Afternoon with Morlet Family Vineyard hosted by Luc Morlet Part 5

Luc Morlet, whose brother Nicolas Morlet is the principal winemaker at Peter Michael Winery, preceded his brother but has his own winery just north of St. Helena and the Culinary Institute of America. It sits adjacent to Route 29 in a beautiful old building from the late 1800s. Morlet, who hails from the Champagne region of France, is on a hot streak in terms of the quality of the exquisite wines he is producing. This is an extraordinary lineup of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and possibly the finest 100% Cabernet Franc ever made in California, his Force de la Nature. Morlet is hoping to use about 70% or more estate-grown fruit, as he has been busy acquiring property. He was a gracious host during our visit and passionate about his wines.

2009 Millesime Champagne Pierre Morlet WS90

I particularly liked this Champagne I found it to be clean and crisp and comparable to other high-end Champagnes and I bought a 6 pack. Only produced in the very best years. From the producer: "The Pierre Morlet Champagne style is rich, harmoniously balanced, and refined. The body is round and elegant with fruity notes of raspberry and wild strawberry, intermixed with hints of violet, expressing the predominance of the Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay adds structure and finesse as well as zesty lemon flavors with classic notes of William pear and acacia. The chalky subsoil into which the vines plunge their roots, provides the wines with a strong mineral background. The Champagnes exhibit complexity and depth brought by the diversity of the terroirs, the old age of the vines, the vivification, and the élevage (barrel ageing) in French oak barrels. Finally, the superbly small size and persistence of the bubbles in the glass prove that only the highest quality techniques are applied and that the Champagnes are released only at maturity." Just had a bottle with dinner and everyone raved about it. To me it is much better that the score indicates. It is bright and fresh with lots of well balanced fruit.

2016 Chardonnay Ma Douce JB97 RP95+

A very nice Chard, I gave it 2 stars. Starts with a lemon rind nose with lots or apple, pear also in the nose that follows through in the taste. Nice buttery oak with a complex flavor profile and nicely balanced. Had mild acid concentration and a moderate finish.

 Jeb Dunnuck has this to say "

Leading off the Chardonnays, the 2016 Chardonnay Ma Douce (which translates to “My Sweet”) is a rich, full-bodied, blockbuster effort that still stays incredibly pure, seamless, and elegant. Heavenly notes of crushed citrus, flower oil, brioche, toasted nuts, and ample crushed rock notes all emerge from the glass, and it has vibrant acidity and is perfectly balanced. It’s a world-class Chardonnay."

Robert Parker says "The 2016 ‘Ma Douce’ is from a vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview not far from Marcassin, on the second ridge in from the ocean and located at 1,300-1,500 feet in elevation. The vines are Old Wente clones planted on Goldridge soils. It begins a little youthfully reticent, opening out to notes of warm peaches, grapefruit, pear tart and toasted almond with hints of baking bread and chalk dust. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a beautifully satiny texture with a racy line lifting the savory layers to a nice long finish"

2014 Coteaux Nobles Pinot Noir RP92

A hugh very sweet blackcherry and honey nose and taste. Mild earthiness and a long finish. To me a sweet Pinot but it was not overextracted. Robert Parker says "The 2014 Pinot Noirs behaved like most Sonoma Coast Pinot Noirs did on my trip. Showing lots of potential but coiled tightly, they are still somewhat monolithic, with lots of minerality, but difficult to coax open. It's hard to believe that the three cuvées of 2014 Pinot Noir will equal the 2012s and 2013s, but lets see what they do over the next 12 months, when I have a chance to taste them again"

2016 La Proportion Doree White Bordeaux Style RP98

This is a White Bordeaux varietals. The nose is oaky and smoky with tobacco and cedar in a complex flavor profile that carries over to the taste. At the same time is is light and somewhat sweet and I could detect some honey in it. To me it is one of those white wines you could fool the experts into saying it was a red wine. Robert Parker says The 2016 ‘La Proportion Dorée’ is a blend of 67% Sémillon, 32% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle from 30+- year-old dry-farmed vines barrel fermented with bâtonnage. It comes strutting out of the glass like a total rock star, singing notes of ripe grapefruit, lemon meringue pie and white peaches with hints of beeswax, lime blossoms, candied ginger and nutmeg. Medium to full-bodied, the palate lends a seductively satiny texture with layer upon layer of citrus and stone fruit notions and a racy backbone to support, finishing on a long-lingering chalky note"

2016 Chardonnay Coup De Coeur JB100

Clark loved this wine so we bought it and we both agreed that too us it was in fact a 100 point wine. But we had it later at home and compared it to the "Ma Douce" and changed our minds in that we prefer the "Ma Douce" a little better after second thought. In fact Robert Parker rated the 2015 100 points also though I could not for the life of me find a RP rating for the 2016 but no matter. To me it had a herbaceous nose with lemon pear and butter that followed in the taste. It had a wonderful velvet mouth feel and was fruit forward . I also picked up honeysuckle in the taste as well. The acid was moderate and I felt it would be very food friendly. It also had a great pleasant nice finish. It is a very well made wine. This is what Jeb Dunnuck had to say: "Pure perfection in the glass is the 2016 Chardonnay Coup de Cœur, a selection of Luc’s favorite barrels. It offers extraordinary notes of caramelized citrus, toasted brioche, marzipan, white flowers and a liqueur of rocks-like minerality. With full body, incredible purity, a layered, huge palate presence, yet a weightless, elegant texture, it needs to be tasted to be believed. Hats off to Morlet for an incredible Chardonnay. Give it a year and enjoy over the following decade or more.

2012 Passionnement Cabernet RP97

Started with a smoky tobacco and cigar nose but was very balanced. Also noted some smoked meat flavors on the nose and taste. Had a great velvet smooth mouthfeel. I picked up cherry here which I am finding more and more in higher quality Cabs. To me it is a nice blackberry flavor. This wine was not over oaked in fact my notes stated "hidden oak" which infers there is an oak presence and flavors but just the right amount to complement the wine. The finish was moderate lasting. Robert Parker said: The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement is lush and opulent with gorgeous fruit, super-ripeness, and plenty of black currant, blackberry, vanillin, toast and licorice characteristics. It is front end-loaded with enough gorgeous depth, stuffing and richness to ensure 20 years of longevity

2012 Mon Chevalier Cabernet RP96

It started with a sweet fruity nose with some stone thrown in. On the taste lots of chocolate. Acid was moderate. Again to me lots of fruity sweetness. Parkers comment regarding Christmas fruitcake is right on. Parker says: "Another killer effort from Luc Morlet is the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier (91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot from Knights Valley). This beautiful wine displays a deep ruby/purple color, lots of minerality and plenty of blackberry and blueberry fruit intermixed with hints of menthol and Christmas fruitcake. The minerality is much more noticeable in this wine, no doubt because it comes from a higher elevation (600-800 feet) vineyard

2014 Coeue de Vallee Cabernet DW95

The nose and taste have a light smoke flavor with prominent cigar flavor. The mouthfell is velvet. On the taste lots of cassis and leather. To me the tannins were tight and young. I also detected some "candy" flavors reflective of the fruit in the wine. Doug Wilder had this to say: "The nose is all measured precision of carbon, herb, camphor, coffee and chocolate. I commented to Luc that I could just smell it all afternoon I was so captivated. The palate entry is the most vibrant and structured of all the wines showing a bright herb, coffee and firm red cherry fruit with solid acidity throughout. Drink 2019 - 2032."

