Showing posts with label Sine Qua Non. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sine Qua Non. Show all posts

Saturday, February 28, 2026

Pour Boys Wine Group - OTBN 2026

Pour Boys Wine Group - OTBN - Open That Bottle Night 2026 

For the fifteenth year in a row, our Pour Boys Wine Group gathered together to celebrate OTBN - Open That Bottle Night. As is customary, the annual OTBN wine event – Open That Bottle Night OTBN is held on the last Saturday night in February. This year was the 25th such event since its creation in 2000 by Dorothy Gaither and John Brecher wine columnists for the Wall Street Journal. OTBN was established to set aside to share and compare special bottles of wine, that have been held in our cellars, waiting for the special occasion to open, that hasn’t yet come, so as to eventually succumb to the inevitable, its time, open that bottle (to)night! 

Tonight's wine flight offered an extraordinary selection of wines including no less than five 100 point perfect score labels!  While we don't subscribe to the ratings and rankings as our true north, they do provide a valid benchmark for judging a label.

Last year, we all traveled to Charleston (SC) for a getaway weekend to visit fellow Pour Boy Bill and Beth as featured in this blogpost - OTBN 2025 in Charleston.

OTBN 2026 was our fifteenth straight year, since 2011, that we have celebrated together,  Last year we traveled to Charleston (SC) for a getaway weekend to visit fellow Pour Boy Bill and Beth.  That an abbreviated replay of our OTBN - Open That Bottle Night - 2023, which was also held in Charleston, as featured in these pages in this blogpost, excerpted below. 

Invariable, OTBN provides an opportunity to gather with like minded friends and share and compare a selection of spectacular wines!!!
 

The last two years we followed the seasons, striving to head south during the winter, and back north during the other seasons. After our October gathering, it was decided Chicago was a more amenable meeting point this year so we agreed to host on the traditional end of February date.  

This year we were joined by regular’s Lyle, Dan, and John (below), who came in from Williamsburg, and Eric & Cathy who just returned from a tour in Italy. 

We were joined this year by son Ryan and two of his wine buddies, Brian W and Mark C, and son Alec. 


My remarkable wife Linda, loves to cook, and single-handedly prepared a wonderful dinner of tenderloin Beef Bourguignon, an extensive medley of roasted vegetables, pomme purée, and a course of ramekins of lobster medallions with fresh croutons and butter, a fresh mixed salad and extensive charcuterie and cheese course. 

She also spent the previous day preparing the Chocolate Mousse and Beef Bourguignon sauce. 


 

Prior to dinner there was an extensive selection of artisan cheeses, charcuterie, fresh fruits, mixed nuts, artisan chocolates and shrimp cocktail.  


 

As to be expected, we had a fabulous extensive flight of extraordinary wines - Champagne, whites, reds, and dessert wines.

As he is known to do, “Champagne John” brought two exceptional single vintage Champagnes.  

Krug Brut 2011 

The final blend of this vintage is forty-six percent Pinot Noir, thirty-seven percent Chardonnay and seventeen percent Pinot Meunier. 

This was a star in a challenging vintage ... It was rated  98 points by James Suckling, 97 by Jeb Dunnuck and Wine Spectator, 96 by John Gilman and 94 by Decanter. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4926833

https://www.krug.com/en-int 

Tattinger Champagne de Comtes Grands Cru Blanc de Blanc 2007 

Another highly acclaimed top rated label - this was rated 98 points by James Suckling, 97 and Cellar Selection by Wine Enthusiast, 96 by Decanter, Vinous and Int'l Wine Review, and 95 by Wine Advocate and John Gilman. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1555753

https://www.taittinger.com/en 

In addition, for the cheese and salad course shrimp and lobster, there was a diverse selection of interesting white wines - a traditional Napa Chardonnay, two Rhône blends and a Spanish Priorat. . 


Merryvale 'Silhouette' Napa Valley Chardonnay 2017

This Napa Valley label is sourced from “the best Chardonnay blocks on the historic Stanly Ranch and Hyde vineyards” in Carneros.  This bottling represents the best Chardonnay fruit of the vintage. 

The wine captivates with aromas of orange blossoms, jasmine, and candied pineapple, evolving as it opens. Full on the palate, the unctuous mouthfeel is brilliantly supported by the wine’s natural acidity, leading into a long finish that showcases the traditional minerality and freshness of Stanly Ranch.

This premium limited release label is packaged in a distinctive heavy painted bottle showing the 'silhouette' images of the producers. 
 
