Guy's Night Out: Wow Wines

Jason hosted a group of 7 of us for the regular Guys Night Out event. The theme was Wow wines: either a wine that was wowed you or one that expected to be wowed by. Fun theme, pretty wide open actually. Jason did the cooking and shared a generous amount of wine as well. But the coup de grace was his stunning Beef Wellington. Talk about perfectly cooked tenderloin that is fork tender, and this is it. Great night, fun and spirited conversation with plenty of good natured crap strewn about at everyone. Thanks again to Jason for everything.

• NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Rosé 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Light rose color. Drank a glass over 40 minutes. This was another excellent bottle, very consistent with my note from 5/4/19. Red fruits, with the strawberry being particularly notable, though complexity shines as there's a mix of cherry, citrus, yeast, and pie crust, Very crisp and elegant, creamy texture, and such fine minerality. Love this again. 92+pts.

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• 2013 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros Côte Bouguerots 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Light straw color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. JCGuthrie's bottle and a fine one at that. Man I love the aromatics on this. Who am I kidding, I love everything about this. If you haven't noticed, Fevre has been killing it vintage after vintage. It seems like there's never an off vintage. The '13 Bougros Cote Bouguerots is no exception. This has that classic Fevre earth, brine, dank minerally ocean stuff going on big time with bold citrus notes. The palate is everything the nose is, very good acidity, fresh, well heeled with a tons of dry extract on the finish. Stellar.

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• 2013 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Light gold color. Drank a glass over 90 minutes. This was awfully good too. Golden pear, baking spices, Meyer lemon, mineral, lemon blossoms, and more sutle pineapple with a pleasant frame of oak. The palate has tons of dry stone minerality, ripe pear, Meyer lemon, and even a little tangerine, pineapple, and a fuller body and outstanding textural elements. While this is penetrating on the palate it maintains that fleet of foot style as well. The oak is there, but in such a complimentary way, and the balance shines through. Very classy, bringing the best of old and new world. 94+ to 95pts.

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• 2003 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Monogram 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Dark red color. Followed a glass over an hour next to the '05 version. Big style, extracted fruit that is baked and fading. The heat of the vintage is all over this. There was likely a point in its younger days where this held things together. But the aging curve and hot vintages don't usually compliment one another and that was the case here. You still get that sense of syrupy, liqueurish black fruits, but it can no longer hold its ground against the alcohol. After Jason so generously opened a 2005 version for comparison, it was even more dramatic. Ths '05 was still in a very good place.

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• 2005 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Monogram 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Dark black cherry red color, 4mm transitional margin. PNP, drank a glass over an hour next to the '03 version. A generous bonus bottle from Jason, the '05 certainly demonstrates the influence of vintage on aging as this is in a good place compared to the '03 which can no longer contain its alcohol. This was in fine drinking form with a loamy earth nose and dark fruits of black cherry, cassis and blackberry. The palate is lovely, full bodied, tart, black cherry, blackberry, bristly earth, tart cherry, balanced with refined tannins.

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• 1992 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color with a 6mm transitional margin. PNP, drank a glass over 90 minutes. Wow, this lives up to the theme! Simply gorgeous, this has to be at peak right now. This is a fully integrated beaty of balance and finesse. It could easily pass for aged Bordeaux. A mix of red and black fruit, though going slightly more to the red side, pencil, funky leather and fine tobacco. This is just one of those sublime bottles. My and group #2 WOTN, 94+pts.

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• 1996 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Very dark red color with no bricking. Decanted for an hour and also saw a several hours of slow-O. Drank a glass over 2 hours. This just sat in the glass while I was completely mesmerized by the '92 Araujo Eiselle. I finally got around to picking up my glass as the table talk around the '96 perked my ears. The '96 is a pretty brilliant version of Martha's with a provocative nose of citrus zest, light eucayptus, dried herbs, savory dried spices, anise and dark fruits. The palate is full bodied, earthy, velvet texture, great purity, cassis, dark wild boysenberry, pencil, menthol, awesome spices and melded satiny tannins. Outstanding; my and group WOTN.

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• 2009 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Purple color. Drank a glass over an hour. Sheer decadence in a glass. As Joe put it, this is a cocktail wine. The fruit is truly impressive, creme de cassis, blackberry jam, succulent, hints of black cherry and cranberry. This is in your face fruit, but it is very well balanced and there's really no oak lingering. I can't call it complex, but it ticks a lot of other positive boxes and for the style it is undeniably delicious. Obviously this is one of those wines that some go absolutely crazy over, so my score will seem low in comparison. 92+ to 93pts.

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• 2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. Decanted for 6 hours; followed a glass over an hour. Whoa, here's another big fella; massive fruits, tons of vanilla, heat. The palate is pretty consistent, liqueurish black fruits, vanilla, and heat. For me, even more than the port like style, it's the level of oak on this that I find totally distracting. I continue to wonder how these will age. It isn't in what I would consider the prime drinking window as of yet due to the oak. Tune in later to see if this hits a sweet spot, no pun intended.

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• 2001 Château Climens 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Medium gold color. From 375ml, drank a small glass over 20 minutes plus. First '01 Climens I've had. Simply brilliant, wonderfully balanced, oh so elegant on the palate, creme brulee, tangerine, creamy, gorgeous honey notes, peach, pineapple, not overly sweet or spicy, the texture is heavenly. This all about complexity, subtlety, balance and grace.
  96+(+)pts.

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#1 WOTN '96 Heitz Martha's
#2 WOTN '92 Araujo Eisele