|
2001 California CABERNETS
A Blind-Tasting Comparison
November 8, 2006
Notes by
Gerald Weisl,
wine merchant
The 2001 vintage is generally highly-regarded by both vintners
and critics, so we were interested to have a look at some "late
release" wines. It was common in the 1960s and 1970s for wineries to
release their Cabernets when the wines were three or four years old. Some
producers such as Heitz Cellar and Mayacamas routinely held their wines until
the fifth year. Today many producers make big, flashy wines which may actually
be better in their youth than with substantial bottle aging. Others simply
sell their Cabernets when the wines are a couple of years old, having the idea
the consumer can drink them now or cellar them until the wines are 'ready to
drink.'
It is interesting to note, parenthetically, that many Napa Cabernet producers
claim their wines are best after 5 or 10 years, yet they choose to sell most (if
not all) of their production exclusively to restaurants. Since the life
span of most restaurants is a year or two or three, some vintners might want to
rethink this notion of making firmly structured wines which are immature until
their fifth or tenth year when they target an audience which has the idea
"dinner is tonight!"
We selected a nice range of wines, predominantly from Napa with one from
Sonoma's Alexander Valley. Prices ranged from $50 to $150 for a
single bottle.
One wine finished a bit ahead of the pack. One wine had not even one first
or second place vote, while five of the eight wines had top rankings from some
tasters as well as last place rankings from others.
The wines, as a group, were nice. I found the prices, as I often do, to be
on the high side given the overall quality of the wines. Bob Gorman
suggested the reputation of the vintage may be partly responsible for the
ambitious price tags. More power to these estates if they find a following
for perfectly "nice" wines at top-of-the-market prices. In
discussing the wines afterwards, few people had any enthusiasm for spending
money on these wines at these lofty prices. The "scarcity tax"
is simply too high.
Here's what we found:
| The Wines |
Gerald's Rank |
Ellen's Rank |
Bob's Rank |
GROUP RANK |
Total Points |
1sts/2nds/
Lasts |
|
ALEXANDER
VALLEY
VINEYARDS
2001
Alexander
Valley
Cyrus
$50
57%
CS 32%M 11%CF |
4 |
5 |
7 |
4 |
69 |
4/1/3 |
BERINGER
2001
Napa
Valley
Steinhauer Ranch
$84.99 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
60 |
3/3/0 |
CLOS
PEGASE
2001
Napa
Valley
Carneros
Graveyard Hill
$60 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
63 |
3/2/1 |
FISHER
VINEYARDS
2001
Napa
Valley
Lamb Vineyard
$125 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
7 |
89 |
0/0/2 |
FREEMARK
ABBEY
2001
Napa
Valley
Bosch
$70 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
92 |
1/2/6 |
LAIRD
2001
Napa
Valley
Diamond
Mountain
$68 |
1 |
6 |
4 |
5 |
73 |
2/3/2 |
RAYMOND
VINEYARD
2001
Napa
Valley
Generations
$70 |
7 |
3 |
6 |
6 |
80 |
1/1/2 |
TREFETHEN
2001
Napa
Valley
Oak Knoll District
HaLo
$150 |
3 |
7 |
3 |
1 |
50 |
2/4/0 |
8th Place: FREEMARK ABBEY 2001 "Bosch"
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
There was some debate as to whether or not this bottle was
"corked." One critic declared it to be in such a state, while
someone else described it as "Perfect, full, lush and velvety."
Another taster found "dark cherry fruit," while one critic
encountered "a bit of wet cardboard."
I found a color intensity level which was a shade lighter
than most of the wines in this flight. The nose showed faintly cedary
tones with an herbal element I recall finding in Bosch bottlings from the
1970s. I wondered if the wine was, in fact, corked or if it had been aged
in older cooperage which was not in tip-top condition. Not having
experience with other bottles of this vintage makes this difficult to
assess. I thought the cellar notes seemed to blow off, however. The
wine is a good expression of Napa Cabernet, though it's a bit "rustic"
in a certain way and might be described as "an old-time
classic." It's a pleasant, medium-weight Cabernet. In a world
of wines-on-steroids, this is not one. I'd give this bottle a one-half
star rating, but even if in perfect condition, it's not receiving a notation
above one star on my three star scale, no stars being a standard or ordinary
wine.
