Well, everyone has their "WOW WINE NIGHT" and this was mine. I was very fortunate to attend a private tasting in NYC given by a portfolio manager of a major brokerage firm that does business with a very good friend of mine.

These all came from his private cellar. The theme was one of his favorite Bordeaux vs. great CA. Cabs. None of the Leovilles were decanted, except the 82' - so you had to sit with these for a while to get some good impressions.

1994 Leoville-Las Cases

This was the first wine we tasted. Aroma of cedar and earth. Leather, cherry, vanilla. Very polished. Long finsh. 92 Points.

1990 Leoville-Las Cases

Great wine! Barnyard scent that eventually gave way to leathery, spicy and old world fruit that opened up later in the night. I did go back to it and glad I did. This was a favorite of many. The BX pros thought the 90 was more gratifying and open than the 89' initially, but the 89 was more preferable to some. Heaven. 95 Points.

1989 Leoville-Las Cases

This was a surprise hit for many (VS. the 82 and the 86) and a few had this as their favorite LLC. More tannic than the 90 with lovely earth, toasty oak, cedar and wonderful sweet fruit just coming out. This was the tightest of the bunch. Very youthfull. Long long life. 95 points.

1986 Leoville-Las Cases

This was a suprise. Wonderful aroma that would set up the taste. After my second sip of it, it tasted very dry, almost a little chalky. Thinking I had a little palate fatigue, I had some water and bread, but it was still there. I commented to someone else and they agreed. Our host thought the bottle was not showing well compared to another he had 6 months ago. Too bad. Off bottle? I was waiting for this one all night (along with the 82). THIS bottle: Still 90 points

1982 Leoville Las-Cases

This is the oldest BX I have ever had and how often do you drink a 100 point RP wine. Me: never.

This was decanted for 45 minutes or so. The anticpated LLC of the evening. Still youthfull nose. Fruit was lush and polished, but the tannins were silky but not heavy and the finish gave a lot but was short of "wow". It was the opinion of many and I that this bottle tasted near maturity - not that the wine itself is, but this bottle seemed slightly peaked to some or at worst, not improving. I still loved it and an experience I will cherish. 95 Points.

2002 Schrader Cellars CS to Kalon Vineyard

Served from a magnum. Awesome nose. Toasty, with huge lush fruit, needed major time, but I wasn't waiting!. A finish that went on and on. A killer wine that wowed many, including me. A decade to go easy. Where do I get some more of this?! 96 points.

1995 Silver Oak CS

A former champ that was simply overmatched tonight. Attractive nose, oak. Full bodied, balanced and polished. Good, not great finish. I have never had a 95 Silver Oak, but I would have liked to have tried this 3 years ago. Aging well, but for the better? I do not think this will improve. Classy cab, I like em' bigger than this. 91 Points.

2002 Switchback Ridge CS Peterson Family

Incredible aroma. Rich color. Crushed Blackberry, mint, dates, long serious finish. Wonderful. Would have loved to have tried this 3 hours later - but alas, the bottle was long gone! Another classic Cab to remember. Major years ahead obviously. 95-96 Points.

2000 Bryant Family CS

I was staring at this bottle all night knowing I may never get the chance to taste this again.
WOW. Huge, huge, huge. The color was so deep and lush. Black and purple mix. Big dark fruit, sweet cassis, dark chocolate. Finish was a monster. Easy the best 2000 Napa Cab I have tried. It actually was better than any 1999 or 2001 Napa cab I have ever had! 96 Points

1995 Araujo Estate CS Eisele Vineyard

OMG! Can it get better? Yes! This was my WOTN and probably 1/3 of the rooms too. This is a 95? Amazingly youthfull. Toffee, spice, sweet big big fruit, circled in vanilla, with tannins that say "20 years easy". A finish to die for.
98 Points.

and after all that, we went out for steaks at 9:00 last night at Ben Bensons. With Harlan, Bryant, Screaming eagle on the list. We just laughed at each other, saying "we better not this time". So we ordered a 99 La Poderina Brunello to finish off the evening.

I am still floating today. Sorry this was so long.

Edited to include the Switchback Ridge, which I forgot to post originally.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hunter,

Hunter---I think that 1986 bottle of Las Cases must've been an off bottle! As for the 1982 Las Cases, Parker has an estimated maturity window of 2006--2035, so it should just be coming its drinking window. The 1986 has a Parker estimated maturity window of 2003-2030!

Do you know how long he had these wines in his possession, and if they were in a temperature controlled cellar? Also, did you see the corks, to see if there was any compromise to either cork?

I agree and several others thought (or knew) something wasn't right about the 86. Like I said, he himself said it was not a good showing compared to an earlier try (I assume from the same lot). My experience with this vintage is nothing and I can't measure maturity with the experience I have had, but I know what I was tasting and I know the Reputation of this wine -so I made sure I spoke to others, some who own the wine too.

He is a very serious collector with over 2000 bottles in a cellar and a lot of older BX. He did mention that he has bought some at auction, but I do not know which bottles were, so I can't tell you how long he's held this particular one in his possession.

The fills and corks looked fine from what I saw. He opened them before we got there, but the corks were on the table and had good color and looked soft (not brittle, cracked or sawing).

My feeling is that the '86 LLC is just completely shut down and years shy of being ready to drink. Most 1986s aren't showing well now.

Hunter----Perhaps Board-O is correct and the 1986 Las Cases has shut down! 1986 Bordeaux was a very tannic vintage and it is taking plenty of time to resolve those tannins, especially in the 1st & most 2nd growth wines.

I have three cases of 1986 Las Cases in the OWC and was thinking about trying a bottle next year---but after your experience, perhaps I'll wait till 2011!

My 1982 Lafite & 1982 Las Cases are marked for 2012! I hope I can wait that long!

hunter,
just would like to know was it the 95 napa or alexander silver oak!

quote:

hunter,
just would like to know was it the 95 napa or alexander silver oak

Sorry, Alexander.

quote:

Hunter----Perhaps Board-O is correct and the 1986 Las Cases has shut down! 1986 Bordeaux was a very tannic vintage and it is taking plenty of time to resolve those tannins, especially in the 1st & most 2nd growth wines.

I have to acknowledge that possibility and you guys may be right, but it wasn't just a tannic or tight issue - more dry and it wasn't just me. I guess I'll have to wait for an update when one of you lucky fellas get to open one of yours...in several years.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hunter,

thanks,
i know the price is bad but it still taste ok

Damn, way to go Hunter

You have Switchback in your title, but no tasting notes.

quote:

You have Switchback in your title, but no tasting notes.

Oh $hit. I do have them. I'll update when I get a sec.

All I can say is... WOW!!!

Everybody needs a couple of these nites in ones lifetime.

I can remember having a celebratory dinner out in Napa one evening:

97 Dalla Valle Maya
95 Harlan
97 Bryant
97 Spottswoode
97 Opus
96 Shafer HSS
97 Phalmeyer
77 Fonseca
97 Peter Michael (whites and reds)

I can still taste the Harlan and Bryant

quote:

97 Dalla Valle Maya
95 Harlan
97 Bryant
97 Spottswoode
97 Opus
96 Shafer HSS
97 Phalmeyer
77 Fonseca
97 Peter Michael (whites and reds)

Dreamy lineup there