S&E Wine Club - a night of 93+ red wines

Our House
Tasted Friday, January 25, 2013 by cab blends with 315 views

Introduction

The first 4 wines were decanted for between 2 and 4 hours. The Insignia had a short 30 min decanting.

All wines tasted blind and formally scored using the MOT scoring system.

Flight 1 (1 Note)

2008 Stephen & Walker Trust Winery Limited Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 90 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

A very light hint of earth on the nose. Good strongly moderate tannins. Medium to light bodied overall - with a fruitness almost reminiscent of a South American cab - may be worthy of a couple of additional points but it was up against strong competition tonight. Pleasant and on the lighter side given the high mountain fruit.

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Flight 2 (1 Note)

2007 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove 97 Points

Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

Caramel nose that is the most exotic I have ever had. Complex with heavy tannins. Consistent with my prior notes, however, the shiraz spicy tones come through at the back end of the wine with a sweetness upfront which I don't remember from prior openings. I hope the sweetness does not increase over time as it would take away from the beautiful complexity and silkiness. A beautiful wine.

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Flight 3 (1 Note)

2008 Bodegas LAN Rioja Edición Limitada 93 Points

Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

This is what a tempranillo should taste like. Clean dry earth and dustiness on the nose. Bright heavy tannins. Boldly red with a silkiness and a refined acidity that is in the recesses of the wine rather than at the front.

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Flight 4 (1 Note)

2006 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

Dark, dark red wine with a cassis nose with smokiness. Powerful tannins with a dry finish. I taste (my imaginiation when it was unveiled) the strong cab franc finish which gives it depth and complexity. Great wine.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia 98 Points

USA, California, Napa Valley

Only decanted for 30 mins so possibly a little unfair to the wine. The balance and body in this wine is just evident. Silky without losing the stength of the tannins and light fruit that does not overpower. Definitely by best wine of the evening. You just want to drink this slowly.

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Flight 7 (1 Note)

1993 Chateau Megyer Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos 90 Points

Hungary, Tokaji

A nice desert wine. Being a Sauternes fan, this did not have the strong thick pear, peach and apricots. The finish is moderate and returns to dry wine fairly quickly. Honey intially on the palate. Very dark yellow now - almost brown bronze.

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