TNs- Dinner with a few buds. Bisou, Maybach, Congruence & Kapcsandy

WINE TALK
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Caught up with a few friends last evening for dinner. Glad to have the opportunity to meet Joe D from DC.
No theme.Just a good night of good wines, good grub and good friends.

  • 2001 James Johnson Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Bisou - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/8/2012)
    Color showed its age with some amber edges surrounding a medium garnet hued, semi transparent wine. Pretty nose of currant, black olives and violets…very interesting. Palate had black cherry, cola, kirsch and caramel. Balance was spot on. What I liked most was its prettiness and elegance while retaining its medium structure and poise. Others at the table were saying it was closed and I certainly thought different. I got notes of cedar, earth and leather. A great showing of a classically crafted wine with a lot to give. Finish remained true to the black fruits. Glad to try it. (92 pts.)

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  • 2008 Maybach Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Materium - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (6/8/2012)
    (Opened 2 hours earlier, no decant. In retrospect, I should have double decanted 4 hours previous) Nose of buttered popcorn (Supersized, UA Theaters). I am not sure I ever experienced anything like it in any other Materium, and I’ve had them all. Still primary and slightly clumsy, this was near full blown (most of any I have had) with black & blue fruits ruling. I got some warm vanilla, currants, pomegranate and blueberry. I also got hints of cardamom, crème de cassis and black tea. After 5 minutes the vanilla oak notes blew nearly all away leaving a little more polish and elegance. Upon re-tasting an hour or two later it started hitting a stride, telling me to wait a few years until my next; duh! Finish was admirable. Let them rest. (91 pts.)

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  • 2008 Congruence Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley (6/8/2012)
    (This was double decanted 4 hours previous). Dark and ominous. This has fleshed itself out nicely.Black cassis and blackberry goodness. A precise mid-weight wine that has so much to give. I got cola and uncola. I also got rubber leather, exotic tea leaf and cardamom. Certainly shows its Coombsville roots. Nicely balanced with a long black fruit ruled finish. Well done. (92 pts.)

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  • 2008 Kapcsandy Family Winery Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville (6/8/2012)
    Initially very similar to the 2008 Maybach Materium served before it. I got some butter popcorn on the nose. This was more elegant with a precise black fruit profile leading with cassis and going slightly red with some plush red raspberry. Balance was deft, this had some spring flowers and warm cinnamon. Tannins complicated but behaved. The oak was not shy. As it sat in the glass about a half hour it went slightly dumb and awkward, but don’t get me wrong, it was a beauty. This had a long finish and a lot to offer. I figure this will be incredible in 4 to 6 years. My number 1 on the night (94 pts.)

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Thanks for the notes Mike. Is Bisou still around? The last I had was the 2002. I liked it very much, notes similar to yours. I think Paul Hobbs made the wine. Then rumor that it became another TRB brand and I lost track…

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You’d always like your wine to be WOTN, but I didn’t mind settling for #2 last night. The Kapcsandy was an outstanding wine (I believe it was 68% cabernet sauvignon, which may have worked to its advantage) and there was no shame in trailing it in the voting.

Mike and I were among the first to jump on the Maybach train based on the 2004’s showing at the Polaner tasting in the Spring of what, 2007? The 2007 and 2008 have left me scratching my head a bit.

The Bisou had a nice showing also.

The Alain Patriarche 2007 Meursault Vieilles Vignes was a nice opener for the evening and an effective palate cleanser later on.

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TRB made the last few vintages of Bisou but from what I understand the 08 (maybe 09) is the last vintage as the owner decided to sell the fruit instead of making wine.

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The price increase to $150 did more than cause me to scratch my head a bit. I hit the “I’m Out” button. [snort.gif]

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Who has two thumbs, missed his stop on the express bus last night by snoring and had to walk 1+ miles back home after drinking?

This guy.

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Pleasure hanging with you guys last night, I appreciate the invite. The food, wines, and company were great. The wines were clearly all above average, and while the kapcsandy stood out for elegance, the maybach stood out for not quite living up to my high expectations. Steve’s congruence was very good and rivaled the kapcsandy, nice work sir. The bisou was a new wine to me and impressive at the price point.

When I got back to my friends place we popped a 08 two hands some days are diamonds, and it’s style (and oak) were very very close to the maybach… And mike, don’t worry, I feel asleep on the couch. It was a long 20 foot walk to bed!

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Might be "open letter"time or “99 bottles,” or some such thing.

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Fixed.

Thanks for the notes. I stopped buying Maybach after 2008, but I haven’t tried anything after 2006. Sounds like the 2008 needs to sleep for a while.