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East Bay Offline IV March 25 at The Counter
Walnut Creek
Tasted March 25, 2009 - March 26, 2009 by tanglenet with 609 views
Introduction
An offline dinner at the Counter in Walnut Creek, a gourmet hamburger restaurent. The theme was "cabs and cab blends with hamburgers". There were at least two wines I did not take notes on, and I apologize.
Flight 1 (8 notes)
Red
2003 Robert Foley Claret
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. A huge wine with chocolate notes, dark grape must with noticeable heat. My first thought was: wine cocktail. Since I brought this, I thought "uh-oh" and moved on to some other bottles. About 30 minutes later Eric W. said how much he enjoyed the nose and the wine. So I gave it another go. Completely changed. More integrated as the alcohol was no longer at the forefront with blackberry, dark fruit, dark chocolate and a somewhat sweet citrus finish. Good to Very Good.
Red
2003 Bressler Cabernet Sauvignon
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. Ready to drink with soft tannins, a full round mouth feel with some minerality on top and dark under current of black fruit below. Very subtle and feminine in style. Very Good. WOTF for me.
Red
2003 Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Opened not decanted.Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. Surprised me by showing some age in color with some brown rimming at the edge. Very pretty nose with smoke, chocolate, and leather. With time, this became a smooth integrated drinker with dark bramble fruit. Very subtle. This was my 2nd favorite wine of the night. Good to Very Good.
Red
1995 Château Clerc Milon
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. Smoke, mushrooms, some mustiness with clay, minerals and tannins that soften with time. Good.
Red
2002 Drinkward Peschon Cabernet Sauvignon Entre Deux Mères
Opened and not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. Super saturated with over ripe fruit and noticeable high alcohol. When I tasted it, it seemed somewhat thin and needed air time. My memory is that I tried it again and it improved with some air to it. Good.
Red
2001 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. Very dark blackberry, dark bramble fruit with a dry citrus finish. Good.
Red
1999 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. I really enjoyed this wine. Fully mature and showing secondary characteristics of smoke, cedar, subtle red fruit that is neither heavy nor light with a feminine finish.. Interesting tastes. Good.
Red
2005 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard
Opened not decanted. Served at an offline at the Counter in Walnut Creek. Musty nose with dark saturated fruit. Seemed a little thin in the middle to me. Ends with a dry, citrus finish. Good.