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Meander / Aiken Wine Dinner

80 Thoreau (Concord, MA)

Tasted October 20, 2014 - October 21, 2014 by RockinCabs with 686 views

Introduction

I received a call about three weeks ago from Amy Aiken of Meander Wines, and she was calling to let me know that she would be in the Boston market showing her portfolio of wines. We have been friends/fans of her wines for several years, and I jumped at the opportunity to organize a dinner around her wines. After reaching out to friends, family and members of the tasting groups we assembled 10 for dinner.

The team at 80 Thoreau in Concord paired up a gorgeous menu with the wines.

Flight 1 - Conspire Sauvignon Blanc (1 note)

The SB was served with a Smoked Salmon Pate, micro greens and apple slaw.

White
2013 Meander Sauvignon Blanc Conspire USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
90 points
Excellent viscous Sauvignon Blanc. Peach pit, Melon, Meyer Lemon and some mouthwatering acid here. Great mouth feel and aromatics here.

0% oak on this. Body comes from sitting in the lees.

Flight 2 - Aiken Pinot Noir (1 note)

The Aiken Pinot was served with Seared Sea Scallops with Lentils & Concord Grape sauce. This pairing was really nice and the lentils were awesome with the earthy mid-palate of the Pinot.

Red
2012 Aiken Pinot Noir USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
94 points
Nose: Cherry, Ripe Strawberry, Earth, Herbs, Sweet Flowers and Mint. You could smell this for days. Palate: Enters with a dark/serious deep cherry fruit note and then a cranberry/acid note reveals other nuances of turned earth, slate/wet stone, eucalyptus and slight orange peel. Finish: Smooth as a billiard table and more gorgeous red fruit.

Neat growing location differentiates this wine, and it sure has great "drink now" appeal. The balance of polished fruit and acid here is impressive.

Flight 3 - Cabernet Flight (4 notes)

There were four cabs presented, served with two savory dishes and one nice desert.

- Duck Ragout Pappardelle

- Seared Rib-Eye w/ Rutabaga Puree

- Chocolate/Fig Pudding

Red
2003 Meander Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
93 points
Nose: Black Cherry, Red Berries, Sage, Pepper, Leather, Earth and Floral notes. Great nose! Palate: Silky and fully resolved, yet not losing the fruit at all. Red cherry is surrounded by eucalyptus, leather, tobacco and sage. Finish: Just fades a way with beautiful Cherry/Currant notes, leather and spice.

A well developed Napa cab drinking just right at the moment.
Red
2007 Meander Cabernet Sauvignon Morisoli Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
95 points
Nose: Massive nose of Black Cherry, Cassis, Smoke, Chocolate and Espresso bean. Waves of perfume come off of this one. Palate: Silky smooth with powdery tannins. Bold Blackberry/Cherry attack that settles in to give velvety currant, chocolate and tobacco tones. Finish: Impressively long and penetrating.

This is a wine that shows off the Morisoli component of the other wines and kind of stops you in your tracks.
Red
2009 Meander Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
89 points
Nose: Black fruit, Coffee, Leather Dense black fruit, Palate: Dark and loamy palate showing great black cherry, blackberry and currant/licorice. Good chocolate notes coming into this as well. Finish: Very strong tannin, Black/Red berry notes, stone/mineral and spice. Slightly drying.

Needs some time to come around, but this will be gorgeous in a few years.
Red
2011 Meander Cabernet Sauvignon USA, California, Napa Valley
91 points
Nose: Blackberry, Cassis and tons of spice. Allspice, clove and sage are jumping out on the nose here. Palate: Nice dark fruit, but it keeps a bit of a red fruit edge. More intense spice and a nice hit of new barrel oak. Finish: Blackberry sauce and spicecake.

Great wine in a difficult vintage.
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