90s Napa Cabernet Dinner
Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant, Forum
Tasted November 8, 2013 by hkm520240 with 664 views
Flight 1 - Starting Duo : Nice supple clarets fr early 90s (2 notes)
It has nice nose bursting with black fruits, milk chocolate, tobacco and some floral notes. Aged gracefully and showing smooth and mellow palate, black-fruits, hints of vanilla and plenty of tobacco and cigar box. Very old world style, not overpowering, just elegant and balance.
A little soft on mid-palate but it ends with a long finish and silky tannins. An excellent wine to start for the night before we move on to more masculine Napa Cab. 12.5% ABV is lovely, typical claret level.
A robust wine on palate with vibrant acidity, layers of dark fruits, blackcurrant and cigar box, supple texture yet solid mid-palate, like an iron fist in a velvet glove.
Long persistent finish with ripe tannins. This has more structure compare to Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow. One step up from the 1st wine.
My favorite wine of the night, complex and elegant. It can effortlessly match to a Cru Class Chateau. Another Robert Mondavi Reserve that has impressed me. 13.5% ABV making a good balance wine.
Flight 2 - Blind tasting Flight: Harlan and the challengers (3 notes)
An absolutely interesting flight where 3 wines from different price points put together for blind tasting. 1999 Cosentino (below $100) was very impressive judging from the price point and showing very well in the beginning. 1998 Stag's Leap Cask 23 ($200+) was nice and showing good complexity but I was disappointed on the mid-palate and length, perhaps because 1998 was one of the weaker vintage in 90s. But I still quite happy I fulfill my wish to try the legendary wine that change the wine world on 1976 Judgement of Paris. 1998 Harlan ($800+) on the other hand struggle in the beginning, but when it opens up after hours+ it really shine.
First in the flight, dark ruby with garnet hue, subtle but elegant nose, blackcurrant, nice fruits purity and still primary, perfume and slight minty.
Rich powerful mouth-feel, fruity palate, dark fruits and blackcurrant, blueberry. After an hour+ in the glass the wine starting to mellow down and showing good acidity. Soft drying tannins with a long finish.
This was showing very well in the beginning and most of us can't tell this is the cheapest wine of the night. I was also impressed by its strong entry but after few more sips I realized it was pretty straightforward from mid-palate to finish. But that is enough to give other wines a run for their money. 14.2% ABV.
Second wine in the flight, dark ruby core with vibrant brick red hue showing some age. Perfume and floral nose, elegant and subtle, blackcurrant and hints of tobacco. Just staring to show some secondary development.
Smooth and perfume palate, with black fruits, blackcurrants and subtle tobacco notes. Drinking nicely now, not a big wine. Medium+ finish with smooth tannins.
I was disappointed on the mid-palate and length, perhaps because 1998 was one of the weaker vintage in 90s. But I am still quite happy I fulfill my wish to try the legendary wine that change the wine world on 1976 Judgement of Paris. 14.5% ABV one of the highest tonight.
Third wine in the flight, deep garnet with vibrant crimson hue, the darkest colour in this flight. Decanted for 1hour+ but still tight and pungent. After another hour in the glass it gradually open up to show complex and fragrant nose of blackcurrant, plum, pepper, mint and hints of tobacco.
Still big and youthful palate, opulent wine and structured, showing ripe fruits, blackcurrant, chocolate, peppery notes and hints of oak. Strong mid-palate, ripe and grippy tannins, finishes long.
Not a fantastic wine but it could be the star or the Vin de Garde of 1998 Napa Cab judging from the difficult vintage. It did impressed me with ripe and primary fruits that showing good aging potential. Best among the 3 1998 tasted tonight. 14.5% ABV, same as Stag's Leap Cask 23.
Flight 3 - Showdown of 2 great vintage in 90s: 97 vs. 96 (2 notes)
The same exhibits on the palate which reflecting the vintage, opulent wine with ripe fruits, sweet blackcurrant. It has more concentration than 1999 Cosentino Punched Cap Fermented, displaying primary and youthful character. Finishes long with spicy fruits.
This was the favourite wine for some who likes their wine the bigger the better. However it really surprised me with 13.8% ABV as the wine seems ripe and big, I was expecting at least 14.5% ABV.
Full and ripe on palate, blackfruits, sweet blackcurrant, dark plum with hints of toasted oak. Solid mid-palate with slight mintiness, Long spicy finish with soft grippy tannins.
This wine showing very well tonight, same big and ripe style but I prefer this to 1997 Barnett with more depth. 13.4% ABV surprised me even more, what a well made wine.
Flight 4 - Palate cleansing Rosé (1 note)
Light salmon pink, fresh toasty nose, little nutty and creamy with citrus fruits. Fresh and zesty acidity on palate which is very nice, good palate weight.
I seldom find myself enjoy Champagne Rosé but this is very nice but pity I can't focus on this wine and need to give priority to the reds.
Flight 5 - Final flight: Last 2 Robust reds (2 notes)
Robust on entry but it has mellow down on palate, showing well on mid-palate with good acidity, finishes long with fine tannins.
This was one of my favourite wine of the night, compared to Barnett of the same vintage, it shows greater complexity and development. 14.5% is well controlled.
Decanted for 3 hours, very dark and almost opaque, darkest wine of the night, some brickish edge. Barnyard and leather nose with blackcurrant on background.
Big robust wine, blackcurrant, roasted coffee beans, blackberry, dark fruits and tobacco. Good finish with soft grippy tannins.
The nose showing secondary development but the palate was complex with nice fruits concentration. Clearly not build to last and drinking well now, but it should be one of the better wine in '98. 13.9% ABV.