2014 Morlet Estate Cabernet DW98

An earthy nose and taste but with a velvet mouth feel. Plenty of fruit taste and I noticed some lime flavors here. Had a very long finish. Doug Wilder has this to say: "The nose is ebulliently dense earth, cranberry, cedar, plum and blackberry with notes of fresh cut herbs. The palate entry is exceptionally rich and supple with a core of blue and black fruit that are polished, silky and effortlessly poised. With well-integrated oak, the 60-second finish is creamy, balanced black fruit, coffee and herb that grows even more appealing between 45 and 120 minutes after opening."

2014 Force De La Nature Cab Franc DW97

A very complex nose. I detected a very subtle buttery flavor along with lots of floral flavors and lavender. On the taste I picked up blackberry. The finish was long and smooth with very few hints of bitterness. Doug Wilder says: "The nose is a gorgeous black fruit, mint, warm notes of herb and mocha. The palate is firm, well structured and vibrant with a chocolate and espresso focused core. The finish is superbly integrated - polished and velvet-like blackberry, spice and carbon. It should be noted that Robert Parker rated the 2015 vintage of this wine at 100 points. Drink 2017 - 2032.

2012 Late Harvest Billet Doux DW99 RP97

I loved this wine, in fact I rated it 100 points and felt it compared right up there with Chateau D'Yquem especially the 1990 D'Yquem which I find to be a spiritual wine. Here are two reviews from Wilder and Parker

Doug Wilder A nose of dried meat, lemon curd, sea salt, apricot, white peach, pineapple with a note of toasted vanilla, blossoms and pine resin. The flavors are richly textured orange, apricot and verbena with fresh acidity. Finishes with crème brulee and integrated acidity. Gorgeous. Drink 2016 – 2040. d

Parker 2012 ‘Billet Doux’ Late Harvest White Wine 97 points Produced from 65% Sémillon, 31% Sauvignon Blanc and 4% Muscat, the 2012 ‘Billet Doux’ has a medium golden color and profoundly scented nose of beeswax, honeyed nuts, orange marmalade, Manuka honey and preserved lemons. Full-bodied, full-on sweet, rich, concentrated and oh-so-unctuous, it delivers powerful flavor layers and epic length.

Lunch at Bouchon in Yountville, Napa Valley 2018 Part 4

Hosted by my great CEO friend, I was honored to be appointed to be the sommelier for the luncheon which included our happy group and a few local winemakers.  I met with Bouchon's sommelier prior to the luncheon to pick out the wines and had a great time doing so.

Krug Grande Cuvee NV WS96 AG97

In the 1999 movie "The Thomas Crown Affair" Pierce Brosnan takes Rene Russo to Cipriani's for dinner (without a reservation) and says to the waiter "The lady actually likes Champagne" to which the waiter responds "We have Krug Grande Cuvee " and Rene Says "Sounds great". I love that scene and we started with that Champagne to begin a great lunch at Bouchon. Antonio Galloni has this to say about this wine: "Krug's NV Grand Cuvée 164 Edition is a total knockout. Based on the 2008 vintage, the 164th Edition shows all the crystalline tension and energy that is such a signature of the year. At times, the 164 reminds me of the 2008 vins clairs I tasted after harvest. The flavors are brisk, delineated, and pulsing with energy. No Champagne lover will want to be without this spectacular, captivating wine. Hey, it worked with Rene Russo! This continues to be a top-shelf Champagne.

2015 Puligny Montrachet La Garenne Etienne Sauzet

The La Garenne Vineyard in Puligny is one of my favorites and I knew it would contrast well with the Konsgaard. The Sauzet house is also one of the oldest and best in Burgundy. La Garenne (not to be confused with the similarly named Clos de la Garenne) is a Premier Cru vineyard in Puligny-Montrachet, a prime white wine-producing commune of the Cote de Beaune. La Garenne is located just west of Puligny-Montrachet village, above the scrubby Mont-Rachet hillside and beside the Saint-Aubin commune boundary...Recent ratings including Robert Parker are here:

88-91 points Allen Meadows - Burghound

A discreet application of wood sets off very ripe notes of pear liqueur, petrol and floral hints. There is exceptionally good richness to the very round and highly seductive medium weight flavors that brim with dry extract and minerality though I find that the finish lacks the same vibrancy and refreshing dryness as the best of these 1ers. To be sure this is perfectly good but it's not distinguished. 

88-90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2015 Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru la Garenne has an elegant bouquet with hints of white flower permeating the citrus fruit, certainly a level up from the village cru in terms of complexity. The palate is balanced with light peachy notes on the entry. There is good depth and a fine line of acidity, hints of almond developing towards the satisfying if slightly conservative finish. (NM) (12/2016)

Vinous

(from vines at the top of the slope): Pale straw-yellow. Musky, expressive aromas and flavors of apple and spices lifted by a mineral topnote. Plush and sweet in the mouth, conveying an impression of high-altitude energy if not particularly elevated acidity. Finishes spicy and slightly phenolic, with lingering fruit and mineral flavors enlivened by a note of white flowers. (ST) (9/2017)

2015 Konsgaard Chardonnay RP98 AG95 

As far as Clark and I are concerned this hands down is the greatest of all California Chardonnay's. It is difficult to obtain and in the past few months even going to California we have only been able to find 4 bottles for our cellar. So Bouchon having it on the menu was a real treat and to be able to compare it to La Garenne was a bonus. We felt it tasted great and offered a clear understanding of the subtle difference between a great California and the best French Chardonnay To oversimplify the Konsgaard was fruit-forward the La Garenne was mineral forward. Here is what Antonio Galloni and Robert Parker had to say:

Galloni 95

The 2015 Chardonnay is super-polished, refined, and delicate. Even though the wine was sulfured about a month before this tasting, the flavors are remarkably pure. On the palate, the 2015 feels a bit linear, but that is almost certainly attributable to the sulfur. Candied lemon peel, white flowers, and mint grace the exquisite, nuanced finish. John Kongsgaard adds that the fermentations were very slow in 2015 for this wine.

Wine Advocate 98

This Chardonnay gives up peach blossoms, apricot preserves, honeycomb and croissant with touches of cashews and jasmine. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and seductive, it has a gorgeous creamy texture and very long, very spicy finish

2009 Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape Rhone WS96

Friends are getting ready to visit the Southern Rhone next year so I picked this one as a great example of a great Southern Rhone Red Wine. Chateau Beaucastel has been around for years and consistently makes some of the best Rhone Reds that serve as a model for other winemakers to copy. The winery takes its name from the Beaucastel family which lived in Courthézon in the middle of the 16th century. Records show a Pierre de Beaucastel buying a barn and some associated land at Coudoulet in 1549, and this land is still part of Château de Beaucastel's holdings.[4] However, at this time it was an agricultural property. In 1792, the owner was called Etienne Gontard, and the first certain mentioning of vines on the property are from his inheritance 40 years later. In 1990 Jean-Pierre and François Perrin in collaboration with wine importer Robert Haas founded Tablas Creek Vineyard within the California viticultural area of Paso Robles.[5] In 2006, the Perrin family and Château de Beaucastel joined Primum Familiae Vini, an association of a limited number of high-end family-owned wineries.[6] Beaucastel generally vinfies the components for its wines in large, old barrels (foudres), with only Syrah exposed to some new oak. The different grape varieties are vinified separately and later blended. A somewhat contentious aspect of Beaucastel winemaking is that the wines often show Brettanomyces character, which in most cases are considered a defect, but which is also typical for wines high in Mourvèdre.[1]

Wine Spectator 96

"It's packed with dark smoldering cocoa, mesquite, tobacco and roasted fig notes, all inlaid with pure cassis and plum preserves fruit flavors. Long and authoritative on the finish, with singed vanilla bean and tar notes adding length and dimension."

