Had the great pleasure of enjoying my birthday on Waiheke Island, NZ with family and friends. The wines didn’t suck either (in order randomized by cellartracker):
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1977 Giuseppe Quintarelli Recioto della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Le Marogne - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Recioto della Valpolicella Classico (3/28/2017)
First note: cloudy pale white oak/mahogany color. Indescribable (in a transcendent way) nose and palate. 98.
I revisited to add some other thoughts and captured: Dried Italian herbs, slightly medicinal (in a curative way), sweet in style, but dry on the palate, long as the day, very savory, finishes with strong tannin.
Wine of the year so far - I can only hope to see a bottle again in my lifetime. (98 pts.)
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1977 Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico Riserva Il Poggio - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG (3/28/2017)
Late release from the cellar.
Rich mahogany color.
High toned nose of violets, roses, tar and blackberries.
On the palate: Sweet red cherries, plum skin and fruit acid lift. Very long with great intensity across the palate. Firm, but not dry, tannin. A wine of great beauty - tastes much much younger. (95 pts.)
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1977 Fonseca Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (3/28/2017)
Very dark ruby color.
Hugely aromatic nose of spirit, flowers, and all types of herbs.
Smooth and luxurious palate of cassis, strawberries ad caramelized sugar. Very long and lush with plenty of life left. (95 pts.)
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1977 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha’s Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (3/28/2017)
Bright cherry color with a hint of brick.
Probably the densest wine on show today (digestifs aside). Layers of eucalyptus, flowers, cassis, cedar and tobacco.
The lean palate belies the nose a little - very red fruited with great acidity, gentle tannin and finishing with spice. A lovely wine. (94 pts.)
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1977 Lisini Brunello di Montalcino - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (3/28/2017)
Chicago brick color.
Nose of shoe leather, cedar, violets and camphor.
Lean but balanced on the palate. Cherries, dust and cocoa. Ends nicely - quite sweet and with tannic grip. (93 pts.)
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1977 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Winery Lake - USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros (3/28/2017)
Cherry color with a warm orange glow
Beautiful autumnal nose of damp soil, fallen leaves, mushrooms and roses.
On the palate: quite sweet cherry fruit. Surprisingly fresh with great acidity and some apple skin. Floats on the palate with a long gentle finish. (92 pts.)
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1977 Niepoort Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto (3/28/2017)
Very light and clear ruby color.
Floral (red flowers) on the nose with a touch of spirit.
Sharp (good acid) palate of raspberries and honey. Finishes quite tannic. A very elegant port (especially for the vintage) with quite a bit left in the tank, but will always be lighter in style. (92 pts.)
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1977 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Lot 2 - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/28/2017)
Dark cherry color to a clearing rim.
Quite a lot of VA on the nose.
Cassis and black cherries on the palate, with a iron ore quality. Resolved tannins. Quite nice but down pointed for the VA. (86 pts.)
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1977 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Limited Cask - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/28/2017)
Medium mahogany color.
Slightly musty nose of damp cellar and cedar.
Decent black and red fruits on the palate with a touch of red spice. Shortish length with a drying finish. (83 pts.)
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1977 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/28/2017)
Light garnet color with some bricking at the edges.
Quite a lovely nose of mint, cedar, red flowers and mixed berry fruit.
Aristocratic palate of mostly black, but also a hint of red, fruits. Wonderful texture and balance. Really expands on the long finish across a variety of fruits, acid, and very fine grained tannin. Leaves a classic Rutherford dust impression.
I’ve had mixed results with GdL of this era - a perfect bottle perhaps? (95 pts.)
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1977 Martin Ray Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - USA, California, Napa Valley (3/28/2017)
Corked NR (flawed)
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