 
Winemaker Notes - The 2017 Silhouette Chardonnay has an intense nose filled with exotic fruit notes including pineapple, stone fruit and tangerine, and a fragrant vanilla finish. The mouth is very round with a nice sweetness and very clean minerality. The wine is dense and ample with a touch of sweetness and citrus (yuzu) finish. A very balanced and elegant wine with a stylish touch of oak and a beautiful finish.

It was rated 95 points by Jeb Dunnuck, and 92 points by James Suckling, Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast and Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.

The wine fermented in barrel with native yeasts and full malolactic. It was aged 16 months with the full lees in 40% new French oak. 700 cases were produced. 
 
 
 
Lillian California Rousanne 2015

This is produced by Maggie Harrison, legendary winemaker who gained fame working at Sine Qua Non, known for ultra-premium Shiraz. This white wine is a unique Rhône Valley varietal, Rousanne.


From the winery: "The goal with all Lillian wines — Roussanne, Syrah, Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon — is to work with these historical, noble varieties in a sun-drenched place but raise the wines in such a way that gives the wines levity.  

Lillian is also winemaker for the ultra-premium Antica Terra, in Dundee, OR, who shares the winery and tasting room with Lillian.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2739240

https://www.lillianwinery.com/

https://www.lillianwinery.com/lillian-wines/

E. Guigal “La Doriane” Condrieu (Viognier) 2014

This is from iconic prolific producer E. Guigal, known for their vast portfolio of wines - this Northern Rhône Viognier is a blend of five-choice parcels from the Condrieu appellation, vinified separately and blended just before bottling.. 

It the was rated 96-97 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 by Wine Spectator, and 93 by James Suckling and Vinous. 

Parker’s Wine advocate writes - “The 2014 Condrieu la Doriane is a sensational white with full-bodied richness, awesome purity and integrated acidity. Deep, rich, lengthy and profound, it’s up there with some of the greatest Condrieu ever made.”

Winemaker Notes - “La Doriane is a luxury cuvée of Condrieu that E. Guigal has produced since the 1994 vintage. A great success since the firstvintage, the wine always seems richly oaked and very fruity when young, transforming in 3-4 years into a seamlessly complex,aromatic and vibrant wine. La Doriane contradicts the accepted wisdom that Condrieu does not age well.” 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2118402

Another unique white varietal … 

Laurel Blanc Clos i Terrasses Priorat 2023
 
 
This is the artwork of producer/winemaker Daphne Glorian, the visionary behind Clos i Terrasses, long celebrated for her exceptional red wines in Priorat. The Priorat wine region in northeastern Spain, is 90 miles southwest of Barcelona in the Catalonian province of Tarragona. It is the only other appellation besides the Spanish region of Rioja to achieve the highest quality level in Spain, Denominación d’Origen Qualificada (DOQ).

In 2023, Glorian expanded with this inaugural release of Laurel Blanc, crafted from Priorat’s Clos i Terrasses estate vineyard  on a recently acquired 13-hectare parcel in Les Manyetes near Gratallops on the Mediterranean coast.

The Laurel Blanc 2023 is a blend crafted with 85% Garnacha Blanca, 8% Chenin Blanc, and 7% Viognier. The grapes were hand-harvested in early meticulously destemmed and gently pressed using a manual press. Fermentation occurred with native yeasts in a combination of 400-liter barrels and amphorae, where the wine matured for seven months. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/w?5283639

https://www.europeancellars.com/wine/laurel/

Moving to the dinner course of Beef Borgogne and roasted vegetables we had a broad diverse flight of exceptional reds … 


In the true OTBN tradition of opening bottles that have long been held in the cellar waiting for that special moment, I served three aged vintage classics from Napa, Bordeaux and McLaren Valley …. Both 1986’s, at forty years were still in good condition, label, foil, and importantly, the corks and fill levels. Same for the 1990 vintage release. 
 

Dominus Napa Valley Red Blend 1986 

This classic wine is the US Napa Valley offering from this legendary French producer Christian Moueix - owner of an extensive collection of some of the world's greatest vineyard properties. He founded the Napanook vineyards and winery in 1983 on the historic property that George Yount planted some of the very first vines in Napa Valley back in 1838.
  
This is the next to last bottle of a full case I acquired on release. Opening one every couple of years, it wasn’t until bottle 8 or so that it started to show its true potential. The last bottle opened was past prime and at the end of its drinking window. This one, a couple of years later was still approachable and enjoyable, more so on day two. 

Back in those days, from 1983 to 1991, Dominus labels were were a ‘artist series’ of pencil, chalk or watercolor drawings of the legendary producer, Christian Moueix, making for a fun collection. We still hold bottles from those years 1983, ‘86, ‘88 and ‘90, at least. 
 
