ESTG Year-End Tasting

Newcastle, WA
Tasted Saturday, December 14, 2024 by Eric with 300 views

Introduction

Jason & Tracy hosted our annual year-end tasting. As always, it was wonderful with a perfectly smoked ribeye roast and lots of other deliciousness.

Jason set a theme of all USA wines with an emphasis on old-ish (25 years or older) Napa Cabernet.

Flight 1 - Starters (2 Notes)

As people arrived and things got organized, Jason poured us these two blind. Both very successful.

Flight 2 - Cabernet Flight 1 (3 Notes)

We started with the oldest, and to a wine they were stellar. Likely all right at 12% and perfectly taut and lean.

Flight 3 - Cabernet Flight 2 (3 Notes)

Younger and bigger, still super classic.

Flight 4 - Intermezzo (2 Notes)

As dinner prep was finishing and we waited for Adam to arrive, we did some intermezzo wines blind. First the Petite Sirah and then a pair of Conn Creek custom blends.

  • 2001 Carver-Sutro Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Black as night. Vitamin moving to a hint of mint. No real complexity, just big, black, chewy, berry.

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

  • 2014 Conn Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Not sure where to put these. Bob & Christina attended a Conn Creek blending clin on 4/9/2016, and we tasted the results of their two blends.

    Christina's blend, preferred by group, was named "Intentionality" and featured 90% Cab Sauv with hints of Cab Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot.

    Bob's blend, firmer and labeled as "Diamond Cuvee" was just 85% Cab Sauv but 50% of the wine from Howell Mountain (versus just 7% in Christina's). And that seemed to make the difference, a bit less approachable, more toothsome.

    But both were lovely at age 10, just delicious black fruit, not too ripe, pretty much right down the fairway for modern Napa Cab. A lot to like here.

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

Flight 5 - Cabernet Flight 3 (3 Notes)

With dinner these were a treat. Everyone was surprised at how terrific the Quilceda was.

  • 1992 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve

    USA, Washington

    A bit of a ringer amid the Napa Cab. Classic old school Quilceda, bright violet, soaring, firm, nice bright fruit and acid. At age 32 this is soaring.

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

  • 1987 Dominus Estate

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Mmm, herbal and spicy, really lovely. The group was less enamored, but I thought it was fantastic, showing all of the leaf and stem of Cabernet, leaner frame, quite expressive.

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

  • 1991 Dominus Estate Napanook Vineyard

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Probably my WOTN and as always just stellar. Mmmmm, darned deep, sultry, outrageous nose, licorice, black, finishing with impressively stern depth. Amazing wine.

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

Flight 6 - Cabernet Flight 4 (3 Notes)

Finishing in style.

Flight 7 - Dessert (6 Notes)

Then we had a plethora of dessert wines in nearly every style imaginable.

Flight 8 - Nightcap (1 Note)

And finally we broke into a Gin which a few of us had tasted in Hong Kong in October. It was even better than we remembered.

  • NV Two Moons Distillery Calamansi Gin

    China, Hong Kong

    Just a sip with a tiny chip of ice. So pure and distinct, an amazing sipping gin, lovely citrus. Jason can't get back to Hong Kong soon enough to bring some more of this back.

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

Closing

Thanks to all.

×
×