Mount Eden estate Chardonay, 2006
Pretty good but some oxidation going on making it marginal. The 2005 I had a few years ago was magnificent.
Crognolo 2001 IGT
Very nice 90% sangio /10% merlot slightly ripe Tuscan. Pretty good, but not super outstanding
Philip Togni 1993
Outstanding. Top-notch Westbank Bordeaux profile. Everyone thought Pauillac as usual. Green pepper slight barnyard high-quality first growth profile. Tremendous
I love the look on peoples faces when they realize it is domestic lol
On release, that Togni turned my stomach it was so green. But I had the good fortune to try many vintages from that house over the years and I became a believer - as long as the wines had sufficient time in bottle.
This should be sufficient and so, I envy you the opportunity to taste it now.
I have never had a Togni but once traded Philip a glass of Krug Rose for a glass of what he was drinking, which was a Petrus (vintage I cannot remember). One of those times where offering to share makes a good memory. I can’t remember the details clearly anymore (this was the evening after I had run my first marathon) but I think the waiter came and either asked us if we’d be interested trading a glass with the guy at a nearby table or offered us a glass from the nearby table and we offered a pour of our wine back…either way, it worked out.
A couple months ago I opened a 1993 Ritchie Creek vs a 2000 Pichon Lalande and the RC very much held it’s own and tasted like a Bordeaux. Not sure how the 1993 Ca vintage was rated but have had some nice 93’s over the yrs.
Between 1990-95, 1993 was the lowest rated vintage on release and recall the wines particularly the cabs having a bit more green in them. It wasn’t a drastic step down but noticeable especially being sandwiched between a very drinkable vintage in 1992, and a more lush vintage in 1994 where the wines were stellar out of the gate and had structure too.
Mike I agree with you that 93s are a little leaner and more tannic. 90-95 CA cabs were my favorite stretch and 91 was my fav of those years because they age like Bordeaux IMO.
