Birthday Party CLONYC style! (#18)

My baby is growing up! CLONYC is 4 years old! 
Reason enough for a party, CLONYC style.

9 of us met on a cool spring evening at North Square once again to indulge in great food, lively conversation, and ….Cabernet Sauvignon. Here are some notes/impressions of most of the wines. Maybe others can fill the rest.

We started with a 2007 Dönnhoff Riesling Spätlese that was incredible. So easy and refreshing. Less filling and tastes great! 94 

1995 Leonetti Cabernet- Nice deep color, some direct cab qualities with black currant and cherry first and foremost. A little burnt ember quality. Very classic. 90

1994 Stags Leap Cask 23- (Blind) on first impression, this was bright and flabby. I guessed an 02. I was wrong. In the glass this turned quickly and its age was starting to show. I got some red fruits, and cedar, it turned unbalanced and awkward –fast. A real shocker when revealed. 86

2001 Pride Cabernet Reserve- Wow, pure and elegant with some wonderful lush blackish-red fruits. There were some hints of creamy vanilla, soy, and leather. A finely meshed tannin base with perfectly balanced acidity. Wonderful medium weighted mouthfeel, super long finish. What a treat. 94

2004 Buccella – I decanted this 4 hours and it could have used more. Much more. It was big and showy with so much coming at you from so many directions, so very hard to pin down. Some said Zinfandel! I usually like this one a bit better, no…much better. It calmed down a bit in my glass with food. 90

2004 Georg Raphael Cabernet Sauvignon- A wind card on the night, this really showed well amongst this crowd of rowdy and rambunctious characters. Very delineated cab style with currant, kirsch, black cherry and rubbed saddle. Medium weight with a hint of sassafras and vanilla. Great balance. A decent finish rounded this nicely. 92

2005 Pahlmeyer Red- I was interested in trying this just having the 06 a week previous. Wow. Super dark in color with brooding viscosity, this had such a medley of mixed fruits. Currant, black and red cherry, kirsch, fresh ground coffee, camphor, leather, and more. All nicely balanced within a super structure of tannins, true to the vintage. Long and elegant with food, pure and precise. 94

2005 Mondavi Marjorie’s Premiere Napa Valley- Wholly crap! This was super fragrant of all things good: blackest cassis, chocolate covered cherries, spring wild flowers, leather, some pomegranate and more. It was deep and elegant with layers upon layers of cabernet goodness. The tannins were brawn hidden by flash, but never did it out flash itself. Phenomenal. 95

There were a few others I did not make notes on. Too much wine does that. Maybe someone else can fill them in.
Wine of the night was the Mondavi with 5 points
# 2 on the night was Pahlmeyer.

Another great night indeed. Thanks to everyone involved for you generosity once again, and a big thanks for those ‘extra’ bottles that just have a way of showing up!