Football and 2001 Cabs @ Howard's 2011

First some whites to get things started.

• 2008 Williams Selyem Unoaked Chardonnay 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Some custard. Round, lemony and medium bodied. Hints of vanilla bean. Medium finish.

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• 1998 Galleron Chardonnay Trio 87 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

  Starting to show its age. Some custard with dried apple fruits. A bit lacking in acidity.

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• 2006 Alban Vineyards Roussanne Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

  Loved this. Bright flavors of orange and pink grapefruit. Mouthpuckering acidity and lovely persistance.

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• 2006 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  The white wine of the evening for me. Creme brulee flavors, but buffered with lively acidity. Great palate staining-concentration, with lemon squit energy. Hints of minerals on the lengthy lip smacking finish.

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• 2005 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay Napa Valley 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Steely, crisp, Chablis-like. Lively and still youthful. Lovely finish.

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• 2001 Weingut Josef Leitz Rüdesheimer Klosterlay Riesling 91 Points

  Germany, Rheingau

  Holding up well, especially for a QbA wine. A hint of Diesel betrays its age, but this is still lively, with peach and apple flavors. Medium length and totally delishious.

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The Seavy was voted the group's Wine of the Flight.

• 2001 Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard 87 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Light nose, some leather. Light in body, short finish. Seemed advanced, with the fruit fading.

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• 2001 Arrowood Cabernet Sauvignon Réserve Spéciale 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Ripe fruit with some balsamic hints. Smokey and still structured. Loads of fruit in reserve.

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• 2001 Seavey Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A bit lactic at first, with the alcohol showing a bit. This filled in with air. The tannins are still prominent, but holding its fruit well. In a tough phase, but shows good potential.

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The Leonetti was voted the group's Wine of the Flight.

• 2001 Leonetti Cellar Reserve Walla Walla Valley 93 Points

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  This surpised me by its lack of flashy oak. Sweet ripe fruit, but in balance. The tannins are smooth and this is in a nice drinking spot.

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• 2001 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Candied nose, almost Zin-like. Sweet, ripe berries. Seems a bit simplistic... hints of VA? Bad bottle? Not rated.

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• 2001 BOND St. Eden 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Earthy, dusty fruits, elegant. Seems to be closing down? I like the personality here and this shows promise.

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The Karl Lawrence Herb Lamb was voted the group's Wine of the Flight... and Wine of the Night!

• 2001 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Nice bright cassis and cherry fruit. Nice cut and length. Excellent.

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• 2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Herb Lamb 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Fantastic structure, fruit and balance. Shows some minerality, with a lengthy earthy finish. Complex and the group favorite for wine of the night.

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• 2001 Bressler Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  Solid, fully ripe fruit that might have seemed a bit confectionary at first, but got better with air. Monolithic core of cassis fruit.

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The Montelena and Bryant were tied in the group's vote for Wine of the Flight.

• 2001 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Release 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Shows excellent richness with some interesting brown sugar hints. Nicely resolved tannins.

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• 2001 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  High toned, elegant, with sharp, tart cherry and raspberry fruit. Svelte and sleek.

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• 2001 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Not your typical Bryant... a bit more restained. Shows a dusty, earthy, tobacco side. Edgy and precise.

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The Sloan was voted the group's Wine of the Flight.

• 2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Way better than when I had this in 2006. They ripe cherry liquor flavors are there, but this also showed dvelopment and complexity, with some chalky and earth. Palate staining and long.

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• 2001 Karl Lawrence Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Morisoli Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  This displays a cool herbal profile, with tomato leaf and tobacco. Well balanced with the fruit and structure.

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• 2001 Sloan 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Dark, brooding and brutish. Coffee, purple fruits and cassis. This is way too young, but shows it has the stuffing to age well.

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Other wines were open at the end of the night, but memory is fading... 1997 Shafer Hillside Select, 2001 Jospeh Phelps Insignia