85th Birthday Dinner for Rowena with Gibbs and Muller Families

OCNJ
Tasted Wednesday, July 3, 2024 by walkerjfw with 122 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 2017 Occidental Pinot Noir Occidental Station Vineyard 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Last bottle of this was in 2020, bottles purchased direct and in my cellar since. First red wine of the evening, decanted about 1 hour.

    Notes from 2020:"Bright and expressive nose of cherry, boysenberry, blue fruits. Fruit forward palate showing bright red fruits, cherry, plum, orange zest, floral pastille. Sweet spices through the mid palate. Silky texture. Medium weight and finish."

    On the palate the bright cherry, blue fruits are still notable. Plum and floral notes still there. I think the wine has added some depth since last tasting, red fruits and earth persist through mid palate and finish.

    Has held its own with age, should continue to drink well for foreseeable future. Still highly rated (IMO) but not likely to improve much more.

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

Flight 2 (1 Note)

  • 2007 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay 93 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Been a while since last tasting of this wine, thought I would check back in on it, last tasting did not deliver as expected. Decanted about 1 1/2 hours prior to drinking.

    Blackcurrants vanilla and some smokey spice notes on the nose, long firm tannins, not exactly ripe but not harsh and very good length. Hints of a mix of other flavours keeps the drinker interested. I’m not very experienced with Californian Cabs but this was good!

    Dark garnet color. Nose of black cherry, charcoal. Palate of dark red fruits, currants, blue fruit, vanilla, graphite. Silky smooth blueberry, lavender, graphite through the finish.

    This tasting performed much better - which was 2018 - so the wine has had time to evolve considerably. The extended decant made the difference (IMO).

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

Flight 3 (1 Note)

  • 2014 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard 99 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    This occasion was a great excuse to open this bottle, purchased at release, in my cellar since. Decanted about 2 hours prior to drinking

    Deep garnet/magenta color. Nose showing blue and red fruits, charcoal and vanilla. Rich palate of blueberry pie, blackberry, Madagascar/vanilla, truffle, mushroom. Some tart, bramble fruit notes on the mid palate. Texture was plush and rounded, "mouth-coating"...Full body, long finish (60+)

    Still youthful at 10 years out. Incredible wine with another 20+ years ahead of it. Really worth drinking now if you have it in your cellar - and be sure to decant to get the best of it. Tie for WOTN with 07 Spottswoode

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

Flight 4 (1 Note)

  • 2007 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate 99 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

    Fourth (and final) red wine of the evening...Decanted about 2 hours prior to drinking.

    From last tasting (2018): "blueberry/blackberry pie, licorice, violets. A sweetness on mid palate, tannins fine grained. Silky texture, long finish..a real WOW wine on this evening. Will have to agree w Parker on this one. Could drink well for another 20 yrs(?)...spectacular. WOTN against some real competition..."

    Its been a while since last tasting notes on the 07 Spottswoode...wine is aging beautifully, this one did not disappoint. Crowd noted blue fruits, currant, cedar, leather, truffle and vanilla. Texture was notable on this tasting. Mid palate showing some graphite and lavender.

    Great showing...a great example of Napa meets Bordeaux. Well stored bottles have a way to go. Venue and event was great, may have nudged the score. Either way consensus in our group was this is a "high 90 point" wine. Extended decant is a must. If you have more than one you owe it to yourself to open one now...:)

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

×
×