Tour of Bordeaux-blend and Cabernet Sauvignon based wines

Co-hosted a tasting for our wine group recently. Thanks to Steve Dunn for providing a most excellent 2nd flight. 

1st flight
1999 Fisher Wedding Vineyard  (favorite of the flight) - Sonoma - Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Cabernet Franc (14% abv)
1998 Chateau Gomerie - St. Emilion - Merlot (13% abv)
1998 d'Arenberg Coppermine Road - McLaren Vale - Cabernet Sauvignon  (14% abv)
1997 Concha y Toro Don Melchor - Maipo Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon  (13.5% abv)
1997 Le Macchiole Paleo - Tuscany - mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc (13% abv)
1992 Ferrari-Carano Reserve (2nd favorite of the flight) - Sonoma - Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec (13.5% abv)

All wines showed well in the 1st flight. Fisher Wedding Vineyard is a personal favorite. It is often compared (humbly, though) to the style of La Mission Haut-Brion. The '92 Ferrari Carano was excellent, attesting to the longevity of this cuvee. The '98 Gomerie still had lots of upfront fruit. The '98 Coppermine Road was the most viscous palate-wise reflecting the huge vintage inn Australia that year. 

2nd flight
2006 Dunn Howell Mountain - Napa - Cabernet Sauvignon (13.8% abv)
2006 Leoville Las-Cases - St. Julien - Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc (13.5% abv)
2007 Quilceda Creek - Columbia Valley - Cabernet Sauvignon with a bit of Merlot in this vintage (15.2% abv) 
2008 The Mascot - Napa - Cabernet Sauvignon (2nd favorite of the flight )
2009 Groth Reserve - Napa - Cabernet Sauvignon (favorite of the flight )
2009 Shafer Hillside Select - Napa - Cabernet Sauvignon 

All wines in the 2nd flight showed well. This flight perfectly showcased some of the best of new world and best of old world. The Leoville Las-Cases was nowhere near its prime, showing the most structure. A beautiful wine, but hold for another decade at least. 
My personal favorite of the 2nd flight was the Quilceda Creek.  What a unique wine! Intriguing minerally fruit with a complex finish that included hints of eucalyptus that I particularly enjoy. Quilceda Creek has received some huge ratings from professional critics, which it deserves but unfortunately catapults the price of the wine. 
My 2nd favorite of this flight was the Dunn Howell Mountain. What a wine! The flight was served blind and I would never have guessed an '06 Dunn HM would be so approachable.  Kudos to my co-host who poured this flight. He aerated the wines extensively throughout the day to prepare them to show their best. The '06 Dunn HM is a beautiful balanced wine with impeccable quality of fruit and surprisingly smooth,  integrated tannins at this juncture.  If you have a few bottles, then it is worth trying one now with lots of air. 
The Mascot is made by Will Harlan (Bill's son), comprised of a blend from younger vines that supply Harlan, Bond and Promontory. 
The Shafer Hillside Select was the most controversial wine (for me at least). The Shafer HS has been referred to as a blueberry milkshake by some members of this board. I wouldn't go so far as to describe it as milkshake-like in viscosity,  but it definitely has a thick lushness to it. I have enjoyed much older vintages of Shafer HS that showed more traditionally.  This young version needs a lot more time to settle down. 

All in all, a very fun evening ...