7th Place: FISHER VINEYARDS 2001 Napa
"Lamb" CABERNET SAUVIGNON
This tiny production wine (a mere 350 cases) was one which described by
one critic as "having a lot of sweet raspberry fruit but the really sour
nature of the wine, with its astringent tannins, did not mesh well."
A second person detected "sweet and floral notes." Someone else
felt the "fruit notes were on the decline and of moderate intensity.
It's not a particularly cellar-worthy wine." A fourth critic noted
"cassis elements here, but it lacked complexity. Perhaps the wine is
presently in a state of transition and maybe three to five years of cellaring
will yield a more satisfying result."
A medium-ruby colored wine, this also struck me as an "old style"
California Cabernet. I encountered lots of red fruit notes and a mildly
cherryish character on the nose. Oak is in the background here. I
was reminded a bit of old, (good) bottles of Louis M. Martini or Charles Krug
Cabernets from the late 1960s and early 1970s. Perhaps this wine has a
shade more structure and backbone than many of those, (though those tended to
age very handsomely without the extreme tannin, oak and alcohol more common to
today's wines). I liked the cassis-like fruit and found a wine capable of
cellaring for another 6 to 12 years. I gave this a one star rating.
Too bad the scarcity tax is so high here.
6th Place: RAYMOND 2001 Napa
"Generations" CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Only a few people voiced an opinion about Raymond's deluxe bottling of
Cabernet. One person described it as "unbalanced and it has a very
astringent finish." This sentiment was echoed by another critic who
described it as having "an aggressive bite." A final taster
found this to be "light and watery."
Displaying a medium-intensity ruby color, I found a pleasant, creamy aspect to
the fragrance of this wine. It shows sweet vanillin notes and a hint of
mocha on the nose. It's a medium-bodied Cabernet with fairly aggressive
tannins, marring the charming aspect of the wine. The tannins are really
mouth-drying and seem to be too plentiful for the level of fruit. I pegged
this as having 5 to 15 years' worth of tannin, but not that same level of fruit
intensity. I still gave this a one star rating as it does have some
positive character. Cellaring this may be risky, but it will be
interesting to see if this blossoms into a balanced, mature wine one day.
One star.
5th Place: LAIRD 2001 Napa "Diamond
Mountain" CABERNET SAUVIGNON
This wine had many tasters ranking it highly, but a similar number
dropped it to 6th, 7th or last place. One critic said "This has all
sorts of sweet raspberry fruit but it's tannic and sour." One panel
member found "a chemical finish and moderate tannins." Another
person found it "curiously reminiscent of pomegranate on the nose, but it's
rather shrill and sharp on the palate." A fan found "Sweet fruit
and not cloying or jammy. It's got a long finish and shows notes of earth
and pencil. It's a big wine, but not a fumbling or clumsy
one."
With medium-full ruby color, the nose of the Laird wine showed lots of licorice
and some dusty tones. I found dark fruits and blackberry and currants on
the nose. For my taste, this was a wine which was nicely balanced with
respect to fruit and oak as well as fruit and tannin. It shows nice oak on
the palate and black fruits, currants and cedar tones. It's probably going
to be capable of aging for 6 to 12 years. This charming aspect vaulted
this ahead of other wines, though I awarded it one-and-a-half stars.
4th Place: ALEXANDER VALLEY VINEYARDS 2001
Alexander Valley "Cyrus"
Five tasters ranked this reserve bottling highly, but three critics kept
this wine from achieving greater glory in this tasting. One person
encountered "An elegant wine with lots of fig notes and
currants." Someone else said it "has a bigger nose than the
other wines." A third taster found "good oak and plenty of fruit
and structure." Bob Gorman mentioned finding "sweet coconut
elements from the American oak and this masked the fruit. There's a bit of
wood tannin here, too.
