Important Update From the Founder

8th Annual Holiday Dinner and Cellar Raid - A Month Late

Naperville, IL

Tasted January 19, 2019 by bablues with 304 views

Introduction

8th Annual Christmas Dinner and cellar raid, though postponed a month due to tough holiday schedule. The theme was 2005 Napa Cabs/Blends as this was the first vintage available when I first got into this hobby. I have a soft spot in my heart for these wines, and I also seem to know them when I drink them blind (that is not the case for other regions/vintages). Post the flight, we went right into the cellar raid with the 2009 Next of Kyn and we didn't slow down. While normally I don't provide tasting notes, but I do provide a reasonable score based on memory, there will be some wines (epic wines) that I don't even provide a score, based on bad memory :)

Flight 1 - Opening Wines (5 notes)

Wines that were opened prior to tasting flight and cellar raid

White - Sparkling

2005 Schramsberg Vineyards J. Schram USA, California, North Coast

95 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. A Friend brought this to start things off before everyone arrived. This was one of the best sparkling wines I have ever tasted. All I could remember was the nutty/almond flavors that come through on Cristal. Great start to a great evening.

Comment

Red

2004 Giovanni Rosso Barolo Storico Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

92 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I opened this up well before the party and used for marinara and drank some over the day. Similar to previous note, this was rustic and didn't provide much fruit. About 5-6 hours later and this was singing. Able to keep a little bit for early guests and they loved it.

Comment

White

2011 Kosta Browne Chardonnay One Sixteen USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Was available for the few who were looking for whites only. I don't recall tasting but those who had it loved it

Comment

Red

2012 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Part of opening wines as folks joined the party

Comment

Red

2013 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Part of opening wines as folks joined the party

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 2 - Wine flight - 2005 Napa Cabs/Blends (6 notes)

One of my most memorable vintages of any region and was a pleasure to try along side each other. None of these are epic wines (but all really good), we saved that for the Cellar Raid

Red

2005 Coho Headwaters USA, California, Napa Valley

91 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. First of the 2005 Napa's. This showed much better than I would have thought. Very bright

Comment

Red

2005 Coniglio Cabernet Sauvignon Spring Mountain District USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

91 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Still plenty of life left in this, although not quite as before. Competition over the night was rough

Comment

Red

2005 Page Wine Cellars Proprietary Red USA, California, Napa Valley

90 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I didn't realize this was part of a cellar raid in 2015, which I scored this 88. This was better this time and holding it's own

Comment

Red

2005 Bennett Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley

91 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Its been about 8 years since last time I had this and not much age showing on this. Very nice

Comment

Red

2005 Pillar Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District USA, California, Napa Valley, Stags Leap District

93 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. This was probably the most surprising of the flight. Performed much better than I would have thought and only a hair behind the Juslyn

Comment

Red

2005 Juslyn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Spring Mountain District USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District

94 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. This was the wine of the flight for me, and to be expected. This screams 2005 Napa in my opinion.

1 person found this helpful Comment

Flight 3 - Cellar Raid (13 notes)

As is custom, after dinner and the wine flight each guest goes into the cellar and chooses a wine. Very few are off limits, and this year was no exception. This is by far the best we had and was an amazing experience

Red

2009 Next of Kyn No~3 Cumulus Vineyard USA, California, Central Coast

100 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Rather than wait until late in the night to bring out the ringers, we chose to start right off the bat with the SQN Next of Kyn to start the cellar raid. I really do wish I took the time for more detailed notes. This was as perfect as a wine could get. I have never given the 100 score, but thought I'd start with this one. Easily the WOTN most likely the best wine i've had the pleasure of tasting

Comment

Red

2014 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

99 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. ..And batting in the #2 spot is the 2014 QC Cabernet. An absolute baby, but its obvious where the 100pt scores are coming from. I hope to hold my other one a few years.

5 people found this helpful Comment

Red

2015 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage

95 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Had this about 6 weeks ago and was blown away. I was happy that someone chose this as I have been raving about 2015 N Rhones. Went up against some serious wines and was incredible.

9 people found this helpful Comments (2)

Red

2006 Château Le Gay Pomerol France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

93 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Been so long since I had a 05 or 06 Pomerol. Don't recall much besides being delicious

Comment

Red

1996 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

93 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Classic Barolo aromas and I recall tar and raisins, with a strong finish and mouthfeel

Comment

Red

2005 Italics Winegrowers Fourteen Appellations USA, California, Napa Valley

93 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Although this was a 2005 Napa, it wasn't part of the original flight. In the spirit of that flight someone chose this to open this. Great choice and it was drinking very well. I've had many vintages of this collaboration and have always been impressed, and surprised others aren't talking about it.

Comment

Red

2003 Marc Sorrel Hermitage Le Gréal France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

97 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I was helping on of my friends pick out a wine and steered them toward this one as I love the 03 N Rhones. This was everything I thought it would be

Comment

Red

2012 Saxum Broken Stones USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles

95 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. On par with many other Saxums. Young, though still very ready and could be enjoyed right now

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2006 Andrew Will Sorella USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Horse Heaven Hills

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Things begin to get a little foggy at this point. Don't remember much of this, although I received great feedback from others on this

Comment

Red

2014 Continuum Proprietary Red USA, California, Napa Valley

96 points

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. I remember this one more than the Sorella (thankfully). My first time with the 2014 and I think it is the best Continuum I've had (although this may not be the best night to make that statement)

1 person found this helpful Comment

Red

2005 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus de Sanchomartin Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. As what seems to be a tradition, the 2005 Sancho usually gets opened on this night. I don't recall much besides it kicking ass as usual.

Comment

Red

2009 Sine Qua Non Syrah This is Not An Exit Eleven Confessions Vineyard USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Things were really foggy at this point. Don't remember much of this, although I received amazing feedback from others.

1 person found this helpful Comments (1)

Red

2003 Alban Vineyards Pandora USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley

Part of wine dinner and cellar raid so did not take detailed notes. Things were more than foggy at this point and I don't remember even opening this. In the morning when I saw this in the lineup, I was just thankful it wasn't the 2013. I've had the 2003 about five years ago and I was told this was just as good this time as last

Comment

Closing

Another great night with good food great wines and amazing friends. They keep getting better..

8th Annual Holiday Dinner and Cellar Raid - A Month Late

Naperville, IL

Introduction

Flight 1 - Opening Wines (5 notes)

Flight 2 - Wine flight - 2005 Napa Cabs/Blends (6 notes)

Flight 3 - Cellar Raid (13 notes)

Closing

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