Pre-Labor Day Cabernet Dinner

Casa de la Mata - Chicago IL
Tasted Sunday, September 3, 2017 by Burgundy Al with 563 views

Flight 1 - Some Whites to Start (3 Notes)

Flight 2 - Dennis' Blind Bordeaux/ Cali Cab Flight (6 Notes)

  • 2000 Château Pontet-Canet 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Tasted double blind. Moderately mature black fruit with cigarbox and licorice, clearly Bordeaux, but seeming older than 2000. This kept cycling from something fun and interesting to slightly less interesting and back-and-forth over the hour+ in glass. Always seemed somewhat tart for the 2000 vintage. Somewhat disappointing vs what I'd expect, or compared to the last time tasted 5 years ago.

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  • 2000 Opus One 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted double blind. Leaner black fruit with a green note, coming across as New World Cab Sauv made in an Old World style (I thought it Mondavi Reserve). Elegant with very good length.

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  • 2002 Château Lynch-Bages 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Tasted double blind. Burly black fruit showing moderate ripeness. Slightly coarse on nose and palate. Probably better in a few years, but not much better.

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  • 2002 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon The Montelena Estate 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted double blind. Came across as slightly older than 2002, but with something of everything in reasonable balance. Nicely juicy in a very clear Cali Cab manner. My favorite of the flight. Much better vs when last tasted one year ago. My fav of the flight, group's #1 as well.

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  • 2005 The Winemakers' Collection Michel Rolland Cuvée No. 1 Château d'Arsac 85 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    Tasted double blind. Firm black fruit that seemed very Bordeaux-like but somewhat bretty, certainly not pristine. Clearly a ripe vintage, but somewhat awkward. Also seemed much older than 2005.

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  • 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Tasted double blind. Very fat and rich with good concentration, but also sweeter fruit than I would prefer. A bit of coca-cola coming through. I can fully appreciate why people would enjoy this wine, but it isn't my preferred style. My least favorite of the flight, group's #4/6.

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Flight 3 - Our Blind Bordeaux/ Cali Cab Flight (7 Notes)

  • 1994 Opus One 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted double blind. This also came across as Cali Cab made in a Bordeaux style, clearly in a ripe and fun vintage. Dense, meaty and very long. My favorite of the flight by a slight margin, while clearly the group's #1 in the flight.

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  • 1988 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

    Tasted double blind. earthy with broad flavors and textures. Every hair is in its place, even if not particularly powerful or complex. Very good now. My 5th favorite of the flight, group's 5th as well.

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  • 2006 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Right Bank 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted double blind. Lots of black cherry with good spice. Both ripe and firm. Very enjoyable now, possibly with upside. Also easily identifiable as Cali Cab.

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  • 1988 Château Cheval Blanc 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Tasted double blind. Rich and powerful start-to-finish with very good weight and depth. Green pepper added a great dimension and complexity here. My 3rd favorite of the flight, but #1-3 were all so close, and the group's #3 as well.

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  • 2001 Plumpjack Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Tasted double blind. Sweet fruit is easy to enjoy. Still fresh, slightly slutty, but enough structure to keep this interesting and balanced. Bottle under cork (vs screwtop).

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  • 1990 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    My contribution to the double blind flight. Ripe black fruit with plenty of aromatic complexity. group was divided between this being Napa vs Bordeaux. I understand the divide- sweet fruit, but firm structure. Very elegant. Best this wine has ever shown. My 2nd favorite of the flight, group's #2 as well.

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  • 1991 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Flawed

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Tasted double blind. Great mint and eucalyptus clearly coming through, but there was an earthy/ funky note from the start that I thought brett, but eventually others' perspective that it was corked was validated.

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Flight 4 - Some Sweet Wines to Finish (3 Notes)

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