Random reds - La Jota, Turley, Noon, Banfi, Marquis Phillips, Boisrenard

Last minute gathering - several wives out of town - good reason for a tasting! Pulled together sort of last minute. Tasted blind, decanted for two hours prior to first pour.

• 1999 La Jota Cabernet Sauvignon Anniversary Release 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Dark purple in color. Nose of red fruits and spice, with a little leather and a little bit of funkiness. On the palate, sweet red fruits, a streak of minerality, a little bit of cedar, very powerful and very complex. Long, sweet, powerful finish. Drinking well now, but just a baby - seems like it will only get better.

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• 2001 Noon Eclipse 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Dark purple in color. Very open nose - has that typical "Australian" scent - eucalyptus and mint, with lots of fruit. On the palate, lots of caramel, chocolate, spice, with a bit of rubber(?). A little rough on the finish - lots of fruit - not very complex and not particularly long. Seems a bit young.

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• 2002 Turley Zinfandel Mead Ranch 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Atlas Peak

  Most unique wine of the flight. Even though it had been decanted for two hours, the wine had a remarkable transformation an hour after we first tasted it. Initial pour: Very dark purple in color, very powerful, open nose, with notes of candied fruit and a little whiff of alcohol. On the palate, a little thin - prunes and brown sugar notes present. Score at that time was 88. We retasted the wine near the end, all still blind, and this was a completely different wine. Fruit no longer thin in any way - now powerful, ripe blast of fruit - very complex - absolutely delicious. Finish now very fruity - long and complex. Amazing turnaround - first time I've seen a transformation like this with a zinfandel.

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• 2000 Domaine de Beaurenard (Paul Coulon et Fils) Châteauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard 91 Points

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

  Reddish black color. A lot of alcohol on the nose, along with shy notes of black fruit. This wine is really tight right. Lots of fruit, but has a certain bitterness to it, making it hard to enjoy now. Long finish - this wine has a lot of potential, but not giving much up right now.

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• 1997 Castello Banfi Brunello di Montalcino 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Brownish red in color. Big, beautiful nose of leathery fruit, with a hint of rubber. On the palate, tons of fruit. A mix of red and black fruits, leather, spice - deep and dark flavors. Long finish, nice fruit/acidity balance, drinking really well now, but seems like it has lots of life left too.

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• 2001 Marquis Philips Cabernet Sauvignon S2 95 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Very dark purple in color. Has that deep, eucalyptus/minty nose - must be Australian. On the palate, plums, chocolate, spice, caramel - very fruity, very complex, very delicious! Long, powerful, delicious finish. Wine of the night.

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Two big surprises: 1) the showing of the S2. We were sure it was Australian, but we were shocked when the S2 was revealed. 2) the transformation of the Turley. Even after decanting, went through a huge change after another hour. Went from a very good wine to a great wine in that one hour time period.