LUGERESQUE V: THE CALIFORNIA TABLE
Pratt's Inn, Yorktown, NY (1/31/2010)

The same wonderful event as in past years, but with maybe the best steaks ever!!

Flight 1: Starters

• 2004 Alban Vineyards Viognier Alban Estate Vineyard USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
  Powerful nose of spice and flowers. Loads of minerals. Thick, but still light and fresh on the palate. A delicious wine. Particularly good with the assorted appetizers. (93 pts.)
• 2006 Sine Qua Non Autrement Dit USA, California
  [Brought over by Mark Franks.] Gorgeous, bright red raspberry nose. Lightly sweet with a nice bite on the finish. Just delicious. Thanks Mark! (92 pts.)

Flight 2: Cabs

• 1991 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley
  [Double decanted at 8am. First tasted at about 12:30.] Dry red fruits. Still tannic. Less fruit than I would like to see at this stage. Seems a little dried out. But slowly it gains weight and fruit. Quite amazing. By 3pm everyone agrees it is quite a nice wine. I still won't wait much longer on the last of this, but maybe a day of slow-o next time. (92 pts.)
• 1997 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley
  Black fruit and cinnamon nose. Rich and balanced. Especially tasty with little lamb chop appetizers. (93 pts.)
• 1978 Robert Mondavi Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve USA, California, Napa Valley
  [From a 6L bottle at Pratt's Lugeresque for a $20 donation to Anna's Wish Foundation.] Nose quickly changes from shitty to earthy to appealing forest floor, tar and licorice. May be past its prime, but very nice wine for a very nice cause. A treat. (91 pts.)
• 2002 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Estate USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  Backward black fruit nose. Classic Napa Cab. Riveting long finish. Needs 10 years, but terrific stuff. 93 – 95 points. (93 pts.)
• 2003 Colgin IX Estate USA, California, Napa Valley
  Super intense black fruit nose. Intense, inky wine. Super extracted. Quite pleasurable, but is it wine? Truly a Parkerized wine. (92 pts.)
• 2005 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Bottled Black Label Block 1 USA, California, Napa Valley
  Intense mineral and black fruit nose. Very young. Inky and tannic with extracted black fruit and licorice. May improve significantly with 10-20 years of age. 92-95 points. (92 pts.)

Flight 3: Petite Sirah

• 2000 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
  Sublime nose of complex black fruit and spice. Smooth, silky, tannic, but starting to soften. A super long finish of spice, cocoa and ripe black fruit. Won't peak for 10-15 years, but is starting to show some small hints of maturity. (94 pts.)
• 2005 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley
  Heavenly nose of chocolate, black fruits, and spice. Incredibly full and expansive in the mouth. The finish seems to go on for minutes. Just a wow wow wine! Hands down WOTN for me.
  Day 2: Heaven scent! Has this ethereal nose of black fruit, coffee, cocoa, and a hint of ginger. An incredible wine of depth and length. It's starting to shut down just a bit on day 2. Once that happens, it might take 20 years to open back up, but this will be glorious then.
  Day 4: Almost unchanged! Great stuff. (98 pts.)
• 2005 Anderson's Conn Valley Vineyards Petite Sirah Black Label USA, California, Sonoma County, Green Valley
  Nasty nose. Silky in the mouth, but sour and dirty on the finish. NR
  Day 2: Nice, but somewhat shrill. Reminds me of the Bogle PS. Quite drinkable but not all that appealing. 88 points. (88 pts.)
• 2005 Robert Foley Petite Sirah USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
  Thick and silky. Medium body. A delicious wine but not in the same league as the 2005 Switchback Ridge. 92 points.
  Day 2: Much more expressive in the nose today with loads ripe black fruits and dark chocolate and cocoa. Thick and rich. Very appealing. Needs 5 years to show its stuff. 92 – 94 points. (92 pts.)
• 2002 Alban Vineyards Pandora USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley
  [Just a sip from Mark's table.] Not as wonderful as the 05 last year, but that same exotic orange fruit. Very unusual and enjoyable. (93 pts.)

Thanks to all the great people at my table. It was great to see all the new and old friends. Plaudits to Mark and to Pratt's for another wonderful event.

Posted from CellarTracker

All original content © Ken Vastola