A Decadent Wine Day...Zachy's Vault II and Dinner with special guest CVA and friends

Le Bernardin, New York and Chez Walker in Princeton, NJ
Tasted Saturday, October 15, 2016 by walkerjfw with 565 views

Flight 1 - Zachys Vault II (8 Notes)

  • 1995 Château Cheval Blanc 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Beginning of a decadent day...glasses from a 3L.

    Mid ruby/garnet core. Nose a bit reticent, some dark fruits, spices/pepper and floral notes. Dusted black cherry, plum, currants, violets, charred oak. Silky texture, elegant and refined. Tannins are refined and mostly integrated. Nice structure, seems it should hold at this level for a while...gorgeous wine

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  • 1982 Pétrus 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    During the Zachy's auction, a real treat to have an opportunity to have the opportunity to experience an 82 Petrus with this type of provenance...

    Nice garnet core, wine is bricking with some separation at the rim. Nose was red fruits, currants, baking spices, cola. Silky smooth palate of plums, fig, roasted meats, caramelized fruit, orange zest. Both red and dark fruits balance nicely through the mid palate. Tannins soft and integrated...

    Really special wine, perfectly aged and mature at this point. An incredible treat to drink this wine, one of those you could linger and contemplate for a while...that said, for the price I won't be owning any...

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  • 1970 Château Trotanoy 95 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

    At the Zachy's auction in NYC, from a magnum. First experience with this wine, surprised to the upside given the vintage.

    Color was still there, an opaque purple red with some separation at the rim. Bouquet of dark fruits, earth notes, eucalyptus; fragrant and distinct nose. Plate of black cherry, blackberry, earth/forest floor, tobacco, dark chocolate and spices. The baking spices on the mid/back palate very distinct. Silky texture, tannins focused in the mid palate.

    Really stood out among some tough competition, wish I had the opportunity to have more...really special wine that's perfectly mature at this point.

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  • 1966 Château Latour Grand Vin 97 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    At Zachy's auction in NYC, among a fantastic group of wines served during the auction. From a magnum, splash decanted and drank over about 30 minutes.

    Color at the core is still solid, separation at the rim. Fruit on the nose is a little reticent, picking up black fruits and charcoal. Palate still has gorgeous (almost youthful) fruit...black cherry, cassis, cedar, pine. Black truffle and mushroom through the mid/back plate. Layered and complex finish...smooth texture, tannins sweetened and resolved

    Amazing vibrancy at 50 years old, this is going strong and may have a few decades left in it...perhaps one the "immortal" wines of Bdx? Didn't fade at all during the time we drank it. Exceptional, really a privilege to drink this. Hard to put a number on it as I ave very little comparison, given age and quality at this point one of the better wines I have experienced

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  • 1990 Domaine Leroy Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Brûlées 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

    At Zachy's auction in NYC, first Burgundy served during the auction...

    Delicate nose of soft blackberry, mild herbs and spice. Palate is fresh and youthful, repeating blackberry and black cherry profile, floral notes on mid palate. Nice structure and firm backbone, would have guessed this was a much younger wine. Based on this bottle, at 26 this still has a way to go. Beautiful wine...

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  • 2009 Joseph Drouhin Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    At the Zachy's auction in NYC, bottle open for about an hour.

    Rich garnet/red color. Nose of dark cherry, savory notes. Plate was ripe blackberry, roasted meats, game, savory and pine cone. Licorice and spice showing on the back palate Full and elegant wine but needs time to evolve and settle in. Clearly well made but needs another 5+ years in the bottle to show the nuance it is likely holding...

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  • 2012 Domaine Ramonet Bâtard-Montrachet 94 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

    AT Zachy's auction in NYC, a real treat to drink this wine. We had this after a number of excellent Bdx and Burgundy reds...and it still stood out

    Medium gold color. Nose of orchard fruits, baked apple and spice. Palate was rich and fruit forward, medium weight and nicely balanced. Palate shows ripe apple, pears, lemon zest and white flowers. Mid to back palate adds some honey and vanilla oak. Beautiful finish...

    This is obviously still a young wine by Burgundy standards, drink beautifully now and should continue to improve with additional bottle age. Guessing it has a decent arc ahead of it (10+ years)..good upside 94++

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  • 1992 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    At the Zachy's auction in NYC, one of the last wines poured while we were there. Up against some strong old world competition. Oldest Araujo Eisele I have had, this year I believe was prior to Francoise Peschon making the wine.

    Core color was still vibrant, purple red. Nose was a bit reticent, showing dark fruits. Palate of dusted blackberry, currant, baking spices and stone/mineral. Elegant wine that is likely past its peak well into a secondary phase, but still very nice.

    Not sure how long this was open, I have found Araujo wines benefit from a healthy decant. May explain the somewhat closed nose compared to other experiences with this wine. Good to have an opportunity to drink this as we were ready for a 95 to be opened later in the day...

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Flight 2 - In the cellar in Princeton (3 Notes)

  • 2014 Big Table Farm Edelzwicker 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    In our cellar with CVA, Subha and Jim and Valerie. First white of the evening. CVA wanted to be surprised with first one, a fun variation for European palates. Served chilled, open for about 30 minutes

    Prior notes: "Medium, slightly cloudy yellow/gold. Crisp and dry wine. Fruity (not sweet) and aromatic. Notes on palate were apples, lemon, orange blossom and white flowers."

