France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet
We began our incredible meal of steak and wine with this little nugget from Del Frisco's list. I was looking for something medium bodied that would show great mineral qualities and have nice acidity. Didn't want any flabby California Chardonnay, and SB didn't sound right at the time either. Popped and poured. Immediately the nose showed bright lemon peel and other citrus notes coupled with nice minerals and a touch of salinity. The palate was lighter than I expected, searing acid down the core coupled with more wet granite. Very nice but not a ninety point wine in my book. The mid palate lacked any luster and I felt overall the complexity lacked for the price.
Johnny's contribution to my bachelor party dinner at Del Frisco's. Let breathe in the bottle for about an hour. Softened out over the course of the evening. Lovely moderate dull pink, purple hue. Fairly dark in color. Showing a touch of age at the rim. Elegant is the theme here. This is a forceful and rich wine but it comes across feminine and extremely vibrant - light on its feet and not at all weighty or flabby. Flawless integration sporting a nose of blood orange, pomegranate, cotton candy, touches of gray peppercorn and smoky meat. Extremely floral up front with rose petals and some nice oak and baking spice. The palate is rich and goes on and on. Shows more red roses, dark red berries and a bit of orange rind. The back end of rich in acidity, quite complex and still has a touch of alcohol - but barely. Absolutely stunning wine. One of the best Pinot Noir I've tasted and absolutely at the top of the California totem pole for this varietal. Best Marcassin showing I've had to date.
Greg's generous contribution to our steak and wine bachelor party dinner at Del Frisco's. Decanted about two hours. All of our first taste of one of SQN's extended aged bottlings. This didn't (really) disappoint. The wine is extremely rich. Just looking at the black opaque liquid in the glass, you could tell extraction and complexity will both be high. Black currant compote, stewed blueberry pie and cobbler. Baked goods coupled with anise, black peppercorn. Not so much savory meaty qualities than other SQN I've tasted. This was all delicious fruit. Molasses, maple and lots of toasty oak and baking spices, but there is so much fruit there that it is all in harmony and showing nicely at this young young age. The back end showed a touch of savory brine elements but this was only at the end of the meal. The finish was long and complex. Not hot whatsoever, I expected a bit more complexity as a whole but the acidity was there and the tannins and alcohol well balanced. This is so so young. Let it settle for a decade or two. Beautiful and lots of potential.
Everyone else seemed to enjoy this more than I did as a whole. This was a stellar bottle, but I enjoyed the Schrader more. Decanted a couple hours on the table. Spicy red cherries, layers of milk chocolate, dark roast espresso, some elements of bacon fat and fine leather. The palate was refined and masculine with dark cherries, tobacco leaf and classic cult Napa Cab qualities. Long gripping finish but very enjoyable. Not quite as good as the Schrader in my opinion but extremely nice. Just wanted more complexity and a touch less heat.
Brought this to the restaurant ahead of time to be decanted and held at cellar temperature. We enjoyed this with the entree of 32 oz. Long Bone Wagyu Ribe Eye. We were baby killers this fine evening. The wine was superb - though we were a bit let down for a 100 pointer. Rich classic Schrader styling sporting royal leather, creme de cassis, dark cherries, mocha, touches of smoke and rich dark flowers. The mid palate is nice and the finish is gorgeous but could be a bit more harmonious to attain a higher score. The tannins still needed some time to come together. There was great acidity but the grip was overwhelming. There wasn't that wow factor I've gotten from some other Schrader. This was delicious but not the wine we all were expecting.
2010 Olivier Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet
We began our incredible meal of steak and wine with this little nugget from Del Frisco's list.
I was looking for something medium bodied that would show great mineral qualities and have nice acidity.
Didn't want any flabby California Chardonnay, and SB didn't sound right at the time either.
Popped and poured. Immediately the nose showed bright lemon peel and other citrus notes coupled with nice minerals and a touch of salinity.
The palate was lighter than I expected, searing acid down the core coupled with more wet granite. Very nice but not a ninety point wine in my book.
The mid palate lacked any luster and I felt overall the complexity lacked for the price.
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2007 Marcassin Pinot Noir Three Sisters Vineyard 96 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Johnny's contribution to my bachelor party dinner at Del Frisco's.
Let breathe in the bottle for about an hour. Softened out over the course of the evening.
Lovely moderate dull pink, purple hue. Fairly dark in color. Showing a touch of age at the rim.
Elegant is the theme here. This is a forceful and rich wine but it comes across feminine and extremely vibrant - light on its feet and not at all weighty or flabby.
Flawless integration sporting a nose of blood orange, pomegranate, cotton candy, touches of gray peppercorn and smoky meat.
Extremely floral up front with rose petals and some nice oak and baking spice.
The palate is rich and goes on and on. Shows more red roses, dark red berries and a bit of orange rind.
The back end of rich in acidity, quite complex and still has a touch of alcohol - but barely. Absolutely stunning wine.
One of the best Pinot Noir I've tasted and absolutely at the top of the California totem pole for this varietal. Best Marcassin showing I've had to date.
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2008 Sine Qua Non Grenache The Duel 96 Points
USA, California, Central Coast
Greg's generous contribution to our steak and wine bachelor party dinner at Del Frisco's.
Decanted about two hours. All of our first taste of one of SQN's extended aged bottlings. This didn't (really) disappoint.
The wine is extremely rich. Just looking at the black opaque liquid in the glass, you could tell extraction and complexity will both be high.
Black currant compote, stewed blueberry pie and cobbler. Baked goods coupled with anise, black peppercorn. Not so much savory meaty qualities than other SQN I've tasted. This was all delicious fruit.
Molasses, maple and lots of toasty oak and baking spices, but there is so much fruit there that it is all in harmony and showing nicely at this young young age.
The back end showed a touch of savory brine elements but this was only at the end of the meal.
The finish was long and complex. Not hot whatsoever, I expected a bit more complexity as a whole but the acidity was there and the tannins and alcohol well balanced.
This is so so young. Let it settle for a decade or two. Beautiful and lots of potential.
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2006 Abreu Howell Mountain 94 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Everyone else seemed to enjoy this more than I did as a whole. This was a stellar bottle, but I enjoyed the Schrader more.
Decanted a couple hours on the table.
Spicy red cherries, layers of milk chocolate, dark roast espresso, some elements of bacon fat and fine leather.
The palate was refined and masculine with dark cherries, tobacco leaf and classic cult Napa Cab qualities.
Long gripping finish but very enjoyable. Not quite as good as the Schrader in my opinion but extremely nice.
Just wanted more complexity and a touch less heat.
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2006 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon CCS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 95 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Brought this to the restaurant ahead of time to be decanted and held at cellar temperature.
We enjoyed this with the entree of 32 oz. Long Bone Wagyu Ribe Eye.
We were baby killers this fine evening. The wine was superb - though we were a bit let down for a 100 pointer.
Rich classic Schrader styling sporting royal leather, creme de cassis, dark cherries, mocha, touches of smoke and rich dark flowers. The mid palate is nice and the finish is gorgeous but could be a bit more harmonious to attain a higher score. The tannins still needed some time to come together. There was great acidity but the grip was overwhelming. There wasn't that wow factor I've gotten from some other Schrader. This was delicious but not the wine we all were expecting.
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