R's Birthday Dinner

A friend and member of the original Friday group was celebrating a birthday and invited us to join the small group for dinner and tasting.

• 1997 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast

  Mature deep yellow color. Notes of cooked ginger, baked apple, cashew, gingerbread and marshmallow. Lovely, complex mature bouquet. Gentle mousse and bead. Orchard fruit and toffee elements on the palate. (G&R)

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• 2014 Cameron Chardonnay Dundee Hills 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Lovely. Lemon curd and chamomile aromas follow through on the palate. Elegant, with balancing acidity. Excellent.

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• 2004 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Baconbrook 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

  Due to pre-dinner golf, this was double decanted off its sediment six hours before service. Aromas of violets, black currants, olive, licorice and plum. Beautiful. Not quite as deep on the palate, with plum, chocolate and currant flavors. Full-bodied with slight tannin and a medium finish. R correctly identified this as Spring Mountain, and guesses skewed towards younger vintages, 2015+/-.

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• 2017 Belle Pente Pinot Noir Belle Pente Vineyard

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Yamhill-Carlton

  Double blind. Light color. Aromas of cherry cola, clay and something herbaceous, perhaps a touch vegetal. Lovely earthy red fruit, cola and spice flavors. Very nice red pinot fruit. A lovely pinot drinking quite well right now. Guessed 2015-2017 OR pinot. (G&R)

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• 2014 Lewis Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Notes of cassis, blueberry, green tobacco, Asian spice and cardamom. Tannins are beginning to integrate. Full-bodied. Flavors of black fruit, chocolate and vanilla. Medium+ finish. Guessed 2013 Napa cabernet. (Doc)

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• 2018 Hourglass HG III 93 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Double blind. Youthful inky purple opaque color. Notes of mocha, black fruit, cassis and chocolate. Tannins are fine and elegant. Flavors of black currants, licorice, chocolate and violet liqueur. With time in the glass aromas of coffee, floral perfume and brown sugar develop. Abundant black fruit- perfectly ripe and elegant. My favorite tonight. Guessed 2018 Napa cab. (E)

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• 2017 O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  Double blind. High toned, maybe some VA here? Aromas of black fruit and brown sugar. Cassis,vanilla pepper and black raspberry with plenty of barrel spice. Finishes with good length. (G&R)

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