2015 Chateau D'yquem Sauterns WS98 RP100

Who doesn't like D'Yquem? Thank our hosts again for providing this spiritual experience for us. Clark and I had just tasted this in NYC in October and felt it was one of the best and approached a spiritual experience. Here are Wine Spectator and Parker's comments:

Wine Spectator 98

"Fresh-cut orange, peach, and nectarine notes lead the way, followed by lightly singed almond and warm piecrust notes. Then another wave of green fig warmed pear and coconut takes over on the finish. Rich and honeyed in feel, with obvious power."

Wine Advocate 100

Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d'Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d'Yquem. I've been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.

Napa Valley November 2018 The 100 Point Weekend with the genius of Russell Bevan Part 3

It is obvious that Russell Bevan borders on genius level in his wine making. His reputation in the valley is unsurpassed and his attention to detail is legendary as are his party habits. To me he has the energy level of the Tasmanian Devil. It is hard to keep up with him. But he makes great wine and continues to produce huge amounts of 100 point wines.  I believe many feel he is the greatest wine maker in Napa Valley today.  I have been buying a few of his wines since my visit and I particularly love his "mountain" wines best but I also am somewhat prejudice towards "mountain" wines in general.  My belief is the cool mountain early morning tempertures allow those wines to be a little softer than the valley wines.  When you consider the prices for Screaming Eagle, Scarecrow and others Bevan prices are a complete bargain and his prices are more than reasonable for a large portfolio of 100 point wines.

2016 Ontogeny Bevan Cabernet

Russell says this is an introduction to his Bordeaux Blend style wines. It has 8% Petit Verdot. There are 4 grape varieties in the wine. It has an interesting nose which along with the taste is a complex blend of smoky cedar, cigar and tobacco. It has a nice velvet mouth feel. Tannins are young and tight and will age well.

2016 Sugarloaf Mountain Bevan Cabernet

Starts with a fruity nose and the taste is a rich dark chocolate. It has a nice finish. Again young with young tannins but not as pronounced. One thing I like about mountain grapes is the higher elevation allows for less harsh tannins and a softer body.

2016 Wild Foote Cabernet Stags Leap District Cabernet

This wine had an interesting floral jasmine nose. The alcohol was a little higher but well balanced. Again lots of dark chocolate as well as a hint of berries particularly blackberries.

2012 Tench EE Cabernet Franc 50%/Cabernet Sauvingnon 50%

A vineyard adjacent to Screaming Eagle and Russell has a long term lease on the vineyard. Again an interesting floral nose and the taste has a nice flavor of chocolate and cedar. Russell says he does not punch down his wines and uses a technique he perfected where the wine is circulated using air from bottom to top. This prevents the seeds in the grapes from being bruised hence a softer and less harsh taste from the Cab Franc.

2016 Tench EE Cabernet Franc

Obviously a younger version of the 2012 and the Cab France/Cab ratio is a little different.(60/35/5 Merlot) A dark black color leads to a tobacco, cigar nose with lots of smoke. The taste is again chocolate and cigar flavors with blackberry showing through. Will age well.

2016 Howell Mountain Sentinel Ridge Cabenet/Cab Franc

Another deep dark wine with a chocolate noses. Very nice velvet mouth feel. A much more complex taste profile with tobacco and licorice in this one. Will age well.

Lunch and tasting at Brasswood Restaurant Saint Helena California Hosted by Jay Wesley Selections Monday, November 12, 2018 Part 2

It was a great lunch with Jay and thank you to all for setting it up. Understanding these wines are very low production I was unable to find any tasting notes or ratings on the web with the exception of the Per Us and the Addax Tench both of which are made by Russell Bevan

2015 Argo Cabernet Sauvignon Sugarloaf Mountain Borrowed Jewels

The wine had a light nose but the interesting thing about this wine was it is 100% French Oak but it was very soft and wasn't overdone. The nose in The Taste had lots of chocolate and Cedar flavors the acid was mild, I felt it was a very food-friendly wine.

2016 Argo Cabernet Sauvignon Sugarloaf Mountain Borrowed Jewels

Had a deep complex nose much more so than the 2015 it also has lots of chocolate and Jasmine on the nose and taste it's a very young wine with tight tannins I felt that the oak was what I described as hidden I mean they're there but it's clearly not overdone. Acid content for the 2016 was a little higher

2016 Montague Baron Cabernet

Had a bar of excellent rich chocolate and cedar nose that followed through in the taste with the addition of a complex rich dark chocolate flavor. The wine had a fairly high alcohol content and it was tannic but not overdone. Overall the wine was very well-balanced and had a good finish.

2015 Morgado Sugarloaf Mountain Cabernet

A fairly tannic wine and alcohol were also fairly high. Despite this, it had a rich dark chocolate nose and taste that was very complex. With the usual Cedar tobacco and leather flavors to me, it was one of the best wines of the tasting I liked it so much I purchased a 6 pack. It was also highly balanced very nice wine with a good finish. I like the mountain Vineyards better and this is no exception

2015 Per Us Alessio Cabernet

Had a nice floral Jasmine nose and the taste continued with Flora flavors. Also in the taste, I can pick up chocolate and Cedar very well balanced moderate alcohol nice finish 70% of the grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon from the famous Oakville vineyard: Tench. 30% are Cabernet Franc from the Sugarloaf Mountain vines in southern Napa. One star winemaker: Russell Bevan. A 100-point beneficiary many times over and champion of the top lot at Napa Valley’s Premiere barrel auction in recent years for his Chateau Boswell Cabernet creation, Russell headlines the team of artisans who have achieved greatness with this incredible project, giving us all a wine that is something to savor, to enjoy and to collect.

2016 Per Us Alessio Cabernet

Really didn't like the 2016 and to me, it had what I call a cough syrup it had a very high tannin and the alcohol content was very young and tight just didn't feel that it was my kind of wine. Others said the following. Like in past vintages of their ‘Alessio’ Napa Valley Red, Russell was able to source from the famed Tench Vineyard in Oakville(apparently Russell now has a long term lease on this vineyard) for its highly sought-after Cabernet Sauvignon and Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard, the perfect site for Cabernet Franc and Merlot. In the glass, this delicious 2016 offers black fruit with cocoa dusting and a gratifying finish. 400 cases were produced.  2016 marks the fourth vintage for PerUs and Russell Bevan continues to make singular, focused wines as their winemaker. “A serious student of wine most of his adult life, Russell first made his mark as a writer with a syndicated column published in Wine Spectator. In 2004, Russell stepped away from the typewriter and into the vineyard, to begin making memorable wines and joining an elite group of winemakers who have received Robert Parker's 100-point score.

2016 Per Us Janeen Cabernet

The 2016 had an intense complex nose. I note a lime taste here and the tannins were tight and young but they were sweet and were well integrated with the oak. It was a very balanced wine. I liked it better than the 15 but again it's very young and needs age. The most refined of the PerUs wines, this newly released Red displays the purity that can be achieved from high elevation vineyards. Winemaker Russell Bevan crafted this new PerUs offering mostly from a vineyard atop Atlas Peak in Napa's eastern mountain range. The 90% Cabernet Sauvignon is buttressed by 10% Cabernet Franc from Sugar Loaf Mountain resulting in a wine with great balance and lively acidity. Like the Alessio Red, this 2016 carries the trademark of what this vintage will be known for – generosity in aromas and fruit with structure in line with the 2015 offerings. 375 cases were produced.

