Leftovers (Kongsgaard, Marcassin, Araujo, Bond, Merus, QC)

Had some friends over for dinner last evening - and had some lovely leftovers sitting on the counter today. Missing from the tasting were a Kistler - Kistler vineyard (forget the year, but it was 2003-2004, I believe) and the 1991 Graham's Port - which was the only bottle of the evening to be fully consumed the evening of the dinner. It's nice to have friends that leave great leftovers like these...

• 2006 Kongsgaard Chardonnay

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Notes of lemon, fig, tropical fruits and oak. Flavors of figs, lemon zest and slate slathered in oak. Zippy acidity keeps this wine interesting - midpalate has some flashes of tropical fruits and flint - bright finish driven by the acidity with ripe fruit, oak and some buttery hints.

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

• 2003 Marcassin Pinot Noir Marcassin Vineyard

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Fruity nose of black cherries, baking spice and cedar. Rich mouthfeel (a bit frizzante on opening) - Very fruit-forward with notes of glycerin coated black cherries and ripe blackberries. Very effusive spice is present (baking spice - some black pepper), some forest notes, hints of cedar and some slight hints of hazelnut - moderate acidity braces the wine - it is quite well in balance. Finish is quite spicy, with sweet fruit and tannins present.

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

• 2003 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Deep purple color in the glass. Very pure nose of fruits, spice and tar. Lovely sweet black currant and plums on the initial attack - the wine keeps the sweetness going through the mid-palate where it shows some pepper and tannins begin to build. Long, fruity finish with mouth-drying tannins to remind you of the power of this wine. Lovely balance and I think a more judicious use of oak than some other bottles this evening, which gives the wine a lovely balance, despite the very powerful fruit which is characteristic of the vintage.

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

• 2001 BOND Melbury

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark Purple. Spicy nose of tar, plums and currants. Very silky mouthfeel - Plush black fruits on the initial attack, hints of sweet and spicy oak (black pepper) - culminate in a big tarry, spicy, tannic finish. The power in this wine is a slow build while in the mouth - but leaves little doubt about how much structure and fruit is here. Went well with the food (prime ribeyes) - I liked this.

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

• 2003 Merus Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Purple-black deep color. Nose of plum, currant, tar and a very interesting hint of perfume. This wine is unapologetically concentrated - jammy blackberries and plums hit the palate - with sweet oak, black pepper, a slight glimpse of alcohol leaving a mouthful of sweet tannins and fruits to culminate in a long, powerful finish. Silky mouthfeel. For a wine of such intensity - and very strong components - nothing stands out as being imbalanced.

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

• 2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

  Dark, dark purple. Intense nose of graphite, ripe cassis and tar. Huge mouthful of sweet cassis, glycerin, and a hint of red raspberries. Drives through an interesting mid-palate revealing layers of leather, gravel, road tar, black licorice, vanilla/oak and tobacco - very long finish with spicy notes, sweet fruit and mouth-drying tannins. Manages to be huge but with everything in balance - much better on day 2. Lovely drink - I'll look forward to revisiting in a decade or so!

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

If pushed, I'd say the Araujo and QC were neck-and-neck for my favorites, but all were good. The Marcassin showed much better the 2nd evening for some reason.