In a horizontal tasting of the 1986 vintage releases Robert Parker's Wine Advocate wrote - "One of the richest, densest, most concentrated offerings in the entire tasting, it also proved to be one of the best-balanced, with better integration of acidity and tannin than many 1986s exhibited." He rated this 93 points.   
 
At forty years, the label, foil and most importantly the fill level and cork were still in ideal condition, taking into account their age! The cork extracted entirely intact using an 'Ahso' two pronged cork puller. 
 
 
 

Chateau Montrose St Estephe 1986 

Interesting mini-horizontal tasting of these two 40 year olds wines. I recall reviews of the 1986 Bordeaux release and pundits talking about how long it would take for those wines to be ready to drink. Parker said his grandchildren would benefit from aging some of those labels. 
 
Tonight, this was very much approachable, enjoyable, still in its drinking window, with a few years yet to go. 
 
This bottle was acquired upon release back in 1988 and has been stored in our cellar ever since. At forty years, the label, foil and most importantly the fill level and cork were still in good condition. The cork was partially saturated but still extracted intact using an 'ahso' two pronged cork puller. It might have been retrieved using a traditional corkscrew but is clearly nearing the end of its functional life.  
 
Decanter rated this 98 points and wrote, "This is a masterclass in the ageing aromas of Bordeaux."
 
Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (67%
), with Merlot (27%
) and Cabernet Franc (6%
). 

Wine Spectator rated it 95 points and a *Spectator Selection*. Wine Advocate gave it 92 points. 
 
We drove by the Montrose Chateau estate and vineyards during our Bordeaux region tour in 2019.  
 
 
 
http://www.chateau-montrose.com/ 

Penfold’s Grange Hermitage 1990 

This is part of our special birthyear vintage collection where we hold several bottles from the birth year vintages of our kids. This label in particular is special as it was also Wine Spectator’s #1 Wine of the Year back in 1995 and was rated 100 points, and a near perfect 99 points by Decanter.
 
Penfolds Grange has been awarded over 30 perfect scores from top wine critics around the world, including 100 points from both Wine Spectator and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate for the 2008 vintage and eight perfect scores for the 2018 vintage.

In addition to serving this at son Alec and Vivianna’s wedding celebration, we also toasted their engagement with this label as well. We’ve featured it in these previous wine posts - 


In a tasting back in September 26, 2020, it was WOTN - Wine of the Night in a tasting.
In a previous tasting in October, 2019 ... 

https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/10/parents-son-dinner-features-birth-year.html

October 26, 2019 - Dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, flawless, elegant, polished, harmonious, perfectly balanced, silky smooth flavors of concentrated black berry and black raspberry fruits with notes of vanilla, licorice, spice, black truffles and oak with hints of spice and cedar turning to fine grained tongue puckering tannins on the long lingering finish.

Consistent with earlier tasting of this label, dark garnet colored, medium-full bodied, flawless, elegant, polished, harmonious, perfectly balanced, silky smooth flavors of concentrated black berry and black raspberry fruits with notes of vanilla, licorice, spice, black truffles and oak with hints of spice and cedar turning to fine grained tongue puckering tannins on the long lingering finish.
 
 

Dan brought Kathryn Hall Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 

We’ve visited the magnificent Hall Rutherford estate vineyard and winery on several occasions and met Kathryn together at the Kathryn Hall Vertical Tasting - Hall Wine Release Tour 2015. Our visits to the Hall Rutherford site have been highlights of several of our Napa Valley Wine Experiences including our trip in 2013 and again in 2017.

Dan also brought a Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 2017 

Lyle brought his customary Vintage Port for the dessert course, and a Super Second Bordeaux … 

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou St Julien Bordeaux 2014 

This is one of our favorite producers of which we hold a large collection dating back four decades. Our Visit to Château Ducru Beaucaillou was a highlight of our visit to the St Julien Appellation in Bordeaux back in 2019. 

Beside the Champagnes, and the Viogner, John brought a fabulous arguably Super Second Margaux …

Chateau Palmer Margaux Bordeaux 2016

John brought this spectacular 100 point ‘super second’ Margaux, from one of our favorite producers. 

Upon opening, I immediately considered this a candidate for WOTN - Wine of the Night!

At ten years old, this is just beginning to settle and integrate and start showing its true character and potential. We’re still holding this label going back to our kid’s birth years, 81, ‘82, ‘85 and ’90. We opened the ‘81 in magnum format for Christmas dinner just last year. 

It was rated 100 points by Wine Enthusiast, Vinous and Jeb Dunnuck, who rated this 100 points and wrote, "The finest vintage I’ve ever tasted from this estate, surpassing the 2009 and 2010, the 2016 Château Palmer."

