8th Annual Holiday Dinner and Cellar Raid - A Month Late

Naperville, IL
Tasted Saturday, January 19, 2019 by bablues with 306 views

Introduction

8th Annual Christmas Dinner and cellar raid, though postponed a month due to tough holiday schedule. The theme was 2005 Napa Cabs/Blends as this was the first vintage available when I first got into this hobby. I have a soft spot in my heart for these wines, and I also seem to know them when I drink them blind (that is not the case for other regions/vintages). Post the flight, we went right into the cellar raid with the 2009 Next of Kyn and we didn't slow down. While normally I don't provide tasting notes, but I do provide a reasonable score based on memory, there will be some wines (epic wines) that I don't even provide a score, based on bad memory :)

Flight 1 - Opening Wines (5 Notes)

Wines that were opened prior to tasting flight and cellar raid

  • 2005 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram 95 Points

    USA, California, North Coast

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. A Friend brought this to start things off before everyone arrived. This was one of the best sparkling wines I have ever tasted. All I could remember was the nutty/almond flavors that come through on Cristal. Great start to a great evening.

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  • 2004 Giovanni Rosso Barolo Storico 92 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I opened this up well before the party and used for marinara and drank some over the day. Similar to previous note, this was rustic and didn't provide much fruit. About 5-6 hours later and this was singing. Able to keep a little bit for early guests and they loved it.

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  • 2011 Kosta Browne Chardonnay One Sixteen

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Was available for the few who were looking for whites only. I don't recall tasting but those who had it loved it

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  • 2012 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Part of opening wines as folks joined the party

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  • 2013 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Part of opening wines as folks joined the party

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Flight 2 - Wine flight - 2005 Napa Cabs/Blends (6 Notes)

One of my most memorable vintages of any region and was a pleasure to try along side each other. None of these are epic wines (but all really good), we saved that for the Cellar Raid

Flight 3 - Cellar Raid (13 Notes)

As is custom, after dinner and the wine flight each guest goes into the cellar and chooses a wine. Very few are off limits, and this year was no exception. This is by far the best we had and was an amazing experience

  • 2009 Next of Kyn No~3 Cumulus Vineyard 100 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Rather than wait until late in the night to bring out the ringers, we chose to start right off the bat with the SQN Next of Kyn to start the cellar raid. I really do wish I took the time for more detailed notes. This was as perfect as a wine could get. I have never given the 100 score, but thought I'd start with this one. Easily the WOTN most likely the best wine i've had the pleasure of tasting

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  • 2014 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 99 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. ..And batting in the #2 spot is the 2014 QC Cabernet. An absolute baby, but its obvious where the 100pt scores are coming from. I hope to hold my other one a few years.

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  • 2015 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert 95 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Had this about 6 weeks ago and was blown away. I was happy that someone chose this as I have been raving about 2015 N Rhones. Went up against some serious wines and was incredible.

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  • 2006 Château Le Gay Pomerol 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Been so long since I had a 05 or 06 Pomerol. Don't recall much besides being delicious

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  • 1996 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala 93 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Classic Barolo aromas and I recall tar and raisins, with a strong finish and mouthfeel

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  • 2005 Italics Winegrowers Fourteen Appellations 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Although this was a 2005 Napa, it wasn't part of the original flight. In the spirit of that flight someone chose this to open this. Great choice and it was drinking very well. I've had many vintages of this collaboration and have always been impressed, and surprised others aren't talking about it.

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  • 2003 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal 97 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I was helping on of my friends pick out a wine and steered them toward this one as I love the 03 N Rhones. This was everything I thought it would be

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  • 2012 Saxum Broken Stones 95 Points

    USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. On par with many other Saxums. Young, though still very ready and could be enjoyed right now

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  • 2006 Andrew Will Sorella

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Things begin to get a little foggy at this point. Don't remember much of this, although I received great feedback from others on this

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  • 2014 Continuum Proprietary Red 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I remember this one more than the Sorella (thankfully). My first time with the 2014 and I think it is the best Continuum I've had (although this may not be the best night to make that statement)

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  • 2005 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus de Sanchomartin

    Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. As what seems to be a tradition, the 2005 Sancho usually gets opened on this night. I don't recall much besides it kicking ass as usual.

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  • 2009 Sine Qua Non Syrah This is Not An Exit Eleven Confessions Vineyard

    USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Things were really foggy at this point. Don't remember much of this, although I received amazing feedback from others.

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  • 2003 Alban Vineyards Pandora

    USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

    Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Things were more than foggy at this point and I don't remember even opening this. In the morning when I saw this in the lineup, I was just thankful it wasn't the 2013. I've had the 2003 about five years ago and I was told this was just as good this time as last

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Closing

Another great night with good food great wines and amazing friends. They keep getting better..

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