1999 Cabernet Blind Horizontal

We were seated in a private dining room off the second floor bar, with a glass wall overlooking the street below. It was a great venue for this blind tasting. The wines were brought in brown bags and randomly lettered. We voted after everyone had time to taste through the blind wines before dinner began.

• 1990 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Saint-Vincent 91 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Nice biscuit & toast notes with baked apple notes. Medium bead, with toast & citrus tones on the palate.

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• NV Jean Laurent Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 88 Points

  France, Champagne

  Not quite up to previous bottles, with apple and almond notes. Somewhat coarse bead, with dogh and apple flavors. Lacks the citrus qualities and focus pf previous bottles.

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• 1999 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon Small Lot 93 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Aromas of smoke, red currant, sage and black cherry. Well-balanced, with flavors of cherries and red fruit. Tannins are integrating, but still evident. Finishes with red fruit flavors and good length.

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• 1999 Pine Ridge Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

  Deep garnet color. Notes of vanilla, olives, currants and dark fruit, with a saline undertone. Flavors of red fruit and cherry, with slightly chalky tannins. Needs a little bit of time yet. Group's #2 of the blind wines, losing by one vote.

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• 1999 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Garnet color. Notes of plum & blackberry, with sage and herbs. Excellent balance, with dark fruit and subtle spice flavors on the palate. Long finish. 92-93 pts.

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• 1999 Cooper Garrod Cabernet Sauvignon George's Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Ruby/garnet color with notes of cherry, sage, thyme and vanilla, with a subtle blueberry tone. Well-balanced, with nice acidity and flavors of red fruit, herbs and woody spices.

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• 1999 Chaine d'Or Cabernet Sauvignon 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Notes of herbs, blackberry and dark fruit, oaky spice. On the palate, soft tannins are balanced by dark fruit and black cherry flavors. Well-balanced with a medium-long finish.

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• 1999 Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vine Reserve 92 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Deep crimson/garnet color. Aromas of roasted herbs leather, currants and blackberry. Well-balanced, with flavors of red fruit and leather. The tannins have a slightly sweet edge. Maybe just a tad bit thin through the finish, but that's really nit picking. 92+ pts now with a lot of upside potential.

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• 1999 Kathryn Kennedy Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Santa Cruz Mountains

  Notes of saddle leather, violets and red fruit - has a "tired" quality to it. Red fruit and spice tones on the palate with a decen fiinsh. Nicely balanced.

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The voting:
3rd place - 1 vote - Cooper Garrod
2nd place - 4 votes - Pine Ridge
1st place - 5 votes - Kathryn Kennedy Small Lot

Paul did a terrific job setting this up and working out the details of the great dinner that followed the tasting.