2001 Cults (Plus some extras) from Delyap & Tommy 'O

Well, I've been travelling and I'm 8000km from home, but I had to take the time to write about this event. Delyap and Tommy 'O hosted a great blind tasting of 2001 cult and aspiring cult California wines. Of the reds, there were 14 bottles. One - the ringer, 2001 Masseto - was corked. The remaining 13 were ranked, but I felt the Dominus was also flawed...it came in last. This was a very informative and generous event. The food was sublime as well. A fantastic time was had by all attendees.

• 2003 Kongsgaard Chardonnay The Judge 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This wine is quite good. Clear, rich and oaky. A nice buttery nose. Some creme brulee. Solid.

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• 2003 Kongsgaard Chardonnay 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Best nose of the three Chards. Very floral. Smoother than #1. But also more powerful. Lots of good oak. Slightly darker hue than #1. A creamier mouthfeel than the first wine too.

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• 1994 Marcassin Chardonnay Gauer Upper Barn 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  A disappointing showing. Cloudy, unfiltered appearance. Fully mature (even a bit past it). The nose was toasty and a bit cheesy with some cooked vegetables. The cheesiness on the nose haunted this wine all night. In fairness, the palate was much better than the nose...but you couldn't ignore the nose. On the palate the wine was fairly rich and thick. The fruit was ripe, but a touch faded. Nice acid. A bit leesy. Drink up.

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• 2001 Dominus Estate

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Well, we are off to a bit of a bad start with the reds. There is something off with this bottle. On the nose, icing sugar, pepper and raisins - seems a bit reduced. On the palate, there is significant burnt rubber. I think this is a flawed bottle, therefore not rated. The group ranked this last (13 of 13) of the sound reds on the night. (The true tragedy was that 2001 Massetto - the ringer - was corked!)

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• 2001 Joseph Phelps Insignia 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Boy I enjoyed this wine. Pure cassis cabernet nose. A little sous bois. Smooth mouthfeel. A touch of green pepper. Nice wine...no, excellent wine. Bordeaux-like. Could there be some cabernet franc in this? The group rated this 7th out of 13.

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• 2001 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spottswoode Estate Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Leafier cabernet nose. Sweet, surmature palate. Smooth, but lacking distinction. No punch to it. Well-made, but feels contrived and constructed. The group had this 8th of 13.

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• 2001 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This wine is beautiful ansd smooth with candied fruit and a hint of mint. Really nice. Strong wine. Leaning more towards the red fruit than the black fruit side of things. Decent acid twang lifts the mouth and finish. The group had this 5th of 13.

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• 2001 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Now this puppy was singing. Cassis on the nose and palate. Big black fruit. A huge wine, but not overly sweet. This is great. Lovely balance and velvet mouthfeel. A wonderful drinnk now, but much more to come. The group had this 3rd of 13.

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• 2001 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This sports a big, bold, pure clean nose. Lovely cassis, blueberry, brown sugar and a bit of mint. Some mocha on the finish. I liked this a bunch, but the group rated it fairly low - 10th out of 13.

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• 2001 Harlan Estate 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This was the WOTN for me. A little earthier on the nose than the prior wines. A bit tannic, this wine gives you tough love. It has ripe fruit, nice acid and great length in the mouth. It feels like a complete wine. The group had this wine as 2nd out of 13.

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• 2001 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This has a nice cherry nose and features ripe berries on the palate. There is some chocolate and very fine tannin. It feels a bit mass-produced. Good, but not great. The group ranked this 6 of 13.

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• 2001 Abreu Madrona Ranch 86 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Slightly reduced. A hot wine with notes of cough syrup. Spirity on nose. Ultra-ripe, even surmature fruit. The fruit is oversized. A bit hot on finish. My least favorite red of the eve. Ranked 9 of 13 by the group.

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• 2001 Sloan 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Confected fruit. Dry, ultrafine tannins. Powerful, sweet cabernet. Tastes a bit Pride-ish? The group ranked this 12 of 13, but I thought it was better.

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• 2001 Colgin Cariad 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Apple skins on the nose. Nice red fruit dominated wine. Fresh acids give this wine a nice mouthfeel. Less monolithic than many wines on this night. The group put this as #11 of 13.

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• 2001 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 96 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Gorgeous nose. Distinctive. Shafer HSS? Pure cool cabernet fruit. Great, rich, smooth body and tremendous palate presence. Excellent high-quality fruit. Not overdone. Great wine. The group had this ranked 4 of 13.

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• 2001 Robert Foley Claret 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  The group liked this much better than I did. I found a very ripe wine, but heavy, monolithic and ponderous. I don't really like this style that much. The group had this as the WOTN.

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• 1994 Dow Porto Vintage 94 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  (From 375) Surprisingly developed wine in this format. Tastes sort of middle-aged. However, really excellent. Tons of material here. Great fruit and strength of tannins. Gorgeous with blue cheese and pecans.

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• 1959 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray

  I can't really rate this wine as I have little frame of reference for how this should taste. I can say that I was shocked how young this wine appears and tastes. Tastes like VERY young chenin to me. I'm stunned this is a '59. There is a touch of glue on this - it seems a young and undeveloped wine. Puzzling.

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