OR and Cal Chards, Burgs, and Old Cal Cabs

Last night 3 couple got together for a wonderful dinner and some great wines. The wines were served non-blind and enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The food was fantastic as were the conversations.

• 2010 Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Loved this wine. Reminiscent of a great Chablis. The nose has green apples and some apple cider. Clean and lean but complex. The nose carries thru to the palate. Nice acidity. Long finish. Got better in the glass. Really impressive.

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• 2010 Antica Terra Chardonnay Aurata 91 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Light golden in color. The nose has some vanilla, minerals and citrus. This is a big wine. Tart acidity which demanded food. Seems like it will age well. Delicious wine.

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• 2007 Rhys Chardonnay Alpine Vineyard 95 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Love this wine. It started a bit slow, but kept picking up steam. Reminds me of a Meursault and a good one at that. Light gold in color. The nose is deep with minerals, slight grapefruit and slight vanilla. Layered. The palate matches with an unwinding complexity. Good acidity. Demands food. Wonderful wine.

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• 2011 Rivers-Marie Chardonnay B. Thieriot Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  This is in a sense, a classic Cal Chard with the caveat that it is everything good about that. Light gold. The nose has oak but it works with the vanilla adding to the grapefruit notes, but some minerality too. Very young and smooth. Creamy texture. Nice creamy grapefruit on the palate. Delicious wine.

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• 1987 Gros Frère et Sœur Clos Vougeot Musigni 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Pale ruby in color. I think this was past prime, but still drinking very well. The nose is clean with nice cherry fruit left. Maybe a touch dried. On the palate, still nice cherry fruit, but not the complexity I would like. There is some. It is an elegant, soft Burg at this stage and more than pleasant.

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• 2002 Gros Frère et Sœur Clos Vougeot Musigni 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  Ruby in color. The nose has some funk. Love it. Also plenty of macerated cherries and slight fresh cherry notes. Full bodied. This is a pretty big Pinot. Lots of cherries, some oak on the palate. Lots going on here. As the funk blows off, the cherries emerge. This is still quite young but unwinds in the glass showing a nice layering.

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• 1992 Mongeard-Mugneret Clos Vougeot 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

  This is really in a nice place right now and exceeded my expectations. Great white year, I haven't had that many reds. Light ruby in color. Beautifully perfumed nose. Floral notes, cherry notes and quite pretty. Very smooth to drink. All tannins resolved. Great balance. Really sips easily. Very delicious as well. Again, not the most complex wine, but there is some. At peak now IMO.

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• 1999 Domaine des Lambrays Clos des Lambrays 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos des Lambrays Grand Cru

  This was the vintage IIRC, this winery seemed to embrace this Grand Cru and step up (and got even better in the next decade). Ruby in color. This is just approaching maturity, but no hurry. Great nose of cherries and macerated cherries, some candy. Delicious. Cherries on the palate with a nice forest floor note. Complex. Long finish.

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• 1999 Château de la Charrière Aloxe-Corton Les Valozières 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Aloxe-Corton

  First time trying this producer. Very nice. Ruby in color. The nose is cooler with cherries and some dark cherries and some clay. Nice texture. On the palate, the fruit is intense but not big. Cherries with some minerality. Nice finish.

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• 1994 Groth Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Purple/ruby in color. Great nose. Earthy with cassis. On the palate, plums and some cassis. Tannins fully resolved. I would drink these up, they are not getting better. Still plenty of pleasure, but I would want more complexity.

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• 1991 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 95 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Gorgeous wine. The nose has cassis, minerals, and spices. Great slippery texture. On the palate, complex and layered but still vibrant. Lots of life left. Probably at peak right now though. Delicious and contemplative. Wonderful wine.

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• 1984 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Flawed

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Corked. Seemed like a good and mature wine underneath. Sad. :-(

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• 1994 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 90 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Drinks like a Bordeaux wine. The nose has cassis, bell peppers and spice. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is complex and layered. Perhaps past prime but still lean sinewy fruit. There is an herbaceous streak which is not bad, but might turn some off. Good acidity.

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Hope to see everyone again soon.