Celebrating age

FermentedBeast and company were kind enough to throw a little get together for me.

Fruit city

• NV Ariston Aspasie Champagne Brut Réserve 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  Nose of clean mineral notes, ripe yellow stone fruits and gentle toast.
  
  Flavors of deep yellow fruits with pebbles covered in yeasty notes, and a gentle salinity.
  
  A touch of sweetness is apparent on both the nose and palate. For some reason, still good to "refresh" the palate in between the reds.

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• 2020 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Bam Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Aromas of dark red fruits, dark powdered graphite, dark green stems, and gently spiced bark.
  
  On the palate was ripe dark red and black fruits, black minerals coated with fruit, fruited black earth, and more fruit.
  
  Awesome if you love tons of fruit, as this seemed to really showcase that. I wish it had a bit more complexity but that might come with time. If lots of fruits give you pleasure, this will be your jam - no pun intended. 94 for now and hoping this gains some complexity and depth with time.

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Nose of sour raspberry and cranberry with stones. The stone note is really pronounced. Sour oak and a cork scent, something like wet cardboard as well.
  
  On the palate showed some dark streaks of graphite, fruit that is very hard to find, dried earth and tree bark. All this with a pronounced cork flavor, like soured and wet oak.
  
  Bummer. I was stubborn and didn't wanna believe this was corked after FermentedBeast mentioned it. I was trying so hard to pick out notes and try to enjoy it like everyone else. I just can't enjoy this like everyone else, can I? Imagine if you can liquefy a cork while keeping its scent and flavors. There was a faint hint of it early on, thought it would air out and go away, but came back strong in the end. Somehow the wine managed to still show some of its characteristics though.

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• 2015 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon La Verdad Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Nose of ripe and dark red fruits blended with earth.
  
  Flavors of refined dark red fruits, earthened minerals, and a soft and subtle darkness in its flavor profile.
  
  Still good but more refined now that it has some age. Definitely no more creamy and macerated fruits like when I first enjoyed this a few years ago. I sometimes wonder how these will eventually be with 10-15 years under its belt and how I will enjoy them. Makes me think if Carter wines are wines that you would wanna consume now instead of 10-15 years.

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• 2020 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The Haze 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Nose of fresh black and blue fruits, gentle stony minerals.
  
  Flavors of brighter blue fruits with good freshness, bright minerals, and gentle black earth. With time, the wine develops more depth and picks up some concentration but still falls slightly short on the finish.
  
  Tasty and fun but not comparable to the ‘19 Haze. It’s reaching but doesn’t quite get to the same level.

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Shout outs to FermentedBeast for hosting and taking care of my friend and I. Had tons of fun with food, good drinks and even little mini-blinds to test each other for fun. Good times! Here's to more.