Any CA or WA cabernet or syrah

Estrelle, St. Paul
Tasted Sunday, October 2, 2022 by galewskj with 89 views

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

2012 José Michel & Fils Champagne Special Club 92 Points

France, Champagne

Crisp and also a touch bold. This wine is palate cleansing with some deeper notes, at least for a Jose Michel BdB.

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NV Pierre Moncuit Champagne Cuvée Hugues de Coulmet Blanc de Blancs Brut 89 Points

France, Champagne

Surprisingly less interesting than a 2012 Jose Michel Special Club. Although it was toastier, it also seemed watery, although it retained some champagne character.

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2019 Vincent Chardonnay Tardive 89 Points

USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

I expected this to be a lighter style, but this was quite light, almost water-like, with some malolactic fermentation evident. It didn't help that it was served next to a 2013 Kistler Kistler.

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2013 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard 94 Points

USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

This was a fantastic California chardonnay. There was butter, gentle spice, minerality, lime, peach and floral. Fresh, some richness, and some opulence.

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Flight 2 (7 Notes)

2005 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon Kronos Vineyard 94 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley

On my notes sheet, I wrote one word: "awesome". Let me try to expand upon that. For a cabernet, this was light, fresh and floral. Great acidity and balance. Some blueberries and spice are in the mix.

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2006 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley 93 Points

USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

JCGUTHRIE's bottle. This was a nuanced and complex cabernet. A bit darker profile that remained fresh throughout. I don't see this getting any better.

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2008 Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon DuBrul Vineyard

USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley

Slow o'd a couple hours, this wine actually seemed a bit tired and uninteresting. Alcohol was evident. Either these wines don't age so well or there's bottle variation. Unscored.

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2011 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 92 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

This wine was savory and vegetal, while retaining some red fruit.

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2012 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 23 91 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

splashed and slo-O'd for 2 hours at cellar temperature. This wine was big, fruity, fairly nice if a bit heavy and dense. 5 years ago I thought this wasn't ready. Now, I feel that it could improve with more cellar time, but I worry that it will just get more dense and heavy-handed.

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2012 Smith-Madrone Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

Consistent with a bottle that I had 2 nights ago. Even though this was decanted 30 minutes versus a pop and pour for the previous bottle, there was no detectable difference.

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2013 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah In the Hills 93 Points

USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

Slow o'd a couple hours. The nose on this is a fragrant beast or flowers, leather, cured meats and red to dark fruit. The palate seems leaner and less expressive than that amazing nose, but still solid. I've never tried a wine from this producer before, and I am semi-impressed with this bottle.

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