1973 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This had a great lush dark resolved fruit profile that belied its age. The color was dark. There was great dark currant, blackberry, tar, cocoa, and so much more going on. I kept this glass alive until the end of the night. It changed and evolved getting lusher and deeper. The finish was long. If tasted blind I would place this at about 6 or 7 years of age. This 35 year old was amazing. (Comforting like a warm blanket) 94/100

1975 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This wine in itself was worth the price of admission for the night. Dark brooding color. Silky dark fruited and jam packed full of character. This had a wonderful fully resolved tannin level acted like a conveyor for all else. Some soy, cedar box, tobacco, & cassis. This wine needed a night to watch. A long finish that was like hitting a birdie on 18 that gets you smiling and planning your next outing even before you get back to the cart., here, your next taste. 96/100

1977 Heitz Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon from a pristine magnum

This was pure 1970s California…. fast-forwarded. Slightly edgy and rustic. A nice dark fruit profile that seemed masked by a matured high oak level? Not quite sure. Some currant and spice, and some other nice secondaries. Kevin to my right loved it so, I emptied my glass and got myself more of that '75 Mayacamas. 89/100

1991 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23- From the Cellar of a Gentleman :)

This was dark and brooding. Much more in today’s style of Napa Cabernet. Deep vanilla and cassis on the nose. A wonderful purity. The palate a very elegant currant, tar, cocoa, cedar, & vanilla, this was a hedonistic wine. Structured, classy elegant and brawny all at once. Just a balanced beauty. A long smooth finish that went on for 45 seconds. 17 and acting like 7. 94/100

2002 Blankiet Merlot Estate

Last wine of the night, and quite the surprise. I wish I had 3 hours to appreciate and watch this sexy beast, but alas, I had 30 minutes at best. Plush dark cherry pie and ripe tomato leaf on the nose. The palate had the cherries, black and red plums, cocoa, and anise. The mouth feel was incredible: round and soft, but firm and structured. It harkened memory of a wonderful the Pomerols I had many years ago, (when I drank that sought of thing that is…). I would have rated this higher if it did not remind me initially of Chianti on the nose. 91/100

2002 Brokenwood Shiraz (Australia, South Australia, McLaren Vale / Padthaway)

2/22/2008 rated 90 points: Deep dark color. The nose reveals graphite, blackberry & black cherry. The palate has some wonderful silkiness, blackberry, some blueberries, tar, and anise. Silky tannins and an admirable acid level. A medium bodied Shiraz with a slight metallic note on the finish. All in all a very nice Shiraz, full of character and value. Well worth the $20 I paid.

Some 'cool' Shiraz amongst friends

A few of us gathered at Walkers in Tibeca to partake in some 'cool climate' Australian Shiraz. The wines were interesting, but the company was fantastic.

1999 Greenock Creek Apricot Block - Sweet berries dominated the nose and carried over to the palate. The acid level was slightly elevated. An over ripe example that was an early crowd pleaser, but alas to my taste it got old (the sweetness) quickly, especially when more elegant wines hit the table. 88/100
2002 Berrys Bridge Pyrenees – Pure ripe blueberry pie and flowers. Although had the better nose of the two berry bridges, the ’04 was smoother on the tongue. Somewhat awkward and thin in the midpalate. 87/100
2004 Berrys Bridge Pyrenees - Not without its issues: Goodyear tires on the nose big time, and tractor-trailer size to boot. Strange, once past the nose this showed some elegant blueberry, slight tar, some graphite. A strange wine. Maybe a bit cooler this would have shown better. 86/100
2003 Tintara Reserve Shiraz- I may differ with Greg’s final point about this not being cool climate. This surely was a very different styled wine, but still not jammy and hot, as a matter of fact this was elegant, and pure with a graceful mouth feel. Nicely balanced great black fruits abounded. Slight cassis made this a winner for me and an early WOTN. Which became the night’s No. 2 for me. Glad I have more. 93/100
2004 Heathcote II – Medicinal. So much so I could not bring the glass to my mouth, but when I did I squinted and quivered. N/R
2004 Wild Duck Creek – Great nose, Super red fruits with some tar, cherries, and slight cocoa. A great balance of purity/tannins/and acid made this a WOW wine for me. No perceptible heat to speak of and a long finish made this the WOTN…easily.94/100
2005 Terlato & Chapoutier lieu dit Malakoff- Yeah, the French influence was showing big-time here. I wish it had more stuffing. I found it a bit jammy. I immediately thought Cotes du Rhone. I wish I could have believed Cote Rotie instead. 87/100