It was rated 98 points by James Suckling, Wine Advocate and Decanter.  

This release is a blend of 47% each of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 65% new French oak. This release should keep for half a century. (Jed Dunnuck) 

We stayed within walking distance of the Chateau during our Bordeaux wine Experience back in 2019. Regrettably, we played phone tag over several days and were never able to synch up to confirm our tasting tour. We did walk over and see the magnificent Chateau and grounds. 


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2594466 

https://www.chateau-palmer.com/en 

Primissimo Puglia Salento Negra Amaro 2021 
 
Eric & Cathy just returned this week from Italy and brought this limited release Italian Nebbiolo that they obtained while staying at the Producer’ estate winery … 

Primissimo is an organic wine produced by Guy Martin, a Michelin-starred chef who discovered, fell in love with and acquired wine estates and a nine acre vineyard in Nardò in the heart of Solento, in Puglia in Southern Italy. The site is organically farmed land, the vines grow in clay-limestone soil, nourished by the ample sun and the Mediterranean climate - “exceptional terroir gives the wine its structure and roundness, and a strong Mediterranean identity that is both wild and controlled.”

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=5696827

Son Ryan arrived with wine buddies Brian W and Mark C, each with a couple of notable wines to share and compare. 

Ryan brought from his cellar two spectacular 100 point labels …

Sine Qua Non “The Hated Hunter” California Syrah 2017

 
This classic, highly allocated label is named after winemaker Manfred Krankl’s grandfather. The 2017 Syrah "The Hated Hunter" is 82.4% Syrah, 7.8% Petite Sirah, 5.2% Mourvèdre, 2% Grenache, and the rest a mix of varieties that spent just over 23 months in 59% new French oak. 

Sine Qua Non produce Rhone Ranger wines from primarily Rhone varietals sourced from four different vineyard sites in the Central California Coast.

It was rated 100 points by Jeb Dunnuck, 98 points by Wine Advocate, and 96 points by Vinous. 

This may have been the clear WOTN - Wine of the Night, except I would put it in almost its own category ... apart from the Bordeaux varietal labels.   

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3368169

http://www.sinequanon.com/ 

Cliff Lede Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Cliff Lede is one of our favorite Napa Valley producers. We've visited the estate several times and our tastings there have been highlights of several of our Napa Valley trips.  

https://www.mcnees.org/winesite/napa/napa-09/lede-0909/napa_harvest_09_lede.htm 

This was arguably my WOTN - Wine of the Night, (amongst the Bordeaux varietals, although the Turnbull was notable, and the Bordeaux blends were in a class by themselves). 

This was rated a perfect 100 points by Jeb Dunnuck, 98 points by Wine Advocate, 96 by Int'l Wine Review, 95 by James Suckling, Wine Spectator and Vinous/

Suckling wrote, "The Cliff Lede, 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon is pure perfection in a glass. This extraordinary wine is unquestionably one of the finest in this report and has an awesome, singular style that's hard to believe."
 
Jnt'l Wine Review wrote, "The 2016 Beckstoffer To Kalon Cabernet Sauvignon from Cliff Lede is an absolute monster. This colossal wine instantly grabs your attention with its impressive opaque, dark inky color and intense aromas of ripe black and blue fruits which are joined by fresh violets, graphite and sweet exotic spices that all come together and burst from the glass."
 
Vinous wrote, "The 2016 is one of the finest editions of Cliff Lede's To Kalon Cabernet I can remember tasting."
 
 
 
Ryan's buddies Brian and Mark brought the Laurel Blanc Priorat, above, and some notable big Napa Valley reds. … 

Stalworth Napa Valley Rutherford Bench Cabernet Sauvignon 2021


This is the product of Sabrina and Timothy Persson who took over the family Napa Valley winery in 2012. They farm two vineyards on the Rutherford Bench of Napa Valley, known for narrow alluvial fans that spill out from the Mayacamas foothills along the western edge of Rutherford and Oakville. These ancient deposits marry depth and complexity with natural drainage, compelling the vines to reach deep into the soil while tempering vigor. 

The two vineyards showcased by Stalwørth sit along Napa Valley’s western benchlands and share the hallmarks of the Rutherford Bench, yet each brings its own distinctive voice. 

The Rutherford vineyard is a small, organically farmed site producing more red-toned fruit with supple tannins and graceful texture. 

The Oakville vineyard is a small, dry-farmed vineyard at the base of the Oakville Grade, yielding darker fruit with a refined, velvety structure. Together, these vineyards capture the full range of the western benchlands’ character, complementing each other in balance and expression.
It is crafted by legendary winemaker Celia Welch. 

