D.C. Dinner for Greg Golec

Thanks to David for organizing the dinner and Josh for coordinating with Toscana Cafe. David's friend Greg was in town from Chicago for his wedding so a group of us went out to celebrate. It was a fun dinner with an interesting selection of wines.

David brought this back from his trip to South Africa. I've had a couple of David's "selections" from his South Africa trip and have enjoyed them all...keep 'em coming!

• 2010 Cape Point Vineyards Isliedh 87 Points

  South Africa, Coastal Region, Cape Point

  A dense Sauvignon that reminded me of what Merry Edwards is doing. Floral component is there on the nose with good citrus and herbs. Palate was floral and citrus driven and had the density of a chenin blanc. I usually go for Sauvignon Blanc's that have more acidity than this.

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All wines were served double-blind...thought it was a good showing from all four. Seemed like the Rebholz was the group's favorite.

• 2008 Weingut Ökonomierat Rebholz Siebeldinger Im Sonnenschein Ganz Horn Riesling Großes Gewächs 94 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  Dazzling nose of exotic tropical fruit, crushed rocks and white florals. Palate is intensely energetic with vivid lychee fruit, peach and chalky flavors. This bottle was opened 2 hours before dinner and, as usual, it benefitted greatly from the air. An incredible riesling.

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• 2007 Weingut Keller Hubacker Riesling Großes Gewächs 92 Points

  Germany, Rheinhessen

  Interestingly, the aromas of this wine had more aged riesling characteristics than I expected - with subtle diesel, white florals and lychee. As is the case with a lot of the Keller's I've had, this has a dense palate with a soft fruit profile and subtle acidity on the finish. Certainly an elegant riesling, but not worth the price of admission to me.

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• 2007 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg 91 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  A hair leaner than the 2007 that was drank alongside. Nose had tropical fruits, minerals and herbs. Palate was characterized by white peaches and lychee with nice smoked minerals and acidity on the finish.

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• 2008 F.X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Loibner Berg 92 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  Nice lychee, floral and mineral notes on the nose. Palate was exotic and energetic with great complexity and layers of tropical fruit and florals. Lovely stuff!

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The selection of reds was punctuated by the 1976 Insignia, 1997 Solaia and 2007 Rivers-Marie.

• 1976 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Mature nose of leaves, cedar, pipe tobacco and leather. The fruit was mostly hidden behind these tertiary tones, but was more evident on the palate. i thought this was particularly elegant with cranberry, violets, forest floor, and cedar tones on the palate. An iconic American producer nails this bicentennial cuvee.

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• 1997 Antinori Solaia 90 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  This was popped and poured. Had soft aromas of dark fruit, brown sugar, violets, and tobacco. This was drank alongside a 1976 Insignia so it seemed incredibly powerful in contrast, but it did have finesse and elegance. The palate still had a good deal of fine tannin on the finish, but they weren't rough. The red fruit on the palate was nice, but there were times that I thought the oak was creeping into the picture too much. Seems like this still has a ways to go before it fully integrates.

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• 2005 Castello Vicchiomaggio Ripa delle More Toscana IGT 83 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  A pretty ripe Super Tuscan with dense red fruit, tobacco, warm spices and garrigue. This was teetering on the edge of being over-the-top for me, but seemed to have enough acid and minerality on the finish to keep it relatively in balance. Thought it was just a hair too dense and big for my tastes. Wasn't a huge fan, but many at the table enjoyed it.

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• 2000 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas Les Ruchets 79 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas

  Not the style of Cornas that I enjoy. This is forward and driven by sweet red fruit and sadly lacking any of the rusticity that I love in Cornas. Colombo's style shines through here incredibly well.

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• 2005 Le Clos du Caillou Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine du Caillou Les Quartz

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

  Incredibly dense and spicy wine that is nowhere close to being ready. Thought the palate was awkward at this point and didn't have the harmony that aged CdP's can achieve. This should be a long-lived vintage in the Southern Rhone, so I'd stay away from these for awhile.

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• 2006 Krupp Brothers Estates The Advocate Stagecoach Vineyard 72 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This was decanted about 90 minutes prior to service. Heavy oak, heavy dark fruit...just a heavy, dense, sluggish wine. I don't get it.

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• 2007 Rivers-Marie Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  A very classy Napa cabernet that was drinking incredibly well this night. It had a very classy, cool dark fruit nose with warm spices, subtle oak and cedar. The palate was firm with nice dark fruit, tobacco, violets and spices. Thought the acidity provided nice balance to this medium-bodied Cabernet.

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• 2006 Larkmead Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Solari 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  I've had good success from the 2006 vintage in Napa, but this wasn't ready. This is a powerful wine with a dense core of red fruit and warm spices. cedar and dark florals. While the 2007 Rivers Marie Cabernet was drinking better tonight, I think this will be the longer-lived wine.

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• 2001 Feudi di San Gregorio Irpinia Serpico 78 Points

  Italy, Campania, Irpinia

  This was characterized by dark fruit, graphite and tobacco on the nose. The palate was incredibly tannic and firm. Seemed like there was a lot of red fruit trying to bust out from behind the tannin...but that wasn't happening this night. Awkward wine.

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