TWATS V
Château D' Stearns
Tasted Friday, August 8, 2008 - Saturday, August 9, 2008 by tplskylrk with 795 views
Introduction
Enter the Dragon - 08-08-08. Cabernet Night. California vs. Aussie. Vs. Who Knows who. Once again the TWATS gather to judge and be judged.
Fresh back from California wine locker myself host Stearns invites all comers to trump his hand of aged California secret wines. No cults here, no blockbusters just straight old fashioned favorites, rounded out nicely by fellow TWATS entries. Tim, Kells, Bosh, Sim - Guest TWATS - Eugene, Jon, Mark, Rob. Weak and Worthless regrets - Clive.
Flight 1 - Smell Stinky Drink First (4 Notes)
Member Tim, snorted all the offers and chooses these 4 to start based on the nose, seemingly applying years of skill.
Flight 2 - Tim's 2nd Round Snort (4 Notes)
A second set of blinds - 3 Due to Tim's Nose Knows
Flight 3 - Only Men Still Standing (6 Notes)
This final round was pure marathon, 20th mile and a sprint to the finahs.
Flight 4 - Well Into the Night - SAKE Surprise followed by an overkill 83 Port (1 Note)
QQQQ – ROB
SAKE
Some funny named place
Last Taste of Rob’s “Mystery Dink/Wine” Peach – Apricot, nice …but ... What the H#ll was that?
Day Three.
Real peachy, bit of acid, nice nose, getting that apricots on the palate again, strong. Far as Sake goes, darn good.
Brother Rob brought this, a brave and foolish move on Battle of the Cab night. He was heckled but survived. Probably top notch stuff, but our SAKE palates remain undeveloped.
Closing
Well an Olympic night it was. Gold, Silver and Bronze were taken home not based on the wine they brought, but who was still standing at 5 am. Enjoying the much needed cleansing Ales.
With BBQ Chicken, Steaks, Lamb Pops, cheese & crackers mixed with great wine, tons of talking, pontificating, posturing it was perhaps the best TWATS yet.
Unbeknownst to the host, many a TWATS were spitting, in clear violation of TWATS etiquette. Names have been recorded and will be summarily punished in next event.
1993 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve
USA, California, Napa Valley
(8/8/2008)
Looks corked, burnt on the nose, short & front finish. Goat or blue cheese. Dry fruits, sour fruit, stewed fruit & sweet. Guessed at 92-93 / 95-96
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1991 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Signature
USA, California, Napa Valley
(8/8/2008)
Perfect color. Now famous TWATSA quote - “Has legs like a Bulgarian ladies shot putter & smells like Cat pee strained through her g string.” Nose of a Pig styie, leather. Dark deep finish, lingering. Room to grow. OK. Bold, old. Lemon Zest late on the great finish. Gab smacking. Late 90’s was the guess. Tim – Aussie.
Performed well despite simple mid range Cab from 91. Two nights later left out uncorked still holding together amazingly. Still deep stewed fruits. Nice finish, damn. This is good.
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1996 Staglin Family Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
(8/8/2008)
Good chocolate nose, dark chocolate fruit. Cool climate. Feels young and mature at the same time. Sheering shed on the nose. Linseed oil, lanolin. Burnt sugar. Very deep in the throat finish. Tim – Aussie.
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2002 Reilly's Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Land
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
(8/8/2008)
Aussie Coon! Eucalyptus, green, Big, Alch. Chocolate, tight young, licorice,. “Came out of the bottle into the glass like a Jacuzzi”… floppy. Guess at 04/02.
Day three. Still a big fruit monster, good finish, yet still a bit flabby.
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