OTW w/2002 Cal Cabs, some Itals and much more

Baltimore Wine Dinner
December 12, 2011
“On the Waterfront” (without Brando, Steiger, Malden or Lee J. Cobb)
Talking Brando, the scoring system is in line with those of the Maryland Wine Mafia

From a beautiful restaurant with a 99 point view of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, nearly 20 oenophiles gathered for a bit of wine. The primary stream of a theme was 2002 California Cabs/Blends but there was so much more. Many of the notes are sparse because of the number of bottles in the hit (mafia reference!) parade. Here we go:

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle N.V.: N: Nutmeg, smoky and citrus; P: Orange and fresh lemon, crisp with notes of minerality and nutmeg with a slight sweet kick at the end. 93
Roeder Cristal 2004: N: Tart Apple; P: delightful balance between crisp, lemon covered green apples and unbaked, lightly spiced apple pie (yeasty and emerging creaminess). 95

2002 Aubert Chardonnay, Quarry Vineyard: N: oak; P: has become very buttery with some smoke, some hazelnut but little fruit. At this stage in life, it would probably fair well with a flaky fish. 90/93 (without/with food)
2008 Peter Michael Chardonnay, Cuvee Indigene: N: spry honeysuckle; P: creamy Bartlett pear and ripe peach, with hints of minerality and citrus at this young age. 93+

1986 Antinori Tignanello, Toscana: N: Dust; P: cherry and dusty clay with an overlaying elegance befitting its age. It would be interesting to see how other bottles of this wine develop in the next decade. 93+
2003 Isole e Olena Cepparello, Toscana: Did not taste
2004 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Cru Cerretalto: N: Worscestershire Sauce, with less intensity; P: Shut down to a tannic mess. NR
1995 Giacomo Brezza & Figli Barolo Castellero: N: Dusty salted caramel; P: very tart cherries dominate. 91
1990 Foreau Domaine du Clos Naudin Vouvray Moelleux: Did not taste
1996 Azienda Bricco Rocche (Ceretto) Barolo Prapò: N: Rich black cherries; P: black cherries with tar dust, celery seed, very elegant at this stage 95

2002 Lokoya Mt. Veeder: N: muted cassis; P: rather one dimensional with licorice and some dark fruits but with overwhelming tannins still. 92++
2002 Bryant Estate: N: muted; P: dusty licorice with some dark berries. Perhaps not its best showing this night 94
2002 Araujo Eisele: N: French vanilla coffee with some licorice; P: wonderfully elegant French vanilla coffee with delicate hints of earth and tobacco soil. 98
2002 Silver Oak, Napa: N: Kaluhua and cream; P: dusty dark berries with smoke and vanilla. Better than I expected. 93.5
2002 Karl Lawrence, Herb Lamb: N: sweet dark fruit; P: rich and very smooth; plums and other dark fruits with a rich, moist soil finish. Very good example of what works well for Cal Cabs with mix of fruit and earth. 95

2006 Futo: N: roasted coffee; P: No notes taken. 94
1996 Harlan: N: resounding elegance of dark fruit and cassis; P: too busy enjoying for any palate notes. 98
1991 Beringer, Chabot: N: muted ; P: very smooth with charcoal, black fruit and cassis; flavors to my liking and probably hit this wine at an ideal time. 94
1990 Beringer Private Reserve Cab: N: very rich dark fruit; P: very smooth with rich plums, cassis and covered in coffee and some tobacco. 94
2001 Beringer Private Reserve Cab: N: muted smoky graphite; P: elegant mocha. 95.5
1988? Stag’s Leap Wine, Cask 23: N: very dusty, but sweet plums ; P: delightful dark berries and mocha. 23 often catches lightening in a bottle and it did for me this night. 96.5
2002 Dominus: N & P: No notes taken. It was good that this wine was served so late as it probably needed time to stretch its legs for its enjoyment. 96

2003 Chapoutier Hermitage, Le Meal: N&P: It was too bad this was served so late, considering the pedigree. Wine tasted closed, but it could have been the tired palate. Rich to the nose but too simple on the tongue. 93++
1999 Tommaso Bussola Amarone: Sniffed and tasted but too late for notes
1977 Taylor Fladgate: N&P: no notes taken


With 40% of the vote, the 2002 Araujo Eisele was clearly the wine of the night with the rest of the votes sprinkled to the Cask 23, Harlan, PM Chardonnay, and the Futo.