The "Generous Pour" Promotion at the Capital Grille

This is a review of the wines available on the summer wine promotion at The Capital Grille. Called the "Generous Pour", it is a great value at $25 per person giving you the opportunity to try all of the wines and essentially have full glass pours of your preferred wines to pair with your dinner. The wines had all been given at least one 90pt rating from one or another professional wine critic. All of the wines being poured were fine wines. Some were particularly nice. One issue though, is that many of the these bottles were being opened on the spot with no decant time. I attempted to give all of the wines at least some air before evaluating. Our server, Lynn, was fantastic and did a great job. The promotion goes through September 1st, 2013..

• 2012 La Crema Pinot Gris 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey

  Pale gold color. This was delightfully good. Nice nose with pear, citrus, just a little tropical edge. The palate is fresh and crisp with lemon, citrus, tropical fruit, with nice balance and a medium finish. This was very well made, nice effort. 90+pts.

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• 2011 Matanzas Creek Winery Sauvignon Blanc 87 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Light gold color. Small pour. The nose is pungent, cat pee, grapefruit, grassy. The palate is medium bodied with tart grapefruit, grass, almost a bit syrupy. Not my style of SB, very in your face and lacking finesse or minerality. If like a big NZ style you'll probably find this enjoyable.

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• 2011 Freemark Abbey Chardonnay Napa Valley 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Light-medium gold color. Drank 1 glass with dinner. Nose has lemon, some tropical fruits of mango and banana. The palate is medium-full bodied, creamy, but not heavy, just a bit of butter, lemon and tropical fruits, modest oak, medium finish. Fairly elegant, well balanced and very nice.

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• 2011 Hartford / Hartford Court Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 88 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Medium red color. PNP, drank a small pour. Ripe nose with herbs, black cherry, spice. The palate is fairly full bodied, somewhat green, herbal, black cherry fruit, spices, oak. This was young and not decanted. There was heat at times and the oak was a bit much. I think this will settle down a little with some time.

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• 2005 Kendall-Jackson Merlot Highland Estates Taylor Peak 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Bennett Valley

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1+ glass with dinner. This has a lovely nose with deep damp earthiness, lush black fruits of cassis, blackberry, and plum, chocolate, and vanilla. The palate is medium bodied with velvety, layered mostly black fruit, cassis, blackberry, red raspberry, chocolate, some oak, spice, round tannins and medium finish. Quite impressive, the nose is particularly nice.

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• 2009 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color. PNP, drank a small pour. This was medium bodied, black and red currants, blackberry, a little floral on the nose, spice, oak, firm tannins, medium finish. This has a nice spine and is a solid wine. probably would have benefited from some additional air.

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• 2007 Arrowood Syrah Saralee's Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Very dark red/purple color. PNP, followed 1 glass over 30 minutes. Intriguing nose of meat, medicinal aromas, blackberry, blueberry, pepper. The palate is full bodied, layered black fruits of blackberry, cassis, and subtle blueberry, followed by meat, tar, pepper, and oak. Medium finish and a touch of heat. Very nice with the Kona crusted tenderloin, though the Taylor Peak Merlot edges it out on texture.

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• 2010 Edmeades Winery Late Harvest Zinfandel Perli Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino Ridge

  Very dark, purple/red color. Small pour with dessert. This was a winner, elegant, not hot, well balanced, nice fruit - blackberry and black raspberry, vanilla, spice. Medium-full body, medium plus finish. (I believe this was the correct wine, but I can't swear this had the single vineyard designation).

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