WTDS at Capital Grille

No great reason for this tasting other than an excuse for friends to gather on a Monday evening and share some really fine wines along side the great steaks at Capital Grille. The theme was the catch all "Wines That Don't Suck", which is always a nice theme because I enjoy the mix of wines it brings. Seven of us gathered for an eventful night of wine and fellowship.

• 2010 Argyle Vintage Brut 88 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  This was consistent with the bottle I tried about a year ago. Very distinctive lychee on the palate with grapefruit in the background, lots of fruit, tart. Becomes a tad sweet on the palate after an initially seeming a bit austere. The nose offers lychee, mineral and citrus. Still not my favorite Argyle. 87+pts to 88pts.

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• 2002 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Présidence Vieilles Vignes 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  This was very good, there's some weight on the palate, citrus, mineral, creamy, lemon, nice finish. 90+pts.

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• 2010 DuMOL Chardonnay Clare 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 45 minutes. Great nose, nutty, earthy, hazelnut, citrus, ripe, toasted. The palate has good overall balance, maybe a little flabby, but that's nit-picking really; medium full bodied, quite vibrant, nutty, toasted, lemon, citrus, long finish. There's a judicious amount of appealing toasted oak that blends nicely into the overall framework. 93+pts.

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• 2010 DuMOL Pinot Noir Estate 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Medium dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 30 minutes plus. Fairly big and ripe on the nose, dark cherry, floral. The palate has a nice texture, round, a bit of heat, spice, ripe cherry and strawberry, medium tannins, medium plus finish. 91+ to 92pts.

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• 1991 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 98 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Very dark red color, no bricking, slightly clear 1mm margin. PNP, drank 1 glass over 2+ hours. Ohhh this is glorious! Fabulous all the way around. The nose sings with a perfume of damp earth, pencil lead, saddle leather, florals, mint, red fruits, cassis, and tobacco. The palate is seductive and alluring with a brilliant texture, silky and perfectly balanced, intense on the attack and the mid palate with forest floor, cassis and cherry fruit, fine grained tannins, tobacco, leather, well integrated oak, all of which follows into a very, very long 60+ second finish. You'd never guess this was 23 years old. I agree with Jeff Leve's recent note as this is a dead ringer for classic, world class Bordeaux. Classic Napa at its finest. This is what Napa needs to strive for. This and the '84 Dominus I had recently were some of finest examples of Napa wines I've experienced. My WOTN and one of the best this year. 97+ to 98pts.

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• 2001 Paolo Scavino Barolo Flawed

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  corked

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• 2004 Cerbaiona Brunello di Montalcino 93 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Dark red color. Double decanted, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. This kept getting better through the evening. The nose is lovely with cherries, earthy, leather, soy, and florals that blossom slowly. The palate is still youthful and offers a medium-full body with firm medium grained tannins, very earthy, forest floor, cherry, mineral, gravel and a long finish. This could really be impressive in another few years. 93+(+)pts.

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• 2001 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Very dark purple/red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 2 hours. Nose has big black mountain fruits, blackberry, currants, briar, spice and a hint of menthol. The palate is still young, big and spicy, black fruit, menthol, full bodied and long on the finish. Drinks nicely, but will be better down the road 2-5 years. 92+pts.

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• 2004 Noon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Very dark purple red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. Loads of eucalyptus on the nose with blackberry cobbler, cassis, a little plum, and slome tarry character. The palate is dense and supple, eucalyptus, blackberry cobbler, tar, nice silky tannins, and persistent finish. Nicely balanced, and would be even better if the dominant eucalyptus would subside a fair bit 91+pts..

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• 2010 Saxum Broken Stones 93 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Purple red color. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This was a big bruiser of a wine. Very big black fruits on the nose, quite herbal, a bit green, savory, roast meat, oak. The palate is dense and chewy, big bold black fruits, blackberry and black raspberry, oak, good acid, with a very long and invigorating finish. Balanced despite its alcohol content. My dad would just love this baby. 92+ to 93pts.

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We had some really good wines tonight. The '91 Mondavi proved to be a regal masterpiece that will be long remembered.