Final night dinner/PNV week - our annual "mostly non Cab" rinse to the week's tastings...

Ad Hoc, Yountville CA
Tasted Friday, February 23, 2018 by walkerjfw with 366 views

Introduction

A generous group of collectors brought together by Gary F during PNV week. Our final night is a BYO where everyone goes deep into their cellars for (mostly) non Cabernet offerings. Rare, unique, cool wines to drink...great range of wines and fun to drink with this group

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2005 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Heimbourg 90 Points

    France, Alsace

    Opened the evening with this, drank next to a Donhoff GG. Generous contribution from Jay. Nicely chilled, drank over an hour (revisited later in the dinner)

    Medium/bright gold color. Nose was ripe, picking up orchrd fruits, spice, ginger(?), petrol. Palate follows with baked apple, quince, apricot, savory, honeysuckle notes. Rich texture, fatter wine throughout than expected. Medium finish, good secondary notes. Drinking well now, not likely to improve much from here

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  • 2009 Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Riesling Großes Gewächs

    Germany, Nahe

    A contribution from my cellar, at the front end of the dinner, drank next to an 05 Zind Humbrecht Riesling. Chilled, drank/tasted over 2 hours

    Medium gold color. Nose showing spice, orchard fruits, citrus. Rich, dense palate showing baked apples, peaches, dried apricot smoke notes. Elegant wine, well made and at the beginning of its drinking window - should age nicely for a while if wanting to cellar

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2002 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes 93 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    Second flight, drank next to a 99 Clos de Tart. Tom brought this one, PnP.

    Bright medium ruby color, no real signs of age.. Expressive nose of raspberry, red berries, menthol. Elegant palate, with aged black cherry, plum, spice and violets. Picked up some brown sugar/creme brulee later in the evening. Medium weight, long finish. Excellent wine...

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  • 1999 Domaine du Clos de Tart Clos de Tart 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos de Tart Grand Cru

    Drank next to an 02 Meo Camuzet Vosnee, slow oxed for about 20 minutes before pouring, revisited a few times during the dinner.

    Medium ruby color, still looks youthful. Nose of dark berries, mineral notes, floral, (aspirin/medicinal picked up by one taster). Rich palate showing red berries, currants, tobacco, herbs (?). Elegant and nuanced through the mid palate. Firm minerality throughout, long finish. Beautiful showing on this evening...

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Flight 3 (2 Notes)

  • 1990 Dominus Estate 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    One of my contributions for the evening. This was worthy of this crowd, a short splash decant. Drank next to the 96 Lynch Bages in this flight. Drank over about an hour - revisiting a few times.

    From prior notes:"Nose of barnyard, pencil shavings, cedar, red fruit. Palate repeats with plums, dusted cherry, mushroom. Elegant and smooth...aged beautifully, should drink at this level for the next 3 -5 years, wont improve any more from here." Smooth texture, nicely balanced this wine is in a really great spot

    Hasnt really declined from last tasting, well made like an old school Bdx. I have remarked before the old Dominus wines with age are dead ringers for left bank Bdx - this one no different. Showed really well this evening, better than the Lynch Bages (IMO)

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  • 1996 Château Lynch-Bages 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Mid flight, drank this one next to the 1990 Dominus. Had been splash decanted (from memory)

    Medium garnet color, some seperation. Classic nose of blackcurrant, tobacco, leather, violets/floral, mineral/stones. Nice secondary notes on the mid palate.

    This one was a good (but not great) Lynch Bages on this particular evening. One of my go to wines, a big fan of Lynch Bages so perhaps expecting more. Was lacking some of the extra fruit expression I see from this wine. A bit of an off vintage for them - would drink now as I dont see this evolving from here

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Flight 4 (4 Notes)

  • 2003 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 96 Points

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

    This one from my cellar - this was worthy of this crowd. A fantastic CdP, this event gave me a good excuse to check in on this. Served next to 2001 Mordoree.

    Dark ruby color. Aromatic nose, cherry, blackberry, anise and dried flowers. Ripe palate of jammy raspberry, cherry cola, kirsch, and orange peel. Rich and viscous texture - tannins mostly resolved. Long finish.

    Still drinking decidedly young, the ripeness of the vintage showing. Ready now, this improved over the time we drank it, would allow for a longer decant if the venue allows. Really incredible CdP on this evening, showed well against diverse and strong competition....

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  • 2001 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de la Reine des Bois 96 Points

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

    This one from my cellar, fun to drink next to the Marcoux. Havent had this vintage of Mordoree yet, good chance to see if it lives to the hype. This one had maybe 45 minutes of air before drinking.

    Rich ruby color. Ripe nose of blackberry, black raspberry, violets/floral, baking spice, savory/meats. Big wine throughout, has nice sweetness through the mid palate. Nuanced and long finish.

    This is a classic big style CdP, expressive and aromatic. It seems to be moving into a great spot right now, tannins resolved, ripe fruits, secondary notes. Should continue to drink well for a while - probably 10+ years left...Drank really well on this evening, candidate for WOTN from some of our group.

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  • 1997 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 90 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Last of the Rhones for the evening, this one I believe brought by Jay... Got a splash decant, open for about 30 minutes prior to drinking.

    Deep, inky ruby color. Nose was a it reticent, mild dark fruits, violet, smoke. Palate showing dark fruits, black cherry, graphite, smoke, cinnamon/baking spice, savory. A lot going on here, expressive but took some coaxing over time. This drank better as it evolved in the glass. Medium weight and finish

    Always a treat to drink La Chapelle, this was really nice on this evening. Didn't show as much complexity and depth as other experiences I have had with La Chapelle (other vintages) Would have allowed for a longer decant if the venue allows...

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  • 1983 Penfolds Grange 97 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    Saved this one for last, from my cellar. A well stored bottle, gift from Andrew G. This is a sophisticated wine crew but less experience with Grange. Brooke decanted this one, open for maybe 90 minutes before drinking.

    Rich garnet core color, opaque. Classic Grange nose of dark fruits, leather, cedar box, old cocoa. From prior notes on plate..."Palate was classic, unmistakable Grange. Dark and blue fruits, cola, blueberry, leather. Evolved nicely in the glass over 30 minutes, picked up secondary and tertiary characteristics of burnt sugar, honey..." spot on, the group picked up some eucalyptus, vanilla, tar...rich and nuanced through the finish. Expressive fruits, nicely aged, in a really good spot right now. this may prove to be one of those "immortal" Grange wines - may drink well for another 20?

    We had an incredible range of wines on this evening, hard to say what was "best" across this many varietals, regions and vintages. The uniqueness of this wine had it as WOTN for most of the group. Amazing stuff!

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