Saxum James Berry 2006, Kanzler 2005, Beau-Sejour Becot 1979

A bit of variety in the wines opened for dinner, which was slow cooked pork loin, collard greens, roasted peppers and cauliflower puree. 

1979 Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot (magnum)Slow-o for a couple of hours prior to dinner.  Amazing how fresh this wine is, likely due to good storage along with enhanced longevity of the magnum format.  A very pleasant Saint-Emilion (12.5% alc.)  Loads of flavor and robust color for a wine this old ... attractive (if somewhat muted) nose .  Mostly Merlot with some Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.  Classic mature cherry palate with interesting tobacco notes and some herbal influence. 

2005 Kanzler Estate Pinot Noir (Sonoma)Steve Kanzler makes one of my favorite California pinot noirs. 14.9% alc. Slow-o for 2 hours prior to dinner.  It really started taking off in the glass after extended exposure to air in 3rd hour.  This is a great food wine.  Comprised of clones 667, 115 and Pommard-4.  This wine always has a very tasty anise character that I enjoy (contributed by the 115 clone according to Kanzler).  Big mature raspberry fruit with earth. Here is a link to Steve Kanzler providing a fascinating tour of his vineyard. 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/57jSSynGUvQ?rel=0 

2006 Saxum James Berry Vineyard (Paso Robles)A very nice mature example of Justin Smith's renowned James Berry vineyard bottling. Very nicely balanced wine in spite of the high level of alcohol (15.6%).  Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre.  Full decant on this one.  Really needed two hours to start to show its stuff.  Impressively smooth with subtle underlying minerality ... I think limestone substrate is part of the terroir.  Well - deserved cult status...

Dinner featuring Rhone Varietals from around the World

Thanks to everyone for the great wines and wonderful camaraderie!   

> First Flight <

Paired with 
- Piquillo Peppers stuffed with Goat Cheese 
- Sauteed Scallops

1996 Louis Latour Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres - a personal favorite.  Kept opening up splendidly. Minerally citrus and brioche. 13.5% alc.

2004 Domaine Pascal Cotat Sancerre Chavignol Les Monts Damnes  - a blockbuster Loire Sauvignon Blanc !  Forwardly gorgeous floral & honey nose.  Lusciously matured citrus fruit with underlying salinity ... Voted as post popular wine of this flight. 12.5% alc.

2009 Herman Story Tomboy - blend of Viognier and Roussanne from Santa Barbara ... a perennial favorite... slightly eclipsed this evening by the greatness of the Loire and CdP .  16.1% alc.

2011 Clos St. Jean Chateauneuf-du-Pape - showing nicely, this was the 2nd most popular wine of the flight and paired perfectly with the sauteed scallops.  A blend of Roussanne, Clairette, Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc.  Delicate florals on the nose.  Alluring oily, satiny (?) texture on the palate with melon and quince fruits. 14.0% alc.

> Second Flight <

Paired with grilled pork tenderloin, broccoli salad and wild rice consomme

2006 Charles Melton Nine Popes - a blend of old vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from the Barossa Valley.  Very nicely done and drinking well after several hours of air where it gained serious presence.  Intense fruit yet well balanced with that light kiss of sweet fruit that I so enjoy from Mourvedre. My personal favorite of this flight. 14.5% alc. 

2007 Gramercy Cellars Syrah John Lewis - from the Walla Walla Valley. A well-balanced New World interpretation of Syrah echoing Northern Rhone nicely.  Black fruit, spice and olives with a hint of creosote.  13.9% alc.

2009 Chateau Puech-Haut Coteaux du Languedoc Saint Drezery Quercus - 100% Grenache ... far and away the most popular wine of this flight.   Ridiculously alluring lavender and spice nose.  Black raspberry fruit balanced with a nice underlying minerality.  Quite fruit-driven complemented by signature Languedoc garrigue. Philippe Cambie has a hand in this. 15% alc.

2011 La Mujer Canon - single vineyard Grenache from the Gredos Mountains near Madrid.  Attractive florals with earthy blackberry fruit and nicely balanced acidity. 14.5% alc.

> Third Flight <

Paired with selection of cheeses and fruit (Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam, Cypress Grove Chevre Truffle Tremor, Sartori Rosemary & Olive Oil Asiago, Vermont Cheddar drizzled with 10 year Balsamic and local Honey, fresh Honeycrisp Apples)

1989 Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle - simply amazing wine.  Voted most popular wine of this flight and also most popular WOTN by a significant margin.  Purchased on release and held in the same cellar.  I have had the privilege of enjoying this wine on several occasions over the past decade and it always shows impressively.  It was informative tasting the '89 La Chapelle next to the '03 Guigal Cote-Rotie.  Both delicious, but the La Chapelle exhibited such freshness and purity of fruit for an older vintage.  Silky blackberry fruit, earth, spice, notes of creosote.  Kept on going through the evening. Lovely balance with 13.0% alc.

1997 Quintarelli Rosso Ca del Merlo - this was (fortunately) put into the mix because I had opened bottles of Cote-Rotie and Hermitage for this dinner that were corked and put aside.  What can I say about Quintarelli wines that hasn't been said ... This '97 was showing very well.  Gorgeous floral nose leaps from the glass. Violet, red currant, spice and mineral... I wish I had a lot more of this.  Very popular wine at this dinner.  14.0% alc.
Here are some previous notes from the 2000 vintage bottling:
http://lestastevinsdulac.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-memorable-wine.html 

1998 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press - a relatively rare offering from Barossa Valley producer Robert O'Callaghan. Mellow fruit, sous bois, cassis, and hint of anise.  On the far side of its optimal drinking window (?)...  Will have to try this again (have some left over and will report back). 14.0% alc

2000 Damilano Barolo Cannubi  - I put this into the mix served double blind from decanter.  One of my favorite "go-to" wines ... always enjoy Cannubi and this '00 rendition from Damilano is so attractive right now, yet still has a lot of good years ahead.  Everyone enjoyed this as the "mystery" wine for the evening. 14.0% alc.
Here are previous notes:
http://lestastevinsdulac.blogspot.com/2014/01/luigi-pira-barolo-marenca-2000-and.html 

2003 E. Guigal Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde - Wow! This was a very nice surprise.  I usually eschew Guigal CdP's because of oaky characteristics.  This Cote-Rotie does not suffer from oakiness at all.  Delicious plum with sweet tannin, game, smoke and stone.  The nose was incredible as soon as it was opened.  Good length all evening.  Really a nice wine drinking in its optimal window for enjoyment. Very nicely balanced at 13% alc !