Community Tasting Note

Wednesday, January 10, 2024 - Served blind. Brought by Jay to tonight's event. Not sure of the decant time, but it was singing. So much milk chocolate and briar on the nose! The palate is heavy, thick and black fruited. Great acidity and balance. If grading the field tonight overall(?), there were numerous claiming horses, a couple of allowance horses and then this one, a Derby winner. Borders on a 98 for me. Thanks, Jay for bringing this bottle! This one can go another 10-20 years, no problem. The clear WOTN to everyone at the table, I believe.

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Comment posted by OenoEd:

1/11/2024 7:59:00 AM - Great and accurate note. This beauty and that incredible ‘79 Keenan had me craving steak. I think scoring this anywhere between 93-98 is legit, and likely based on one’s tolerance for the intense extraction.
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

1/11/2024 8:44:00 AM - Thanks! Couldn't agree more, Ed. It's all about your own palate. I absolutely appreciated EVERY wine brought to the table last night by the guys, yet there were some I wouldn't buy because of their value to me, relative to MY palate. Big red and red blends from Napa/Bdx are my wheelhouse wines. Old aged Napa like that Keenan and old Bdxs a close second. Italians and red Burgundy are hardly represented at all in my cellar. Most of them just don't float my boat, with few exceptions. For sure, that's my own palate limitation at play, some here would say to a fault, and I wouldn't disagree with them.....cheers!
Comment posted by MN Wine Junkie:

1/12/2024 12:06:00 AM - I haven't had this wine and don't have one in my cellar, but Harlan never disappoints, just wish it wasn't so darn expensive! However, the reason for the note is I think it is great you recognize what you like and dislike! At our age, it is nice trying new wines, but also more prudent to purchase what we really like! I have been doing that recently, i.e., trying not to buy wines, but when I do, it will be a wine I have tasted and truly enjoy!

On a separate note, I understand there is a pretty big tasting in Naples this month (Winter Wine Festival), is worth heading there for it? Also, there is a James Suckling tasting in Miami on February 29 and March 1. Are you going? I am. Cheers!
Comment posted by Mark1npt:

1/12/2024 4:27:00 AM - Ha-ha, Jason......not sure about Miami, might head over for one night, but not sure. The Naples Winter Wine event is the biggest, richest wine auction in the country. Bigger than Napa, even. If you want to attend one of the dinners, I think it's about $25k/couple. Just to get a paddle to participate in the auction is around $5k, I think maybe more now. It's for a number of charities that work with children so the prices you pay for most lots are twice what you'd otherwise pay as it's all for a good cause and we have so many philanthropic people who have homes here. But there are always some really cool lots like 1 of 1 Ferraris, etc. I think you'd look cool driving one of those all the way back to MN.........
Comment posted by MN Wine Junkie:

1/12/2024 7:33:00 AM - ROFLMAO....Just slightly out of my price range! Sounds like the DRC of wine events....be nice to try on someone else's dime! Didn't realize it was so expensive....Pass!

The Miami tasting is more my speed! I attended one pre-Covid with my niece and loved it! Seems like the last event had more wines that interested me, but this one seems to have quite a few too. I think it is over 900 wines in two days! My niece lives in Miami, so I save hotel costs! Anyway, if you were coming, I would bring a couple bottles of wine down! If you change your mind, you should talk to Jennifer, her affiliation with CdB could probably let her buy "trade" tickets, and she could get an extra pair for you and Carol ($10 per night per ticket). Hope you're having a great 2024!