Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC
Tasted Friday, May 7, 2010 - Saturday, May 8, 2010 by ews3 with 7,349 views
The third annual "Great Grapes for a Great Cause", in support of the Community Development Outreach Fund (http://www.sv-foundation.org/). Justin Bonner once again raided his legendary collection of Sine Qua Nons to taste new, old, white, red, pink, sweet, dry, and every other variant of Sine Qua Non. In addition, on Friday (and on Saturday after the main event), other attendees shared gems from their own collection.
The food was provided by James Beard Award winner Eric Ziebold of CityZen restaurant with impeccable service by Célia Laurent and her team and wine service both nights from Carlton McCoy, the Sommelier at Sou'Wester.
Other Years:
Year 1: no notes
Year 2: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=7217
Year 3: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=10844
Year 4: https://www.cellartracker.com/event.asp?iEvent=15985
The incredible generosity of the attendees led to a wonderful catered event on the Patio (and then in the Tai Pan Club) at the Mandarin Oriental. Great food lined up in a buffet, including charcuterie, cheese, great seafood and awesome hush puppies that were circulated. Carlton McCoy, the Sommelier at Sou'Wester was there to make sure everything was opened, decanted, and probably to keep us under control as well :-) An incredible night of re-connecting, introductions, and great quantities of great wine. My highlights were the Schrader, the Dal Forno, and the 02 HSS.
During cocktail hour, there were free pours of SQN whites available. The Tarantella stood above, but once again, I was impressed by the depth and quality of these whites.
I actually found a SQN Rose, the Stripes and Stars, that I enjoyed quite a bit, which was nice to see!
I love the SQN Pinots and wish Manfred were still making them. The Over & Out was great and my pick for the best of the batch, although it was neck and neck with the Omega.
Paired with Caramelized Sunchoke Ravioli with sweet peppers, grilled shrimp, and nicoise olive crumbs. Wine of the flight was the Body and Soul for me, although I think I was in the minority.
Paired with Smoked Peking Duck Breast with Pickled Watermelon Rind. Wine of the flight was the Heart Chorea for me, and I think for most of the group.
Paired with Grilled Sirloin of Kagoshima Wagyu Beef with Maitake Mushrooms, Ramp Tempura, and Beurre Colbert. Wine of the flight was the Into the Dark, which was an emergency replacement for the Poker Face.
Paired with Braised shoulder of Kanagy Farms Shoat with Mustard Greens, Anson Mills Grits, and Smoked Ham Hock Emulsion. Wine of the flight and wine of the night for me was the Ode to E Grenache.
Paired with Pan Roasted Dakota Ranch Bison with Melted Fennel and Spiced Chick Peas with Red Wine-Coffee Sauce. Wine of the flight was the young one -- the 17th Nail!
Paired with Coconut-lemongrass Ice Cream with Ginger Gelee, as well a sPineapple Upside Down Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. I missed the Strawman, but there was a nice selection to be had -- my favorite was the To the Rescue Roussanne.
After a brief time in the hallway, we spent a few hours in the Tai Pan Club drinking more generous contributions from the attendees.
A wonderful event and I have been blessed to partake in all three along with just a few select others. I will be back next year in support of this good cause, to drink amazing wines, and to see old friends and new!
2007 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
(5/7/2010)
Very impressive wine. It made my lips tingle and had a wonderful initial attack of deep saturated red and black fruit, before fading a bit on the mid-palate. It returned with a wonderful, long dusty, powdered chocolate finish. A great wine -- excellent fruit, even if it is very tight right now. The thinness on the mid-palate worries me a bit, as that isn't something I would expect to develop with bottle age -- but this wine is delicious regardless.
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2005 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon T6 Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 98 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
(5/7/2010)
Loved this. My WOTN up against a heckuva lineup. Chocolate, black fruit and a finish that would not quit.
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2002 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 96 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District
(5/7/2010)
more ripe fruit -- plum, blue and black berry fruit. long finish like the others
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1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
Really nice example of mature CA Cab -- eucalyptus, mint, a little toffee. some dark fruit remains.
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1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
more restrained than I remember, but still showing nice developing tannins and still a solid finish. Will need to check in on this again soon
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1958 Château d'Yquem 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
(5/7/2010)
I only got a tiny pour of this as it had been opened the night before... a great elixir -- quite thick. still very youthful stone fruit and honey profile. I can't afford to get addicted to old Yquem, but it was wonderful to try this!