Turnbull Black Label Oakville Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 

Turnbull Winery sitting on St Helena Hwy in Oakville, are owners and farmers of four premiere estate vineyards in Napa Valley, 90 acres in Oakville and 60 acres in Calistoga dating back over four decades. 

This is their ultra-premium label sourced from the Oakville vineyards, primarily from the Leopoldina vineyard and the remaining 30% of the fruit from the Fortuna vineyard. 

The Fortuna vineyard sitting atop the Oakville bench with a western exposure was the original homestead of the pre-vine era Weitz cattle range and then home to the first vines planted in the area. 

The remainder is from the historic Fortuna vineyard site from pre-Prohibition and originally sourced by the venerable Christian Brothers winery. Fortuna sits at the base of the gently sloping Oakville Bench, on the eastern side of the Oakville appellation. 

Only 62 cases were produced in this select bottling. 

This release was rated 96 points by Vinous and Wine Enthusiast (Cellar Selection), 95 points by Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator and 92 by James Suckling.


https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=4115879

https://www.turnbullwines.com/ 

Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Altamura Vineyards and Winery, established in 1985 by Napa natives Frank and Karen Altamura, is the only winery in Wooden Valley located within the Napa Valley appellation. Born and raised in Napa Valley, Frank began working with his cousin, a vineyard manager, right out of high school working at Sterling Vineyards in 1976, the at Caymus with mentor Charlie Wagner for five years.

Their sprawling 400 acre Altamura Ranch in historic Wooden Valley, on Mt George at the south end of the Vaca Mountain range that forms the eastern wall of Napa Valley, high above the town of Napa. The historic ranch was settled by members of Karen Altamura’s family back in 1855. Frank and Karen cleared 65 acres and planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese on six different sites. Caves were dug and they constructed a stone winery at the Altamura Family home in Wooden Valley.

We visited the Altamura estate winery on one of our first Napa Valley trips back in the late 1980's. 

Their hillside and valley floor estate vineyards in Wooden Valley are at elevations of 700 to 1000 feet with diverse soil types on the ranch which are similar to the Rutherford Bench and the mountainous regions of Howell Mountain, Pritchard Hill and Mount Veeder.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3830998

https://www.altamura.com/ 

Son Alec arrived and brought this interesting Napa Cab .. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3830998

https://www.altamura.com/

Soquel Partner’s Reserve Atlas Peak Stagecoach Vineyard Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Soquel is a small winery on Glen Haven Road in the Santa Cruz Mountains high above the south end of Silicon Valley. They also produce several labels in concert with several neighboring growers partners as well as this label, sourced from the historic Stagecoach Vineyard on Atlas Peak in Napa Valley. 

This label was rated 95 points by Wine Advocate, 93 by Vinous and 92 by Jeb Dunnuck.  

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=3005686 

https://soquelvineyards.com/ 

For finishing the evening Linda prepared her delectable chocolate mousse. For an accompaniment, Lyle opened his signature Vintage Port, and I opened a limited production Austrian dessert wine. 

As the night wore on, the boys raided the cellar and pulled some additional interesting reds to taste and compare … including the Penfold’s Grange, mentioned above, and this limited release Diamond Mountain selection … 

Constant Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

At twenty years, this is very much in stride at the apex of its drinking window. We tasted and acquired this label at the Estate, high atop Diamond Mountain during our Diamond Mountain Wine Experience - Constant Vineyards & Winery back in 2011. 

Taylor Fladgate Quinta de Vargellas Vintage Port 1995

If John is the 'Champagne guy', Lyle is the 'port guy' ..., although he's acquired a collection of and has been bringing some spectacular Brunello's in recent years ... as well as the occasional Bordeaux ... 

Taylor’s is one of the oldest of the founding Port houses dating back to 1692. 

The Taylor's Port Quinta de Vargellas vineyard was acquired in 1893 and is now a Class A vineyard, one of the pre-eminent among the wine estates of the Douro dating back to the 1820s. It ranks among the great vineyards of the world.

Wine Spectator cited this as "Ranked #10 Top 100 Wines of 1998", and gave it 92 points. 

Vinous rated it 94 points, and John Gilman gave it 91 and gave it a drinking window out until 2030 - "Drink between 2011-2030"

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=19047

https://www.taylor.pt/ 

And I pulled from our cellar some aged TBA's from Austria … 

Kracher Welschriesling Trockenberenausliese Zwischen Den Seen Number 8

From the Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee region, we hold more than two dozen labels of this Austrian producer’s releases spanning more than two decades. 

https://mcnees.org/winesite/labels/label_library_pages/label_library_Europe.htm 

These rare ultra-premium dessert wines are fun to watch as they age, turning from straw colored, to butter, to golden, to weak tea and to tea colored, as shown here at twenty-five years. 