    Crowd liked this, great wine to start the evening. Followed up with a Peter Michael Ma Belle Fille...big hit, great aperitif. Wine improves as it warms a bit, "peach blossom" cam through

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  • 2008 Peter Michael Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

    In our cellar with CVA, Subha and Jim and Valerie. Second white of the evening. Showing our guest CVA a traditional CA Chardonnay...Slow Ox for about 30 minutes, served slightly chilled.

    Medium gold color, very rich. Nose of orchard fruits, honey. Palate of citrus, pineapple, lemon, honey, caramel, vanilla oak. Long finish, lush and plump chardonnay. Exotic fruit profile, oak may be too rich for some palates. All in a great wine - assuming one likes the profile. Our group loved it

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  • 2002 Beaux Frères Pinot Noir Beaux Frères Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge

    First red of the evening. Wanted to contrast with Burgundy profile for our guests. Decanted for about 45 minutes.

    From prior notes: "medium ruby color - nose of red fruits, herbs. Palate this time seemed brighter than last bottle. Red fruits, dried raspberry, strawberry/rhubarb, oak, earth, lavender, baking spices..."

    An elegant and restrained wine, it is still bright. Nicely aged and in a good spot. Noted on this bottle a bit more raspberry, baking spice and cinnamon. Our guests were split on this, Valerie and I always like BF. Was too lean for CVA, probably looking for the earthiness of a Burgundy...This is my last bottle of this vintage. Decant matters for this wine, would drink over the next few years, seems as if it may start to fade.

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Flight 3 - Dinner with nicely aged CA Cabs...and d'Yquem to finish (6 Notes)

  • 1990 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Decanted for about an hour. Cork broke up on extraction. Drank next to a 94 Mondavi reserve with first courses.

    A bit cloudy, red garnet, some separation. Nose leans to earth notes and mushrooms, Bordeaux like. Plate of dark fruits, dusted currant and cherry, tobacco. Medium finish

    Wine is in a tertiary phase at this point, fun to drink and interesting. Our crowd all preferred the 94

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  • 1994 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Decanted for about an hour. Clean cork extraction. Drank next to a 1990 Mondavi reserve with first courses.

    Core garnet color, little sign of bricking. Must nose of dusted dark cherry, herbs, anise..Bdx like nose. Smooth palate, showing dark berries, cigar, leather, savory notes, roasted meats, mushroom and cola...Elegant and nicely aged

    Group liked this one much better than the 1990. Exquisite wine, nicely aged, well preserved and expressive. Should continue to drink well for next several years...no reason to wait (IMO)

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  • 1995 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Decanted for about 90 minutes, served with the main course. Following up a tasting of the 92 Araujo from earlier in the day. Decant made a difference, this was tight when first opened.

    Nice core color, inky purple/black, very little sign of age. Nose of black fruits, currant, exotic spice, espresso. Palate was mature, blackberry, currant, herbs and Asian spice. This was a wine that was likely powerful in its youth (I have not had it) but now combines power and elegance as its well into its secondary phase.

    Drinking well at 21 years old, fully mature and in balance. We thought this wine more expressive than the 92 we had earlier in the day. I wouldn't wait much longer on this, in a good spot and unlikely to get better. WOTN for a few of us...

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  • 1985 Joseph Phelps Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Decanted for about 30 minutes, served with the main course following up on the 95 Araujo Eisele. These two vintners split the fruit source at one point, fun to drink side/side. Was thin when first opened, came together in about 20 minutes.

    Color was a slightly faded. Nose of dark fruits, cigar, cedar, mint. Elegant, delicate palate of dusted blackberry, roasted meats, savory, Bordeaux like. Medium texture, nice fruit through the mid palate.

    This bottle purchased at auction, was well preserved. I imagine other tasters are experiencing variability i the 750s at this point. Very nice, was showing well for a 31 yr old CA wine, overshadowed by the 95 Araujo for this crew...

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  • 1985 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard 98 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Followed the 2 Eisele vineyards by pulling this from the cellar... following up the 85 Phelps. Decanted for about 20 minutes, drank over 45.

    Color is a brick red, clear and vibrant. Nose is very Bordeaux-like, cherries/red fruits, mint/eucalyptus. From prior notes: "Palate is old red fruits, cherries, earth/cedar, vanilla, oak, blackberry, chocolate. Finish was spectacular, layered and complex - bringing out secondary flavors..."

    This was the star of the show for me. If tasted blind we all agreed we would have pegged this as a left bank wine. Typical profile for older Heitz, my European friends were impressed. The 85 to me has been consistently good. This is in an excellent place right now and seems like it should hold for some time. My WOTN against some pretty good competition.

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  • 1986 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Special contribution from Subha and Jim, vintage from year they were married. Incredible way to finish an amazing dinner and decadent day... chilled, opened about 30 minutes before drinking

    Beautiful deep gold color. Nose of baked peaches and apricots, honeysuckle, and white flowers. Rich and viscous texture. Palate shows apricot, nectarines, hazelnut, creme brulee. Long and layered finish.

    Hard for me to rate d"Yquem as I don't have abroad tasting history with the wine...and have yet to have one I didnt think was amazing...this one no different. Thanks to our good friends for sharing this

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