by Jenise » Fri Aug 04, 2017 12:46 pm
So the neighbors invited us and another neighbor over for dinner. Knowing his prediliction for high end California wines, I took an Etude chardonnay and a Gemstone cabernet but neither got opened.
2013 Aubert Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard Sonoma Coast
Full-bodied with ripe fruit and buttery oak. A bit more Mae West than other Auberts I've had and, though tasty, on that score a tad disappointing.
2007 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (Grand Vin) State Lane Vineyard Yountville
Black plum, black cherry, other red fruit, tobacco and graphite with refined tannins--extremely harmonious for prime drinking right now. Easy to understand it's cult status. Had been decanted for an hour and a half.
2006 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay Stags Leap District
This one had to follow the Kapscandy, an unenviable position. Deep red fruit and pie spices, like an old Leoville Barton, carrying on nicely but obviously closer to the end of its life.
2008 Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley
Pnp'd and served blind. Sweet black and blue fruit heralds WA cabernet, silky tannins and terrific depth suggest Leonetti. Drinking well now but by no means fully mature.
2007 Moraga Cabernet Sauvignon, Bel-Air, California
Mikey won't stop. We're back outside now, after dinner, and he opens this rarity. Moraga is the 8 acre estate owned since 2013 by Rupert Murdoch which includes the only vineyard within the Los Angeles city limits. It's a very earthy 100% cabernet that tastes, at this moment in it's life and in my intoxicated state, like a ripe vintage St. Emilion.
Back to reality, last night Bob and I opened this:
2011 Chateau Musar Musar Jeune Red Bekaa Valley Red Blend
Necrotic nose that disguises the complex, interesting fruit to come on the palate. Bright dark red color--not as old as it smells. A great experience for $16 on the sale shelf and for lovers of mature wine (I am one), but the nose would be a turn off to many.
And catching up on a wine opened a few months ago:
2001 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve Red Rhone Blend
Beautifully concise with spice and sage notes. The merest touch of funk in the best sense--garrique--but not bretty as others report. (Purchased mine out of an underground cellar in Burgundy and self-imported.)
My wine shopping and I have never had a problem. Just a perpetual race between the bankruptcy court and Hell.--Rogov