Dinner with Bob J and Bill VL - a tribute to our friend and mentor RDK

Harold's Restaurant, Ft Myers, Fla
Tasted Friday, March 7, 2025 by walkerjfw with 159 views

Introduction

A fantastic dinner with two long time friends, and two world class wines. My first time in Ft Myers, with a little research we found Harold's. Food and service outstanding - highly recommend!

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2007 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard 98 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

    In Ft Myers at Harold's restaurant, an excellent corkage friendly restaurant. I brought this from my cellar, last bottle from this vintage...purchased at release. Last tasting note Jan 2016 in OCNJ. Nicely decanted at the restaurant an hour+ before drinking. Cork crumbled and strained.

    Medium/dark purple core, showing some fading at the edges. Nose showing sharp dark fruits, floral and slight earth notes, cedar. Palate was notably smooth and elegant, showing tart blackberry, cassis, blueberry, liqueur, baking spice, vanilla. Dark fruits persist through the mid palate. Full body, long finish (45-60 sec)

    This might be in the perfect spot right now - an absolute smoke show on this tasting. My dinner companions loved it indicating it might be a 100 pt wine. It's shed any youthful exuberance while retaining the vibrancy of the To Kalon fruit. We nailed the decant time

    This was drank along with a 2000 Pichon Lalande - an amazing wine in itself, this was the WOTN. Pushing the score up from prior tastings.

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  • 2000 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 96 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    In Ft Myers at Harold's restaurant, an excellent corkage friendly restaurant. I brought this from my cellar. Last tasting note in 2022. Nicely decanted at the restaurant 90 minutes+ before drinking. Cork came out clean

    Notes from 2022:"Rich garnet/purple color. No signs of age, core still vibrant. Nose was spectacular post the decant - graphite, damp earth, mushrooms, dark berry. Deep palate, blackberry, cassis, truffle. Full bodied, long finish. Tannins in the background, starting to resolve.."

    Mostly consistent. The damp earth and fruits more noticeable on this tasting, evolving over the course of the evening. Even after 90 minute decant the wine continued to evolve, showing elegance and sophistication.

    Great showing, again, on this night. I maintain this is the benchmark wine for 2000 Pauillac. From my dinner companions, this was close second the exceptional 07 Realm BTK we had on this evening. I don't want to rank them either way Bdx and Napa are two different experience (IMO). Having the opportunity to have two world class wines over dinner with two friends was a privilege.

    PS - of note, these bottle purchased from Premiere Cru in Berkley circa 2012...lucky to have had them delivered...:)

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