CellarTracker Wisconsin Offline I - Part Two - Double Vertical Tasting

The Wisconsin and surrounding area members of CellarTracker gathered together for their first time as a group for a weekend of wine, food and good company. Six representatives of the Texas contingent were also in attendance in a display of solidarity and support for our northern brethren. On Saturday afternoon the group gathered together for a double vertical tasting pitting Joseph Phelps Insignia against Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon. Here are the results:

• NV Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Rosé 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  WIML90+/-?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline.
  
  Light salmon color in the glass, clear looking throughout with little to no beading. Nose of cherries, apples and pears. Flavors of strawberries, raspberries and berries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full bodied. Drink now. No disgorgement date but the owner held it for 9 years in his cellar since purchase.

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• NV Brice Champagne Grand Cru Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  WIML90?
  
  Tasted not blind at an offline.
  
  Light yellow color in the glass, clear looking throughout with little to no beading. Nose started with a bit of matchstick followed by yellow pears and a little sea foam. Flavors of a little lilikoi, yellow pears and a bit of tangy lemon. Medium to bright acidity, medium to full bodied. Drink now. No disgorgement date.

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• 1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  WIML92+?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Nose of dried herbs, berries, plums and a hint of currants. Flavors of good, solid berries with added flavors of plums and a bit of currants. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.

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• 1995 Joseph Phelps Insignia

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  WIMLNR
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. nose of underbrush, dried herbs, a bit of berry and a bit of lavender. Flavors of berries, currants and plums. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, full boded. Drink or hold.
  
  At first whiff the wine smelled a tiny bit corky but not enough to notably mute the nose and palate. However, withholding a rating just to be safe.

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• 1996 Joseph Phelps Insignia 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  WIML90
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Deep garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of dried herbs, balsamic, a hint of licorice, a hint of white pepper and some plums. Flavors of red berries, red cherries and a bit of balsamic. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold.

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• 1997 Joseph Phelps Insignia 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  WIML91+/-?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Subdued nose of graham crackers, berries and plums. Flavors of solid red berries, some red cherries and maybe some raspberries. Medium to bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.

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• 1998 Joseph Phelps Insignia 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  WIML90-?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Garnet to perhaps dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose is a bit greenish up front with added aromas of balsamic, plums and a little red berries. Decent flavors of red berries, a bit of red raspberries and some red plums. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now.

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• 1999 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  WIML93
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose started with a hint of coffee followed by a little tobacco, light notes of white pepper, red berries and plums. Flavors of red berries, red raspberries, red cherries and red plums. Bright acidity, medium to firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.

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• 1997 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Backus Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  WIML92+
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of tobacco, currants, berries and a hint of garam marsala. Solid berry flavors, cherries and plums. Medium acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.

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• 1994 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, Washington

  WIML91?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Garnet color in the glass, slightly dusty looking. Nose of melted licorice, camphor, berries and a bit of wet stones. Flavors of berries, raspberries and balsamic. Bit of a weak finish. Medium acidity, medium tannins, medium body. Drink now? Hold?

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• 1995 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, Washington

  WIML90? 91?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Dark garnet color in the glass, fairly clear looking. Subdued nose of maybe some mixed red fruits? Flavors of red berries and tart red cherries. Medium to tart acidity, firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now?

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• 1996 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, Washington

  WIML92+/-?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of perfume, spice, white pepper and mixed red fruits. Flavors of mixed berries, tart cherries and raspberries. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink or hold.

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• 1997 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, Washington

  WIML92-93+/-?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Dark garnet color in the glass, pretty clear looking throughout. Nose of tobacco, roasted meat, dark berries, dark cherries and dark plums. Flavors of good mixed berries, cherries and plums. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with air or hold. I'd likely hold a little longer.

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• 1998 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, Washington

  WIML92+
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Good, solid nose of tobacco, smoke, garam marsala, currants and plums. Good, solid flavors of berries and plums with a bit of cherries and minerals. Medium to bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.

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• 1999 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, Washington

  WIML93+/-?
  
  Tasted non blind at an offline. Double decanted and left cork out for four hours before serving.
  
  Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose fo black berries, black cherries and wet stones. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and dark plums. Medium to bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air or continue to hold.

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