Urban Heights - 03 Cathelin, 90 LP, 97 Rayas, 07 IX, 11 LPV & etc.

Justin B organized a nice wine dinner at Urban Heights in Bethesda, Maryland. We were hosted by Will, the general manage also the former GM at BLT, DC. We were seated in a spacious private dining room. The executive chef Cliff Wharton’s Asian fusion dishes were very tasty and had very clean flavor. Most of us ordered steak au poivre as our main and it was very flavorful and tender. The wine service was superb and the overall experience was very positive.

• 2012 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis 1er Cru Séchet 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Another very good showing but less expressive and more focused. Mostly citrus driven medium expressive nose, quite ripe but very mineral which give very cool and precise overall nose expression, honey, limestone, white flowers and flint. Excellent concentration, dense yet quite precise, sweet citrus fruit driven palate impression, very mineral, strong presence of acidity and clean mineral driven finish. This particular bottle is not as expressive as the previous bottles in fruit but strong mineral expression makes it very Dauvissat and enjoyable.

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• 2009 Morlet Family Vineyards Chardonnay Coup de Coeur 95 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County

  Dense ripe yellow fruits, lemon peel candy, peach, ginger, mint and very strong malolactic note. Excellent concentration, thick and oily yet surprisingly well balanced, good acidity and long sweet slightly spicy finish. Really delicious very ripe but nicely balanced domestic Chardonnay. At he peak and no need to wait.

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• 2011 Miani Bianco 91 Points

  Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Friuli Colli Orientali

  Very mineral driven nose, subtle cool white fruit, white flowers, wet stone and saline. Crip, pure, precise and clean palate with good acidity and mineral expression. Really nice summer wine that will go well with cold shellfish. It reminds me a bit of Soave.

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• 2011 Peter Michael Chardonnay La Carrière 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  Surprisingly granny smith and lemon juice, oyster shell, limestone and noticeable alcohol despite being very cold. Though quite dense, the mid-palate seems a bit hollow and slightly lacking the fruit ripeness and concentration. Good acidity and medium finish with a bit of heat at the end. Just like the 11 Napa Cab, hollow mid-palate. Quite cool and fresh fruit expression but noticeable heat will still bother those who love white Burgundy.

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• 2011 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte 93 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  This is very PM showing ripe tropical fruits, pineapple, cooked apple with cinnamon, spicy spices and caramel. Very good concentration, bright acidity and lovely sweet finish. Quite enjoyable in very PM way and no need to wait.

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• 2014 Hammell Wine Alliance El Crue Rosé 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley

  Apparently made by SQN vine manager. Despite 15.5% abv, it is quite cool and no noticeable heat. Big scale rose, mostly strawberry and cherry. Not bad but relatively simple. Good summer wine that will give you a nice buzz.

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• 2003 Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  Explosive nose, incredible concentration and unbelievably layered fruits. The $3k question is, do you like the 03 roasted and extremely ripe fruit! Expressive nose displaying extremely ripe fruits, dry cherries, Chambord, licorice, plum, fruitcake, cherry coke, coffee, roasted meat, charred steak, tar and earth. Incredible concentration, silky and polished palate, very ripe fruit driven/Chambord palate impression, unbeliever ably layered fruits, good acidity, nicely masked tannins and long finish. There is a bitter note that is a bit bothersome. If you like the extremely ripe style of the 03 Northern Rhones, you will love this wine a lot more. Incredible acts of generosity by Justin B.

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• 2005 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie

  A bit restraint nose to starts but opens up nicely, crushed blackberries, tapenade, strong smoke and ash notes, blood, pepper, violet, mineral and garrigue. Very good concentration, linear and precise, cool black fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity, noticeable tannins and good finish with a hint of ash. I get the impression Rostaing is considered modern but my experiences indicate otherwise. This will need another ten years to fully mature. For my palate, the style of Rostaing closely resembles to the gentaz dervieux as they mature. FWIW YMMV. Enjoyable now but great future ahead. This is a classic Cote Rotie.

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• 1997 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 96 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The magic of Rayas is demonstrated once again! Beguiling nose of delicate red fruits, essence of raspberry and red cherry, root beer, liquid smoke, strong Chinese herbal medicine note, rare roast beef and mineral. Medium concentration, silky and polished, delicate red fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, fully integrated tannins and lovely long finish. It is hard to believe that the nose can be so expressive considering the delicate palate. There is a hint of oxidative note which is not terribly bothersome. Exceptional balance and energy. Just incredibly delicious and enjoyable wine from an average to poor vintage.

