From magnum. Aromas of cherry and clove with a subtle earthy element in the background. Medium-bodied, with red fruit, cherry, licorice and Asian spice flavors. Picks up a strawberry note with air. 91+ pts.
Decanted for half an hour or so, but an hour would have been better as this needed some swirling in the glass to really wake up and reveal all of its charms. Leather, currant, cedar and violet notes. Flavors of red plum, currant and leather. In good form, give this a bit of air to open and enjoy. A style I enjoy very much. 93-94+ pts.
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Opened allowed to breathe in bottle for an hour+ but this needed to be decanted. Aromas of garrigue, red and white currant, macerated berry and plum notes too. Has a nice peppery spice underneath. Medium- to full-bodied with medium tannins and abundant red and black fruit with a long finish dominated by spice and pepper. Really nicely balanced. A terrific showing tonight. 96+ pts.
Our penultimate bottle, decanted for a short while before service. Deep color with just a hint of bricking. Violet and cassis along with plummy dark fruit. Shows just a little bit of tannin along with flavors of plum, black currant, violet liqueur and a hint of spice box. Long finish. Balanced across the palate. At peak for me, though will clearly hold at this level for a couple of years at least. 94-95 pts.
A really fine showing in spite of its youth. Deep opaque color with aromas of vanilla, black fruit and lavender. Full-bodied and quite firm, but at times shows a plush softness as well. Flavors of cassis, violet, vanilla, spice and lavender. Long finish. Very happy to have this in the cellar, where our bottles will stay for a few years yet, perhaps 2025+.
To my recollection this was not decanted though certainly could have used it. Vanilla, dark cabernet fruits and plenty of rich chocolatey notes as well. Firm tannins are fine-grained, supporting an abundance of black fruit, along with vanilla and wood spice accents. Finishes with good length. Quite good, just needs some time in the cellar or a healthy decant.
Courtesy of IW. Opaque dark color with notes of chocolate, dark fruit and only a very subtle herbal franc element. Loads of dark fruit on the palate. Young and impressive; rather dense. Very well-balanced though, with a long finish. Needs time in the cellar.
I hate to admit it, but this was damn impressive. Aromas of plum, cassis and black fruit with a terrific floral/violet overtone that I found very enjoyable. Young and modern, but very well-balanced. Abundant dark cabernet fruit, vanilla, violet liqueur, rose and plum. Hints of spice in the lingering finish. One of the highlights of the evening for me. 95+ pts.
Courtesy of IW. Light golden color with notes of apricot syrup, ginger and ripe apple. Rich texture complemented by wonderful underlying acidity gives a freshness that makes these wines so delightful. Apricot and stone fruit with a honeyed marmalade quality. Long finish. Wonderful.
2008 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Light yellow color with a medium mousse. Orchard fruit on the nose and palate along something nutty. Has a nice creamy rich texture. Enjoyable now.
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2015 Miani Friulano 93 Points
Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali
Courtesy of Jeff & Christy. Very floral and perfumed with orchard fruit and citrus notes as well. Good acidity; bright and racy. Excellent.
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2012 Kistler Chardonnay Trenton Roadhouse 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Deep color. Apple, mineral and lemon aromas. Rich and layered with plenty of fruit. Well-balanced with a lingering finish. Excellent. 92-93 pts.
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2013 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Mark Bradford 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
From magnum. Aromas of cherry and clove with a subtle earthy element in the background. Medium-bodied, with red fruit, cherry, licorice and Asian spice flavors. Picks up a strawberry note with air. 91+ pts.
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1990 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Decanted for half an hour or so, but an hour would have been better as this needed some swirling in the glass to really wake up and reveal all of its charms. Leather, currant, cedar and violet notes. Flavors of red plum, currant and leather. In good form, give this a bit of air to open and enjoy. A style I enjoy very much. 93-94+ pts.
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1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 96 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Opened allowed to breathe in bottle for an hour+ but this needed to be decanted. Aromas of garrigue, red and white currant, macerated berry and plum notes too. Has a nice peppery spice underneath. Medium- to full-bodied with medium tannins and abundant red and black fruit with a long finish dominated by spice and pepper. Really nicely balanced. A terrific showing tonight. 96+ pts.
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2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Our penultimate bottle, decanted for a short while before service. Deep color with just a hint of bricking. Violet and cassis along with plummy dark fruit. Shows just a little bit of tannin along with flavors of plum, black currant, violet liqueur and a hint of spice box. Long finish. Balanced across the palate. At peak for me, though will clearly hold at this level for a couple of years at least. 94-95 pts.
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2012 Peter Michael Les Pavots 94 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
A really fine showing in spite of its youth. Deep opaque color with aromas of vanilla, black fruit and lavender. Full-bodied and quite firm, but at times shows a plush softness as well. Flavors of cassis, violet, vanilla, spice and lavender. Long finish. Very happy to have this in the cellar, where our bottles will stay for a few years yet, perhaps 2025+.
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2012 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Kathryn Hall Napa Valley 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
To my recollection this was not decanted though certainly could have used it. Vanilla, dark cabernet fruits and plenty of rich chocolatey notes as well. Firm tannins are fine-grained, supporting an abundance of black fruit, along with vanilla and wood spice accents. Finishes with good length. Quite good, just needs some time in the cellar or a healthy decant.
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2015 Detert Family Vineyards Cabernet Franc East Block Oakville 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Courtesy of IW. Opaque dark color with notes of chocolate, dark fruit and only a very subtle herbal franc element. Loads of dark fruit on the palate. Young and impressive; rather dense. Very well-balanced though, with a long finish. Needs time in the cellar.
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2015 Post Parade Cabernet Sauvignon
USA, California, Napa Valley
Popped and poured. Vanilla, cassis and black plummy fruit with chocolate undertones. The palate follows the bouquet. Quite good in spite of its youth.
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2012 BOND Pluribus 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
I hate to admit it, but this was damn impressive. Aromas of plum, cassis and black fruit with a terrific floral/violet overtone that I found very enjoyable. Young and modern, but very well-balanced. Abundant dark cabernet fruit, vanilla, violet liqueur, rose and plum. Hints of spice in the lingering finish. One of the highlights of the evening for me. 95+ pts.
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2007 Royal Tokaji Wine Co. Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos Nyulászó 93 Points
Hungary, Tokaji
Courtesy of IW. Light golden color with notes of apricot syrup, ginger and ripe apple. Rich texture complemented by wonderful underlying acidity gives a freshness that makes these wines so delightful. Apricot and stone fruit with a honeyed marmalade quality. Long finish. Wonderful.
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