Community Tasting Note

I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine:

Thursday, September 24, 2020 - Zoom Tasting: Bring It On!: Bring It On! Zoom Tasting.

The following wines were featured in this showdown, and all performed admirably:

2008 La Grand Dame (Starter)
2016 SQN Deux Grenouilles (Starter)
1991 Spottswood Cabernet
2000 Pichon Lalande
1995 Ch. Margaux
2001 Shafer Hillside
2009 Smith Madrone Cook Flats Res.

Wine Prep: Margaux decanted at 3 pm, Smith Madrone opened and splashed at 3 pm. All other wines PnP at 4:pm into jars for transport, and transferred to wine glasses for consumption beginning at 6:30 pm.

Voting: 2000 Pichon Lalande was unanimous WOTN, 1995 Margaux was #2, and 2001 Shafer was #3. My voting was in line with the group.

2001 Shafer Hillside: This wine was firing on all cylinders tonight (at least for me). Some thought it may still get better (those who prefer more tertiary flavors), but for my palate (good balance between fruit and tertiary), I am pretty sure it was peaking. While definitely not a 100 point wine, it sure deserves a high score. This wine has everything going, a great cab nose, full of earthiness, mushroom, spice and dark fruit, and a palate that keeps up with the nose. tannins well integrated and enough acidity to allow the fruit to show well. Definitely one of the best cabernets I have had. My score is likely conservative because my palate was leaning toward the Bordeaux wines tonight. Easy 95 for me.

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