Wine #1. The 2009 Cristal features a nose of citrus (meyer lemon) and a hint of smokiness. This champagne was a little tight at first, but opened up after a half hour. After opening up, the 2009 is round, smooth, and impeccably well balanced. No need to cellar this, you can pop and pour now. Overall, a bit of a let down and I do not think this has much aging potential.

Wine #2. This is my second time trying the 2016 Lingua Franca Bunker Hill and it has changed a lot over the past six months. The apple, lemon and sea salt are still there, but gone are the crushed wet rocks and flint. The precise flavors and intense minerality have been replaced by smoother transitions and rounder textures. It is still enjoyable, but far less unique. I do not think this will benefit from aging and I would drink these up over the next couple years.

Wine #3. We couldn't resist and popped this open. The 2017 Williams Selyem Russian River Valley is still pretty tightly wound, but there is a ton of potential here. A nose of plums, dark cherry, and tobacco leaf that follow through on the palate. For a village-level wine, this is quite impressive, with firm tannins and great structure that will support medium-term cellaring. I am really loving the 2017s, especially the estates that largely picked before the Labor Day heat wave.

Wine #4. The 2007 Sine Qua Non "Pictures" was easily the wine of the night for just about everyone at the table. The 2007 has an intense nose of blue and black fruit, ground pepper, smoked herbs, baking spices, and bright flowers. Layers upon layers of flavor and a finish that goes on forever. Impressive! This is still a baby and should last another two decades. We gave it a 2 hour decant.

Wine #5. The 2003 Quilceda Creek was quite lovely and one of the highlights of the night for me. The 2003 has the classic Washington "tree bark" that is a signature of Quilceda Creek. Red fruits, caramel, and green apples round out the flavors. Soft pliable tannins made this easy to drink after a two hour decant. Incredibly long 60+ second finish. This will easily go another couple decades.

Wine #6. The 2008 Continuum features the rich concentrated mountain fruit that Contniuum is known for. An ideal combination of red, black, and blue fruits. This was lovely with a 2.5 hour decant and should drink well for another decade or more.

Wine #7. Another favorite of the group. The 2010 Jonata la Sangre is a powerful and masculine wine that can easily stand up to the richest of foods. Intensely perfumed blue and black fruits, grilled herbs, and black pepper. 45+ second finish. We drank with a 3 hour decant, but this wine is still a baby. You will be rewarded for waiting another 3+ years before popping another one.