Last night a few Hawaii Wine-Os got together for a night of pot-luck food and wine at our place in Kailua. Wearing the green were fellow Scotts Christopher Dunn and Jim Redmond along with wives Mai-Lan and Jane. Mike and Clarice, Skippy and Eriko, and my wife Tricia rounded out our group.
Wines-
2005 Domaine A et P de Villaine Rully Les Saint-Jacques, this bottle worried me as the cork came out almost damp to the top. However, the wine was very good seemingly none for the worst; yet. Note to self-time to check other bottles. Honeyed citrus bread and ripe pear. At the doorway of mature for this bottle, time to open others. 90pts (my wine)
2002 Domaine Huet Vouvray Demi-Sec Le Mont, Orange marmalade and lemon with a hint of flowery botrytis spice and honey. I liked this one at a cooler temp. as it brought out a beautiful acidic balance to the wine. 92pts, this was my favorite with the night’s seafood (my wine)
2008 Chamisal Vineyards Califa Selection Edna Valley Syrah, Not my style of Syrah. I found this full of fruit, some chocolate and alcohol but sadly not much of anything else for me. Would have liked to drop some stones and sprinkle some dirt in my glass for balance. 85pts (Jim’s)
2002 The Dead Arm Shiraz Mclaren Vale, Been quite a while since I’ve tasted something from Mclaren Vale. Very smooth at 10 years out and from a 375ml, deep blackcurrant fruit, oak and some leather. 91pts (Christopher’s)
2006 Turley Zinfandel Dogtown Vineyard, another wine I’ve seemed to have moved away from. Although I could see this a a real crowd pleaser in the right crowd. Soft and light ground pepper, cherry and currant. Light and soft for a Turley.
90pts (Jim’s)
2009 The Industrial Zinfandel Sonoma, here’s a reason winemakers need to put more thought into names. Artificial fruit candy juice and alcohol.
Not scored (Christopher’s experiment)
1995 Chateau Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, after much sitting in the bottle and my glass I believe this bottle to be very slightly corked. At first opening I detected no apparent corkage smell. However, the wine seemed tight. Four hours later upon revisiting I get a mild acidic tang on the nose (corkage). Fruit one dimensional and hard, no finish other than acidity. Too bad, last bottle. My other bottle opened 2 years ago was a 94pt wine. Tonight No score (my wine)
1994 Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Clos Jebsal Selection de Grains, From first pop and smell, this was unquestionably one of the best sweet wines I’ve experienced. The other being a d’Yquem, while the d’Yquem’s forte was amazing complexity via acidic balance and mouthfeel, this SGN was amazing complexity with fruit and mouthfeel. Honey, spice, orange, limes, marmalade, peaches, pears, apricots, toss in some flowers, it was all there in a silky viscous mouth coating experience.
Wow 97+pts might be my WOTY (my wine)
Last but not least, Thanks to all the chefs! Amazing cuisine!
Mike and Clarice for the Lobster Paella
Tricia for the Seafood Bouillabaisse
Skippy and Eriko for the Prime Rib
Christopher and Mai-Lan for the Roasted Vegetables Tagine Style
Jim and Jane for the appetisers
Aloha,
Kevin Ham
There are no good old wines, only good bottles of old wines. said before