The 90th Tasting

For our 90th tasting for this group in 15 years, it made sense to have a wine (or two) from each year of the 90's. Two hours before the "meeting", the bottles were decanted off their sediment and spent about 15 minutes in the decanter- five decanters were used. Then they were placed back in bottle and served non-blinded.

• 1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia 89 Points

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  The gold color makes you wonder HOW oxidized it will be...not bad. It's very dry, earthy, and then seems to add some weight and flavors including tart apple, nuts, pear, and earth/tea. Better w/ food: prosciutto on pizza margherita?

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• 1993 Jos. Christoffel Jr. (Christoffel-Prüm) Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Pale yellow w/ an almost greenish hint, it has classy stone fruit, petrol, and some tropical fruits on nose and palate. It's noticeably sweet but in balance w/ the acidity -- no cloying, just a clean citrus finish. A real palate refresher.

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• 1992 Beringer Vineyards Merlot Bancroft Ranch 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Cork crumbled-- yikes! But the wine held up. Layers of sweet berry fruit, plum and cocoa. Some supportive oak and tannins made this really linger nicely.

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• 1993 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley

  Color has not faded, tho' the wine might have-- a bit. Still, it's an absolute pleasure w/ an herbal edge to the currant, berry, and oak flavors.

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• 1995 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée Flawed

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Cooked/ maderized.

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• 1996 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Another great Montelena, nothing new. Calistoga fruit w/a mint hit and great texture and length. FUN!

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• 1998 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  After a two hour decant, this is a very impressive wine for it's texture and flavors. Berries, plum, cedar, tar, and leather go on and on. I have an idiosyncratic sensitivity to Italian acids which make many of their wines taste sour to me on the finish, o/w this would score even higher.

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• 1991 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Cooked, medicinal... damn.

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• 1994 Ridge Monte Bello 95 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Only a tick off from my last bottle 2 years ago and it's not because the thing is getting old. Far from it, loads of time. Great depth of black fruit w/ wet stone and earth notes. Tannins are still obvious but not harsh. Great wine!

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• 1999 Alvaro Palacios Priorat Finca Dofí 91 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  A very dark wine w/ black fruit, earth/ underbrush, w/ some leather and oak notes. Nice finish and ready to drink.

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• 1990 Château Montrose 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Bought on release (still had the $55 sticker), well stored, perfect cork, decanted 2 hrs before trying. Even better than previous bottles, it has currant, cigar box, more dark berries, and earth on the nose and palate. Great texture and finish. Loads of time.

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• 1995 Château Lafite Rothschild 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  An expectedly amazing wine! Still young, but very complex and long w/ cigar box, graphite, cassis, mixed berries, and plum vying for attention. Hard to analyze because you're just wallowing in the texture, the palate feel, the balance and the long finish... "oh yeah, wake up! what're you tasting??" Thanks Hugh!

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• 1997 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 94 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  Still a baby, it's barely penetrable by light or on the palate. After a few hours the black fruit, anise, plum, violet, and dried fruits emerge. Great w/ Stilton and those dark chocolate covered pomegranate bits from Costco...

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A lesson in provenance as the only bad bottles and corks were those purchased lately. All my bought on release wines were great...