Open the day before, so not completely fair to assess. Very ripe stone fruit aromas with new oak spice. Fat fruit on palate, lacking acidity giving a flabby, short character on finish.
Very ripe red and black fruit aromas with some liqueur hints. Fresh and robust fruit on palate, well supported with acidity and tannins that don't quite seem on perfect. Others thought this best now when the fruit remains this fresh, but I think this will integrate and balance better in another year. Showing some heat on finish.
Backward fruit with a slightly stern, slightly reductive start. Mature plum and cherry flavors, slightly smoky, but also not particularly forthcoming with some rough edges.
Black cherry, chocolate, dark roasted coffee, eucalyptus, licorice aromas. Intense black fruit again on palate with great tannins, excellent overall balance. At a great place now, this stayed at the same place over the course of almost 2 hours, with perhaps the eucalyptus coming through more prominently along with some hints of mint. I expect this will continue to perform well for at least another decade.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Mature black fruit aromas with some mature earthy, mushroom character just starting to emerge. Plum and currant on palate with moderate power and intensity, not quite at the same level as another bottle from late last year.
Ultra ripe black plum, black cherry, liqueur aromas with anise and floral hints with little subtlety today. Palate shows greater balance and nuance, with the same fruit, slightly more spice-driven. I've often found SQN Syrah better a year or more after release, so while I liked this today, I think I will like it much more in another year or three.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Open a day earlier. concentrated blackberry and blueberry with plenty of floral new oak spice. Lush fruit on palate, borderline over-the-top and a somewhat sweet finish. This would go well with rick and spicy food.
2006 Kistler Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Open the day before, so not completely fair to assess. Very ripe stone fruit aromas with new oak spice. Fat fruit on palate, lacking acidity giving a flabby, short character on finish.
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2007 Calera Pinot Noir Selleck Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Mount Harlan
Very ripe red and black fruit aromas with some liqueur hints. Fresh and robust fruit on palate, well supported with acidity and tannins that don't quite seem on perfect. Others thought this best now when the fruit remains this fresh, but I think this will integrate and balance better in another year. Showing some heat on finish.
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1979 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Backward fruit with a slightly stern, slightly reductive start. Mature plum and cherry flavors, slightly smoky, but also not particularly forthcoming with some rough edges.
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1979 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Black cherry, chocolate, dark roasted coffee, eucalyptus, licorice aromas. Intense black fruit again on palate with great tannins, excellent overall balance. At a great place now, this stayed at the same place over the course of almost 2 hours, with perhaps the eucalyptus coming through more prominently along with some hints of mint. I expect this will continue to perform well for at least another decade.
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1982 Château Cheval Blanc 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Mature black fruit aromas with some mature earthy, mushroom character just starting to emerge. Plum and currant on palate with moderate power and intensity, not quite at the same level as another bottle from late last year.
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2009 Sine Qua Non Syrah The Thrill of...
USA, California, Central Coast
Ultra ripe black plum, black cherry, liqueur aromas with anise and floral hints with little subtlety today. Palate shows greater balance and nuance, with the same fruit, slightly more spice-driven. I've often found SQN Syrah better a year or more after release, so while I liked this today, I think I will like it much more in another year or three.
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2005 Hazyblur Shiraz The Invictus Barossa Valley 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Open a day earlier. concentrated blackberry and blueberry with plenty of floral new oak spice. Lush fruit on palate, borderline over-the-top and a somewhat sweet finish. This would go well with rick and spicy food.
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1996 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points
USA, Washington
Black fruit aromas and flavors, still fairly fresh with modest spice. Firm tannins still a little front-and-center.
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