Yum! Lovely and bright and powerful. So young and yet also kindof pretty and floral and black fruits. I was very happy with this one. Drinking great.

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• 1989 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  (2/18/2018)

  Really great and impressive wine, but overshadowed a bit by some of the other ones we had on the table. I didn't take detailed notes on it, but seemed like it was in a good drinking window. Had opened and decanted a bit before serving. Tasty wine.

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• 1999 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  (2/18/2018)

  Super love this wine. It is dark fruits and violets and a touch of tar and a lovely freshness. Still on the younger side, but drinking really well. Don't see enough of these around, but I will continue to keep an eye out. Was drinking very well.

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Larry and Mark did it again. What a fun collection of folks who gathered. Great set of events and some just spectacular wines. Both of the Granges Sat, the HoG, the Ausone, the Cuvee da Capo, the Frog... I can go on and on. Looking forward to #4!