Another gathering on the island (66 Mouton, Lascombes, Musar, and photos...)

We had a small gathering that was expecting a few more people...but there are benefits to only having a small crowd...like the ability to share a split of 66 Mouton. There was five of us there and we all tasted the wines blind with only the individual who brought it knowing what it was.

My sparklers to start the night off...in hindsight I should have poured the Argyle first...the Alain Robert was so much more dense and complex than this showing of the Argyle...

• NV Alain Robert Champagne Blanc de Blancs Reserve Le Mesnil 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was a different monster all together. It was less oxidative this time around and had a rich deep body with scents of baked apples, honey, and herbs. In the mouth you can really feel the weight of this wine as it starts off with pineapple and green apples leading into a round and mineral driven finish that lingers nicely on the palate. The wine itself is getting to a point where the cork had to be pulled out of the bottle...even after good storage this might be a wine to enjoy sooner rather than later.

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• 1998 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 90 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  This took some time to open up...While I enjoyed it this is not nearly as good as some of my other bottles...it has me thinking more about bottle variation and how unfortunate it is for the few people that only take one stab at a wine...I've been fortunate enough to taste 4 bottles over the last year or so...and sadly this was the least enjoyable of the bunch...but it was still outstanding once it had the time to open up.

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• 2008 Peter Lehmann Layers 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Adelaide

  This was very interesting...served blind this was a pale canary yellow in the glass with scents of citrus, body creme with floral undertones, and a slight saline quality. In the mouth this had great acidity followed by lemons and minerals as the finish lingered for 10-15 seconds. EXCELLENT

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This was a lot of fun, and everyone seemed to be pleased with this for starting off the reds.

• 2006 Maison Anselmet Petit Rouge Valle d'Aosta 89 Points

  Italy, Valle d'Aosta

  A violet/ruby color in the glass this wine offered scents of earth, crushed granite, and red fruits on the nose. There is still very nice acidity initially and this wine softens with a little air to showcase a delicate light bodied red with flavors of raspberries, strawberries, and a melange of other red fruits. Very nice...but not as enjoyable as my last bottle. Maybe this is a wine best in it's youth.

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• 2004 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Sentiers 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru

  Showing a pale red in the glass with slight bricking...this looks far older than it should. The cork was in perfect condition with no signs of heat damage or a poor seal. The nose of this offered up roses, earth, and dried cranberries. In the mouth this was very soft and supple with a delicate finesse that is hard to describe as the finish rolled out flavors of strawberries, cherries, and other red fruits with minerals on a lingering finish. This was in a great spot...but the group of people I was with thought this was far more advanced than it should be. It might be good to check in on this one now...I will be drinking the other bottle I have within a year.

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• 2003 Castellare di Castellina I Sodi di S. Niccolò Toscana IGT 91 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  What a brute...This was a deep violet in the glass, almost opaque at the core. Scents of grilled meats, earth, funk, and dark fruits open up over time in the glass. In the mouth there are still plenty of tannins, in this medium bodied red as flavors of dark fruits, blueberries, and spice roll across the palate on a medium length finish. For the heat of 2003 this is very well crafted and there is only a hint of heat at the tail end of the finish that limits this wine ever so slightly...it is still amazing!

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Scott's wines

• 1997 Chappellet Cabernet Franc 84 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Violet in color with slight bricking at the rim of the glass. Scents of earth, bell pepper, dark fruits, and lightly toasted oak. In the mouth this medium bodied wine offered a melange of dark fruits, minerals, and tobacco along a medium length finish.

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• 1997 Justin Vineyards & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 83 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

  Showing a violet hue in the glass with medium bricking at the rim of the glass. There was an odd scent of scallops on the nose that never blew off. It was easy enough to drink...with black cassis, and dark chocolate tones along a short finish. Yet it is not getting any better...I think this is on the decline.

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• 1997 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon Calistoga Cuvée 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Holding up quite nicely for 12 years old...and I think this can still last another year or two with good storage. It was a deep violet with light ruby bricking at the rim of the glass with scents of earth, cassis, dark fruits, dark chocolate, and a light hint of cedar. In the mouth this medium bodied wine was not what I think of in terms of California cabernet. It was more delicate, and finessed than what one might expect with flavors of dark fruits, tobacco, and dark chocolate along a medium length finish.

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Eamonn started off with the 91 and after Hago realized what it was he followed with his 89.

• 1991 Chateau Musar 95 Points

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  This was such a treat...Pale ruby in the glass with an amazing nose awash with a melange of red fruits, cement, earth, funk, cinnamon, and herbs. This was such a powerhouse of a wine and seemed so very young for an 18 year old wine. In the mouth this light bodied wine shines with flavors that last on the palate for a minute or more as the wine transitions seamlessly through red fruits, spice, cement dust, and finishes with a lingering note of wild strawberry...Still so very young. This is nowhere near the end of it's life.

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• 1989 Chateau Musar 97 Points

  Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

  I think it was my friend who said if the 91 Musar is Paris Hilton, the 89 is Sophia Loren. What a showcase of elegance and beauty. Pale red in the glass with an exotic nose full of floral tones, red fruits, earth, funk, and just a hint of cement dust. In the mouth this was very light initially and picked up weight with air time. Flavors of red fruits, earth, baking spices, cinnamon, and clove were followed by a lingering note of wild strawberries and raspberries on the finish.

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Hago brought the Lascombes and Scott wanted to bring something up from his cellar after tasting this...so the final red of the night was the '66 Mouton

• 1970 Château Lascombes 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  This was a lovely ruby red in the glass with pale orange bricking at the rim of the glass. Scents of earth, red fruits, cedar, and gravel on the nose. In the mouth is where this wine shines. The tannins in this are completely integrated and what is left behind is a smooth and lovely wine with flavors of dried red fruits, dirt, tobacco, and a dusty old cigar box. This was such a lovely wine I would love to taste this again...

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• 1966 Château Mouton Rothschild 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  (FROM A 375ML BOTTLE) Light red in the glass and rusted orange at rim. Scents of cassis, cedar, earth, porcini mushrooms, and a hint of soy sauce make this a true pleasure to just sit and sniff. This medium bodied wine was so very smooth and lithe on the palate that I had all I could do not to rush back in for another sip after the medium-long finish finally came to a close. If this was this good from a half bottle I can not imagine what it might be like from a normal 750ML.

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Scott gave me this bottle not knowing if it would be any good...I just popped it in the fridge after getting it and we were all very happy!

• 1976 Dr. von Bassermann-Jordan Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Auslese 92 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  This was almost amber in color with a great nose of lemon, clementines, petrol, and crushed granite. In the mouth this was round and full with amazing acidity for a 33 year old wine as flavors of honey, citrus, and minerals danced across the palate for a long 30+ second finish. Outstanding!

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As always Scott is a great host and all who attended felt it was a great night with some outstanding wines.