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1997 Temkin-Paskus Chardonnay 93 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Beamsville Bench VQA
(5/7/2010)
A great surprise! 1,728 bottles produced. Surprising that this was 13 years old -- youthful tropical fruit notes. Could tell it was colder climate from the freshness.
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2007 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
(5/7/2010)
Nice young Aubert -- lemon oil, oak, ripe apple. medium (+) finish.
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2004 Aubert Pinot Noir Reuling Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
(5/7/2010)
good, but not great. very powerful with a lot of oak underneath the fruit. not quite enough acid to keep this as balanced as some of the othersmedium(-) finish had more oak than fruit.
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2008 Antica Terra Pinot Noir 92 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
(5/7/2010)
really impressed by this -- it held up against much more pricey competition this night -- possibly because it had a freshness that was lacking in some of the other pinots. shorter finish, but probably still medium(-). lots of fruit -- raspberry most prominent. also a nice clove note.
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2003 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
(5/7/2010)
impressive, though i think others liked it more than i did. very powerful, and yet a freshness that could hold up to the weight. ripe red fruit, nice spice, light oak, med tannins are well integrated. This was really nice.
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1999 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto di Monte Lodoletta 97 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella
(5/7/2010)
Awesome wine. This is so youthful -- tons of primary black fruit, along with nice sweet spice, nuts, and coffee. The lingering finish makes you smile. Decades ahead for this wine.
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2005 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Ten 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
(5/7/2010)
some fruit, a lot of oak -- this was ok, but no way is it worth the hype. med(-) finish
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2004 Agharta Wines Black Label 91 Points
USA, California, North Coast
(5/7/2010)
Impressive amount of fruit stuffed into this powerful wine. It didn't have the complexity I would expect given the lengthy barrel aging...
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2007 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma
(5/7/2010)
part of a mini vertical, this was disappointing for an 07. I preferred the older Prides.
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1999 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
this did not stand out amongst the Prides.
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1998 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
This was my second favorite of the Pride mini-vertical. Still surprisingly youthful.
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1995 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
#4 of the prides
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1994 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
surprisingly youthfull. my favorite of the prides.
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2007 Snowden Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
Really enjoyed this. Chocolaty, with some interesting spice notes. medium(+) finish.
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1995 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
From mag. Very secondary, with a lot of tobacco dominating the fruit.
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2002 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
From mag. Very powerful. Loads of fruit and oak on this. Enjoyed it quite a bit.
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2005 Hundred Acre Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon "Deep Time" 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
Powerful, dark fruit profile. Loads of oak on this -- nothing really brought it together for me.
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1994 Clos Erasmus Priorat 92 Points
Spain, Catalunya, Priorat
(5/7/2010)
Had been opened night before. Very secondary -- vegetal/mushroom notes
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2005 Ovid Red Wine 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
powerful dark fruit profile. really enjoyed this.
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1999 Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT 87 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
(5/7/2010)
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2007 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Chaupin 95 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(5/7/2010)
Powerful fruit driven wine
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2006 Colgin IX Estate 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
Awesome. This wine really rocked. Tons of black fruit (currant and other), but also a richness that stood out amongst all these other outstanding wines. Long finish that made sips go a long way.
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2005 Sherwin Family Vineyards Syrah Dry Creek Valley 89 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
(5/7/2010)
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1993 Henry of Pelham Riesling Icewine 90 Points
Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA
(5/7/2010)
viscous eiswein -- not quite enough acid, but nice sweet apple
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2005 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
this has a lot of potential. loads of black fruit, lots of oak. LONG finish kept going. nice comparison with the colgin.
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2001 Château Pavie 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(5/7/2010)
red fruit and some forest -- reminiscent of a CDP, which is a bit strange -- still, it was nice.
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2004 Switchback Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon Peterson Family Vineyard 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
(5/7/2010)
From mag. Some questionable provenance, as there may have been other wine blended in when we switched rooms (I didnt try until after).
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1994 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 95 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
(5/7/2010)
really great. floral notes dancing on top of tons of still very ripe berry and plum fruit. a baby. long finish.
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