Dinner with Herwig

Superlative dinner. Everything showed well, and the company was fantastic. The Yquem wasn't bad either.

• 1995 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Double decanted and tasted. Deep ruby, overall youthful for its age with minimal bricking; high intensity aromatics, classic bell pepper predominant as is common with Togni, blackcurrant, a bit herbal; palate is full bodied, elegant medium to medium-plus acidity, tannins fully integrated, certainly green notes predominate as fruit reaches maturity and is less predominant, twang of bitterness through the midpalate; finish is medium-plus length. For now 92, though this comes across as quite a bit more green than my last bottle two years ago and I expect some air will help this balance out.
  30 min air: Greenness is much more integrated into the overall wine, though still a prominent component of the nose and palate. 93+
  3 hours in bottle: really markedly better integrated, the black fruit is coming out a bit more, greenness has integrated. Certainly positively evolved with air. 94

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1975 Château Coutet Barsac 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Golden-orange color, great for its age; aromatic, orange blossom, white flowers, citrus peel, slight honey; palate is medium bodied, sweet but balanced by exceptional medium-plus acidity which counterbalances the sweetness until it is barely perceptible through the midpalate, clean palate throughout with some orange blossom, floral, citrus rind; finish is medium length, clean, balanced, and refreshing. Consistent with my last bottle 4+ years ago, this has classic Coutet balance with prominent acidity balancing the sweetness, Barsac-classic florals and orange blossom, not showing any of the caramel but certainly showing some maturity, not reaching otherworldly complexity but a very solid enjoyable sauternes which will age for another decade or two without problems. 92

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2008 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  Exceptional aromatics, fresh but with some richness from age, high acidity; long long finish. Lovely young champagne. 95

  Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Littorai Chardonnay Charles Heintz Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Golden pear, kiwi, lychee, high intensity aromatics, some floral; palate is full bodied, richly textured, medium-plus acidity, a bit short through the midpalate, white fruited; finish is medium length. Good but lacking the depth in the palate. Aromatics are phenomenal. 90

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2002 Coche-Dury Meursault Les Rougeots 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Fantastic aromatics, slight reduction, nutmeg spice, mint, white fruit; palate is medium-full bodied, not quite as rich as this level of white burgundy, high acidity, somewhat moderated fruit, lots underlying that will open up; medium-plus finish. Lovely wine burgundy. 93

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Walter Scott Chardonnay X-Novo Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

  Aromatic with reduction and some spice from oak, a bit hard to evaluate; palate is rich with high acidity, lemon zest; finish is medium length. There nose is a bit difficult but promising overall. Needs air. 90

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1992 Calera Pinot Noir Mount Harlan Cuvée 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan

  Aromatic, roses and floral, mature red fruits, lovely nose; palate is light bodied, excellent fruit and maturity, minerality, integrated tannins; medium finish. Gorgeous wine at maturity. 91

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2016 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Aromatic, spicy, red fruited, youthful, almost vosne-styled spices; palate is medium bodied, medium-plus acidity, balanced tannins, youthful, easy drinking; medium finish. Obviously well made with aromatics its strength. 92

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1998 Lagier Meredith Syrah 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  A bit plummy and red fruit, minerality; palate is medium bodied, medium plus acidity, lovely elegant and minerality red fruit; finish is medium length. Nice and solid Syrah, balanced. 91

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1996 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Black fruited, aromatic; palate is full bodied, still black fruits, integrated but not showing a lot of tertiary character, fades a bit through the midpalate; finish is medium-minus. I think aged but not showing the tertiary character. 89
  Over dinner this really integrated well and started showing substantially better. 91, possibly higher, but drink now.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 1943 Château d'Yquem 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Deep orange-caramel, appropriate color for its age; intense aromatics with dried orange, apricot, some honey, developed but not quite caramel, a little nutty with almond; palate is richly textured but absolutely vibrant acidity, orange peel, orange marmalade, dried apricot, intense with some spice, complexity; finish is long. The only comparison I have for this is the ‘67 which was more complex, but this is a special experience and certainly a stellar Sauternes and Yquem. 96

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue