Served at a party I was at on Friday night, all wines provided by the hostess who let us roam the room (wine was in boxes everywhere, and one tall cooler) and open anything, and I mean ANYTHING. These are only the ones I got to before they got drained, or wasn't too stunned to take legible notes on.
2012 Cayuse Syrah En Cerise Vineyard Walla Walla Valley
Had some sweet cherry fruit that made it more compelling than the Cailloux also opened at this event. Lots of beauty lurking underneath the tannins. Needs serious decanting.
2012 Cayuse Syrah Cailloux Vineyard Walla Walla Valley
Wow. Heavy on the palate with loads of green olive and tar. Needs time to come into balance. The Cerise showed better.
2013 Château Fleur Cardinale St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend
Closed nose and a tad green and rough on the palate. At the very least needs decanting, but might simply be asleep. Either way, not one I'd open again soon.
2015 Schiopetto Collio Friulano
Interesting to realize in writing this that I'd had it BTG at a Philly restaurant a year ago and thought it boring. Well, it's not boring any more! Complex and refreshing, excellent.
2013 Les Hauts de Larrivet Haut-Brion Pessac-Léognan Sauvignon Blanc
Despite my love of white Bordeauxs and Sauvignon Blanc in general, this had a cloying, heavy nose of coconut with strong, concentrated grapefruit on the palate. Geeky but a bit much as a party wine, sans food. But THIS next one, on the other hand:
2011 Paolo Bea Arboreus Umbria Trebbiano Spoletino
Bold, assertive, with notes of cinnamon roll and kumquats on the entry and a richly dry finish. Fascinating.
2013 Melka Cabernet Sauvignon Métisse Montbleau St. Helena
Silky elegance, fabulous flavors. One of my favorites of the night.
2012 Domaine Capitain-Gagnerot Ladoix 1er Cru La Micaude Pinot Noir
Garnet color, lighter bodied, herbal. Not compelling.
2010 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Napa Valley
Immediate notes of SS's signature violet nose with bright black currant flavors. Haven't liked any SS from the 2000's, but I did like this one. Reminded me more of SS's as they were in the 80's. Quite pretty, actually.
2012 Moone-Tsai Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cor Leonis Napa Valley
Another Philippe Melka. This strikes me as a modern, reductive, heavy style for bigger-is-better new world palates. As such, it's impressive and was widely appealing to many in the room, less so for me.
2017 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon 1858 Paso Robles
Can't be charitable. Unbearably sweet and spicy with cooked raspberry notes and bug spray aromas. YUCK.
2010 Castellare di Castellina Coniale Toscana IGT Cabernet Sauvignon
Very tightly wound, hard to appreciate or evaluate on a table covered with heavy hitter new world wines.
2012 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate St. Helena
Have always loved Spottswoode's grace and elegance. This bottle reminded me why.
2014 Louis Chavy Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge Pinot Noir
Merely decent. With food and not surrounded by Napa Valley ballbusters, it would probably be fine but it was impossible to appreciate here.
2012 Mauro Veglio Barolo Vigneto Arborina Nebbiolo
Somewhat as above. Showed good potential but too young for much personality or classicism. Will have more substance in 3 or 5 years.
2011 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Bernardine Red Rhone Blend
Spry and spicy, long juicy finish. Perfectly ready, gorgeous. (Funny that CT pegs this a red rhone blend--I thought the Bernardine was 100% grenache. Anybody?)
2010 Croix de Beaucaillou St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
Blackberry, bing cherry, graphite, great body and finish. Drinking extremely well now.
2014 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir Southing Sta. Rita Hills
Fruit forward, black cherry, brown sugar, mouthfilling finish. Not my fave style of pinot, but at a party that's mostly heavy hitter cabs this one held its own.
2013 Boudreaux Cellars Zydeco Red Wine Washington Red Blend
Brash and juicier than a typical Boudreaux but shows Rob's penchant for body and complexity. Extremely gulpable.
2017 Bedrock Wine Co. Oakville Farmhouse Heritage Zinfandel Blend
Interesting earthiness, some dust, big fruit, drinks like it's older and wiser than just 2017. A treat.
2014 Wines of Sagemoor Cabernet Sauvignon 'Stars in a Row' Bacchus, Dionysus, Sagemoor and Weinbau Vineyards Red Mountain
Very good wine, balanced and well made, but--bottom line--a fairly typical expression of a big WA red blend. Is there a point at which all WA reds taste alike?
2013 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill Estate Vineyard Napa Valley
Outstanding. Drank surprisingly well PnP'd. Swarthy, complex and bold without being OTT. Swoonworthy.