They were great to taste over the ensuing week for sipping with a variety of entrees and desserts. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=19088 

http://www.kracher.at/ 

 


At the risk of missing some wines, and numerous photos, and not clipping Links to other pages, I’m publishing this now, before it’s ready, as I’m getting on a jet plane and don’t know when I’ll get an opportunity to finish this post … Watch for updates and a cleaned up version … 

And THANK YOU to all that attended for sharing some great wines!!!
 
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Location: 4R52PP4H+4X

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Syrah Syrah Extravaganza Barbecue Dinner

Syrah Syrah Extravaganza Barbecue Dinner

For a bar-b-q rib dinner faire, Syrah, Shiraz and Zinfandel were the wine theme for our annual gala (end of) summer dinner on the deck in the city hosted by friends Lyle and Terry on their spectacular, supersized deck with a great view of the Chicago cityscape.

Like last year, the early autumn weather was perfect for the gathering of the 'Pour Boys'  wine group (named such after our wine adventure at the UGC tasting event event last year).  As always, we assembled a fabulous intriguing flight of select wines. Many thanks to Lyle and Terry for their hospitality and a super dinner.

Before dinner featured a flight of white wines with artisan cheeses and Lyle prepared grilled scallops on the deck. The whites included Caymus Conundrum, Cote de Provence, Grigich Fume Blanc and a pair of champagnes. 

Of course this evening was all about big bold reds suitable for bar-b-q. As customary practice dictates, the wines are listed in tasting order - light to heavy, aged to young. One of the highlights of these events is the ritualistic 'line-up' of the flight. This process entails determining the tasting order, first based on alleged style, age, reputation, and knowledge of and experience with the wines. Once the order is established it is validated and tuned or corrected based on a sample tasting of each wine. Remarkably, as is typical, our initial order was right on the mark (as shown in the picture below) with only one correction following the tasting, with the HdV moving from right to left of the Balmoral.

Syrah or Shiraz? Consider them the same ... different monikers for the same grape, genetically related whether it be from France, Australia or California, according to Carol Lagier, winemaker, Syrah specialist and plant geneticist at Syrah producer Lagier-Meredith which we visited during our 2011 Napa Wine Experience. 

The Big Reds Flight - 

Santa Ema Amplus One 2008
Jackson Franklin (Elyse) Petit Sirah
HDV Carneros Syrah
Rosemount Balmoral Syrah 1995
Dead Arm 1995
Dead Arm  2002
Dead Arm 2004
Outpost Zinfandel 2009
Branson Coach House Rare Single Vineyard Syrah 2004
Chateau Tanunda Old Vines Shiraz
Sine Quo Non - The Raven






Santa Ema Carménère Amplus One 2008

This was the only blend in the flight, and the only South American wine, from Chile, an interesting mix of 75% Carmenere, 20% Syrah, and 5% Carignan. Since none of us are versed in such wines, we have no basis for comparison. Then again, this is such a unique blend we have no previous exposure to such a blend. The contribution of Syrah was our only baseline. It would be a good stumper in a blind tasting. I almost would've picked a right bank Bordeaux.  

Credit the Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide with this information on the producer, region and appellation. "In 1931, Pedro Pavone-Voglino acquired a plot of land in Chile’s Maipo Valley and began producing high-quality. Then in 1956, Pedro and his oldest son, Félix Pavone-Arbea, began producing and marketing their own bottled wine. The business continued to grow, and in the late 1960s the company purchased a large amount of land in the Peumo commune located in the Cachapoal province—an area known for red varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Carmenère. Today, Santa Ema exports its wines to more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Santa Ema has five lines—Selected Terroir, Rosado Soul, Barrel Select, Reserve and Amplus—as well as two red blends—Catalina and Rivalta. The winery has received numerous awards for its value-driven wines, particularly the Reserve and Amplus series."

This was dark garnet colored, medium to full bodied, nicely balanced, smooth and polished with dark berry and black raspberry fruits offset by moderate tones of soft oak, hints of earth and mocha with modest soft tannins.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1386293

Jacob Franklin Napa Valley Chavez Leeds Vineyard Petit Sirah 2008

We visited this winery on the guidance of Bill Arns during our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2012 with Bill and Beth, when we tasted and Bill acquired this wine during the visit.

Perhaps a point of serendipity, this is the product of Elyse Winery and we maintain a couple of bottles from the label in our cellar for when dining with dear friends Eric and Cathy, in recognition of their daughter Elyse, who has also joins us on occasion. I think however it was coincidence that Bill brought this to the tasting tonight given that Eric and Cathy would be there.

