South Charlotte Wine Lovers - April 2013

Tom and Sue's turn to host.

Original theme was "something old, something new". But the wines we selected morphed the theme a little. Tom chose a '90 Bordeaux (Cht Clerc Milon) and '98 Clark Claudon from Napa. I chose to bring a two bottle vertical with a '95 and '08 Pahlmeyer. Of course, as usually happens, we opened a couple of additions to the line up.

Appetizer of Shrimp Cocktail and Breaded Stuff Clams - paired with Ferrari Carano Fume' Blanc.

Next, we decided the '90 Chateau Clerc Milon would probably pair better with the '95 Pahlmeyer (as we know the Clark Claudon's reputation for being a much bigger wine). And this ended up being a wise decision. Amazing how close the nose on these two wines were. We had these wines while Tom finished cooking dinner and during dinner.

We had Caesar Salad, Salmon with a dill sauce, green beans and wonderful red skin potatoes cut small and seasoned to perfection. The older, more mellowed wines paired very well with the Salmon.

Following dinner, we move to the '98 CC and the '08 Pahlemeyer. Both delicious - but both different. Late in the evening, Tom went into the cellar and pulled out an '87 Dunn HM - the oldest wine (almost 26 years) I have had to date.

• 2012 Ferrari-Carano Fumé Blanc 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Just a great every day white. Crisp, clean with ample acids to make it go well with food. Paired wonderfully with our appetizers of shrimp cocktail and breaded clams.

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• 1990 Château Clerc Milon 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Tom said he let this breath for about 5 hours. Funky Bordeaux aromatics. Had alongside an '95 Pahlmeyer which exhibited a similar nose. This wine was extremely smooth and well balanced. My first thought upon tasting was that if drinking blind I would have guessed it to be an older Dunn Howell Mountain. So we ended up opening an '87 Dunn HM later in the evening and my comparison was spot on (although there was something just a little bit better about the Dunn). This paired very well with our salmon.

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• 1995 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  VERY Bordeaux like. Drank alongside a 1990 Bordeaux and it exhibited an earily similar nose. You know that kind of funky/stinky bordeaux smell - hard to explain/describe - but so distinctive (and not bad at all). This was a PnP and was a fantastic wine. More fruit than the Bordeaux, yet with all the subtleties and complexities. Slight bricking at the edges. But still has 3 good years IMO.

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• 1998 Clark-Claudon Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Grown 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Had alongside an '08 Pahlmeyer. I have come to the conclusion by drinking wines side by side, that I tend to prefer wines younger. In this case, the nose was a little more muted on this than the '08 PM. Yet, if drinking this on its own, I would have thought it was plenty big while also providing excellent balance. Great licorice notes and dark fruits. Tannins integrated nicely. Black in the glass. Wonderful wine.

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• 2008 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  My WOTN. I just like them a little younger i guess. Fruits lept from the glass. Big, ripe, and balanced. Fantastic.

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• 1987 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Oldest wine I have been fortunate to have (at just shy of 26 years in the bottle). Very Bordeaux like. Perfect balance. Lots of earthy undertones. Still has many great years of drinking. Great bottle to end the evening on.

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It was another great evening of great wine and delicious food with some new friends.