First dinner of 2019!

Galletto Ristorante, Modesto Ca.
Tasted Saturday, January 5, 2019 by Mrbuzz with 254 views

Flight 1 - Starter whites (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Francois Carillon Chevalier-Montrachet 97 Points

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

    Slow oxed for 10hrs...showing intense angry energy and piercing acidity at first...took to dinner, and it unfolded brilliantly!! Turned into the most amazingly soft and elegant texture...like a thin layered flaky pastry...SO pure and balanced...fresh citrus energy still there, chalky limestone, exotic white honey butter, almond pastry...flat out amazing!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne Brut Chef de Cave Legacy Edition 98 Points

    France, Champagne

    Was blown away by how in balanced this young DP is right out of the gate! Absolutely PERFECT balance of fresh citrus cut, creamy crystalline fruits, and the subtle vanilla and caramel creme, smoky minerality...so harmonious ...not one thing standing out in forefront. There's brightness and finesse...graceful florals and chiseled mineral depth. HUGE fan of this bottle we had last night!

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 - Reds (6 Notes)

  • 2003 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 96 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Slow oxed for 10 hrs, some concerns as the fruit seemed of roasted red berry, with searing acidity and intense spice? Splash decanted off the chunks of sediment and took to dinner...it opened up brilliantly! The red berry fruit darkened and softened...pure finesse and femininity...pretty bouquet of flowers and spices...silky smooth tannins, yet with well integrated cedar and dusty white pepper oak barrel...red licorice, cherry cordials...just lovely layers of depth and purity. A true joy to drink!

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2015 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Had with the 14...decanted for a day...a beast of a wine! Very dark liqueured berry fruits...wonderful graphite dryness, licorice, creme de cassis, rich soil...deep as a coal mine with spice and minerality...but maintains a super silky feel as the dusty firm tannins let you enjoy. The 15 had the slightest of vinegar twang youth that he 14 did not. Loved these.

    Post a Comment / 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2014 MacDonald Cabernet Sauvignon 95 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    Had with the 15, decanted for a day...as with the 15, a dark fruited beast of a wine...little softer and creamier than the 15, with very complex liqueured black and blue berry fruits...perfect balanced graphite dryness, licorice, creme de cassis, dark cacao, rich earth, violet florals...such silky tannins for a rich full bodied wine. The big air really helps these right now. Both pretty similar and fantastic...I'd give the nod to the 14 for drinking right now though.

    Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2000 Château Margaux 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    First nose...OH BOY...this is going to be good! The most amazing mushroom forest, leather, floral perfume nose...dark berries and cassis, licorice, pencil lead...seemless and actually quite elegant and velvety...an array of complexities...olive, tobacco leaf, graphite, earth spice...awesome balance. A wonderful wine that will only get better.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1996 Paolo Scavino Barolo Riserva Rocche dell'Annunziata 96 Points

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    A quick decant and this wine was ready to go! Wonderful dark dried berry fruits, licorice, pretty Italian perfume of dried roses, orange rind, bayleaf, sweet tar...a nice streak of fresh acidity, tartness, with such seamlessness. Loved the subtle earth tones, wood dust, and dried leaf character, with just a hint a greenness...kept gaining and gaining the more air it took in. Fabulous Barolo!

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Casa Ferreirinha Douro Barca Velha 94 Points

    Portugal, Douro

    A first for me...this was flat out killer! SO deep and dark fruited, with a plushness and wonderful finesse. Dark berry liqueured fruits, obviously Port -like, yet with total graphite powder dryness...exotic flower florals, licorice, anise...sneaky white pepper spice, dusty tannins...yet an elegant softness for such a big wine. Finish for days. Cool stuff!

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 3 - Dessert (1 Note)

  • 1992 Fonseca Porto Vintage 92 Points

    Portugal, Douro, Porto

    Not a huge Port fan...this was fairly sweet, viscous, with a array of spices and tobacco...licorice, dusty old cellar barrel, fig and fruitcake spice. Long and intense sweet finish. Went really well with my espresso, of all things!

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

×
×