Deer Valley Palooza in 3 stages with Mark1npt and Agelvis

Maybe not the most practical location for a wine tasting given the travel and altitude effects, but it could not have been more beautiful. Great friends, great location, great wine.

Getting warmed up for our real wine celebration later in the week. Great to have Sasha there for a few days and opened the LMHB in her honor.

• NV Huré Frères Champagne Invitation 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  (6/25/2023)

  From a 375 on our arrival in Deer Vallley. Nose was toasty and inviting, apple red fruit and orange marmalade on the palate.. Nice acidity and mousse.

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• NV Dehours Champagne Grande Réserve Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  (6/25/2023)

  From a 375. Dark golden in color. Something slightly funky on the nose. Honey, toast, golden apple. 4g/l is just right. Preferred the Hure Freres

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• 2016 Quivet Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (6/25/2023)

  Drank this PnP after a mistake with our intended bottle. Really good from the start. Smooth, silky, I found more red fruits than I expected, but sweet red fruits rather than tart. And mixed with black. Nice longish finish. This one really developed well although I am not sure there would have been any point in holding for my palate.

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• 2018 Sojourn Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Georges III Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  (6/26/2023)

  A sad sad mistake. Thought I had pulled the 2019 and didn’t realize it was 2018 until after I decanted and tasted. Very closed after 2 hrs in the decanter (even Paul wouldn’t drink it) so back in the bottle and recorked while we enjoyed the Quivet instead.
  
  Now after 24 hours we thought it would surely be ready to go. Brought it to a restaurant and it was still impenetrable although we did drink it. This will be great, but not pleasurable in its current state.
  Big dark fruit, thick tannins, not very integrated yet and not very open. This reminds of all 2018’s right after release. 5+ years for my next one.

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• 2003 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  (6/27/2023)

  Drank with my daughter as this is one of her birth year wines. 2.5 hour decant was perfect and this wine was drinking beautifully. Dark plummy fruit, mild tobacco, leather, so silky smooth and a long finish. Tannins were surprisingly subdued. She loved it and looking forward to the next bottle sometime next year.

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• NV Stéphane Coquillette Champagne Grand Cru Carte d'Or Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  (6/27/2023)

  From 375. So nice. Toasty yeasty nose, great acid. Perfect for mid week not special occasion just need a glass of champagne moments!!!

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• 2020 Realm Cellars La Fe

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (6/27/2023)

  We drank this over several days and it did the job. Beautiful salmon color, fresh strawberries on the nose and palate. Still good but losing some of its freshness. I have one bottle left and we will be sure to finish it this summer.
  Bottle donated to Mark1npt for candle making! Let him know if you need wine candles, they are great reminders of fun bottles.

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2 days with Mark and Carol before Jaime and Melissa's arrival. Night one we stayed in with plenty of snacks and turkey chili. Night 2 week took our bottles to Burgers and Bourbon at The Montage. I had a food hangover afterwards.

• 2014 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (6/28/2023)

  Just a touch better than my last bottle 2 years ago, although not sure this has so much more room to improve. Decanted for two hours. The nose was lovely and open from Pnp. The palate was initially tart but with time in glass the red fruit became sweeter. This was nicely integrated and enjoyable but not exciting. I preferred the ‘13 wchi b had a bit more freshness to it.

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• 2013 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (6/28/2023)

  This bottle brought to the table by Mark to compare with our ‘14. Initially a 30 min decant although we drank it throughout the entire evening so I don’t think the differences are down to air time.
  This ‘13 had a medium intensity nose of darker fruit. Full and round on the palate with nice acidity. Integrated and smooth. Preferred to the ‘14 due to its freshness but at the end of the evening they were drinking very similarly.

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• 2018 Torrin Akasha 96 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  (6/29/2023)

  This was a stunning surprise and my wine of the night. A 9 hour decant. Deep and rich in color, aroma and texture. Floral violet and dark fruit nose. Many things on the palate but mostly delicious layers of fruit —raspberries, blackberries and licorice. So well structured and built for the long haul.

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• 2014 Venge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (6/28/2023)

  First wine with Mark and Carol and WOTN for me alongside some really nice wines.
  Decanted 3+ hours. Great nose full of dark fruits and florals. On the palate dark plummy fruits and spices cinnamon and apparently mulberry. Tannins were smooth and the acid brought some juiciness to the fruit. A little hot and astringent on the finish but I noticed this less as the night went on :-)
  Much better than my bottle 2 years ago

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• 2014 Kamen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Moon Mountain District

  (6/29/2023)

  This bottle was a contribution from Mark and I was excited because I haven’t had Kamen before, but I think this bottle got a bit lost in the shuffle of all the other wines we were drinking. I didn’t take extensive notes, only:black plummy and multivitamin on the nose. Good acidity on day 1.
  
  For a more thorough review see notes from
  Mark1npt and AGELVIS

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• 2013 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon Family Reserve Howell Mountain 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (6/29/2023)

  Tied for my wine of the night and my first del dotto——thanks Mark. Very balanced and medium in body and intensities. Slate on the nose and a chalkiness that I liked. Blackberries on the nose and palate. Great structure, will go a long time.

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• 2014 Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

  (6/29/2023)

  94 on day one, 92 on day 2 but sticking with the higher score since most people would drink day one. I forgot how much air this had, I think we slow oxed it for a few hours the first day and then brought to dinner. Very structured, biting acid and astringent tannins, blueberry and bramble.
  Much smoother on day 2, nice florals on the nose, but missing some of the vibrancy of the fruit.

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• 2019 Chateau Potelle Fourmeaux Rône 94 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (6/29/2023)

  Such a pretty wine, brought by Mark. Elegant, sweet red fruit and florals. So balanced and so easy to drink. One of my favorites of JN’s Fourmeaux series!

