Screagle dinner

This was a dinner centered around finding an occasional to open my only bottle of Screagle. What better occasion than a nice dinner at home with friends and family?

The wines were all very enjoyable. The Screagle was phenomenal and was easily WOTN, though I think the La Jota Cab Franc and the Clos de la Tech were both superb as well and were very enjoyable. Unfortunately the Araujo showed some heat damage, which was particularly upsetting since it has been in my cellar since release. It must have seen some heat while shipping, and now I'm concerned about my few other bottles of Araujo...

• 1994 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  (5/17/2013)

  Cork removed easily with the Durand. Color is medium tawny with significant bricking; nose was intense blackcurrant while decanting wine, in the glass the nose is a little raisined/porty (not much blackcurrant), plums, earthy, some wood, some tobacco, some moderate black fruits/blackberry; palate showed medium-full body, great balanced acid, some red and black fruits that are a little short but still present; medium length tobacco finish. Overall this wine was different than I expected. It was mature, had more port-like characteristics than I was expecting (not sweet or over-ripe but rather raisined character), and was a little short on the palate and finish. I'm curious to see how this evolves.
  Update: 30-60 min air- This still seems raisined/port-like, too aged for a mid 90s cab. This is likely heat damaged. In our cellar since release without any outward signs of heat, but may have been exposed to something during shipping. I have two more bottles and will try another one to see whether it is better.

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• 1997 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  (5/17/2013)

  Opened with a Durand, wonderful pure blackcurrant nose while decanting. Color is quite a deep ruby without much bricking, very (appropriately) youthful appearing; nose has pure blackcurrant fruit but has a lot of additional complexity including some green herbal components including thyme, cumen, slight hint of vegetal; palate is full bodied, great concentration of blackcurrant and blackberry, perfect level of ripeness and balance in the fruit and the wine, silky texture; medium-length juicy fruit finish. This is an exceptional bottle of wine. It is a little surprising that it has so much green complexity on the nose (which I LOVE), and shows the purity of blackcurrant fruit on the palate that I was expecting. Is it perfect? No, the palate has great purity of fruit but doesn't have as much complexity as well aged bordeaux and isn't quite as persistent on the tongue, but it is certainly a near-perfect wine and is drinking beautifully. Ready now, will last a decade without improving. 97-98
  Update: Over the course of the night- nose opened up a bit more since first opening with more intense aromas though not necessarily different from before; the palate shows great balance and great fruit, a little minerality that is new from before, the fruit and flavors are more elegant than powerful and are medium length, but not persistent as much as expected. Solid 98 pts (nose is 100 pts). This is an exceptional wine tasted as the exact perfect time, and I would not necessarily argue with people who rated this a perfect wine. Despite it's hype, it lived up to its reputation (and indeed far surpassed my expectations, which were that it would be powerful, overripe, and solid but overrated). This is NOT a parker fruit bomb... it is so much better.

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• 2007 Anthill Farms Pinot Noir Abbey-Harris Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  (5/17/2013)

  Particularly notable for its great spice on the nose, red fruits, very good complexity; palate is light bodied, fresh, great density of fruit and spice. This is an excellent, flavorful pinot for a good price. 90-91

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• 1997 La Jota Cabernet Franc 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  (5/18/2013)

  Color is medium ruby red with very mild bricking; Great herbaceous nose with dill, thyme, red fruits; palate shows great tannic integration, medium bodied, fresh flavor that is clean on the palate, good red fruit; slightly short finish but excellent. 91-92.
  Update: This did not fade over the course of the night (2-3 hours) and indeed the nose may have even improved. Solid 92 (nose >> palate). This showed better than I remember from my last bottle in 2010, and it is a superb wine (and even better when you take into account the current auction price). Will drink my last two bottles in the near future, though I think they will last 3-5 years longer.

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• 2007 Clos De La Tech Pinot Noir Domaine Lois Louise 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  (5/18/2013)

  Nose has great red fruits, complex red spice, absolutely lovely, nice balance with green complexity, not much oak on the nose; Light bodied to medium bodied palate, moderate tannic structure, slight vanilla, short-med length red fruit, great spice; mid length finish. 93. This is one of the best California pinot noirs I've tried in a while with real character, balance, fruit at the right ripeness, and enough non-fruit components to make it interesting. Very enjoyable to drink now and a great find, but seems like it has the stuffing to improve for 5-10 years. Superb and I would buy for the price.

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