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Christmas Lunch with former colleagues at Chez W
Princeton, NJ
Tasted December 7, 2016 by walkerjfw with 327 views
Flight 1 (5 notes)
White
2014 Hirsch Vineyards Chardonnay
94 points
First bottle, slightly chilled. PnP. Consistent with prior notes. Would let the wine open for 10 minutes or so next time, opened shortly but tight at open. Very elegant...
Red
2012 Castalia Wines Pinot Noir Rochioli Vineyard
93 points
Second bottle, drank before a 2012 Wayfarer. Decanted for about 30 minutes, drank over an hour.
Medium, bright ruby color. Clean and translucent. Incredible nose of red raspberry, savory notes. Expressive and fruit forward palate showing bright red fruits, ripe strawberry, bing cherry, black raspberry, picked up some caramel, burnt sugar on back palate. A lot going on here, classic Rochioli fruit, wine has come together nicely.
You have to like the style, ripe and fruit forward, very California but not syrupy or heavy as some can be. This is in a great spot right now, should have a good arc in front of it if wanting to cellar. Score may go higher in time. Glad we opened this...
Medium, bright ruby color. Clean and translucent. Incredible nose of red raspberry, savory notes. Expressive and fruit forward palate showing bright red fruits, ripe strawberry, bing cherry, black raspberry, picked up some caramel, burnt sugar on back palate. A lot going on here, classic Rochioli fruit, wine has come together nicely.
You have to like the style, ripe and fruit forward, very California but not syrupy or heavy as some can be. This is in a great spot right now, should have a good arc in front of it if wanting to cellar. Score may go higher in time. Glad we opened this...
Red
2012 Wayfarer Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard
94 points
Drank this after a 2012 Castalia. Decanted for about 30 minutes, drank over an hour.
Darker ruby color. Nose of red fruits, black cherry, spices. Palate of dark cherry, black raspberry, baking spices. Smooth plate and long finish. Great combination of expressive fruit and finesse.
Very different profile than the red fruit Castalia, nice contrast and comparison with the two styles. Would give this a longer decant next time, it improved in the glass even after the decant.
Darker ruby color. Nose of red fruits, black cherry, spices. Palate of dark cherry, black raspberry, baking spices. Smooth plate and long finish. Great combination of expressive fruit and finesse.
Very different profile than the red fruit Castalia, nice contrast and comparison with the two styles. Would give this a longer decant next time, it improved in the glass even after the decant.
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Red
2006 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
95 points
I have been checking in on my 06 wines at the 10 year mark, pulled this to go with lunch. Game time decision so it was PnP, pushed through a vinituri drank over 30 minutes
Medium ruby/purple color. Complex nose, earthy/musky, dark fruits and smoke. Rich and forward palate of dark cherry, blackberry, meats/savory, smoke, charcoal. Rich palate, long and layered finish. Tannins are sweet and softened.
Great wine from Pahlmeyer, this is in a really good spot now, like most of the 2006 Napa vintage I have tasted...vintage has surprised to the upside (IMO). This is great now, should go for 10+ more years if cellaring.
Medium ruby/purple color. Complex nose, earthy/musky, dark fruits and smoke. Rich and forward palate of dark cherry, blackberry, meats/savory, smoke, charcoal. Rich palate, long and layered finish. Tannins are sweet and softened.
Great wine from Pahlmeyer, this is in a really good spot now, like most of the 2006 Napa vintage I have tasted...vintage has surprised to the upside (IMO). This is great now, should go for 10+ more years if cellaring.
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Red
2007 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
93 points
Last bottle of the party, first bottle from my 07 PH stash. PnP, poured through a vinituri.
Dark, inky garnet color. Expressive nose of blackberry, cassis, spices. Rich palate of dark berries, black currants, baking/Xmas spices, graphite/pencil. Smooth, full bodied. Long and layered finish. Excellent wine in a great spot right now, should continue to drink at this level for some time...
Dark, inky garnet color. Expressive nose of blackberry, cassis, spices. Rich palate of dark berries, black currants, baking/Xmas spices, graphite/pencil. Smooth, full bodied. Long and layered finish. Excellent wine in a great spot right now, should continue to drink at this level for some time...