2015 Addax Tench Cabernet

For those who are unfamiliar with the Tench Vineyard, it is adjacent to Screaming Eagle and in fact as I understand it many of Screaming Eagle vintages were made from the same vines. I really like this wine especially the 2016. The 2015 had lots of chocolate and candy on the nose. The Taste was full of chocolate and smooth cedar. It was a very well-balanced nice basic wine. This delightful new release from the renowned Tench vineyard (next door to Screaming Eagle) exudes aromas of blackcurrant and loads of red berries, hints of tobacco leaf, and lavender. A mouthwatering entry coats the palate with elegant and well-defined layers, while the flavor and texture are complemented by notes of creamy French oak. This is a wonderful example of Cabernet from a very special site. Enjoy this up-and-coming gem tonight (decanting recommended) or anytime through 2025. Deep garnet-purple in color, the Addax 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard gives up notions of black cherries, cassis, and red and black plums with hints of dried Mediterranean herbs, pencil shavings, and underbrush. Full-bodied, rich, ripe, and seductive in the mouth, it has a satisfying core of black fruit and earthy layers with firm, grainy tannins, and a long, savory finish.  Score: 95, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, December 29, 2017

2016 Addax Tench Cabernet

But again I thought that the 2016 was much better and had a really Smoky Cedar knows the mouthfeel was very velvety again lots of chocolate and Cedar in The Taste and it all the wines tasted that this tasting and have the best finish Deep and inky purplish ruby red. A bit raw on the nose but it is just a baby, having been bottled recently. A bit of tar and smoked cigars on the attack followed up by juicy black fruits and rich cinnamon paste. Heavy tannins (8.5/10) that need some time to mellow out with a full body. Rich and voluptuous with black and blue fruits, baking spices, black tea, and gravel. Long and lingering finish. Lots of potential and patience will be rewarded.

Napa Valley November 2018 The 100 Point Weekend Part 1 Scarecrow Wines

This is the beginning of reports for a very special weekend in Napa Valley in 2018.  I have thought often regarding publishing this but waited so as to clean it up a little and again to remove any names to protect the innocent so to speak.  Most of the wines are available though many in the auction market and they are not the lower priced wines I strive to report on.  But if you read all the articles I am certain it will add significantly to your wine knowledge.  Frankly many of these wines are for myself and a lot of friends worth the cost but also are special occasion wines not to be enjoyed frequently.

Hundred Acre Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 RP 99

The week started with dinner at Gott's in St Helena California hamburger stand which is a unique experience in and of itself along with our hamburgers we had the Hundred Acre 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon. What a complete decadent combination. It's a great wine. The bouquet and taste had licorice Cassis and leather. It was very well-balanced and had a nice prolonged finish and Rich fruit flavors along with the ones mentioned above. Clearly a superior wine. Of Interest we went to Dean & DeLuca the next morning and they had a ton of it sitting on the shelf so it's apparently pretty popular.

Scarecrow Vertical

After dinner back to the house and an embarrassment of riches. A big thank you to our hosts for a epic 3 year vertical of Scarecrow where the lowest rated wine was 99! Go figure. To me they of course were fairly similar as you might expect. For me the 2014 was the star and I detected both in the nose and taste a hint of black cherry which to me is unusual for a cab. The others in our group seemed to prefer the 2013 as it was the first empty glass for most of us. Here are Robert Parkers description which I found to be right on track.

2013 Scarecrow RP 100

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The prodigious 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, including fruit from some of the oldest Cabernet vines still in existence in Napa. This full-bodied classic displays notes of forest floor, earth, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice and some pen ink. It is dense, full-bodied, prodigiously rich, massive in intensity, yet relatively light on its feet. This great ballerina of a wine has extraordinary ripeness but pulls back from the edge before going over the top. There are 1,000 cases of this classic, which should age effortlessly for 30+ years.

2014 Scarecrow RP100

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The utterly perfect 2014 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon (1,500 cases) has everything one could possibly want in a Cabernet. Inky purple-colored to the rim, with a glorious nose of white flowers, crème de cassis, hints of blackberry and boysenberry, some licorice and forest floor are followed by an enormously concentrated wine with fabulous purity, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and texture, a length of nearly a minute, and stunning flavors, with flawless integration of acidity, tannin, wood and alcohol. This is a great, great wine and certainly one of the Cabernet Sauvignons of this vintage. Drink it over the next 25-30 or more years.

2015 Scarecrow RP 99

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon leaps from the glass with gorgeous floral notes of red roses and lilacs over a core of black and red cherries, crushed black currants and baking spices plus hints of iron ore and dusty earth. The voluptuous, rounded, soft and sexy fruit slinks across the palate with incredible seamlessness and expression. Make no mistake, it is full-bodied and decadently powerful, but with a myriad of aromatic nuances, finishing long, layered and boldly perfumed

The Crazy World of Wine Pricing

My apologies, but again due to the pandemic and other issues I have not have a recent blog on wine. There obviously have been no opportunities for travel yet. One thing that I have noticed is increasing opportunities to buy wine on sale. At the same time I've noticed some changes in the wine world and thought I might provide some additional information on wine purchasing, concentrating on California Chardonnay as I have a very long purchasing history.

Everyone's noticed over the years the price of wine has gone up. Many would say this is consistent with inflation. On the other hand I'm not so sure. 20 or 30 years ago it was fairly easy to buy a exceptional good bottle of Chardonnay for under $20 a bottle and there were a few around $10 a bottle. Over the past 20 or 30 years I have noticed that the average price of Chardonnay in my opinion has gone to astronomical prices. It is very difficult today to get a bottle of Chardonnay that has excellent taste and properties for under $50 a bottle. All of the top-shelf Chardonnays that are available are starting to run right at 80 to $100 a bottle. Some would say this is supply and demand. The case can be made that in general the quality of Chardonnay worldwide has in fact improved and wine making techniques have been improved. At the same time I see wines initially offered at relatively high prices only to be placed on sale later.

The best example I recently experienced is Hanzel Chardonnay from Sonoma. I visited the vineyard probably 30 years ago when Mr. Sessions was the winemaker. At the time, and even today, they were fairly famous. They used to be considered one of the first and best California vineyards that produced Chardonnay wine in what was called the Burgundian method which essentially is fermentation in temperature controlled steel tanks and then aging in temperature controlled Oak barrels with no filtration, instead racking wines to reduce but not eliminate sediment. A long time ago you could get the Hanzel estate Chardonnay somewhere in the vicinity of $35 to $40 a bottle. Over the years that price is eventually gone up to $65 or more per bottle, but the other day it was on sale and I was able to purchase a case at $39 a bottle so clearly something's going on.

Many have said for a long time there's a glut in the wine market, yet the initial prices are for the most part higher than the market will bear and at some point in time the prices come down because nobody wants to pay those kind of prices on release. Seems to me that the wine market should learn a lesson here. If you're making great wine to me it makes more sense to initially price it at something closer to what the market actually wants to pay for it. To keep your wines at a lower price you have to manage your vineyard to keep the expenses as low as you can. I fully understand that over time prices of production increase. I have friends who have owned vineyards and made wine and they tell me all the time how their expenses keep going up. The price for a glass bottle keeps going up. One of the more bothersome prices is with quality corks. Many vineyards have gone to screw caps and artificial corks to control expenses. I do get that. At the same time after around 10 to 15 years the initial capital costs of the land has been paid off so that over time is a reduction in expense. Perhaps being naive those costs even out over the years.

Call me crazy but if a wine was initially offered at $65 a bottle and now is selling for $39 a bottle one of two things is happening. Number one someone in the chain is loosing money and if they keep that up someone goes bankrupt. So far I have not seen any distributors and few vineyards going out of business, though you do see a fair amount of consolidation and larger companies buying out the smaller ones. Number two those being sold at $39 a bottle are in fact providing everyone a profit meaning the initial prices were too high to begin with.

