Important Update From the Founder
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Wine dinner TNs: 1999 Mumm DVX Santana, 2005 Beringer Sbragia Chardonnay, 2001 Pride Vintner's Select Merlot, 2002 Neal 1540 Vineyard Cab, 2002 Pride Cab & 2001 Delesvaux SGN
San Marcos, Texas
Tasted September 21, 2007 by hcampana with 787 views
Introduction
A friend of mine organized a dinner for six for which I supplied all the wines (except the spakler). His wife cooked a very nice dinner with the main entree was a cacerole stuffed eggplant. It was an incredibly fun evening as we were all in a great mood and we laughed until we were too tired to keep it up.
Flight 1 (6 notes)
White - Sparkling
1999 Mumm Napa DVX Santana
88 points
Had at Chuck's house in San Marcos.
We opened the evening with this sparkler that Chuck bought while in Napa last week. I am not much of a fan, but have to admit this was decent. It is a dry version that didnt have the brazing acidity that makes other sparkling wines unbalanced.
We opened the evening with this sparkler that Chuck bought while in Napa last week. I am not much of a fan, but have to admit this was decent. It is a dry version that didnt have the brazing acidity that makes other sparkling wines unbalanced.
White
2005 Beringer Vineyards Chardonnay Sbragia Limited Release
90 points
Had at Chuck's house in San Marcos.
This is one of my favorite Chardonnays (others being the Newton unfiltered, Kistler & Ramey). You can tell my preferences run in the ripe, oaked side of the spectrum that has falln out of favor in recent years. Color was surpricingly light compared with other vintages. Smoky nose of pear and hazelnuts that was a bit disjointed, with the smokiness dminating. In the mouth, this is what you expect, medium to full body with great texture and a gorgeous flavor profile. If the nose gets out of this smoky phase, it will be an awsome wine. At this point this is nowhere near the superb 2002.
This is one of my favorite Chardonnays (others being the Newton unfiltered, Kistler & Ramey). You can tell my preferences run in the ripe, oaked side of the spectrum that has falln out of favor in recent years. Color was surpricingly light compared with other vintages. Smoky nose of pear and hazelnuts that was a bit disjointed, with the smokiness dminating. In the mouth, this is what you expect, medium to full body with great texture and a gorgeous flavor profile. If the nose gets out of this smoky phase, it will be an awsome wine. At this point this is nowhere near the superb 2002.
Red
2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Merlot Vintner Select Mountain Top Vineyard
97 points
Had at Chuck's house in San Marcos.
OMG this wines rocked!!! Very ripe aromas of black fruits and caramel. Deep concentrated flavors, thick texture and an incredibly falvorful finish. This is the best California Merlot I have ever had. I wonder what I'll thing of the Reserve Clarets sleeping in my cellar?
OMG this wines rocked!!! Very ripe aromas of black fruits and caramel. Deep concentrated flavors, thick texture and an incredibly falvorful finish. This is the best California Merlot I have ever had. I wonder what I'll thing of the Reserve Clarets sleeping in my cellar?
Red
2002 Neal Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Fifteen-Forty
93 points
Had at Chuck's house in San Marcos.
This wine showed very well. This has more finesse than the regular Neal Cab, although it remains securely in the brutish side of the cab spectum. Black color, austere aromas of back fruits. The palate impression this wine leaves is serious, brooding, very concentrated and flavorful, with a lot of tannin. This is in no way flamboyant and extroverted, but it is a great Cab i this more restrained style. Quite acontrast with the Pride wines we had before and after it. Others were not as crazy as a couple of us.
This wine showed very well. This has more finesse than the regular Neal Cab, although it remains securely in the brutish side of the cab spectum. Black color, austere aromas of back fruits. The palate impression this wine leaves is serious, brooding, very concentrated and flavorful, with a lot of tannin. This is in no way flamboyant and extroverted, but it is a great Cab i this more restrained style. Quite acontrast with the Pride wines we had before and after it. Others were not as crazy as a couple of us.
Red
2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
92 points
Had at Chuck's house in San Marcos.
This wine is the real deal right now. 5 years of age seem to have helped it lose its baby fat and unveiling a great cab in the very ripe side of the falvor spectrum. The purest blackberry and a hint of mint make the nose very enhoyable, but it is the palate (like in most Bob Foley wines) that captivates. Ripe, concentrated and full bodied, this is a pleasure to drink.
This wine is the real deal right now. 5 years of age seem to have helped it lose its baby fat and unveiling a great cab in the very ripe side of the falvor spectrum. The purest blackberry and a hint of mint make the nose very enhoyable, but it is the palate (like in most Bob Foley wines) that captivates. Ripe, concentrated and full bodied, this is a pleasure to drink.
White - Sweet/Dessert
2001 Domaine Philippe Delesvaux Coteaux du Layon Sélection de Grains Nobles
92 points
Had at Chuck's house in San Marcos.
This wine is a good example of why Loire sweet wines are distinct from other sweet producing areas in the world. They have an ability to offer concentrated flavors without adding the viscocity and weight that other regions bring with it. Not better, not worse, just different. This wine had a nose redolent of quince and lime, perhaps lacking the profoundness in aromatics that I have found in earlier vintages. Medium bodied, with excellent balance between perceived sweetness and acidity.
This wine is a good example of why Loire sweet wines are distinct from other sweet producing areas in the world. They have an ability to offer concentrated flavors without adding the viscocity and weight that other regions bring with it. Not better, not worse, just different. This wine had a nose redolent of quince and lime, perhaps lacking the profoundness in aromatics that I have found in earlier vintages. Medium bodied, with excellent balance between perceived sweetness and acidity.
Closing
Most people voted the 2001 Pride Vintner's Select as their favorite wine (including myself), but a couple of us also liked the 2002 Neal 1540 cab a lot. The 2001 Delesvaux also captured those that eschew heavy, oily dessert wines (Aussie stickies, Pedro Ximenez and the like).