From notes taken April, 2006:Wine of Merit: ****Stags Leap Wine Cellars Napa 1990: A great surprise. This wine is downright youthful, though it has added an extra star with age. Some initial tertiary aromas of cigar box, red fruit and stags leap earth, the palate is coating and integrated, showing deep red and black fruits, Malabar pepper and minerals. No thinness at all. Drink or hold. Wonderful.
***Marius Delarche Corton Charlemagne, 1995: Initially very closed, the wine opens up to show focused meyer lemon custard and a pleasing key lime aroma. The palate is snappy with nice flintiness and white fruit, good balance, a touch of nutmeg. More puligny than corton to me. Nice.
***Ridge Montebello, 1984: Another try at this wine. Very nice, though a bit underwhelming. Seems a bit dirty to me. Not sure if it is a crushpad thing, a barrel thing or just how the wine has aged. Graves like tobacco and earth, wet slate, cedar and plum. Still pretty firm. I would have guessed something like a Pape Clement if pushed. I have 3 bottles left and will sell them.
***++Kistler Durrell Vineyard, 1995: Wow. Super mature. Touch of Madeira. Fruit driven style has receded showing dynamite complexity. Grilled pear, hazelnut, tobacco…a touch of cinnamon? Camphor nuance. Super oily palate, creamy texture. Ultimately a super interesting wine that I enjoyed very much but which MUST be drunk now.
***Kistler McCrea Vineyard, 1995: Completely different wine. Much more youthful and still fruit driven, citrus zest, carmelized banana, hazelnut gelato. Almost seemed simple after the Durrell but very pleasant.
****White Cottage Ranch Merlot, 1995: One of a handful of great Napa merlot producers. Delicious. Unassuming violets, mocha café, red licorice. Smooth, velvety palate with more mountain red fruit and briar. Perfectly balanced, no overwhelming wood, no drop off, just right. Ahhhh….
***++Lafaurie Peyraguey, Sauterne, 2001: So young. Not lush yet, showing pretty peach elements, tobacco, white flowers and some greenness. Sweetness is not accompanied by significant other flavors to make it interesting. Palate is viscous but not overly. Some tangerine lingers. Needs to put on some weight.
***Ridge Montebello, 1984: Another try at this wine. Very nice, though a bit underwhelming. Seems a bit dirty to me. Not sure if it is a crushpad thing, a barrel thing or just how the wine has aged. Graves like tobacco and earth, wet slate, cedar and plum. Still pretty firm. I would have guessed something like a Pape Clement if pushed. I have 3 bottles left and will sell them.
***++Kistler Durrell Vineyard, 1995: Wow. Super mature. Touch of Madeira. Fruit driven style has receded showing dynamite complexity. Grilled pear, hazelnut, tobacco…a touch of cinnamon? Camphor nuance. Super oily palate, creamy texture. Ultimately a super interesting wine that I enjoyed very much but which MUST be drunk now.
***Kistler McCrea Vineyard, 1995: Completely different wine. Much more youthful and still fruit driven, citrus zest, carmelized banana, hazelnut gelato. Almost seemed simple after the Durrell but very pleasant.
****White Cottage Ranch Merlot, 1995: One of a handful of great Napa merlot producers. Delicious. Unassuming violets, mocha café, red licorice. Smooth, velvety palate with more mountain red fruit and briar. Perfectly balanced, no overwhelming wood, no drop off, just right. Ahhhh….
***++Lafaurie Peyraguey, Sauterne, 2001: So young. Not lush yet, showing pretty peach elements, tobacco, white flowers and some greenness. Sweetness is not accompanied by significant other flavors to make it interesting. Palate is viscous but not overly. Some tangerine lingers. Needs to put on some weight.
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