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Tasting the 1995 Vintage...wine friends, generous cellar contributions
Pluckemin Inn, New Jersey
Tasted October 7, 2020 by walkerjfw with 183 views
Flight 1 (1 note)
Red
1995 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley
First wine of the evening, PnP. Lower neck fill, cork came out clean.
Color was medium ruby/beet, thin at the rim. Nose of red fruits, slight oak. Palate was dusted cherry, cedar, leather, anise, graphite, violet. Smooth, tannins resolved. Medium weight and finish.
Nice, probably a couple years past its peak but fun to drink. I probably liked this more than the crew. Old school Silver Oak like this have gone the distance...
Color was medium ruby/beet, thin at the rim. Nose of red fruits, slight oak. Palate was dusted cherry, cedar, leather, anise, graphite, violet. Smooth, tannins resolved. Medium weight and finish.
Nice, probably a couple years past its peak but fun to drink. I probably liked this more than the crew. Old school Silver Oak like this have gone the distance...
Flight 2 (5 notes)
Red
1995 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain
One of my contributions for the evening. Last bottle 7 years ago, good excuse to open this one.
Dark, inky ruby color. Nose of dark fruits, leather, eucalyptus, licorice. Palate of classic Howell mountain cherry, blue fruits, cassis, earth notes. Full through the mid palate. Full body, medium/long finish.
In a good spot, should drink at this level for a while. A tad dry on the finish, but good length. In the running, got an honorable mention against some tough competition.
Dark, inky ruby color. Nose of dark fruits, leather, eucalyptus, licorice. Palate of classic Howell mountain cherry, blue fruits, cassis, earth notes. Full through the mid palate. Full body, medium/long finish.
In a good spot, should drink at this level for a while. A tad dry on the finish, but good length. In the running, got an honorable mention against some tough competition.
Red
1995 E. Guigal Côte-Rôtie La Mouline
95 points
Generous contribution from Jay. PnP, drank over about 90 minutes,
Medium ruby color, opaque. Nose of black cherry, smoke and pepper. Spiced palate showing black and red fruits, spice/pepper, oak, violet. The spice on this was really pronounced, persists through the mid palate. Medium body, long finish.
Really special wine, no surprise. In a great spot (maybe peak), expressive, spicy, nicely aged. WOTN for some, a close #2 for me.
Medium ruby color, opaque. Nose of black cherry, smoke and pepper. Spiced palate showing black and red fruits, spice/pepper, oak, violet. The spice on this was really pronounced, persists through the mid palate. Medium body, long finish.
Really special wine, no surprise. In a great spot (maybe peak), expressive, spicy, nicely aged. WOTN for some, a close #2 for me.
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Comments (2)
Red
1995 Araujo Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard
95 points
This was a generous contribution from Mitch. My last tasting of this vintage was in 2016. Drank about 4 bottles in, PnP, tasted over about 90 minutes.
Previous notes: "Nice core color, inky purple/black, very little sign of age. Nose of black fruits, currant, exotic spice, espresso. Palate was mature, blackberry, currant, herbs and Asian spice. This was a wine that was likely powerful in its youth (I have not had it) but now combines power and elegance as its well into its secondary phase."
What struck me with this bottle was its ripeness. 25 years in this is still expressive and fresh. Would have guessed this was 8-10 years old. Spectacular showing on this evening, WOTN for me
Previous notes: "Nice core color, inky purple/black, very little sign of age. Nose of black fruits, currant, exotic spice, espresso. Palate was mature, blackberry, currant, herbs and Asian spice. This was a wine that was likely powerful in its youth (I have not had it) but now combines power and elegance as its well into its secondary phase."
What struck me with this bottle was its ripeness. 25 years in this is still expressive and fresh. Would have guessed this was 8-10 years old. Spectacular showing on this evening, WOTN for me
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Comment
Red
1995 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red
Generous contribution from one of the crew, nice opportunity to try this wine. I have it in my cellar but have not opened a bottle in 10+ years...
Dark purple/red color. Rustic nose showing red fruits, leather, earth. Palate of dusted blackberry, red fruit, cedar, cassis. Persists through mid palate. Medium weight, long finish.
In a great spot, would like to spend more time with this next time I drink it. Old school Pahlmeyer is always a treat (IMO)
Dark purple/red color. Rustic nose showing red fruits, leather, earth. Palate of dusted blackberry, red fruit, cedar, cassis. Persists through mid palate. Medium weight, long finish.
In a great spot, would like to spend more time with this next time I drink it. Old school Pahlmeyer is always a treat (IMO)
Red
1995 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
90 points
Nice chance to drink this next to the 1995 Dunn Howell Mountain.
Medium/dark ruby red color. Nose showing dark berry, earth/mushroom, mineral notes. Palate of red and dark fruits, mocha, iron(?), earth. Medium weight and finish.
Nice enough, would say good not great. Not a fair fight against the 95 Howell Mountain...
Medium/dark ruby red color. Nose showing dark berry, earth/mushroom, mineral notes. Palate of red and dark fruits, mocha, iron(?), earth. Medium weight and finish.
Nice enough, would say good not great. Not a fair fight against the 95 Howell Mountain...
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Comment
Flight 3 (2 notes)
Red - Sweet/Dessert
1995 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico
97 points
Generous contribution from one of the crew. My first opportunity to drink this wine...nice chill, PnP.
Red/chestnut color. Nose showing marinated black cherry, coffee grounds, tobacco, cherry. Plate shows apricot, fig, balsamic, chocolate. Concentrated, focused, viscous but not overly heavy. Full body, long and layered finish
Lucky to get 2 glasses of this...a real experience. A rich and powerful dessert wine as expected. A wine to linger over or pair with any range of foods or dessert. A real "wow" wine for me
Red/chestnut color. Nose showing marinated black cherry, coffee grounds, tobacco, cherry. Plate shows apricot, fig, balsamic, chocolate. Concentrated, focused, viscous but not overly heavy. Full body, long and layered finish
Lucky to get 2 glasses of this...a real experience. A rich and powerful dessert wine as expected. A wine to linger over or pair with any range of foods or dessert. A real "wow" wine for me
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
1995 Château Troplong Mondot
88 points
Nice contribution from Kevin...a few bottles drank over the course of the evening. Had some time to open, definitely evolved over the time we drank it.
Bright red color. Bdx nose of black cherry, licorice, graphite. Palate of red fruits, cherry, plum, cedar, leather, earth notes. Medium weight and finish.
Nice enough, a bit dry. Better later in the evening as it opened, would decant if venue allows
Bright red color. Bdx nose of black cherry, licorice, graphite. Palate of red fruits, cherry, plum, cedar, leather, earth notes. Medium weight and finish.
Nice enough, a bit dry. Better later in the evening as it opened, would decant if venue allows