NYC Shafer Weekend

Misc bottle consumed prior to and including NYC Shafer dinner.

For those New Yorkers that haven't tried this place, do so. It is BYOB and serves some very good french cuisine. Brent brought a '98 Le Vieux Donjon CdP and I provided a '90 Beaucastel CdP. Brent will be able to post better notes than I for the Donjon, but this was very good. Still a bit young with primary characteristics of barnyard, hay, and spice. It opened up nicely with a couple of hours of air. I will need to add this producer to my cellar.

• 1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 95 Points

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

  (3/14/2005)

  I opened this to accompany dinner at a french bistro in NYC. This is probably the best bottle, in my limited experience, of CdP I have had. Upon opening the nose had a slight barnyard nose that blew off after about thirty minutes. Medium body with lots of complexity and acid. Very well balanced. It will probably improve a little over the next three years, but not dramatically. At or near it peak. A great wine!

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These notes are for the wines that I brought. While I brought the weakest HSS of the night, it is a testament to Doug Shafer and Elias Fernandez that it still was a weak 91 pts for an off '98 vintage. Way to go guys!

• 1998 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (3/14/2005)

  One of the best Cali Cabs in a very tough 98 vintage. Big and bold, chocolate with a slight taste of black cherry. Mild tannins, nort built for the long term. Ready with only slight aeration. At its peak, good for 5-7 years.

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• 2001 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Port 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  (3/14/2005)

  This is one the best domestic port I've ever had. Dark purple color almost black. Long finish. Should age very very well, but why wait.

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• 2001 Château Rieussec 99 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  (3/14/2005)

  I have very limited sauterne experience, but OMG this is the most complete wine I've ever had. Seemless from front to back! Bright yellow color, clean floral nose, sweet balanced palate, not syrupy. If this is what sauternes are striving for, I think they got it right. I need to get some more.

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I am very honored to have dined with a great group of oenophiles at table 2. It was nice to see so many people with similar passions in one place. While I provided the weakest vintage of HSS, it was my honor and privilage to provide the '01 Shafer Port and '01 Chateau Rieussec. I was able to get a small taste of the '01 Rieussec before I made the rounds from table to table. That was almost as much fun as the taste that I had. I love to share with others that have the same love of wine. This was one of the best wine experiences of my life!