In the end the golden rule is buyer beware. Educate your self on wine prices and do due diligence when purchasing wine. I now am in the habit if I receive an email advertising a wine I may want, or I come across a wine site with what looks like a good price, the first thing I do is research the price to confirm the information. I have published this information before but again the sites I use to compare prices are:

Winesearcher.com They have a cheap Pro version I recommend, Like $20 a year.

1000corks.com

Vivino.com

In addition, there are a few sites where I am a repeat customer as I have purchased a lot of wine from them at what I consider fair and exceptional prices. I list them here with some important comments.

# 1 Wines Til Sold Out, WTSO.com. You sign up on line. Daily you will receive a few emails offering wines for sale. They offer wines that are overstocked and at time the prices are spectacularly low, but I still check. On their website you can go to two areas where you can see what they have in stock for sale, usually about 30 wines at all times, but again the main business model here is to offer the public a wine, and once it is all sold it no longer available unless they get more down the road. So if you get an email and it is a wine you want at a great price you cannot procrastinate and think about it. You need to respond and buy it right then and there. Sometimes the wines are very popular and sell out in minutes other times you have a little more time. My experience is the wine is gone in a matter of minutes so get your order in ASAP or you will loose the opportunity

#2 Wine Exchange, winex.com. They are located in Orange County, California. My brother-in-law lives there and put me onto them years ago. I always get hard to find wines at great prices from them. You can sign up for their email list and once or twice a week they will send you wines available for sale. They are honest, they ship at a reasonable price and I have always received the wine in good condition.

#3 K&L Wines, klwines.com. I recently joined their email “Club” called their advantage membership. You get a few emails a month with very special prices, though to get those prices you do have to sign up. I have recently bought most of wine from them this year as the prices have been very reasonable. They are who I got the Hanzel Estate Chardonnay for $39 a bottle. Interestingly Decanter magazine from Europe had an article in January saying they were the best place in the USA to buy wine. I have known about them for years as for one thing if there is a review from anyone on any wine they sell they post online the full reviews of that wine. I actually use their website to reseach reviews now as it is the easiest site to research reviews of wines. The Decanter article is: https://www.decanter.com/decanter-best/k-and-l-wines-top-buys-from-the-us-452285/

#4 B21 wine, b-21.com. They are located in Tarpon Springs, Florida and because they are in Florida they charge super cheap shipping, and in some cases free shipping. I used to buy a fair amount from them as did a lot of people on the island, so much in fact they shipped the wine on a regular basis here in a temperature controlled truck. I heard they don’t do that anymore but it is worthwhile to check their price on any wine you might be considering as when buying wine you have to take into consideration the shipping price as free shipping significantly can reduce your per bottle cost and must be taken into consideration.

#5 Stevie Bobes with Wine Ambasseur in Beane, France, https://wineambassadeur.com/. Stevie is my go to guy in France for Burgundy wines. I have been using him for a few years and he will send you an email twice a year with a very reasonably priced selection of burgundy wines shipped by him direct to your door. A lot of French people here in my neighborhood have been buying his wines for years and no complaints. What he primarily does is fine exceptionally made Burgundy wines made by smaller vineyards and new and upcoming wine makers just starting out at prices you can afford. He just came to Florida during the Holidays and sponsored a few wine tastings and folks were able to buy some exceptional wines.

#6 Cave Ulysse, Margaux, France https://www.caveulysse.com/ Dominque at Cave Ulysse is my go to guy for Bordeaux wine at a great price. Located in downtown Margaux he has for me the largest selection of both current and old Bordeaux wines as well as other French wines. It takes days to read through his inventory. You can join his email list and you will get a few emails a year. His site is available in English and the emails even though in French will be translated by Google.

So I hope this information is helpful for you and please research your favorite wines and pay the lowest price possible.

Seven Vintages of Screaming Eagle

One of my favorite movies is 48 Hours with Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy starring as cops reluctanly paired as partners for 48 hours.  They are chasing down some criminal and they find a ticket to claim his car in a nearby parking garage so they go there and present the ticket to the clerk to pick up the car.  The clerk looks at the ticket and says "you do realize this car has been here for 3 years?" whereapon Nick Nolte responds "Yea, I've been busy".  So my apologies for a 2 month delay in articles on the blog but I am back in the saddle so to speak with a great one on Sceaming Eagle that I was fortunate to be able to attend a charity event and taste 7 years of these wines.  Please enjoy.  I will try and get at least one article out a month as things start opening up a little post Covid. 

Seven Vintages of Screaming Eagle Dinner

“We hear of the conversion of water into wine at the marriage in Cana as of a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards, and which incorporates itself with the grapes, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.” Benjamin Franklin

Amelia Island's answer to Barbettes Feast and the Three Emperor's Dinner was held starting with a Friday night dinner as a prelude to the epic vertical tasting of Screaming Eagle on Saturday night. A gourmet's dinner was prepared by a local chef matched with outstanding wines shared by all. Saturday night the Screaming Eagle tasting was held with dinner prepared by Chef Jared Gilbert of the Jacksonville Capital Grille who contributed the dinner to support Micah's Place home for victims of domestic violence. All funds from the dinner were donated to Micah's  Place and were matched by an anonymous donor.

For those unfamiliar with these historical events The Three Emperors Dinner was prepared by chef Adolphe Dugléré at the request of King William I of Prussia who frequented his cafe, Cafe Anglais, Paris, France during the Exposition Universelle on June 7, 1867. He requested a meal to be remembered and at which no expense was to be spared for himself and his guests, Tsar Alexander II of Russia, plus his son the tsarevitch (who later became Tsar Alexander III), and Prince Otto von Bismarck. The cellar master, Claudius Burdel, was instructed to accompany the dishes with the greatest wines in the world, including a Roederer champagne in a special lead glass bottle, so Tsar Alexander could admire the bubbles and golden color.

The banquet consisted of 16 courses with eight wines served over eight hours. The cost of the meal was 400 francs per person (over €9,000 in 2018 prices). The high price of the wines served contributed to the high price of the meal.  Of interest in the late 20th century this dinner was recreated as best it could be and was attended by Angelo Gaja from Italy.

Babette's Feast is a short story Written in 1958 by Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke. Beautiful but pious sisters Martine and Philippa grow to spinsterhood under the wrathful eye of their strict pastor father on the forbidding and desolate coast of Jutland, until one day, Philippa's former suitor sends a Parisian refugee named Babette to serve as the family cook. Babette's lavish celebratory banquet tempts the family's dwindling congregation, who abjure such fleshly pleasures as fine foods and wines.

These two dinners exemplify the highest form of culinary art and demonstrate that great food and great wine are to be enjoyed by all. From the emperor's of France to the peasants of Jutland exceptional food and wine are to be enjoyed and celebrated by all. Saturday September 29th now joins The Three Emperor's Dinner and Babette's feast as one of the greatest historical dinner's ever done that pleased the palates of many while providing help for those who are less fortunate.

Friday Night Celebration First Dinner

Beau Vignes Reserve Chardonnay 2014 Rated 95 by community tasters

Elegance and sophistication blesses this offering. Perfectly balanced with a mild acid firmness enables this chardonnay to stand up and lay down into a very easily drank wine. The bouquet produces Aromas and tones of honeydew, spring flowers with tropical accents caress the body of this chardonnay. There is also pear and apple on the nose which carries over to a fruit bomb taste balancing all of the above flavors with a mild tartness. There is light oak with vanilla coming across the taste. Sourced from the world-renowned “Baccigalupi” vineyard, this block one hillside old clone vine is known for producing character-driven fruit. Unrefined and unfiltered allows this chardonnay to pull layered fruit tones through your pallet providing a creamy textured finish. The 2014 Beau Vigne Reserve Chardonnay will drink well from 2015 until the bottom of 2020.