Showing medium ruby color, the Alexander Valley Cabernet blend offers really
ripe and fruity notes on the nose. It's certainly a decidedly woody
wine. Lots of lumber yard fragrances and pickle barrel, dill-like notes
are in the spotlight here. A medium-bodied Cabernet, this is hugely oaky
to the point where the flavors are of "raw" wood. I'm not
surprised this wine had so many fans and so many detractors. I was
wrestling with my ranking of this, since I do like oak, but this is wood in a
more 'crude' form. I finally hedged my bet and ranked this in the middle
of the set. It might pair quite handsomely with grilled red meats or Oak
Wellington. Environmental groups will probably take away your membership
card if this wine was your top choice. I gave it a provisional one star
rating...
3rd Place: CLOS PEGASE 2001 Napa-Carneros
"Graveyard Hill" CABERNET SAUVIGNON
One critic noted "I liked this to start, but it fell off over the
course of the tasting." Someone else found it "Very hot and
burning from acidity." A different perspective was expressed by
another critic who found this "well-balanced with moderate tannins and it
ought to age quite handsomely." Someone else described this as a
"Nicely oaked Cabernet, with spice tones and a trace of menthol. It
starts nicely, but this is a wine 'in transition' and should continue to develop
and round out nicely.
I was enchanted by this wine from the start. Medium+
ruby color, this shows a nicely cedary tone and a brushy element on the nose
with currants and black cherry fruit. The oak is mild.
Medium-bodied, the same dark fruit elements are found on the palate with firm
tannins as it's well-structured. Lots of nice dark cherry and woodsy
flavors, I suspect this may age well for 8 to 15 years. One-and-a-half
stars.
2nd Place: BERINGER 2001 Napa "Steinhauer"
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
"I loved this!" exclaimed one tasting participant, adding
"It's got good, sweet oak and is complex and rich. I found notes of
nutmeg spice here, too." Someone else stated "I thought this was
a Bordeaux ringer as it's so much like a good French wine." Another
person said "This tasted a bit sweet and it's showing hints of
Brettanomyces." Bob Gorman said "As a Brett lover, this has just
a soupon of Brett. It shows the complexity added by a note of
Brett. Brett at its best."
While Bob and others liked the wine for its note of
Brettanomyces, I marked this down for the same quality. It's a dark ruby
ruby colored wine, with lightly leathery tones which hint at the wine having
Brettanomyces. I also found some herbal tones on the nose and a woodsy,
brushy element. The flavors head in the direction of anise or fennel, with
a whiff of wood. It's a good quality, standard bottle of Cabernet. I
found about five to eight years of cellaring potential here. Not being a
fan of Brett, I gave this a one-half star rating.
1st Place: TREFETHEN 2001 Napa-Oak Knoll "HaLo"
CABERNET SAUVIGNON
One critic found this to show a "minty character," while
someone else said it's "sour." A fan described this as
"Smooth and about as good a wine as I've tasted." Someone else
said "This came up in my rankings over the course of the tasting.
It's well-structured." Another panel member found
"Blackberry fruit," while someone else also found "fennel and
raspberry." One taster pegged this as having the "most
complexity of any of these Cabernets and it's focused, with a great
blackberryish finish." A final critic mentioned finding "good
fruit and this is well-structured with good tannins and acidity."
Medium+ ruby color, the Trefethen Cabernet shows some
mildly dusty notes and a hint of cedary, woodsy tones on the nose. It's
fairly full-bodied with brushy and charry notes on the palate. Plenty of
dark fruit flavors and moderate tannins make for a nicely balanced bottle. It
can cellar for another 8 to 12 years. Fine. One star.
|
Please note: The wines tasted are not always wines
we have (or have had) in the shop.
