Easter Lunch with JL, TH (California Cabs/blends)

On Lot 10, Hong Kong
Tasted Friday, March 22, 2013 by ilee with 293 views

Introduction

JL, TH and I planned to share a few bottles over lunch during the Easter weekend, but since TH was leaving town we decided to have the lunch early. By chance, we decided on a California Cab theme (including blends) as JL had lined up a delicious lunch menu featuring roast pigeon and beef steak. The results were terrific, with 3 wines of broad similarity yet vividly different characters providing a stimulating contrast. Food at Lot 10 was excellent with the succulent, smoky roast meats giving the 3 fulsome cabs a terrific stage on which to perform. Despite the packed lunch crowd, service was friendly and attentive as always. True to form we were the last customers to leave

Flight 1 (3 Notes)

  • 2003 Dominus Estate 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Decanted from night before. Terrific nose of dark berries, caramel and dried herbs with touch of mint. The tannins are velvety and smooth, and the fruit nicely integrated with further notes of mineral and earth intermingled among the smoky black cherry layers. This wine is full bodied without being dense. The finish is nice and long with a creamy edge. I expect that this would continue to improve comfortably over the next 20+ years

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  • 1999 Opus One 92 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Popped and poured, dense ruby colour, exuberant nose of currants, cassis, raspberry with a hint of tar. The full-bodied palate was dominated upfront by fresh and vibrant black and red fruit notes, with the crisp fruity acidity giving the wine a distinct brightness and lift. Dense and plush, this wine is very enjoyable, and my only small wish was that the finish was slightly longer. Still quite young, it can definitely last many decades.

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  • 1997 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    This wine was a surprise. JL brought this to lunch, and with the faded crinkled label and worn capsule with distinct scuffing, it looked as if this bottle might have served in the Clone Wars fighting alongside Obi-wan himself. JL herself wasn't sure if it was still any good, but she need not have been concerned. Popped and poured, it was a dusty dark ruby colour with clear amber at the rim, clearly mature! Initially, the nose had a distinctly port-like feature with a faint tinge of sandalwood, but what eventually unfolded was a sonorous dried berry and mature leather bouquet typical of so many mature Bordeaux. Mind bogglingly complex flavours unfolded on the palate, with dashes of mocha, iron and Chinese traditional-medicine dried root notes interspersed among the typical cabernet cassis and dark berries. With the lively fruit and fine-etched tannin nicely in balance, this wine is fully mature and drinkable but I wouldn't be surprised if it remained so for another decade. Very enjoyable -- the Force is strong in this one!

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