Wine dinner with the Johnson's

Our lake house
Tasted Sunday, December 29, 2013 by WojoWineCave with 308 views

Introduction

Dinner with Johnson's is always a great evening. They own a wine shop so we always have a great wine experience with them. I thought it would be a treat to do red varietals from different regions of the 2004 vintage since we are closing on 10 years. I also tossed in a 1994 to compare a 20 year old wine.

Flight 1 (4 Notes)

Dinner consisted of baby back ribs, Brussels sprouts with almonds and bacon, brown rice, and baked beans.

  • 1994 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Great complexity. Hard to believe it has not faded at all. Seemed to get thicker in the glass as it opened. Rich dark supple and Full body. The wine has Polished texture. The wine finishes Long.

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  • 2004 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli 94 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

    Amazing complexity. Top wine for the guys tonight. Not as well liked by the ladies. Very dry, peppered with a strong nose. Still young. Will be better in 10 years. Decanted for 8 hours and still needed more. One for the cellar.

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  • 2004 Dominus Estate 94 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Awesome wine. Ready now. Decanted for 6 hours as well. Opened up nicely. Clear WOTN for the ladies.
    The wine looks Garnet colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Black currant (cassis), Cranberry, and Cherry. The body is Full. The wine has Satin-like texture. The wine finishes Medium.

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  • 2004 La Rioja Alta Rioja Viña Ardanza Reserva 90 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Very complex wine. Recent award of #22 on WS top 100 of 2013. This wine will go for another 15 years. Earthy and spiced. Lots of mineral.
    It smells like Black Pepper, Cedar, Cedar, Oak, and Lead Pencil. It tastes like Forest floor, Mineral, and Stoniness. The body is Full. The wine has Leathery texture. The wine finishes Long. Great QPR. Best with food. Went well with baby back ribs and Brussels sprouts.

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Closing

Great fun and all wines were so different. All paired well with the pork ribs, baked beans and Brussels sprouts.
The ladies enjoyed the Dominus best, while John enjoyed the Brunello and Araujo best with the Rioja close behind. I ranked them Araujo/Brunello/Dominus/Rioja.

Tasting such different regions and grape varietals made for a great evening with great friends.

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