Wow! What a night. Pure hedonism. 7 courses at my favorite restaurant "231 Ellsworth" collided with myself, Grape Ape, Orlando, and some other guests tonight, for an evening of pure decadence. The food and service were fantastic. Here are the wines.....

'95 Dom Perignon

Very bold and deep. This is very much like the '90, but just missing the mark in complexity. Robust and full bodied. Notes of bread dough, citrus oil and lively acidity, brioche/toast, coffee grounds, and lemon mousse. Meaty champagne, but just missing the mark of the '96. 94 pts. solid in my book.

'96 Dom Perignon

Wow...has this come around since I had it on release nearly a year ago. This is an "iron fist in velvet glove" champagne. Very ripe fruit with an elegant mousse. Notes of sweet fuji apple, crisp pear, lively effervescence, and a diversely elegant midpalate and finish. Not quite the 98 pts. Parker has bestowed (yet)...96 pts. for me! This should be LOVELY with more time...hell...it already is!

'02 Sine Qua Non Wispering E

Light straw in color. This had a amazing nose to it. In fact, the nose was my favorite part..a mix of white/wild flowers, jasmine, citronella candle wax, and lychee nut oil. The palate was much more reserved and lacked the same presence the nose had. Medium bodied. Still, an amazing wine. 93 pts. for me.

'01 Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce

All at the table agreed, this was a bad bottle. Very flat and muted fruit. Not corked. Just not what this wine is supposed to be. No score or notes.

'02 Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce

First off...this needs some time. Second...it's not quite what the "better" examples of the '01 are like. Still...nice acidty, great midpalate prescence, and a wonderful body of fruit. It just needs some time to pull together. I don't think it will ever be like the best examples of the '01, but it's a damn fine CA Chard.! 94 pts.

'95 Harlan Maiden

This is a CA red, with a Bordeaux sensibility. On the nose, it smells more like Bordeaux. Wet earth, cigar spice, and sweet black cherry. On the palate, anise, sweet pipe tobacco, earth, plum, black cherry, and provencial herbs. This actually reminded me of a more youthful version of the '98 Maiden. Awesome food wine. Not nearly the power, elegance, and stature of the '95 Harlan Estate. 93 pts.

'02 Pride Mtn. Top Merlot

I'm going to steal "The Artist Formerly Known as DJ Hombre's" description of this wine (because he's DEAD ON!)...this is a Snicker's Bar in a glass! Incredibly decadent. Foley to the MAX!!! Deep, brooding, sensual, ripe, and volumptuous. A milestone, in it's own right, for CA Merlot....96 pts. solid. Absolute Hedonism, but incredibly well balanced.

'01 B & H Heavyweight

I did not get around to this wine as I have had it twice before. I'll let others comment, assuming they choose to "chime in".

'02 Caymus Special Select

I heard rumors from the winery 2 years ago when this was still in barrel, that it would be the best S.S. they've ever made. Most places say this kind of thing but the "under the breath", and convincing way it was said to me, made me belive them. Since then, I've been waiting for it to come out. Well...I have to say that while it is delicious, I'm concerned about it's agability. It's very ripe and decadent with a touch of V.A. like I experienced with the '01 Merus. Just a tad "over the top" for what it is/should be. Deep notes of black cherry liquer, coffe, sage, creme brulee, mint leaf, and a hint of balsamic. Very broad on the midpalate and finishing long with very well integrated tannins. I'm just concerned a bit with the structure/acids. 93+?

'02 Kenefick Ranch Cab.

Impressive. Dark purple in color. Notes of mint leaf, anise, blackberry, provencial herbs, and black cherry pie. I liked this wine especially because I think it was holding something back for the future. It is very well made with great structure, but did not reveal all of what it was on the first glass. A wine that needed more decanting than we were able to give it. Full bodied with great structure. I think this will get better with some age. For now 93+, and a great buy at $56-60.

What a night!

Cheers,

-DRAB

Sounds like lots of fun DRAB. Hope to see you soon.

nice notes agree with you on the champers .

DRAB,

yeah...I'll just rough him up

Sorry I missed you this weekend. see you soon.

a

Thank you again for the notes

Your notes regarding Kenfick Ranch '02 are different from Pyang notes (Fume TCF dinner). I hope the bottle from that dinner was an off bottle as I have purchased 6 of these

Drab,
thanks for the night of decadence!!!!
Pure hedonism.
My notes are about the same. The heavyweight is too ripe, I am taking my two bottle back to Puerto Rico and will retaste soon.
Orlando

DRAB,

Nice call on the 02 Caymus SS. Ws just rated at ..... 93!.

RWSW

Was that in their recent "online insider"? Anything else score well, or not so well?

Cheers,

-DRAB

Yes. Nothing much else.

RWSW

dr.d
do you think the 96 DP is worth $99.99 @ costco
thanks,

I basically agree with your assessments of the Doms of '95 and '96. Elsewhere, I have described the '96 as a more delicate almost feminine wine in comparison to the '95. Nice tasting.

Dick

quote:

dr.d
do you think the 96 DP is worth $99.99 @ costco
thanks,

bez - sorry to jump in, but imo, definitely a buy @ $99.99. Great bubbles.

PH

ph,
thanks,thinking about our 20th wedding an. in 8 years.
bez

bez,

I was thinking about tonight! It will hold for 8 more. At that price, get 2. Drink one sooner. Tasty! Congrats on making it for 12. Better than most...

PH

Bez780...

If you like Champange, and particularly Dom., it's a fantastic wine to have in your cellar. The lowest prices I've seen seem to be in the $89-99 range. It's certainly worth it.

Cheers,

-DRAB

drab,
thanks,dp on the most has just been an over rated brut . but with all the hip on this one an the scores,iam just trying to think on how it will age. so far so good iam just going to have too pick up a couple at that price!
thanks again,

95 Dom Perignon 92

96 Dom Perignon 93

02 Sine Qua Non Wispering E 93

01 Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce Corked or cooked. Next day from another bottle it was a 92

02 Walter Hansel Cuvee Alyce 91

95 Harlan Maiden 94

02 Pride Mtn. Top Merlot 95

01 B & H Heavyweight 91 Over ripe

02 Caymus Special Select 93

02 Kenefick Ranch Cab. 93


What a night!

The BH Heavywieght was a bad bottle. I just try one of my bottles and is a full body wine, not a hint of over ripeness, claret style, just a hint of the alcohol, will last many years, and in my opinion, not ready. I will give a 94.

Orlando;

Glad you like Kenefick Ranch as I opened one last night. I thought it was a little green and WOW the alch. 15.4 but today it is drinking a lot better!

I plan on saving the remaining 5 for a latter
date.

ps: do you have info on how to get on wait list for Sine Qua Non?

I brought a bottle of 2002 Kenefick Ranch with us to Paris and we opened it tonight!

Wow explosive nose of fruit and cassis! The palate has softened a lot since the Fume Bistro night and now I find a lot of dark fruits, cassis and chocolate!! really big (or it seems such after 2 weeks of French wine? )