Important Update From the Founder
Read message >
Arizona Dreaming!
Guiseppe's in Scottsdale
Tasted December 7, 2022 by I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine with 132 views
Introduction
This was an informal get-together with Ryan and some old and new friends! This is becoming a tradition when I show up for a tasting at Anhelo (this one was a VHR tasting). Needless to say, fantastic wines and everyone goes way above and beyond! Only criticism would be too much wine in too short of a time! We either need less wine or more time to drink it! There were 10 bottles of wine for 6 people and we consumed them in 4 hours. Maybe I am just a light weight! It would have been nicer and even more enjoyable to be take more time with these wines! On a positive note, there was enough wine to follow all of them throughout the tasting!
Of course, all wines were fantastic, so no dumping or spitting! It was an awesome experience and makes me want to keep going just for these get-togethers! Everyone is great, and a good time was had by all...especially me!
Flight 1 - The Main Event! (9 notes)
Red
2018 Memento Mori Cabernet Sauvignon
94 points
No formal notes, and going from memory (which was pretty foggy by the end of the night!)
Dark with plenty of black fruit. Very pure and drinking much better than expected for a 2018. I think this wine needs quite a few more years to show its best, but it is quite tasty now! Has the structure (fruit, tannin and acidity) to age well and show even better (which is a pretty good feat considering what a pleasure it was to drink now!) Drink if you must and enjoy its hedonistic pleasure or hold for more nuances.
94 for me (and my scale so far for reds only goes to 98)
Dark with plenty of black fruit. Very pure and drinking much better than expected for a 2018. I think this wine needs quite a few more years to show its best, but it is quite tasty now! Has the structure (fruit, tannin and acidity) to age well and show even better (which is a pretty good feat considering what a pleasure it was to drink now!) Drink if you must and enjoy its hedonistic pleasure or hold for more nuances.
94 for me (and my scale so far for reds only goes to 98)
Red
2013 Château Haut-Brion
93 points
No formal notes. Opened at restaurant and decanted for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours before consumption. A very nice wine considering the vintage. Any time I get to drink a First Growth Bordeaux, it is a treat! This wine showed the earthiness and gravel Haut Brion is known for with plenty of red fruit. It was a classic Haut Brion, but a little thinner than other vintages...everything was there (although more tertiary flavors would have been nicer, but still relatively young), but a slightly watered down version (if that makes sense). Still quite enjoyable and still Haut Brion! Solid 93, and may pick up a point with additional age.
Quick note to put score in perspective...98 is my highest score for red Bordeaux.
Quick note to put score in perspective...98 is my highest score for red Bordeaux.
Red
2014 Abreu Thorevilos
96 points
No formal notes, but similar to my last note! This is an awesome wine and 2014 is drinking quite well right now. Abreu is made for the long haul, even though this wine is totally accessible now! Still leaning quite heavily on the hedonistic side of the scale, but some tertiary goodness makes itself known in the background. This will be a killer wine with more time in the bottle (ideally, I would drink this at 20 y.o., but I doubt I have the patience for that!) 96 today, maybe close to perfect in a few more years! Drink or hold, depending how you like your wines! Easy 96.
Note, my highest score for a red wine is 98.
Note, my highest score for a red wine is 98.
Red
2018 Theorem Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Voir Dire
94 points
No formal notes. I love the 2018 vintage, structure is awesome and wines show layer after layer of fruit and other flavors. This wine was no exception. I am not familiar with this wine, but it was quite tasty! Lots of dark fruit and some bramble with a little spice. Very nice Cab! Easy 94 for me and drinking quite well now! I suspect this will age, but if you have multiple bottles, crack one open with a 2 hour decant!
Note: my highest score for red wine is 98.
Note: my highest score for red wine is 98.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2008 Promontory
95 points
No formal notes. This received about 1 hour of air before consumption, and drank over the next 2 hours. Promontory is always a treat to drink! 2008 was their first vintage, so it is extra-special. This was singing from the get-go, but was slightly shown up by its younger brother (2012) tonight. The wine showed lots of red and dark fruit with earthy notes, spice and some sandalwood. Truly a privilege and pleasure to drink. Drinking great now, but certainly no hurry! Easy 95.
Note: my highest score for reds is 98.
Note: my highest score for reds is 98.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Red
2012 Promontory
96 points
No formal notes. I love this wine and 2012 is such a drink-friendly vintage! Luxurious mouthfeel with plenty of red and dark fruit, some chocolate notes and showing tertiary flavors of mushroom, earth and leather. Oak is well integrated. Wine will definitely gain complexity and more tertiary characters, but the fruit is pure and delicious right now. A treat now, and will be a treat later (my way of saying drink or hold!) 96+ for me!
Note: My highest score for red wine is 98.
Note: My highest score for red wine is 98.
Red
2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia
95 points
No formal notes. In two words: smooth and delicious! Dark brooding fruit, mostly blackberry cobbler, with notes of spice, dark chocolate, gravel and earth. 2002 was an awesome vintage, and this wine is aging well! Still more fruit than tertiary (which is fine for my palate) and should improve slightly as the tertiary qualities become balanced with the fruit. Velvety mouthfeel and drinking great now! Drink or hold. 95+ for my palate now, and may improve slightly!
Note: 98 is my highest score for red wine.
Note: 98 is my highest score for red wine.
2 people found this helpful
Comment
Red
2015 Château Cheval Blanc
97 points
No formal notes. In a word....WOW! I have not had many Cheval Blancs, but I am really liking these wines! Total class and oh so delicious! I think this received about two hours of air in a decanter. MY WOTN amongst some pretty good competition! Nose was so perfumed and aromatic, reminded me of Margaux, as did the finesse and silkiness. Palate showed plenty of red and dark fruit, along with some chocolate notes and baking spice. A true pleasure to drink! Will definitely improve, but so hard not to drink now! Easy 97! Will likely flirt with perfection!
Note: My highest score for red wine is 98.
Note: My highest score for red wine is 98.
Red
2014 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard
94 points
No formal notes. It's big, it's bold, it's a chocolate desert fountain at a classy restaurant (if there is such a thing!). This is probably the definition of hedonistic wine...chocolate covered cherries in a glass sans the overly sweetness. I love this style....not everyday, but as a treat! Gobs of red and purple fruit and chocolate with notes of wood and spice and hints of new leather and tar. Not overly extracted, but still very big and quite enjoyable if you like this style. I thought it was delicious! Ready to go now for its hedonistic pleasure...I do wonder how this will age though! Easy 94 today!
Note: My highest score for reds is 98.
Note: My highest score for reds is 98.
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Flight 2 - OMG....Dessert! (1 note)
White - Sweet/Dessert
2009 Château d'Yquem
98 points
Yquem in great vintage.....need I really say more? Same as previous notes....always a pleasure to drink! Honeyed stone fruit, impeccable balance and a wine that begs you to take another sip! Love this wine!
1 person found this helpful
Comment
Closing
Thank God I was able to sleep in the next day. Some had to get up and go to work....not sure how they did it! Better people than I! I definitely could not have gotten up early after such a festive night! This was an epic tasting and I was humbled by the wines everyone brought! I mean seriously, look at these wines!
Special thanks to Ryan and all who contributed to make this trip to Arizona extra special! Hope to everyone reading this you get 1/10th of the enjoyment I received from participating! A better life through wine, which seems to be a uniting force! Cheers!