Many bottles are merely for our enological exploration.
Price quoted are current at the time of the tasting, but may be different
when you're reading this. |
WE HAVE NOT ORGANIZED A TASTING IN A WHILE...
BUT WE DO POST THE RESULTS OF A PRIVATE TASTING GROUP THAT'S BEEN MEETING FOR
MORE THAN 47 YEARS!
We are working on
organizing some blind-tastings at the shop.
Send us a note to indicate your interest in participating.
These would be on Wednesday evenings and you'd need to bring 8 wine glasses.
THE
VINO-FINO TASTERS
(A private tasting group that's
been meeting for more than 44 years!)
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A
RANGE OF FRENCH CHABLIS WINES January 2010
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SPARKLING WINES November 2009
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RED WINES August 2009
2005
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RIOJA
WINES, MOSTLY FROM THE 2004 VINTAGE March 2009
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COAST PETITE SIRAHS February 2009
SYRAH
& PETITE SIRAH COMPARISON January 2009
A
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COUNTY PINOT NOIRS October 2008
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RITA HILLS -2006 VINTAGE- PINOT NOIRS SEPTEMBER 2008
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COAST CHARDONNAYS November 2007
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SHIRAZ October 2007
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TEMPRANILLO WINES September 2007
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2005 VINTAGE ZINFANDELS August 2007
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RELEASE (2004-2005) ZINFANDELS July 2007
ROS
WINES FROM ALL OVER June 2007
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LAGREIN WINES May 2007
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MALBECS April 2007
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HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS March 2007
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BEAUJOLAIS January 2007
A VINO
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ZINFANDELS November 2006
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NOIRS of VALUE-PRICING October 2006
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OF SYRAHS TASTING September 2006
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CABERNET-SHIRAZ BLENDS August 2006
ALEXANDER
VALLEY (California) and MARGARET RIVER (Australia) CABERNETS July
2006
CALIFORNIA
PETITE SIRAHS June 2006
2004
NORTH COAST PINOTS and a FRENCH INTRUDER May 2006
AGLIANICO
: BASILICATA & CAMPANIA'S MAJOR RED WINE April 2006
NERO
D'AVOLA - A TASTE OF SICILIA March 2006
UNDER THE
VINO FINO RADAR ZINFANDELS January 2006
HOLIDAY WINE
TASTING & DINNER December 2005
BUBBLIES FROM AROUND
THE WORLD November 2005
NORTH
COAST PINOT NOIRS October 2005
STATE
OF CONFUSION CABERNETS September 2005
TIM
ZAINER'S SIDEWAYS LOOK AT MERLOTS August 2005
LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET
FRANCS June 2005
CALIFORNIA
SYRAHS March 2005
2002
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS February 2005
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON December 2004
CHARDONNAYS
OF MODEST PRICE November 2004
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO October 2004
2002
CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIRS September 2004
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ-CABERNET BLENDS August 2004
GEWÜRZTRAMINERS
FROM ALSACE July 2004
2001
SOUTHERN RHNES (7 Chteauneufs & a Vacqueyras) June 2004
AGLIANICO
WINES FROM CAMPANIA & BASILICATA May 2004
MONTEPULCIANO
WINES FROM THE ABRUZZO & MARCHE REGIONS April 2004
SONOMA
ZINFANDELS February 2004
1997
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO January 2004
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA 2003
2001
CÔTES du RHÔNES September 17, 2003
2000
OREGON PINOT NOIRS August 20, 2003
WEST
COAST SYRAHS July 16, 2003
2000
Bordeaux June 18, 2003
2000
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 21, 2003
OFF
THE BEATEN PATH SYRAHS APRIL 16, 2003
2002 NEW ZEALAND
SAUVIGNON BLANCS March 19, 2003
1999
California CABERNETS February 19, 2003
VINO
FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA December 4, 2002
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS 1999-2000 November 20, 2002
AUSTRIAN
WHITE WINES October 16, 2002
AUSTRALIAN
SHIRAZ August 21, 2002
CHAMPAGNES
& SPARKLERS July 17, 2002
Interesting
Paired CHARDONNAYS
May 15, 2002
2001
Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS Feb. 20, 2002
1999 ZINFANDELS January 16, 2002
HOLIDAY
SEASON BACCHANALIA
December 5, 2001
1999-2000
New PINOT NOIRS November 14, 2001
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 17, 2001
1998
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 19, 2001
1999
LANGUEDOC REDS August 15, 2001
1997
SAUTERNES July 18, 2001
Mostly
1998 NEBBIOLO June 20, 2001
1999 PINOT NOIRS May
16, 2001
1996
SAINT-MILION Tasting April 18, 2001
CARNEROS
CHARDONNAYS March 21, 2001
1984-1985
NAPA CABERNETS/John Vignau Memorial Tasting October 20, 2000
1997
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 20, 2000
1998 CALIFORNIA
CHARDONNAYS August 16, 2000
WINES
FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: CLARETS June 21, 2000
WINES
FROM UNDER THE TUSCAN (and Umbrian) SUN Aprile 19, 2000
1997 BORDEAUX: MEDOC May 17,
2000
WEIMAX TASTING ARCHIVE
NAPA
CABERNETS 2004 Vintage March 19, 2008
CALIFORNIA
PINOT NOIRS-2005s March 13, 2008
OREGON
PINOT NOIRS February 6, 2008
MOSTLY
2004 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS April 25, 2007
WASHINGTON
STATE CLARETS April, 11, 2007
2004
NORTHERN RHONE SYRAHS April 4, 2007
2001
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO March 28, 2007
2001
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS November 8, 2006
2003
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS October 18, 2006
2003
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES-Flight #2 October 4, 2006
OLDER
TUSCAN REDS--MOSTLY SANGIOVESES September 20, 2006
2003
NAPA CABERNETS July 19, 2006
2003
SAINT EMILIONS July 12, 2006
CALIFORNIA
SYRAHS 2003-2004 July 5, 2006
2004
CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS June 21, 2006
GRAND
CRU BURGUNDIES 2003 VINTAGE May 31, 2006
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1990 CABERNETS & 1990 BORDEAUX May 17, 2006
SOUTH
AMERICAN CLARETS May 10, 2006
2003
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE May 3, 2006
2004
GOLDEN STATE PINOT NOIRS April 19, 2006
2002
NAPA CABERNETS March 15, 2006
2003
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS March 8, 2006
2003
