Another record, both in attendance and number of bottles consumed (thanks to all who brought bottles - we needed them!). Also a special personal record - I haven't been this hung over since college.
Overall impressions (that I can recall) are (1) Bordeaux just does this varietal better than anyone else and (2) it's hard to find reasonably priced cab that is exciting. Remember, price would be double if you found it in a restaurant, and how often to you buy $70 bottles in a restaurant? Good news is that these wines are really built for steak and roast beef, so you can have them at home with a simple meal. Now if only I could make decent frites.
Stand outs for me are in bold. Many of these came from (and some can still be bought) at K&L Wines on Fourth St. in SF.
- 2003 Robert Mondavi Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon $30 (too young, disappointing overall)
- 2003 Waterford Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon (S. Africa) $20 (well-liked, good deal, but not the measure of the Wasterstone)
- 2003 Phelan Segur, St-Estèphe $32 (excellent, lead pencil shaving, but I liked others better at this price)
- 1996 J.Lohr Hilltop Vineyard Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ~$32 (illustrates what age can do, excellent)
- 1997 Certan De May, Pomerol $25 (fantastic, very French, killer deal)
- 2004 Valentin Bianchi Famiglia Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina) $13 (good, but spring for the Waterstone)
- 2000 Del Bondio Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon ~$30 (fantastic, my favorite Napa in this price range)
- 2000 Bighorn Cellars Grand Reserve Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ?
- 2000 Pagodes de Cos, St-Estèphe $40 (better than any of the Napas at this price)
- 2002 Joseph Phelps Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $36 (winner of the last tasting, still good, but overshadowed by others, need more time to integrate)
- 2003 Pretty Sally Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia) ~$25
- 2002 Enlace Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ~$25
- 2001 Elliot Napa Cabernet Sauvignon ~$26
- 1998 Joguet Chinon Clos de la Cure (trick bottle - it's cabernet franc) ?
- 2003 Bennett Lane Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $30 (nice, a bit too much oak)
- 2004 Von Strasser Diamond Mtn District Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $50 (my fav of the Napas, also most expensive, but I'm tempted to buy one)
- 2002 Beringer Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $35 (nice, very similar to Bennett Lane)
- 2000 Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc $33 (total transformation in the first 10 minutes - from lame to brilliant, a bargain)
- 2004 Castillo de Molina Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Chile)
- 2001 St Clement Napa Cabenet Sauvignon $25 (good stuff, solid choice at this price)
- 2003 Waterstone Napa Cabernet Sauvignon $20 (bargain of the night, sophisticated style for Napa)
- 2002 Joullian Carmel Valley Cabernet Sauvignon ~$30
- 1999 Iron Horse Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon ?
- 2003 Francis Coppola Blue Label Merlot ~$15 (just for contrast, and because I ran out)
