Family is staying with us so we’ve been opening quite a few bottles each night since this past Friday. I got my 2012 Hobel six pack sent ahead early last week with ice packs so a bottle could be shared! The weather was just about perfect earlier this weekend before the recent rains started so I fired up the BBQ and made a full on meal for everyone - steaks, corn, grilled pizza, etc. I also took this chance to dig out a few nicies that I’ve forgotten about over recent years.
1994 Joseph Phelps Insignia: This was quite elegant to tell you the truth - several layers of understated and balanced fruit showing through. Ruby sparkles at the core - nice notes of fennel, heme, cold black currant fruit - ripe strawberries. Really elegant throughout with maybe just a bit of drying at the end.
1995 Ridge Monte Bello: What a wine - full of composed structure and layers of earthy understated cabernet fruit. Soft cassis, blackberry, smoke, and spice box is what I noted. Really classy stuff - seems I only have one bottle of this left after buying a sixer a long time ago. Yummy!
2009 Maison Roche de Bellene Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts: Had to get a red burgundy in there so I grabbed one of these. This was full of cola spice, spiced cherries, and lots of other dark pinot fruits - young but still opened and pleased throughout the night. Had this one in a decanter for a good 6 hrs and the last sip was the most aromatic. Give this one some time - still lovely now.
2012 Hobel Wine Works Cabernet Sauvignon Engelhard Vineyard: I very much liked the '09 version of this last month when tasted so I told Cameron that I’d love to sign up for a shot at the '12s 
. Cameron is a friend and a fine human being so there’s hardly anything wrong with the guy 
- same is true with this wine. I must say I don’t buy much California Cabernet anymore but I think I’m still a good judge of quality. This '12 is solid with nice amounts of anise and powdery black currant fruit and understated largesse here - dark and young, not overdone at all. I gave this a good 3-4 hrs which it really needed - by the time hour #4 came around the nose really popped. Really nice savory acid driven tannins to boot! Loved it and will savor the remaining bottles for years to come.
CHEERS!
I’m sure Roger has some too!![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}