Ruinart "Dom Ruinart" Brut Rosé Champagne 2002 WS 95 James Stuckling

With a true 'eye of partridge' nose, this has the boldness of the 2002 vintage and is unique in that the wine is based on 80% Chardonnay as a top rosé Champagne. The aromas are floral with sweet decayed rosehip and a clear toasty edge showing through, as well as fine wild red fruits and some peach and stone fruits. I also picked up some effervescent cherry flavor. There's a completely unique style here in terms of the chardonnay making a statement of gentle nougat, while some dried red berries lurk beneath. The palate has a precise, sleeve-like long texture and is really focused and even. The freshness is startling, meanwhile, and this really looks very young and unevolved. There's some very gentle tannin in the mix here, adding nutty toasted hazelnut elements on the finish which to me was a little short. Acidity is pronounced and, having the last say, keeps everything really fresh. Drink now as there are hints of aging beginning to show.

Dom Pérignon "P2" Brut Champagne 2000 97 WS/James Suckling

A Champagne that has turned to a very fine texture with dried pineapple and lemon character. Medium to full body, complex and flavorful palate. Shows length and beauty. Pie crust, cooked apple, and lemon rind continue on the finish. A truly great 2000 with a combination of finesse and strength. It’s very, very minerally to a point of sea salt. It was disgorged in first half of 2016. A beautiful nose of baked peach, lime blossom and graphite draws as well as apple tart draws you into the glass of this stunning 2000, whose flavors of brioche, salted almond, and spun honey are wrapped around sleek, mouthwatering acidity and a streak of smoke-tinged mineral. There is mild tart acid and it has a pleasant prolonged finish. This deftly meshed Champagne is hard to stop sipping. Drink now through 2030.

Morlet "La Proportion Dorée" Sonoma County White Blend 2014 RP 100

A perfect wine is the 2014 La Proportion Dorée, a blend of 65% Semillon, 24% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle. This 650-case cuvée is from 29-year-old, dry-farmed vines and was barrel-fermented. The wine is absolutely out of this world. With a light greenish gold color and a killer nose of lanolin, caramelized citrus, honeysuckle, orange marmalade, and candle wax, the wine displays great acidity, a magnificent, massive, full-bodied mouthfeel, and seems to come across like a Sonoma County version of a dry Haut Brion blanc. It was paired with a cold lobster salad bisque dish and matched well. I also found it to have a complex nose and taste including passion fruit and pear. It had a long finish. This is singular wine - profound, compelling, whatever! It should drink well for at least 10 years if you can resist its early charms. Drink now through 2026.

Dominus Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend 2006 RP 96

Very deep garnet-purple color. A wonderfully perfumed nose of violets, crushed blackberries, black cherries, mace, and cloves leading into some smoked meat and mocha aromas with swirling. In short, a very complex flavor profile and I detected a hint of petrol like you see in a Riesling. There was also cigar, hickory smoke as well as an overall smoky taste Very structured on the palate with high acidity, a medium to a high level of fine tannins which were smooth and a full body providing plenty of flesh in the mid-palate. Very long layered finish that to me was elegant.

Morlet "Morlet Estate" St. Helena Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 RP 97

From Luc Morlet's own estate just north of St. Helena, the 2013 Morlet Estate comes across like a first-growth Pauillac. Again 100% Cabernet Sauvignon with creamy blackcurrants and blackberry fruit, some licorice, graphite, and background oak, the wine displays excellent minerality, superb fruit intensity, and a multi-dimensional mouthfeel. A complex nose and taste with cedar, cigar box, and hints of sweetness and chocolate. The acid structure is low to moderate and there is a smooth tannin backbone so It should drink well for at least 25-30 years

Rieussec, Sauternes 2001 WS 100 JS

This is a crazy wine! It’s sweet, but not sugary. Mushrooms, furniture wax, spices then dried oranges, lemons, pineapples, and just a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied, with great density and power, yet balanced and refined. So amazing, but give this five to six years still. Pull the cork in 2016. Like lemon curd on the nose, turning to honey and caramel. Full-bodied and very sweet, with a fantastic concentration of ripe and botrytized fruit, yet balanced and refined. Electric acidity. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is absolutely mind-blowing. This is the greatest young Sauternes James Suckling has ever tasted. Best after 2010. Wine of the Year 2004

7 Vintages of Screaming Eagle Dinner

Hall "Jack's Masterpiece" 2015 RP 100

When you taste wines of this magnitude in my opinion you need to compare them with other wines who may not be as famous but are close enough and in addition perhaps have a lower price point.  I have been with wine experts multiple times and heard the comment "this wine is as good as wine X and costs only 10%".  I ask them oh so you have tasted wine X in order to make that judgement only to have them tell me no.  Sorry, but unless you taste wines side by side you cannot make those comments, hence using Jack's Masterpiecee here which stood up to the Screaming Eagles very well.  Jack's Masterpiece has lots of fruit on the nose with a good toast of cedar and cigar. A very velvety smooth wine with some spicy tannins. Somewhat higher acid than others but well balanced and well-integrated with the alcohol. To me Parkers description is right on. Of interest, this wine was the first red opened with some intent on comparing the Screaming Eagles against it. Sort of using it as a benchmark so to speak. The fact that this wine would be chosen to compare Screaming Eagle against says a lot.

98-100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The other 2015 I tasted from barrel, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Jack’s Masterpiece is another brilliant wine, with more charcoal, burning embers, an almost Graves-like characteristic, a dense purple color, rich crème de cassis and blackberry fruit, a full-bodied, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a long, long finish. This should turn out to be a prodigious effort from Hall, capable of being drunk young, but for those with some patience, also cellared for three decades or more

Screaming Eagle 2011 RP 94 99 JS 94 ST

Most raters mention a floral bouquet and taste. To me, my first impression was rose petals as well as lavender. As Stephen Tanzer stated it has a gentle oak influence on what I described as light oak. There is definitely a cherry profile in the wine. I also found hints of lightly smoked meat which others described as cedar and cigar box flavors. The wine is well balanced with moderate acid and a nice moderate finish.

99 points James Suckling

Mind-blowing nose with spearmint, cloves, and blackberries. Floral, too. Full body with phenomenal detail featuring delicate but intense blackberry, espresso, toasted oak, caramel, and dark chocolate. Cedar and sweet tobacco. Finesse all over. The wine of the vintage? Everything is there. Great energy. Best in 2018. 

94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright ruby-red. Highly perfumed scents of cassis, musky cigar tobacco, and bitter chocolate, lifted by floral and cedar nuances. Youthfully tight today but boasts terrific youthful intensity and lavender lift to its dark berry and cigar box flavors. Broad tannins saturate the palate on the very long back end. Winemaker Nick Gislason uses five 'core coopers,' seeking a gentle oak influence. A star of the vintage, with a serious structure for mid-term aging.

91-94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Made from a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2011 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon is a sexy, upfront, precociously styled wine exhibiting a dense ruby/purple color as well as lots of licorice, camphor, black currant jam, new oak, and spice box characteristics. Dense, rich and impressive, the early drinking charm of the 2011 vintage gives it immediate appeal. It should keep for 10-15 years. (RP)

Screaming Eagle 2009 97 WS 96 RP 96 ST

I found this year to be heavily tannic but at same time it was balanced but when first approached the tannins just jump out on you. I found smoky flavors in the wine including cigar and cedar. There was also chocolate and berry fruit such as blackberry. I found a hint of cassis. It had a nice finish. Moderate alcohol and acid making it food-friendly went very well with a spicy gumbo.