2005 Arnot-Roberts Syrah Hudson Vineyards USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (2/18/2008)

($49.99) Dark with crimson edges, Great nose of blueberry, cracked white pepper, some boysenberry and graphite. The palate had the blueberry pie, the boysenberry, tar, some cedar box, and bacon fat. This needed about an hour to shine, although I liked it out of the bottle. I find there is a real change from moment to moment (hour to hour?) when a quality Syrah is opened...more so than say a Cabernet or Pinot. This had wonderful body. Not the most elegant Syrah I have had, but no brute either. This has the stuffing to go the distance & some bottle time should make this even better. A long finish completed the whole experience. I would wait at least a year to touch one again. (91 /100)

2001 Worthy Sophia's Cuvée (USA, California, Napa Valley)

2/16/2008 rated 92 points: Double decanted back into the bottle 2 hours previous. Initially very profound deep velvety dark fruits and wonderful length. After 2 hours: Ultra dark and brooding. The nose was very restrained: some cassis, some blackberries. The palate revealed amazing refined dark fruits. Initially somewhat astringent, but after a few hours opened to a lovely cedar box & tobacco. After 4 hours this rocked into a medley of pure fruit, smooth body, and refined elegance. This did not dissapoint. Very pure aligned tannins and a long finish completed the package. Lots of life left in this.V ery unlike any Sophies that came after (I have had the 2002, and the 2003. Glad I have more. WOTN

2000 Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

2/3/2008 rated 91 points, almost.
Advice is a funny thing, especially when you don't take your own.
On my last outing with the 2000 Mondavi Reserve I recommended that you open it 1 day in advance. So what do I do on Saturday for Saturdays bottle? You guessed it, I open a 2000 Mondavi Reserve and start drinking 3o minutes later.
Not wise. Especially since I was warned by my favorite critic: me.
What was I thinking? It's not like my notes are buried. Anyone hate vegetalnees more than me?

So I Vacu-Vin the 2nd half and put it back in the cellar for Sunday.
Come Sunday...BINGO. It was a totally different wine. Lush, fruit forward and almost seamless.

Will I ever learn?

11/9/2007 rated 89 points: The color as dark old brick, not brown. (after 1.5 hours) The nose revealed slight vegetalness. On the tongue one get the feel of the elegance and breed, but initally slightly akward. Great cassis, cocoa, tobacco leaf, and tar. The fine tannins reside in the background. An admirable mouthfeel and the typical handling of acid a-la Mondavi; Deft. Moderate finish. The vegetalness never really disappeared. I would rate this a solid 90 if the veg was not present. All in all not a bad $30 drink, but I would be perturbed if I spent $125.

2nd day- This evolved nicely. Much more plush and elegant. Great expressive fruits shooting upward through the opening of the glass; black cherry, currant/cassis, black plum, and boysenberry. The green has subsided, but still slightly present in the background. No longer offensive. A bit longer in the finish as well.

This wine is singing tonight. 89+ points.

Plan to open this 24 hours in advace. You will not be dissapointed.

2004 Cape Mentelle Shiraz Margaret River

Last week I revisited Aussie Shiraz at the Aussie Wine Festival, (below). As mentioned a few stuck out as purchase worthy. Not that I ever need a reason to find a great wine that clocks in below $20.

I just had to try this one again, and I am glad I did. ($17.99). Dark color with some browning on the edges. Not alarming type of browning though. The nose had some great fresh vibrant dark fruits: cassis, blackberry, and boysenberry. There is a slight band-aid element that I won't quite call VA. It's actually quite intriguing and I am going to call it a fruit note. The mouth explodes with dark black plums, blackberries, and camphor. There is an element of purity that belies its price. A pure fruit forward and elegant wine. I love the notes of tobacco, dark coffee and tar. The tannins are spot on and the acid level is hovering over perfection. This is a wonderful Shiraz from Margaret River that has cool climate written all over it. Smooth, sweet, long and full of the wow factor. These are the qualities I look for to my Northern Rhone’s in the sub $50 region. Usually with not much luck.

If you have avoided Shiraz in the last year or so, like I have, you will be pleasantly surprised. Seek this one out. If you hate it I will purchase them from you. 92/100 (upgraded from 90)