Sat night I went over to my friend Marks house to try some wines. It was about midnight and I had just come from a wedding, but I hadn’t seen him in a while and wanted to catch up with him.
Started off with a couple of Cali cabs and a dry red from Banyuls which was tasty but I didn’t get the name of. As far as I know it was the first one from Banyuls I have ever had. It was good, but very modern styled with toasty oak.
1993 Beringer Private Reserve - I think it was my first time trying this vintage. It was showing great, in a beautiful place. Smoke, ash, cherry, and blackberry on the nose. Big fruit on the palate, but elegant and mature. Probably drinking at its prime right now, but not going to die anytime soon. Really a good showing.
2003 Etude Rutherford - Corked!
2002 Spring Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Premiere Napa Valley - This was a 10 case auction lot. Bottle 102 out of 120. Absolutely delicious! Little funky at first, but big fruit, oak showing but not in the way. Spicy black fruits and raspberry. Full bodied and concentrated on the palate with some serious mountain structure behind it. Spice comes in ont he midpalate and continues through the finish. Very well balanced for a big wine, and the best wine I have had from this estate.
Since the Etude was corked Mark went back to his cellar to grab a few Australian cabs to compare.
2002 Leeuwin Artist Cab - Always a nice wine, but tough to taste right after the Spring Mt. Medium bodied, nose of dried herbs, tobacco, and mocha. More acid than the Californian cabs with notes of pomegranate and red berry fruits.
2003 Vasse Felix Cab - Never had anything from this winery. Smoke and tobacco with black fruits on the nose, and cherry fruit on the palate. This was the simplest wine at the table but it was damn tasty for drinking, not comparing to the others.