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Second Sunday Group: 2006 vs 2007 Napa Cabs/Blends
R&D's
Tasted October 14, 2018 by AllRed with 304 views
Introduction
The 2nd Sunday group gathered for our regular double blind tasting. For this group, we are presented a couple of double blind warm ups before the main flight. The warm ups are discussed & unveiled before moving on to the themed main flight. We spent forty five minutes or so tasting and evaluation the eight wines for the main flight before ranking the wines and then making guesses as to what we were tasting. Wines are ranked 1-8, one point for each place, and then unveiled from last place to first place. After the tasting, dinner is served with the additional wines brought by the group, nonblind. For this tasting we had thirteen tasters and the cost was $70.
Flight 1 - Starters (2 notes)
A couple of nonblind bottles of Champagne to warm up the palates for the double blind whites...
White - Sparkling
N.V. Roger Pouillon et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs
90 points
Nonblind starter. Pale color with a medium mousse and predominant aromas of green apple. Fine bead, with flavors of green apple and mineral. Summer 2015 disgorgement. Keep an eye open for this.
White - Sparkling
N.V. Charles Ellner Champagne Brut Carte Blanche
89 points
Nonblind. Notes of apple, almond and nougat. Flavors of pear, apple and nougat. Has a slightly sweet edge to the fruit that I rather like here. Very nice.
Flight 2 - Warm ups (2 notes)
White
2007 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard
90 points
Double blind. Deep yellow color. Hints of butterscotch along with apple and orchard fruit. Nice fruit on the palate, apple, perhaps some butterscotch here too. Finishes with good length. Seems like an older white Burgundy. 90-91 pts.
White
2007 Kistler Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard
90 points
Double blind. Deep color. Butterscotch and lemony citrus undertones. Good acidity; lemon and apple flavors. More advanced than the first though still quite good. Guessed older Chassagne, perhaps 2001 +/- Niellon.
Flight 3 - Main (8 notes)
Our hosts began double decanting these off their sediment three hours before the flight was poured, and as is usually the case, these opened quite a bit in the glass and evolved constantly during the course of the tasting. These were rather uniform in color, and to the majority of tasters, Napa cabernet sauvignon. I spent most of my time attempting to narrow down a vintage as I thought we were tasting a full eight-bottle horizontal. My thoughts were strong vintage, and I was waffling between 2007 and 2010. Only one showed a bit of raisiny over-ripeness, and only a slight bit at that, so I opted for the younger vintage and guessed "2007 or 2010 Napa cabs, probably '10s." Partial win.
Given my personal palate preferences I am not at all surprised to see that the two Dominus finished in my top four, and also that my other top two were 2006s, a cooler year than 2007. These are very nice wines that are aging nicely and definitely still on the young side. Personally, I would hold these for another three years or so before checking back in.
Red
2006 Dominus Estate
93 points
Double blind. Deep purple/crimson color. Aromas fo violets, cassis and chocolate. The cassis and chocolate follow on the palate. Tannins are firm, but have a nice sweet edge. Long finish. It does open a bit during the course of the tasting though the profile remains the same. Excellent. 93+ pts.
My #4, Domino's #8
Group #8, 72 pts
I would hold this for a few years yet; suggest from 2022+.
My #4, Domino's #8
Group #8, 72 pts
I would hold this for a few years yet; suggest from 2022+.
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Red
2006 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
94 points
Double blind. Deep inky crimson color. Aromas of chocolate, herbs, cassis and black fruit. Firm tannins. Cassis and black fruit with nice underlying acidity and a long finish. Develops a nice floral undertone as it opens in the glass. Terrific fruit on the palate with a floral liqueur quality as well. Balanced and pretty. I like this quite a bit. 94-95 pts.
My #1, Domino's #3
Group #2, 55 pts
My #1, Domino's #3
Group #2, 55 pts
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Comments (1)
Red
2007 Dominus Estate
93 points
Double blind. Deep inky crimson color. Floral overtones, with cassis and blackberry underneath. Has a very nice perfumed element. Flavors of black currant and cassis with firm, sweet tannins. Raspberry and black fruit notes as it opens. Develops an interesting cedar component as it sits. Long finish. 93+ pts.
My #3, Domino's #2
Group #5, 62 pts
My #3, Domino's #2
Group #5, 62 pts
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Red
2007 Joseph Phelps Insignia
92 points
Double blind. Deep inky crimson color. Opens with an interesting earthy/clay aroma and immediately stands out from the previous wines. Cassis and dark plummy fruit underneath. Firm, sweet tannins.Black fruit dominates the palate; medium+ finish. Raspberry liqueur and dark fruit. Shuts down a bit in the glass; more tannic than the others in the flight. 92+ pts.
My #6, Domino's #7
Group #6, 62 pts
My #6, Domino's #7
Group #6, 62 pts
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Red
2007 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve
91 points
Double blind. Deep inky crimson color. Opens with a touch of funk, along with cassis and brown sugar, and perhaps just a hint of bouillon too. Tannic; not as much as fruit as others in the lineup. Cassis and perfume notes; dark fruit on the palate. Needs time.