NORTH COAST ZINFANDELS March 1, 2006
1996
BURGUNDIES vs. 1997 SONOMA PINOT NOIRS November 9, 2005
2002
CABERNETS, ETC. November 2, 2005
2002 NAPA
CABERNETS October 19, 2005
2002
GRAND CRU BURGUNDIES September 14, 2005
2002
RED BURGUNDIES September 7, 2005
2002
MEURSAULTS August 31, 2005
NORTHERN
RHNE SYRAHS August 17, 2005
HIGHLY-REGARDED AUSSIE
SHIRAZ August 10, 2005
AUSSIE SHIRAZ UNDER
$60 August 3, 2005
STUPIDLY-PRICED
SPANISH TEMPRANILLO WINES June 8, 2005
RANDOM
CALIFORNIA SYRAHS June 1, 2005
2002
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 18, 2005
2001
NAPA CABERNETS May 11, 2005
OREGON
PINOT NOIRS-2002 & 2003 VINTAGE WINES April 27, 2005
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1990 BURGUNDIES and a COUPLE OF CALIFORNIA PINOTS April 6, 2005
CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS (Mostly 2002s) MARCH 16, 2002
1999
BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO March 9, 2005
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE CLARETS March 2, 2005
PETITE
SIRAHS February 16, 2005
ROS CHAMPAGNES AND
CALIFORNIA PINK BUBBLIES February 9, 2005
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1991 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS January 19, 2005
2001
FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS CABERNETS November 10, 2004
2001
Napa CABERNETS November 3, 2004
WEST
COAST SYRAHS October 20, 2004
1990
RED BORDEAUX & CALIFORNIA CLARETS October 13, 2004
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLOS of 1999 & 2000 September 29, 2004
2002
PULIGNY-MONTRACHET September 8, 2004
2002
CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET September 1, 2004
UNDER
THE RADAR PINOT NOIRS August 18, 2004
2001
SAINT-JULIEN & PAUILLACS July 21, 2004
2001
MARGAUX July 14, 2004
CELLAR
DWELLERS: 1982 BORDEAUX July 7, 2004
2001 POMEROLS
June 30, 2004
2001
SAINT MILIONS June 16, 2004
2000
CLOS de VOUGEOT (and a ringer) MAY 12, 2004
2001
OREGON PINOT NOIRS May 5, 2004
2001
CALIFORNIA MERLOTS April 21, 2004
1994
WEST COAST CABERNETS APRIL 14, 2004
1999-2000 BORDEAUX COMPARISON
March 10, 2004
1999
BAROLO March 3, 2004
2000
Deluxe Napa CABERNETS February 18, 2004
2000
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS $50 & Under February 11, 2004
1998 BRUNELLO
DI MONTALCINO February 4, 2004
TURLEY
ZINFANDELS 1995 & 1999 Vintages January 7, 2004
2000
PRESTIGIOUS WEST COAST CABERNETS November 12, 2003
1999
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS November 5, 2003
SANTA
LUCIA HIGHLANDS PINOT NOIRS October 29, 2003
MOSTLY
2001 VINTAGE GIGONDAS October 22, 2003
SPANISH
TEMPRANILLO WINES October 9, 2003
SPARKLING
WINES-METHODE CHAMPENOISE October 1, 2003
1996
(Mostly) AUSTRALIAN (Mostly) SHIRAZ September 24, 2003
2000
NUITS-ST.-GEORGES September 10, 2003
PRIORATO
WINES FROM SPAIN September 3, 2003
WEST
COAST SANGIOVESES August 27, 2003
2000
PULIGNY-MONTRACHET (Mostly Premier Cru Wines) August 13, 2003
2000
CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY August 6, 2003
2000
NAPA CABERNETS July 30, 2003
1999
TUSCAN SANGIOVESE-BASED WINES July 23, 2003
2000
VINTAGE MERLOTS July 9, 2003
SYRAHS
FROM HITHER & YON July 2, 2003
2001 CALIFORNIA
ZINFANDELS June 25, 2003
NEW
PINOT NOIRS June 4, 2003
1999
NAPA CABERNETS May 28, 2003
1994
PINOT NOIRS May 14, 2003
CHILEAN
CLARETS May 7, 2003
PETITE
SIRAHS of Current Release.
