California Cult Tasting at Wine Watch Wine Bar

"By making this wine vine known to the public, I have rendered my country as great a service as if I had enabled it to pay back the national debt."
~ Thomas Jefferson

If only a modern-day politician could contribute as much to the quality of our life as the late great Thomas Jefferson.  He was one of the first advocates of wine in the United States and he is one of the reasons why we have the greatest selection of wines from all around the world in the U.S. today.  So, remember...no matter how bad it gets, we still have the best selection of the world’s greatest wines at the best prices in the world here in the U.S. of A.

Speaking of GREAT wines from the U.S.A…. I need a few good men or women to help me drink some really fine wine on this occasion- our annual California Cult Wine Tasting here at Wine Watch.

What makes a "cult wine"? Do the producers pick the grapes at night under the full moon? Do they make it under a secret oath or while sacrificing a small farm animal? These ultra expensive, hard to find wines from California just have more customers than they do bottles to go around.  The simplest factor in the economy kicks in with these wines, good old supply and demand.  This tasting is already almost sold out but for those of you that miss out on this “Once in a Lifetime” event I have included everything from these producers that we have in stock on this offering so you can host your own Cali Cult tasting.

This tasting is limited to 16 tasters and the fee for this event is $495 + tax. For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

California Cult Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, October 6, 2016
7:30 PM

2011 Vintage Flight

2011 Marcassin Chardonnay Estate Sonoma Coast

97 Points) The 2011 is a great Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard from a much-maligned and sometimes excessively criticized vintage. 2011 has its low points, but there are many producers who got it right, and survived the challenging growing and harvest conditions. This wine has phenomenal intensity, with plenty of crushed rock, pineapple, honeysuckle, orange and tangerine blossom in an elegant, medium to full-bodied style, with terrific intensity, good acidity and freshness. This is more evolved than either the 2009 or 2010, and probably will be a candidate for 7-8 years of aging, rather than 10 or more. The Wine Advocate

2011 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

(96 Points) A vivid, nuanced wine, the 2011 Screaming Eagle is absolutely impeccable. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke and licorice open up in the glass, followed by more savory notes that develop later. The 2011 gets better and better in the glass, as the flavors become even more precise and chiseled. Hints of pencil shavings, leather, cedar and menthol add nuance on the super-expressive finish. This is a stellar showing from Screaming Eagle. 96+ Vinous / Antonio Galloni

2011 Screaming Eagle Second Flight

The elegant, round 2011 Second Flight offers hints of coffee beans, roasted herbs, black currants and jammy black cherries. Elegant and medium-bodied with low acidity and sweet.
Blend: 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Bond Promotory
(95 points) "Soaring aromatics and beams of tannin give the 2011 Proprietary Red its signature feel...A host of pine, menthol, tobacco, licorice...lift to this soaring, exquisite hillside Cabernet Sauvignon." Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, December 2016

2007 Vintage Flight

2007 Dalla Valle Maya

(98 points) The 2007 Maya borders on perfection. Its dense plum/ruby/purple color is followed by abundant aromas of graphite, blueberry liqueur, hoisin sauce, smoked meats and red and black fruits. The extraordinary aromatics give way to a full-bodied, stunningly concentrated wine with everything in balance, fabulous density and richness, and a finish that lasts nearly 60 seconds. This is unquestionably one of the all-time great Mayas. In keeping with the exuberance and flamboyance of this vintage, it is approachable now, but should age effortlessly for 30+ years. (RP) (12/2010) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007 Blankiet "Rive Droite" Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend

(94 points) Composed of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, the dark plum/purple/garnet-tinged 2007 Rive Droite Proprietary Red offers kirsch, black currant, coffee bean, cocoa and loamy, earthy notes in its opulent, voluptuously textured personality. Heady, exuberant and flashy, this already irresistible 2007 should continue to drink well for 15+ years. (RP) (12/2010) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007 Myriad Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard
(97 Points) The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Dr. Crane Vineyard exhibits a rich creme de cassis-filled nose, less minerality than the 2008 revealed (but I’m sure it’s lurking under the surface), a healthy, impressive blue / purple color, juicy, succulent fruit, a multidimensional mouthfeel and great purity and depth.