97 points Wine Spectator

A stunningly seamless effort, rich and elegant, this delivers perfumed black currant aromas that are supple and graceful, building and gaining with subtle tannins, laced with loamy earth. A dash of black licorice marks the long finish. Drink now through 2028

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2009 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon (87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot) displays a slightly peppery nose, but ratchets up the level of concentration with pure black currant and black cherry fruit as well as licorice and lead pencil shavings. This beautiful, dense, full-bodied 2009 is exceptionally elegant, pure and seamless. Drink it over the next 20-25 years.

96 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Good bright ruby-red. Vibrant aromas of crushed cassis, ripe redcurrant, licorice, bitter chocolate, tobacco, and spearmint. Smooth and impressively concentrated, with a hint of medicinal austerity to the flavors of black fruits, violet, bitter chocolate, and menthol. Penetrating, gripping wine with great flavor intensity. Powerfully structured too, finishing with firm tannins and outstanding, slowly building, juicy length. The pH here is 3.8, according to estate manager Armand de Maigret, but the wine boasts an outstanding lift.

Screaming Eagle 2014 JS 99 RP 97 WS 95

I pretty much disagreed with most on this one. During our dinner between the 2014 and the 2009, at least half of the diners preferred the 2014. The professional ratings are fairly consistent also. I just felt this wine had a lighter nose and taste than the others. To me, there was some lack of tannin and body. I did pick up a moderate amount of smoky flavors but again to me it just was not that powerful a wine. I also felt the finish was a little bitter. I would agree more with Parker on this one as he did notice less structure and mass as say compared to the 2013.

99 points James Suckling

Extremely perfumed with blackberries, currants, and flowers. Rose petals, too. Seductive. Medium to full body. It grows on the palate with an extremely long finish that goes on for minutes. The tannins are ultra-fine and polished. Purity and essence to this. Feminine yet wild and unpredictable. Available in March. Better in 2021

97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2014 Screaming Eagle is an 880-case blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. The telltale sign of this iconic wine is its extraordinary purity of crème de cassis fruit, which is displayed abundantly in the 2014. It doesn’t quite have the structure and mass of the 2013, but this sexy, up-front, opaque ruby/purple-colored wine is seamlessly constructed, full-bodied, and has a long finish with silky tannins. This seems to float across that palate with that great fruit purity

95 points Wine Spectator

Beautifully crafted, young and energetic, with a vibrant core of rich blackberry, gravelly earth, and smoky, toasty oak. Lively acidity and firm tannins provide a backbone, promising a long life ahead.

Screaming Eagle 2013 JS 100 RP 97

On the nose and taste I found an abundance of smoky meat and barbecue. The tannins were exceptionally smooth and balanced along with balanced acid and alcohol. Again I found I agreed more with Parker on this year and it was one of my favorites of the evening.100 points James Suckling

Breathtaking aromas of blueberry, wet earth, black truffle, vine bark and lavender undertones. Full-bodied, yet tight and compressed with fabulous savory and dark fruit flavors. It lasts for minutes on the finish. The classicism in this wine is second to none. Incredible subtlety. Lovely austerity. Beauty in simplicity. Glorious to taste, yet a wine for decades ahead.

97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2013 Screaming Eagle flagship wine is a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc. As one might expect, the purity of the cassis, which is always a hallmark of this estate and wine, is well-displayed in this beauty. Dense purple in color, it offers up some floral notes intermixed with damp earth, blackcurrant jam, blackberry and hints of licorice and incense. This reminds me somewhat of the 2010 Screaming Eagle. Full-bodied, rich, but perfectly balanced, it’s another terrific example of this iconic estate. It should drink well for 30 more years

Sceaming Eagle 2005 98 RP 95 WS 94 ST

To me another heavy floral nose and taste with a predominance of lavender. I picked up hints of cassis. Well structured with strong tannin and body. A moderate amount of alcohol but well balanced with other attributes of the wine. A nice pleasant prolonged finish. A very smooth wine. As the oldest Cabernet of the evening is holding up very well for being 13 years old. It is still in it's youth.

98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, which I loved last year, has gotten even better, something I saw across the board with the bottled 2005s (a superb year for Bordeaux varietals). This blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc was aged in 67% new French oak for 21 months. It possesses a gorgeous, Pauillac-like bouquet of cedar, creme de cassis, licorice, smoke, and earth as well as sweet tannins, full body, fabulous layers of fruit, a noble sweetness, and outstanding length. This 2005 can be drunk now or cellared for 25+ years.

95 points Wine Spectator

Pure, rich and concentrated, offering a wonderful mix of cedar-laced currant, black cherry and wild berry fruit that's both intense and supple, with excellent depth, focus and persistence on the finish.

94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Full ruby-red. Pure aromas of cassis, mocha and nutty oak, with bright red berry and tobacco notes emerging with air. Super ripe and thick but with strong acidity giving sharp definition to the middle palate. The blackcurrant and smoky oak flavors are sexed up by subtle hints of caramel, spices and burning cinders as the wine opens in the glass. I love the balance of lush texture and firm acidity, not to mention the wine's sheer intensity of flavor without excesses, but this highly distinctive cabernet really needs at least six or seven years of patience to come into full harmony.

Screaming Eagle 2012 100 JS 100 RP 98 ST 97 WS

For most of us this was the wine of the night. There was a fair amount of discussion if you were on your death bed would you want this or the 1945 Mouton to be your last taste of wine. Of all the wines tonight this had the most unique nose and flavor profile. Lots of floral notes on the nose including cherry, pear, pencil, and flint. To be sure very complex. A velvet smooth body with moderate well structured tannin and acid. To me perfectly balanced. It had a great long finish which I would describe as tangy.

100 points James Suckling

Incredible purity to this wine with fresh spearmint, lavender, sage and blackcurrants. Full body, mind-blowing structure, depth and length. What complexity. A new bench market for Napa Valley. This is the new legend, like the 1958 Beaulieu Vineyard George de Latour Private Reserve (my vintage and a wine my father and I drank many times early in my life). Savory. Needs at least 10 years to come around. Try in 2025. A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 820 cases made. Such precision, decadence and layers of sexy fruit. 

100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The perfect 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Screaming Eagle is composed of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc. Made in the classic, iconic Screaming Eagle style that the original proprietress, Jean Philips, first showcased in the early 1990s, before the winery was sold to Stan Kroenke, the inky/purple-colored, seamless 2012 possesses an extraordinary set of aromatics consisting of pure blackcurrant liqueur, licorice, acacia flowers, graphite and a subtle hint of new oak. Full-bodied, opulent and voluptuous, this profound wine is as prodigious as I thought it would be last year when tasted from barrel. It should age effortlessly for 20 or more years

95-98 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Bright medium ruby. Very deep aromas of blueberry, flowers, licorice and wild herbs show a medicinal reserve. Thick but vibrant, with deep, fully ripe, layered flavors of blackberry and blueberry syrup and graphite minerality dominating the middle palate. Offers compelling sappiness and definition. Noble tannins spread out to saturate the entire palate on the inexorable, steadily building finish. Still an infant but utterly seamless from the outset.

97 points Wine Spectator

A seamless, graceful, ebullient effort that's pure, even exotic, with dusty blackberry and wild berry flavors at the center. Though the fruit is broad and expressive, this is amazingly refined, supple and persistent overall. Tempting now for the expansive fruit definition, this should only gain over the next decade. Drink now through 2029.