This wine exceeded our expectations which were modest when compared to this flight of comparative labels. It was medium bodied, dark garnet colored, forward blackberry fruit with hints of anise, eather, bit of cedar and black pepper on a moderate dusty tannin finish.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1215967
 
Hyde de Villaine Carneros Syrah 2004

This is the estate label formed from the combination of two legendary wine families, the Hyde family of California and and the de Villaine family of France. The 178 acre Carneros estate has been farmed by Larry Hyde since 1977 when he purchased and developed the property after serving as an apprentice at some of Napa Valley's top wineries. His late father, Richard Sr., an attorney from Woodside, purchased the first piece of land that now makes up Hyde Vineyards in 1979. At that time the Carneros area was undeveloped grasslands at the top of San Pablo Bay extending up to the beginning of the Mayacamas foothills leading to the mountain range that separates Napa and Sonoma Valleys.

Producing some of the most coveted grapes in Napa Valley, Hyde Vineyards has gained distinction sourcing fruit for some of the leading California winemakers including Paul Hobbs, Kistler Vineyards, Kongsgaard Wine, Mia Klein's Selene Wines, Patz & Hall and Ramey Wine Cellars. Most of these producers release single vineyard designated label wines featuring fruit from Hyde Vineyards. These wines are primarily Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and to a lesser degree, Syrah.

I've written in this blog about perhaps the best Shiraz/Syrah that I have ever tasted, from Kongsgaard Wines , which was produced from fruit from the nearby Hudson Vineyard from south-sloping land at the Hudson Ranch near the Bay on the southern Napa Valley side of the Carneros District. This site is also the source for Ramey, Kistler and other notable producers who also get their fruit from the Hyde property. The Hudson property is named after Hyde's mother Virginia Hudson and sits next to the Hyde de Villaine winery.
 In 1999, Aubert de Villaine, codirector of Burgundy's legendary  Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC), who happens to be married to Hyde's cousin Pamela F. de Villaine, partnered with Hyde to form HdV Wines, to brand and produce single vineyard wines from Hyde Vineyard fruit.


Aubert de Villaine is a legend in France's Burgundy region as the proprietor of his own wine, A. & P. de Villaine, and as co-director of DRC, one of the world's most exclusive and sought after wines.

While Larry Hyde manages the vineyards, his older siblings, Richard Jr. and Diana, are also involved in the business along with Diana's son Ryan Bailey, Richard's son Rick and Larry's son Chris.
Larry's other son Peter, 23, makes a proprietary family blend from the property's unsold grapes.

Based on the pedigree of this wine, I had very high expectations and approached it with much anticipation.  I was hoping it would fit the profile and character of Konsgaard Syrah, but it fell short in weight and polish, but this is certainly understandable since it is a fraction of the price.

Medium-full bodied, dark ruby color, black berry and black cherry fruits with hints of cassis, spice box and a bit of  pepper, turning to a funky grassy tone of dried meat on the moderate tannin finish that detracted from the rich fruit flavors. 

RM 89 points. This got 90 points from Wine Enthusiast; 92 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar and 92 points Connoisseurs Guide.

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=176312

http://hdvwines.com/


Rosemount Estate Syrah Balmoral 1995 
 
We still hold several cases of this wine in nearly a decade long vertical going back as early as 1992. Its time to drink them up as they're definitely reaching the end of their drinking window. This was showing its age with a somewhat funky leather and damp wood essence that thankfully subsided after an hour or so after decanting, giving way to aromas and flavors of blueberry fruits and eventually turning to its traditional tasting profile. 

Dark full flavor, over ripe berry, raisin, notes of blueberry, plum fruit, with spice and anise. Showing age on opening but opened and softened with a long full complex finish.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=12022

d'Arenberg Dead Arm McLaren Vale Shiraz 1995, 2002, 2004

Ernie, Dan and I all brought this label (without any collusion or prior communications), thankfully from different vintages, which afforded  us the chance to comparison taste this mini vertical of this popular wine. 

1995 - Like the aged Rosemount Balmoral from the same vintage, this was also showing its age with a bit of funky earthy leather and tobacco overtaking the fruit, but after decanting for an hour or so, this subsided and the black and blue fruits emerged.

Intense ruby, colored, medium bodied with black berry, tone of vanilla and oak giving way to earthy leather and bacon fat overtaking the fruits, rich and reasonably long modest tannin finish.

