Monthly Men's Wine Dinner

My multitude of followers no doubt noticed no write-up from last month's tasting dinner. Three of the four bottles were flawed and the fourth wasn't showing well so I didn't bother. This month, however, was the complete opposite. We had five wines of various price points that were all delicious.

• 2014 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  This Pott is drinking fabulously on pop and pour with intense, pure dark fruit and cassis, chewy tannins, good acid, and long finish. Stupendous single-vineyard effort from Spring Mountain. My and the group's WOTN out of perhaps the best selection of wines we've had yet.

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• 2008 Leviathan 95 Points

  USA, California

  Pop and pour. Stunning, intense red blend that is completely approachable now and drinking way above its price point. Balanced fruit with a touch of chocolate. Medium finish. Drink now. My #3 of 5 and tied for the group's #2.

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• 2007 Domaine du Château de Chorey (Germain) Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches Vieilles Vignes 93 Points

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

  Pop and pour. This Burgundy evolved beautifully over the evening although it took a couple hours for the nose to open up its characteristic Burgundian scent of rose and light tobacco. It had a light, balanced body with some sweet and sour fruit and sherry. This was a very close #4 of 5 for me and tied for #2 of the group.

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• 2016 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Pop and pour. This is quite a nice Supertuscan blend with deep fruit, floating acid, and earth on the palate. My #5 of 5 in a very tough lineup and the group's #4 of 5.

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• 2014 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Decanted and it needed it. Quite restrained for 45 minutes but then began to open, showing beautiful deep chocolate and dark fruit on the palate. It kept putting on weight over two hours. My #2 of 5 and the group's #5.

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My ranking:
1. 2014 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok ($128)
2. 2014 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry ($251)
3. 2008 Leviathan ($47)
4. 2007 Domaine du Château de Chorey (Germain) Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches Vieilles Vignes ($30)
5. 2016 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT ($41)

The group:
1. 2014 Pott Wine Cabernet Sauvignon Kaliholmanok ($128)
2 (tie). 2008 Leviathan ($47)
2 (tie). 2007 Domaine du Château de Chorey (Germain) Beaune 1er Cru Vignes Franches Vieilles Vignes ($30)
4. 2016 Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto Toscana IGT ($41)
5. 2014 Cliff Lede Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry ($251)

Pott is a known overperformer if you can find any and this is the best bottle I've had. Cliff Lede used to be the same but the Poetry has become pricey, though still excellent. The aged Leviathan and Burgundy are amazing values I would drink on a daily basis if I could find any. This underscores the value of cellaring even inexpensive wines. The Supertuscan is the second wine of Sassicaia and is widely available and a great value.

Well, what a great evening! I love the hidden gems people are bringing. After decades of blind tastings I know it's rare for me to rank lower-priced wines over the more expensive; I have an average palate so the efficient-market hypothesis works on me most of the time. But three real values this month, one of which is easily available all over. Very nice.

This brings to a close another fabulous evening of food, wine, and friends. Until next month...