Screaming Eagle 2010 100 RP 97 ST 96 WS

Nice smooth pleasant nose and taste with floral flavors and again a rose petal and lavender taste profile along with cigar smoke and cedar hints. Moderate tannin but a more pronounced acid profile but balanced out well. Again with this wine I find myself pretty much agreeing with Parker's description of the wine.

100 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Utter perfection, the 2010 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon (a 610-case blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc; 14.5% natural alcohol) boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with a staggering bouquet of spring flowers, graphite, creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice and subtle toast in the background. Opulent and full-bodied with a multidimensional personality, gorgeous purity and a stunning, flawless texture, this spectacular wine is among the wines of the vintage.

97 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Brilliant ruby-red. Urgent aromas of crushed boysenberry, wild herbs, licorice and spearmint are complemented by sexy oak tones. Densely packed and electric, with great energy to the highly concentrated, pliant flavors of black fruits, cocoa powder and flowers. Still quite youthfully backward, but the inexorable slowly mounting finish and big but noble tannins suggest a long and glorious evolution in bottle. Owing to the small clusters, thick skins and concentration of tannins, this wine got a longer elevage than usual, with the bottling done at the end of November 2012. 97+ (ST) (6/2013)

96 points Wine Spectator

No denying the power and finesse of this wine, which is very Bordeaux-like in its rustic, muscle-bound personality, somewhat atypical of this vineyard early on. Combines deep, firm, rich and potent flavors built around a core of earthy currant, cedar and tobacco leaf, with subtle mocha touches. No denying the power and finesse of this wine, which is very Bordeaux-like in its rustic, muscle-bound personality, somewhat atypical of this vineyard early on. Best from 2015 through 2030

And with dessert the following offerings:

Louis XIII Cognac 95 WE

Wow, too me this was an exotic Cognac! Lots of sweet cherry, pineapple, leche, and chocolate in the nose a taste. Really smooth and silky on the palate. Just an exotic different Cognac with essentially no rough edges.

90-95 points Wine Enthusiast

The aroma features fig, prune, pastry dough, honey and maple scents. On palate, Louis XIII offers long and intensely woody flavors; additional layers of flavor, including figs, dates, prunes, dried apricot and vanilla, are featured at midpalate. Finishes elegantly, warm, smooth and more oaky than fruity succulent.

Chateau d'Yquem 2011 99 WS 98 JS 98 ST 94 RP

Lots of apple, pear, pineapple, and grapefruit on the nose and taste. Just a very complex fruity flavor profile that is well balanced. The body was a little light but that made the wine not overbearing, one could say elegant.

99 points Wine Spectator

A lovely, creamy, tropical style, with mango, papaya and guava notes lending a caressing feel, while singed almond and warm piecrust accents blossom through the lush finish. Just when you think that's all there is, toasted coconut, fig, orange blossom and persimmon details kick in, lending length and dimension. The finish is ridiculously long. Best from 2020 through 2060.

98 points James Suckling

Crazy minerality to this, with lots of dried mango, pineapple and papaya on the nose. Botrytis-spice and nutmeg undertones. Full body, very sweet, with superb depth of fruit and richness. It goes on for minutes. Turns dense and concentrated on the palate. Speechless. Better in 2019

98 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Luminous golden yellow. Cool, pure aromas of white peach, honeyed mango, guava nectar, white flowers and saffron are complicated by elements of crushed stone and spicy lemony botrytis. Suave and intensely flavored, with mineral-spiced apple, mango, passion fruit and grapefruit flavors offering outstanding purity, precision, and depth. The brisk but harmonious acidity gives this great Sauternes a penetrating quality and provides a powerful spine to the very deep flavors, making it seem less opulent than it really is. This Yquem has the depth of the 2007 but boasts even greater purity and focus. Finishes bright and extremely long, with repeating suggestions of white flowers and lemony botrytis. Though it lacks the depth of the 2001 or the opulence of the 2009 at a similar stage of development, this is one of my favorite young Yquems ever: it will age spectacularly well. (ID)

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Château Yquem 2011 has a complex bouquet, one that is very well defined with hints of petrol infusing the rich honeyed fruit, later melted wax and fresh peach coming through. The palate is well balanced with a strong viscous entry. There is plenty of residual sugar here and I would have preferred a little more acidic bite to offset that rich, decadent finish (this is despite their correct policy of blending non-botrytized berries in order to increase acidity.) Powerful, burly even, I would give this several years in the cellar to allow this Yquem to mellow and enter its stride.

Chateau d'Yquem 2014 99 WS 98 JS 98 RP 98 WS $400

Clearly the Sauterns of the evening. Everyone raved about the wine. The flavor profile is a smoky pear, apple flavor. It has a well structure and firm body with all the flavors being complex and well balanced. Parker mentions harmony in the wine that I strongly agree with. Just a great Sauterns to end the evening on paired with Creme Brulee.

97-99 points Wine Enthusiast

Apricot tones with lively acidity give this rich wine a vein of freshness. Pear and white peach notes offer weight, while a lime backbone brings levity. There is a richness from the botrytis that is lifted by this wines delicious freshness

98 points James Suckling

Very subtle Yquem on the nose with dried pineapple, lemons, green apples and hints of botrytis. The palate grabs you by the arms and shows you superb concentration of spices, dried fruit, phenolics and incredible energy. Nothing is like this from Sauternes this vintage! Drink whenever you like. Spellbinding

96-98 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The Château Yquem 2014 was picked over 9 weeks this year, with one-quarter of the grapes picked prior to 15 September. It delivers 134 grams per liter residual sugar and 7.3 grams per liter tartaric acid, with a pH 3.60. It has a captivating bouquet (I know...I know...what else were you expecting) But it entrances with its pure, wild honey notes mixed with almond and white chocolate scents, bestowed with beguiling delineation and focus. The palate is very poised with the acidity nigh on perfect. Occasionally an Yquem only reveals its components parts at this early juncture, necessitates conjecture. However the 2014 has a sense of harmony and completeness already, as if the élevage is merely there to usher it on to its finished state. There is undeniably great depth here, perhaps less conspicuous than other vintages because of that silver thread of acidity: notes of lemon sherbet, orange zest, shaved ginger and again, a few "flakes' of white chocolate. It is extremely long with tenderness rather than power on the finish. It's not quite up there in the rarefied heights of say, the 2001 or 2009, but it is what we call in the trade, "the business

98 points Wine Spectator

A stunner, sporting tropical mango and papaya notes that glide along beautifully, while heather honey, pineapple chutney and toasted coconut flavors fill in through the finish. Delivers an amazing mouthfeel that is both creamy and intense, with a pretty inner floral brightness that contrasts with the fruit. Best from 2020 through 2045

Broadbent Madeira Malmsey(or Malvasia) 1933 91 WS

The sweetest style of Madeira. Malvasia vineyards are located all around the island, planted at lower elevations towards the ocean. The wines are dark, rich and concentrated, with coffee-caramel flavors. Malmsey production has always been small, and as a result vintage Malmseys are very sought after. Madeira takes its name from the island of Madeira, which sits in the Atlantic about 380 miles west of Morocco. It was discovered in 1419 by the Portuguese mariner João Gonçalves Zarco in the service of Prince Henry the Navigator. Malvasia vines were planted around 1453, and as ships stopped at the island on their way to the New World in subsequent decades, they invariably loaded barrels of wine as ballast for their voyages. Overall to me it was the wine of the night. I found this wine to be close if not spiritual. It clearly demonstrated how well a wine can age and what pleasure comes from drinking wine that has in fact aged well. The tannins smooth out and the wine becomes a hedonistic pleasure.