| | The starters.... - 2005 Dönnhoff Oberhäuser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Nahe
Beautiful sweet apples, pear, citrus, honey....firm with a crisp minerality, flint, white flowers. Complex...could drink all day long! (93 pts.)
- 2005 Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Sweet white peach, apples, stones, lemon honey, little spice. Nice and creamy, yet crisp minerals. Not as complex as the Donnhoff...but again, super tasty. (90 pts.)
- 2003 Hartford / Hartford Court Chardonnay Stone Côte Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Cool green tinge color. Reminded me of a Pride Mtn Top / Marcassin Chard. Wonderful richness, smokey hazelnut, honey butter, balanced wood spices, little green apple to cut it up nicely. This was good! (93 pts.)
- 2005 Sine Qua Non The Petition - USA, California
This one really exploded after warming to room temp....gushing with tropical fruits, smoky hazelnut, ginger cookie, honeysuckle florals galore! Big and rich, yet balanced well with citrus acidity and minerals.....spicy and exotic. The best! Thnks D. (96 pts.)
- 2000 Joseph Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
This kept getting better as the day went on. Smooth cherry, strawberry, plum fruit....earth tones, dried tea leaves, tobacco spice, still pretty tight. Would have liked to just sit down with this one...but there were too many other wines to get to! Should get even better. +pts (91 pts.)
Big Boy blinds.... - 2002 Peter Michael Les Pavots - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Dark in color. Started out with some dried herbs, a little worcestershire....but later opened to deep spice, leather, dark berry fruit. Big full bodied wild berry, cherry spice, dusty cedar, kirsch liqueur, acacia flower. Well integrated, changed all day...the only wine of the 4 that showed some "Bordeauxness". Wonderful! (94 pts.)
- 2002 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Dark in color. A little shy at first....nose of sweet berries, cocoa bean, caramel, slight redwine vinegar. Deep dark flavors, not as intense, but well balanced. A little coaxing brought out super Cab flavors, polished...still tight. "Sleeping Giant" is what I wrote down. I thought this was the Harlan? ++pts (94 pts.)
- 2004 Harlan Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
Dark in color. GORGEOUS nose of deep dark spice, black berry, chocolate, floral spice. WOW, powerful spice, tannins in the mouth. The most lively of the 4 wines....complex, chocolate brownie, white pepper, florals. This wine kept getting better and better, showing true power and complexity. I thought it was the Dunn because of tannins and power and how young it seemed. Shocked(but thankful) to see it was the Harlan. My first Harlan....and it delivered! (97 pts.)
- 2003 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Ok....first ever! Surprisingly, all 4 of us picked this out as the Eagle. You never know....when blind tasting! This wine was all about balance and finesse. The most complete wine of the night. Gorgeous cookie/fruitcake spice, cassis, dusty cedar, cherry cordials, black olive....complex and silky smooth. Sweet and dark fruited, with a nice dryness...lots of sediment when decanted. True joy to drink.....but bested by the Harlan. (96 pts.)
"Hey, lets open this".... - 1968 Inglenook Vineyards Red Pinot - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
What a shocker! Alive and SUPER tasty! First thing I noticed was a funky smoky electrical fire thing going on....not off putting, but intriguing. Tons of raspberry, plum, rhubarb fruit...still sweet....complexities of dusty dirty spice, soy sauce, old leather, potpourri florals, wet leaves. Wonderful alive crancherry acidity....amazing balance. Who would have thought? This wine almost stole the show from the Screagle/Harlan and others in the day.....Great wine!!! (94 pts.)
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