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A three way magnum, some non cali wines, much more diversity in what we were drinking.
Jaime's Corton takes the prize

• 2020 Bodegas El Nido Jumilla Clio 94 Points

  Spain, Murcia, Jumilla

  (6/30/2023)

  Really curious to try this one after the review of Rhone who. Four hour slow ox after a double decant and seemed about right.
  Aromatic nose of dark cherries and flowers. On the palate ripe cherries, berries and cough syrup. A hint of orange zest and tangerine fruit.
  Big but balanced with an acidity that I enjoyed.
  Almost a 95 for me
  
  Tried the last 3 ounces of this in the airport lounge at sea level. Omg such a difference. 96-97. Is it the extra micro-ox or is my palate just dead at altitude?

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• 2016 Realm Cellars The Bard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (6/30/2023)

  This is a magnum that Mark, Jaime and I went in on and I was really excited about. For me it underperformed. Although I realize now that it was in part the way altitude impacts my palate. Also, I think this needs much more cellar time to get to its optimal state. Our 9 hour decant on day 1 wasn't enough, but by day 2 it had really lost its edge, almost flabby (a 91 for me).
  But that said, notes from day 1 were fig newtons and red fruits on the nose, along with violets and something woody like sandalwood, not quite cedar. Red fruits and red licorice on the palate. Astringent tannic finish.
  I take some comfort in the thought that everyone else enjoyed it more than me since I convinced them to go i on it when we orderd!

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• 2016 Kata Ghost Dog Beckstoffer Bourn Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  (6/30/2023)

  Vitaminy nose, dark purple color and dark fruit to match. Baking chocolate on the palate, cotton ball texture. Some baking type spices. I liked this, but I think I would like it better with a little more age .
  3+ hour decant

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• 2016 Cornell Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  (6/30/2023)

  This was showing similar to the one I tried earlier this year. Brought by Jaime who did not appreciate it as much as I did. Not very open for business yet. Restrained res and dark fruit, bay leaf, green savory herbs. Very balanced just understated right now. Went very well with our steak dinner

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• 2018 Carter Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon The O.G. Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (6/30/2023)

  Score is for day 3 at the airport.
  Mark generously supplied this bottle but we opened it late in the evening and probably did not give it enough air. My notes were limited and I noted that I liked it, plus raspberries , spices and caramel. It really didn’t seem at the calibre that I expected. However, saved a vial and drank it at sea level. Not sure if it was the extra air or being at sea level. But now it was delicious with berry liquor and saline on the palate and a lingering finish.

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• 2016 Selah Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (6/30/2023)

  My WOTN—thanks Jaime for bringing this one. So much better than my last bottle. My notes are not extensive so just check out what J & M wrote on the same day. My limited notes: Grand Marnier, red and blue fruit, Sloe(as in slow gin without the gin!) and mulberry ( a new deacriptor for me). Great intensity on the nose and palate. Well balanced. 2+ hour slow ox, but kept in my glass for at least another hour before tasting.

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• 2019 Comte Senard Corton Blanc 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton Grand Cru

  (7/1/2023)

  Tied for my wine of the week. Jaime’s bottle, which if I could have had it all to myself and had no other wines I would have been happy.
  Beautiful delicate fragrant nose with a hint of butter, yellow fruit, pear, gardenias and corn nuts. The texture was creamy and mouth coating with both (yes, both!) lemon custard and banana pudding. Nicely acidic and so complex the layers and flavors just kept on changing. Thank you AGELVIS /Jaime for introducing this one!!

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• 2019 Aubert Pinot Noir UV Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  (7/1/2023)

  Jaime’s bottle, drinking so well. Big fruity pinot nose, zingy at first, lots of acid, strawberry purée and a long finish. The one of the best Cali PN’s I have ever had.

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• 2016 Château Boswell Red Wine 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/1/2023)

  From Mark, a label I had never heard of and apparently not so easy to find, but very good. I think under normal circumstances (less wine and less altitude) this would be right in my wheelhouse.
  Roses and nail varnish on the nose at first, but the nail varnish faded. Big plum fruit and even bigger on the palate than the nose. Rose hips, cassis, grippy tannins. A mouth coating liquor developed over time. I’d like to try this one again some day.
  
  4 hr slow ox then 4 hr decant.

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• 2015 Jericho Canyon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/1/2023)

  Typical Napa nose and classic style. Blackberry, boysenberry, chocolate almonds. What stopped this from scoring higher for me was the big alcohol. Abv nowhere to be found on the label, which is strange.

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• 2009 Château Montus Madiran La Tyre Flawed

  France, Southwest France, Madiran

  (7/1/2023)

  After a recent 2001 Montus that was spectacular, and a reco for the La Tyre from a friend, I was excited to try this and give these Napa srinkwrs something new and exciting. Alas, I suspect we had a flawed bottle. Possible a hint of TCA and muted flavors and fruits. I brought 8 oz home so will check in again and see if we just got the timing wrong.

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• 2016 David Arthur Cabernet Sauvignon Elevation 1147 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (7/1/2023)

  I specifically bought this bottle for this occasion and it didn’t disappoint. Floral perfumed nose, black raspberry (is that a real thing?) fruit, a big spicy personality. We only gave it a 1 hr decant but I thought would show better with a few more hours. I have 2 more to age in the cellar for another year or two.

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I was biased going into this trip that we should only drink big bold reds. I have a theory that altitude really mutes one's palate, at least until you are adjusted to it. I know it is harder for me to pick up the subtleties of more complex wines when I am on a plane or in the mountains. However, the Corton and the Aubert pinot were two of my favorite wines, and the big bold Tannat did not show well. I will continue to refine my theory!