Every so often, we have a small wine meetup, with sfwinelover, jersey, and myself (plus often my wife) and bring a bottle we've been meaning to try.
We decided to up the stakes this time and target trophy bottles of wine (unofficial guidelines, no one is monitoring this).
Unsurprisingly, this ended up being our best small meet-up yet.
I could make comments about which wine was best and the competition, but we're all on the same team here and every wine was fantastic.
It's honestly a treat to be able to enjoy these wines in the company of people who truly enjoy the wines and share notes and experiences. This is really what wine is about — the community. It's not about status or money or anything else.
It just so happened that all four wines were Napa Cabs/Bordeaux blend, but that made the experience even more fun!
2008 Abreu Thorevilos
Second time visiting the Abreu portfolio and I liked it just as much!
This received about three hours of air before drinking and another two hours over the course of the evening, in the bottle, no decanting.
I think this is in a perfect place right now, drinking beautifully.
Picked up notes of blueberry, blackberry, and cocoa, alongside some slight barnyard on the nose.
Underneath, also got some cinnamon bark and cloves.
Beautiful wine with tannins that really mellowed out with age, nice acidity.
I think this is at its peak, but can probably go on another decade, at least.
94 points.
2009 BOND Pluribus
One of my brings to wine night.
I've had Harlan and Promontory (and Mascot, naturally), but never had BOND beyond a splash at Oakville Grocery.
Gave this a few hours of decanting before bringing, was ready to go then.
Bombastic nose.
Rose petals and cherry blossoms immediately hit me.
Then some dried plum, raspberry, red plum, blackberry notes.
Tannins are well-integrated now with some solid acidity.
Started to pick up some secondary notes, like cocoa, cinnamon, cedar, and even chocolate-covered espresso.
Didn't get much on the tertiary side, telling me this is still young in its drinking window.
Absolutely loved this wine and feels like it's still young, may even improve with time!
This was my WOTN, noting I'm talking my own book here.
94+ points.
2012 Colgin Cariad
This received several hours of air before serving and was in a great place.
I've had Colgin a few times, including at the winery, but this is likely the best expression I've had so far!
Picked up notes of pomegranate, blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry.
This still drinks young, with grippy tannins and bright acidity.
Got some nice secondary notes, including elaichi (cardamom) and saunf (fennel), which was a pleasant surprise.
In such a great place right now, probably at peak, but may surprise us and get even better!
94 points.
2002 Sloan
This was a last minute addition to the line-up, since my wife was on the fence if she could make it or not.
Gave this a half hour decant before the meet-up, then another two hours of air in the decanter.
Candidly, that wasn't enough, this is still young and needs more time (telling me the idea of this being past the drinking window is nonsense).
This is a very velvety wine (a little surprising considering only 8% Merlot).
Picked notes of dark plum skins, dark cherry, brambly blackberry.
Underneath that, cinnamon and cedar notes.
I think this wine is in a great place right now and an incredible wine, just surrounded by slightly better wines.
I'd love to revisit this wine in a couple years and it may be even better!
93+ points.
This is a night I'll remember for a long time. It was a Thursday, which made for a painful Friday (compounded by the fact that we had some Tokaji after).
Hard to pick a wine, I think all very close company, but if I had to pick one, the BOND was probably my favorite and still has upside. But this is splitting hairs, to be honest. Any of these wines on their own would be a highlight.
by rnjbond