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• 2000 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée de mon Aïeul 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  It is an excellent wine that is unfairly pair with the 97 Rayas. Black and red cherry driven nose, a hint of mint, tobacco, blood and garrigue. Excellent concentration, ripe slightly dry cherry driven palate impression, warm, round and silky, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and good length. If you prefer a lot of garrigue and tobacco, you should cellar for another five to ten years. It is still quite youthful and shows ample fruit, Very nice wine.

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• 1990 Château Léoville Poyferré 98 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Another wow moment of the 90 LP. I may be lucky but the 90 LP has shown so well so consistently for me. Expressive nose displaying intensely sweet black fruits, cassis, cedar, dark milk chocolate, tobacco and dark spices. Excellent concentration, silky palate, just right amount of acidity to lift up the overall impression, nicely integrated tannins and lovely long sweet finish. This is just simply hedonistic wine that demonstrates all the goodness of the 90, ripe, generous and hedonistic. No need to ponder much, just enjoy.

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• 1995 Château Mouton Rothschild 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  I completely forgot that I had a bottle in January. So remarkably consistent as the last bottle, ie displaying the 95 vintage character of youthful fruit and incredibly firm structure. Expressive nose displaying intense youthful black fruits, cassis dominates, lead pencil, cappuccino, ink and dark spices. Excellent concentration, unctuous yet silky palate, strong presence of acidity and still noticeable tannins. It certainly has very good concentration but it is not the most complex Mouton. It will improve for another twenty years minimum. A bit masculine and very structured Mouton. Once again a bit 86 Moutonesque.

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• 2011 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon LPV Beckstoffer Las Piedras Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Already very approachable and enjoyable. Expressive nose displaying black fruits, blackberry jam, crème de cassis, vanilla, liquid smoke, licorice, lead pencil, cedar and burning incense. Appearance of excellent concentration, warm, round and silky palate, sweet cassis fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, slightly dry tannins and nice finish. It feels like a lot of technical wine making has gone into this to give the perception of volume and concentration. The middle palate is a bit hollow telling me that there isn’t as much of concentration as it appears. Nevertheless very enjoyable in very primary cult cab way.

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• 2007 Colgin IX Estate 97 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Still very much inky and primary. Primary but reasonably expressive nose displaying very ripe cab nose, cassis, blueberry jam, lead pencil, cedar, green pepper, ink and vanilla . At this stage very cool and linear palate but incredibly concentrated. Singular cassis driven palate impression. This is still incredibly youthful and only shows a glimpse of the future.

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• 2010 Saxum James Berry Vineyard 94 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Big and bad. Blueberry syrup and sweet spices. Silky and polished despite incredibly concentrated and chewy. A bit monolithic but if you like Saxum, this is certainly a great one. No noticeable heat. Very youthful, long life ahead.

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• 2009 Château Rieussec 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Very ripe and thick but not heavy. Expressive nose displaying tropical yellow fruits, mango, papaya and peach, also grapefruit, ginger and sweet spices. Obviously very primary and need a few more years to gain better definition and precision. Very similar to the 03 at the same stage for my palate.

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• 2009 Château Suduiraut 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  More white fruit driven and better definition compare to the 09 Rieussec. Pear, white peach, ginger, spicy spices and botrytis. Excellent concentration, oily yet airy palate, good acidity and lovely long finish.

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• 1997 Château Tirecul La Gravière Monbazillac Cuvée Madame 93 Points

  France, Southwest France, Dordogne, Monbazillac

  A bit shy nose of very ripe yellow fruits, apricot marmalade, dry apricot, honey, caramel, burnt sugar and long island ice tea. 10W40 but nice acidity to balance. Perhaps the most concentrated of the flight but the least expressive.

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• 2003 Château Suduiraut 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Very ripe yellow fruit driven nose, peach, peach preserve, dry apricot, honey and tea. Excellent concentration and reasonable acidity. It is very similar to the 90, just a bit more mature. Need time to add definition but the fruit expression is s already quite developed.

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For the past couple years, Justin B has been busy growing his brewery, Jailbreak. The restaurant offered “Feed the Monkey”, Jailbreak’s version was Hefeweizen which was excellent, quite refreshing and clean. It was a very nice way to end the evening.