April 30, 2003
1999
CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHETS Premier Cru Selections April 9, 2003
1999
GRAND CRU'S of GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN April 2, 2003
1999-2000 SOUTHERN FRENCH REDS (RHONE
WANNABE'S) MARCH 26, 2003
1995-1996
VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE TASTING MARCH 12, 2003
2000
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE TASTING MARCH 5, 2003
2000
NAPA VALLEY CABERNET TASTING FEBRUARY 26th, 2003
1990
FRENCH RED BURGUNDY TASTING February 12, 2003
1999
& 2000 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS November 13, 2002
1999
NAPA CABERNETS November 6, 2002
1997
BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO OCTOBER 30, 2002
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ TASTING OCTOBER 23, 2002
1999
CHATEAUNEUF-du-PAPE TASTING October 9, 2002
1999
NAPA CABERNETS September 25, 2002
1999
WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS September 11, 2002
1991
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 4, 2002
1999
PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1er Cru Tasting August 28, 2002
AUSTRALIAN
CABERNETS (Mostly 1999s) August 14, 2002
1999
FRENCH BURGUNDY July 24, 2002
1999
GRAVES BLANC July 10, 2002
2000
CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY July 3, 2002
1999/2000
CONDRIEU TASTING June 26, 2002
1999
PAUILLAC & SAINT JULIEN TASTING June 12, 2002
1999
MARGAUX TASTING June 5, 2002
1985
CABERNETS & MEDOC TASTING May 29, 2002
1998
California CABERNETS May 22, 2002
South
American MALBEC May 8, 2002
1999
West Coast MERLOTS May 1, 2002
Central
Coast (California) PINOT NOIRS April 24, 2002
2001
Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS April 10, 2002
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS April 3, 2002
1999
FRENCH RHÔNE SYRAHS February 13, 2002
(Mostly) 1999 CALIFORNIA SYRAHS January 30,
2002
MORE
1997 BAROLO January 23, 2002
1997
Late-Released CABERNETS January 9, 2002
1997
BAROLO October 24, 2001
1985-1990
RED BURGUNDIES October 10, 2001
1998
Grand Crus of Gevrey Chambertin October 3, 2001
PRIORAT
WINES September 26, 2001
1998
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE September 12, 2001
1999
"High Roller" CHARDONNAYS September 5, 2001
1998
BORDEAUX August 22, 2001
1999
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS August 8, 2001
1997
VOSNE-ROMANÉE
Tasting August 1, 2001
1999
CALIFORNIA ZINS July 25, 2001
1998 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS
July 11, 2001
OLD
CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS June 6, 2001
1997 ECHEZEAUX May 30, 2001
1999 NORTH
COAST ZINFANDELS May 23, 2001
1999
West Coast Merlots May 9, 2001
1999
WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS May 2, 2001
1997
BARBARESCO April 25, 2001
Mostly RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS
April 11, 2001
1997
NAPA CABERNETS April 4, 2001
1995
BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO March 28, 2001
1997 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY &
MOREY SAINT DENIS
with one 1996...March 14, 2001
1997
GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN March 7, 2001
1996
BAROLO February 28, 2001
1978-1979
California Cabernets January 10, 2001
1997
California Cabernets November 8, 2000
1997
TUSCAN SANGIOVESES November 1, 2000
1997-1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape
& CALIFORNIA WANNABEEs October 25, 2000
Mostly 1998 PINOT NOIRS
October 11, 2000
1996
CALIFORNIA CABERNETS October 4, 2000
MATURE
CLARETS September 27, 2000
1997
RED BORDEAUX September 13, 2000
1997 NAPA CABERNETS
September 6, 2000
1998
CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS August 30, 2000
1997 CLOS DE VOUGEOTS August 23,
2000
PETITE
SIRAH & SYRAH (West Coast) August 9, 2000
FANCY
CALIFORNIA MERLOTS August 2, 2000
1996
FAMOUS CALIFORNIA CABERNETS June 14, 2000
WEST
COAST SYRAHS June 7, 2000
1997 CABERNETS May 31,
2000
VIOGNIERS
of RECENT VINTAGE May 24, 2000
1997-1998
ZINFANDELS May 10, 2000
SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE CLARETS May 3, 2000
1996
California CABERNETS April 12, 2000
1996
FRENCH RED BURGUNDIES March 29, 2000
CALIFORNIA
vs ITALIAN (Tuscan) SANGIOVESE March 22, 2000
WEST COAST
PINOT NOIRS March 8, 2000
AUSSIE
SHIRAZ TASTING March 1, 2000
FRENCH
CHAMPAGNES (NV BRUTS) January 5, 2000
1996
BORDEAUX (MEDOC) TASTING November 10, 1999
CABERNET-INFLUENCED VINI FROM
ITALY November 3, 1999
CABERNETS OF THE WORLD
TASTING October 27, 1999
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