TN: Some birthday wines

WINE TALK
#1

My wife celebrates her birthday in August, and we had some friends, as well as our son and daughter, join us for a nice dinner out with some nice wines a few weeks ago. Thanks to our friends, especially the two who came out from St. George, Utah and to Piatti Ristorante in Danville for their hospitality and excellent service! On to the wines. These are more impressions than formal notes, as I was enjoying the occasion too much to take any formal notes.

2008 Roederer Brut Rose’ Champagne – The essence of raspberries and strawberries, and a touch of lemon, with a nice streak of acidity on the finish. Wonderful balance and precision on the palate. If this is a good representation of the 2008 vintage for Champagne, I will be making some room in the cellar for more.

2013 Mount Eden Estate Chardonnay – Beautiful color of golden yellow. Flavors of apple, apricot, pear and a touch of oak. This wine needs cellaring time or decanter time, but the two bottles went quickly, so it was certainly a crowd pleaser. Highly recommended.

2000 Araujo Cabernet – Very good for a vintage that was not highly acclaimed and at its peak or perhaps past the peak. The wine has a narrow beam of currants, tobacco and red fruit. Drink up if you have any remaining.

2003 Spottswoode Cabernet – A big step up from the Araujo. Velvety texture and a lot of red fruits on the nose and palate, with a long finish. This wine should continue to drink well for many years.

2008 Montelena Estate Cabernet – Out of magnum. This wine went down as quickly as the 750’s of the other Cabs. Typical Montelena profile of earth, tobacco, cedar and red fruits on the nose. Long, long finish with years ahead of it. Not quite as good as some vintages of Montelena from the 90’s, but a very nice Cab.

2003 Fonseca Port – We came back from the restaurant to enjoy this and the Roederer with some birthday cake, ice cream and cookies. This was decanted for 8 hours prior to consumption. Just a baby, there are abundant flavors of plum, fig and chocolate. Very little heat on the palate. While it can be enjoyed now, I would love to revisit in around ten years or so.

Thanks,
Ed

#2

great notes Ed; sounds like a really nice way to celebrate your wife’s birthday;
Mount Eden does a killer job with their Chards;
too bad the Araujo didn’t transcend the vintage; that what I always hope for with producers of that calibur

#3

Henry, thanks for the kind words. I think the Aruajo would have been better a few years ago. It would have been nice on its own but it was outclassed by the other Cabs there. And the Mount Eden Chards always deliver. Cheers!

Thanks,
Ed

#4

Amazing how great 03s are now huh? HBD to your better .5.

#5

Glenn Levine wrote:
Amazing how great 03s are now huh? HBD to your better .5.

Yes, there are many '03’s drinking well right now. And thanks for the kind words for my wife. She is better than me and smarter than me!

Thanks,
Ed

#6

I avoid 2000 Napa cabernets. 2000 and 1988 are my least favorite Napa cab vintages. So it sounds like the Araujo did OK under the circumstances.