RM 88 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=27224

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2002

The biggest of the three, always a big fruit forward complex wine, this was much more expressive than as documented in my earlier 2004 and 2009 tasting journal posts. Its bigger and still boasts a forwardness but what was an off-tone of minerality now is more natural ripe raisin-fig with a layer of cedar predominating over complex black and blue berry fruits with tones of pepper, spice, and cassis and hint of vanilla with a big long bold finish that has a slight tone of tangy cherry. Linda likes this ripe boldness but its a bit too much to my liking. LIke the rest of these wines,  this wine is suited to a bigger accompaniment like beef steak or even perhaps bar-b-que!

RM 91 points.

Subdued black berry and black cherry fruit, leather, hint of spice and pepper on a moderate tannin finish.

d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2004

Dark inky black purple color, full bodied, thick, tongue-coating unctuous layer of ripe plum, black raspberry, ripe blueberry and a layer of anise and black cherry with a spicy long firm tannin lingering finish.

RM 90 points. 


Outpost Howell Mountain Zinfandel 2009

Howell Mountain anchors the north east corner of Napa Valley and is known primarily for its distinctive Cabernet Sauvignon. Its terroir of rocky soil, western sun exposure with gentle breezes and altitude also produces a select style of Zinfandel with its rich, brambly extracted dark fruit and a unique spice that almost borders on cinnamon.

Outpost sits high atop the west facing slope just below Robert Craig and across the road from Lamborn, two of our other favorite producers.We worked our way up the road there during our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2008.

A great wine that demands bar-b-q or rich hearty meaty pasta, every cellar should have a couple bottles of this style Zin for such occasions. At the high end of price-points for typically moderate priced Zinfandel but this one is worth it.

Dark garnet colored, full bodied, this wine typifies that classic rich thick extracted forward Howell Mountain briery mountain berry fruit accented by spice, floral with hints of tobacco on the supple long lasting chewy tannins.

RM 92 points 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1084352

http://www.outpostwines.com/

Branson Coach House Coach House Block Rare Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004


We discovered this wine several years ago and acquired and rapidly consumed the 2002 and 2003 vintages. We still hold several bottles from the neighboring Greenock Block. This 2004 that was selected for Wine Spectator's Top 100 2006 comes from old vines in Greenock, a prime growing area in the Barossa for Shiraz. Eric found this at Kahn's in Indy and brought it to share and compare.

Full bodied, rich, concentrated, complex, dark inky purple colored, with layers of black and blue berry, black cherry and black plum fruit flavors, with tones of dark mocha, cigar box and smoke notes with well integrated firm lingering tannins.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=236098&searchId=304406



Chateau Tanunda "The Chateau" 100 Year Old Vines Eden Valley Barossa Shiraz


We discovered this wine at the Wine Spectator Grand Tour in Chicago when it was being poured by Chateau Tanunda's Dagmar O'Neill. Only 100 cases were produced. We orchestrated a purchase of eight three packs in OWC's (shown below) which we split amongst the wine team, pictured below.

The Barossa is home to some of the world’s oldest Shiraz vines and the grapes for this wine come from hundred year old vines from a high altitude, one acre single vineyard in the Eden Valley. 

Full bodied, complex, concentrated, full lingering tannins predominate the dense, black and blue berry fruits with hints of liquorice, plum and spice and spicy oak.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=937673

http://www.chateautanunda.com/





2006 Sine Qua Non "The Raven No. 3" Syrah 


This legendary ultra-premium label has taken on almost a cult-like following.
Since its founding in 1994, the winery located in Ventura, on California's Central Coast has become the a classic example of an artisanal, garagiste winery. The husband-and-wife team of Manfred and Elaine Krankl produce very limited quantities of hand-crafted wines primarily from Rhone varietal grapes such as Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, Roussane, and Viognier.

Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Sine Qua Non "one of the world's most creative wineries" and one that "is turning out world-class wines of extraordinary complexity and individuality. The Krankl husband-and-wife team remains wholly dedicated to the pursuit of perfection."

The branding of Sine Qua Non wines is as distinctive as their carefully crafted wines bearing unusual, sometimes outlandish names to their wines, such as "The Hussy", "In Flagrante," and the "The Raven", and they often change the wine names from vintage to vintage.

The 2006 Raven Series Syrah is a blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 2% Viognier, aged nearly two years in French oak. 

Dark blackish ink colored, full bodied, complex, big ,bold, rich layers of dark blackberry and black cherry fruits accented by hints of blueberry and plum, creosote, mocha and spice with tones of anise and pepper turning to a thick tongue coating tangy chewy tannin lingering finish.

RM 95 points.

Wine Spectator gave this 95 points, Robert Parker 96 points and Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 94 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=557926


After dinner there were three dessert courses accompanied by two dessert wines.

 Grahams Vintage Port 1991



Grahams Vintage Port 1991





Domaine de laAncienne Cuvee Prestige Monbazzilac 1999























More to come .. ...







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