Everything suggests this guy, Mike Smith, knows a thing or two about what great wine is all about.  This beauty should evolve for 20+ years.


2007 Bryant Family Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

(97 points) Beautiful aromas of blueberry liqueur, blackberries, camphor, incense and acacia flowers is followed by a well-textured, full-bodied, stunningly opulent, voluptuous wine with plenty of structure lurking beneath the surface. Super-pure and intense, it is the strongest wine produced by Bryant over the last 4-5 years. It needs 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades. 97+ Points (RP) (12/2010) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

(100 points) The prodigious 2007 Harlan Estate reminds me of a hypothetical blend of the 2002 with a touch of the controversial 1997. Dense plum/purple-colored with sweet aromas of barbecue smoke, blueberries, blackberries, cassis, licorice, hot rocks and subtle oak, it is a splendidly opulent, pure wine with a skyscraper-like texture as well as stunningly deep fruit that expands gracefully across the palate. The finish lasts nearly a full minute. Because of its overwhelming richness and sweet tannins, this brilliant wine seems to be approachable now, but I suspect further nuances and complexity will emerge after 4-5 years in the bottle. This wine will still be going strong at age 25-30. Like the offerings from its sister estate, Bond, these Harlan Estate offerings are uncompromisingly brilliant examples of Napa viticulture and winemaking at its finest. Kudos to proprietor Bill Harlan. (RP) (12/2010) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
1995 Vintage Flight

1995 Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard

(98 Points) I believe the 1995 is the finest produced under the Araujo regime. It is close to perfection. The wine combines extraordinary power and richness with remarkable complexity and finesse. The saturated purple/black color is followed by aromas of sweet vanillin intermixed with riveting scents of black currants, minerals, exotic spices, coffee, and toast. There is nothing garish about this subtle yet powerful giant of a wine. A Napa Valley classic, it is full-bodied and extremely rich, yet retains its sense of balance and symmetry. This fabulous Cabernet Sauvignon should age effortlessly for 30 or more years. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2030. Wine Advocate #120, Dec 1998

1995 Abreu "Madrona Ranch" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

(95 points) The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch is a strikingly superb Cabernet Sauvignon. Although it includes 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot in the blend, I would never have guessed that. Aged in 100% new Taransaud barrels (as are all Abreu's wines), this wine boasts an opaque purple color, in addition to a fabulous bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, cassis, licorice, minerals, and smoky, toasty oak. The wine's aromatics soar from the glass, and in the mouth, the bouquet's promise is fulfilled. A thick, juicy, black fruit character comes across in cascades of fruit, glycerin, and extract. All of this has been buttressed by sweet tannin and good acidity. A voluptuously-textured, blockbuster, yet remarkably harmonious wine, it is one of the finest efforts of the vintage. (RP) (12/1998) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

1995 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa

(99 points) The 1995 Proprietary Red Wine is almost as perfect as the 1994. It has gotten even better in the bottle, and remains one of the most remarkable young Cabernet Sauvignons I have tasted. The wine, a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, was aged in 100% new oak, which adds subtle pain grille/toasty scents. This opaque purple-colored Cabernet offers up a nose of smoke, coffee beans, black and blue fruits, minerals, and roasted herbs. It is extremely full-bodied, with spectacular purity, exquisite equilibrium, and a seamless personality with everything in total harmony. The finish lasts for more than 40 seconds. This extravagantly rich, profoundly complex 1995 will give its 1994 sibling a run for its money. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2027. Wine Advocate # 120 Dec 1998

Menu
Roasted Bone Marrow with Lime Gremolata
Cabernet Brazed Wild Boar Ragout with Balsamic Caramelize Onions served over Pulenta
Chocolate Covered Bacon

This tasting is limited to 16 tasters and the fee for this event is $495 + tax. For reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com