My #7, Domino's #5
Group #7, 63 pts
My #7, Domino's #5
Group #7, 63 pts
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Comments (2)
Red
2006 Joseph Phelps Insignia
92 points
Double blind. Deep inky crimson color. Aromas of black currants, cassis and chocolate. Tannic and oaky, with cassis and plum underneath. Softens as it opens, showing more fruit and less tannin; long finish.
My #5, Domino's #6
Group #4, 59 pts
My #5, Domino's #6
Group #4, 59 pts
3 people found this helpful
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Red
2007 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate
90 points
Double blind. Deep purple/crimson color. Aromas of chocolate, herbs and oak. On the palate, the fruit is quite dark and ripe with a slight raisiny quality that I am not particularly fond of. Softens as it opens, but doesn't change very much in terms of the profile. Slightly raisiny fruit on the palate walks a fine line and is almost overdone for my palate.
My #8, Domino's #4
Group #3, 58 pts
My #8, Domino's #4
Group #3, 58 pts
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Red
2006 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve
94 points
Double blind. Dark inky crimson color. Aromas of cassis and black fruit, with hints of chocolate and earth in the background. Flavors of blackberry, cassis and plummy dark fruit. Really well-balanced. Tannins are firm, but very fine. Long, balanced finish. 94-95+ pts.
My #2, Domino's #1
Group #1, 37 pts
My #2, Domino's #1
Group #1, 37 pts
1 person found this helpful
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Flight 4 - Dinner wines (12 notes)
Nonblind.
Red
1996 Dominique Laurent Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée
92 points
Courtesy of Peter, this was quite pretty, showing notes of rose, cinnamon, cherry and earth. Cherry and earth on the palate; plenty of fruit remains here. Excellent.
Red
2010 Bouchard Père et Fils Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets Ancienne Cuvée Carnot
Courtesy of Jim, popped and poured with dinner. I thought this was rather tight and closed, showing a little cherry and stone but not much else. I will plan on holding our few bottles for a few years yet, perhaps from 2022+.
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Red
1999 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mousse
Courtesy of Marty, another that I thought was rather tight and perhaps not showing all it has. Cherry and earth. Seems to have everything it needs, perhaps a brief decant would have helped, as I sensed that there was a really nice wine in there somewhere.
Red
2008 Albert Morot Beaune 1er Cru Bressandes
90 points
Another courtesy of Peter and a pleasure to taste. A producer we have only recently come to know, making a style that suits our palates well. Really pretty red berry fruit, spice and earth with just a hint of mineral underneath. Cherry and currant with soft earth tones. Finishes with good length. Seems young; plenty of upside here. 90+ pts.
Red
2010 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill
91 points
Popped and ured with dinner. Deep color with aromas of cassis and violet. Has a pretty side. Dark fruit on the palate, with a hint of cedar too. Full-bodied. Still on the young side.
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Red
2012 Paloma Merlot
Courtesy of Doc and Ruth, popped and poured with dinner. Notes of dark fruit, chocolate and red plum liqueur. Shows a bit of heat on the palate, with black cherry, plum and chocolate along with a good bit of oak spice and vanilla. Needs time, but I like the potential. Hold until 2023+.
Red
2012 Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT
93 points
Courtesy of Leon, popped and poured with dinner. Immediately appealing, with notes of sandalwood, cherry, cedar and black fruits. Well-balanced; cherry and red berry fruit with a nice underlying earthiness. Lengthy finish. Excellent.
Red
2016 Boen Wines Pinot Noir
80 points
Wow, this is very, very ripe, and definitely candied. Shows a good bit of heat as well. Nowhere remotely close to a style I can enjoy, and not what I want in a pinot. It's red and it's wet, so there's that.
Red
2001 Château de Fonbel
88 points
Currant and nice red plum notes with a rustic earthy undertone. Red berry fruit on the palate, along with a nice cigar tobacco quality. Finishes with medium length. On the rustic side, but I like that. Very nice. 88+ pts.
Red
2008 Match Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill
93 points
Popped and poured with dinner. Notes of cassis and dark fruit with cedar and floral undertones. Dark fruit on the palate has a slightly sweet edge, which works nicely here. Finishes with good length. Coming into its own, I'd say prime from now-2023.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1988 Château Suduiraut
93 points
Standard 750ml, courtesy of our hosts. A bit more tropical fruit than I expected from a Suduiraut, with pineapple and mango qualities. Wonderful richness on the palate, with good underlying acidity. Lovely; drinking very well now though there's no need to rush as there's plenty of life left in this one.
Red - Fortified
1992 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage
93 points
Standard 750ml courtesy of our hosts. Nice bouquet of cherry, raspberry liqueur, kirsch and black fruit. Cherry liqueur, plum and kirsch on the palate. Long finish. Still on the young side, I might consider holding until 2022+.
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Closing
Thanks to R&D for another terrific tasting.