Neal - Lewelling Dinner Sunday March 8th, Twist in Campbell

Offline organized by Paul and Stefania.

There was at least one other rose that I missed. There may have been more.

• N.V. Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Brut 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs - France, Champagne, Côte des Blancs, Champagne
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: super dark and nutty notes; very clean and fresh. Good.

The 2001 was the Neal WOTF for me.

• 1999 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: tight bright fruit with chocolate and dark berry notes. Good.
• 2001 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: open and accessible with dark blackberry fruit and a dry finish. Very Good. WOTF for the Neal.
• 2002 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: musty nose and mustiness on the palate with chocolate and some black licorice. Fair to Good.
• 2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: round plush dark fruit with a dry finish. Good to Very Good.
• 2004 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: round, plush dark fruit with dry bramble notes on the finish. Good to Very Good.
• 2005 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: tight fruit with charcoal ending with a dry black fruit finish. Very Good but young.

The 2004 Wight was the Lewelling WOTF for me.

• 2000 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: dry, tight fruit with blackberry and dark raspberry notes. Good.
• 2001 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: dry, tight fruit with smoke, black cherry and blackberries. Very Good.
• 2003 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: funky herbaceous nose; green notes on the palate with a musty finish. Fair.
• 2004 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: drier and tighter fruit than the 04 Wight, with blackberry ending with a dry finish. Good to Very Good.
• 2004 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon Wight - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: soft and approachable with a good tannic background with chocolate dust and black fruit. Terrific wine. WOTF for the Lewelling.
• 2005 Lewelling Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: still showing primary elements to me with some wateriness. Blackberry fruit with black cherry and chocolate. Good to Very Good. Should improve with time.

Match showed a very high quality consistency across vintages.

• 2002 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: lush, dark fruit with some sweet concord grape notes ending with a citrus finish. Very Good. WOTF for Match
• 2004 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: musty nose with charcoal, smoke and dry dark fruit. Good.
• 2005 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: smokey with lush fruit and ends with a dry finish. Needs time. Very Good.
• 2006 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: very primary right now with tropical fruit notes. Not rated.
• 2005 Stefania Cabernet Sauvignon Uvas Creek Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: some cinnamon on the nose, light in body compared to the heavier Napa cabs; good clean bright red fruit with a citrus finish. Very Good.

• 1989 Château Doisy-Védrines - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: light, with some syrupy notes of creme brulle, lemon, brown sugar and caramel. Very Good.
• 2000 Robert Mondavi Winery Sauvignon Blanc Botrytis - USA, California, Napa Valley
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: a slight alcohol note on the entry otherwise sweet nectarine and lemon with a syrupy finish. Fair to Good..
• 2003 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
  Opened not decanted. Served and tasted over 3-4 hours. Quick notes: fresh lemon, sweet syrup with a strong clean citrus finish. Very Good.