100 Point Wines From Around the World

“There is truth in wine, but you never see it listed in the ingredients on the label”
― Josh Stern

Wine is one of the only things that you consume that does not have a list of ingredients and it is also one of the best investments that you could have made the last 30 years.  All you have to do is buy by the numbers and you will never go wrong in terms of investment wines.  Even if you overpay for a wine that scores 100 points, the price will always go up exponentially over time. 

As you know we are doing scientific work with wine here at Wine Watch and the concept of the perfect wine tasting has been done before, but we figured why not try it again as we just happened to have these 10 (100 Point) wines in the store.  

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $995 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

The Perfect Wine Wine Tasting – Ten 100 Point wines
Saturday, August 28th
7:30pm

2012 Marcassin Chardonnay Estate Sonoma Coast
 (100 points) Outer quote mark The 2012 Chardonnay Marcassin Vineyard, which will probably be released in a few months, displays great minerality, notes of honeysuckle, orange marmalade, poached pear, and white flowers as well as a touch of quince. A wine of great intensity, yet incredibly ethereal elegance, this light greenish gold-colored wine is full-bodied, stunningly rich, and altogether remarkable. When you consider that they use 100% new French oak and 100% heavy toast for both their Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, it is remarkable how little oak appears in these wines. This wine should age well for 10-15 years, as most of the Marcassin Estate Chardonnays have done to date. (RP) Inner quote mark (3/2016)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

1990 Château Margaux
 (100 Points) Absolutely compelling in two tastings of this vintage, the 2000 Margaux is composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. The extraordinary seductiveness, complex aromatics, and purity it exhibits lead me to believe it has reached its window of full maturity. Medium-bodied, with layers of concentration, stunning blue, red, and black fruits intermixed with spring flowers, a subtle dosage of new oak, and a distinctive personality that is elegant while at the same time powerful and substantial, this is a multi-dimensional wine that was extremely approachable and drinkable in both tastings I had of it. The color remains a healthy, even opaque bluish/purple, but there is no reason to hesitate to drink it. It should evolve for another 30-40 years, so there is no hurry either. Wine Advocate # 189, Jun 2010

1990 Château Montrose St Estephe
 (100 Points) I have had the 1990 Montrose on four separate occasions over the last several months, and I have consistently rated it either 99 or 100. Three of the bottles came from my cellar, and one was tasted at the chateau. None of them revealed any brett, which is not the case with bottles that were exposed to heat, or had bad storage issues. The wine remains a blockbuster, an inky/ruby/purple-colored effort revealing stunning concentration, amazingly high glycerin, and abundant amounts of sweet black fruits intermixed with notions of earth and spice. It is a fleshy, full-bodied St.-Estephe with atypically high amounts of fatness and fruit extract, but it is settling down nicely and seems set for another 2-3 decades of longevity. Many have felt the 1989 Montrose is better, and it is getting closer to meriting a three digit score, but it remains more tannic and backward. Release price: ($350.00/case) Wine Advocate #183, Jun 2009

2000 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Riserva Le Rocche Del Faletto
 (100 points) Outer quote mark Fabulous purity of crushed fruit - strawberries and raspberries, with hints of fresh roses. Full-bodied, with an amazing concentration and a palate that goes on and on and on. Ultraripe tannins. This is the Romanée-Conti of Barolo. Terrific balance and richness. From selected parcels in Giacosa's Falletto vineyard. First made in 1997. (JS) Inner quote mark (7/2004)  Wine Spectator

2004 Sine Qua Non Ode to E Grenache
(100 points) Outer quote mark Leading off with the Grenache-driven efforts, and easily the greatest expression of the variety I’ve ever tasted from California, the 2004 Ode to E (Grenache) is mind-blowing stuff that will stand toe-to-toe with the greatest Grenache-based wines ever made. Coming from Manfred’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and comprised of 88% Grenache, 10% Syrah and 2% Viognier, it sports a still vibrant purple color to go with off-the-hook aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoked herbs and assorted meaty nuances. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with incredible purity and a perfect texture, it can be consumed anytime over the coming decade. (JD) Inner quote mark (6/2014)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2005 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley
 (100 points) Outer quote mark From a hot vintage and incredible any way you look at it, the 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon has that laser-like focus of a cooler year, yet the voluptuousness and richness of a warmer year. Smoked black fruits, coffee, truffle and pen ink-like aromas and flavors all emerge from this massive, incredibly full-bodied effort and on the palate, it carries itself perfectly with a weightless, yet decadent texture, masses of polished tannin and blockbuster length. More classic and textbook than the 2007, it is every bit as good. (JD) Inner quote mark (6/2013)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2008 Penfolds Grange South Australia
(100 Points) Deep purple-black in color, the 2008 Grange puts forward a very complex nose packed with aromas of mulberries, layers of baking spices, cloves and cinnamon with nuances of minced meat, anise, potpourri and whiffs of dried mint and chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, taut and very spicy in the mouth, it shows touches of sandalwood and Chinese five spice complementing the layers of dark fruit flavors. It is framed by firm, grainy tannins and a refreshing acid line before finishing very long with aniseed and lingering blackberry preserves notes. This is clearly a wonderfully opulent and a magic vintage for this label. Drink it from 2018 to 2035+.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
(100 Points) An utterly majestic Shiraz, sleek and seamless, brimming with ripeness on a framework that allows for grace and expressiveness in equal measure. The intensity of fresh blueberry and plum fruit holds attention until the nuances kick in, offering glints of exotic spice, coffee, cocoa, bay leaf and mint. Shows tremendous presence without a lot of weight, the tannins present but not even close to getting in the way. A great wine now, with plenty of room to grow. Drink now through 2040.  Wine Spectator

2013 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon Napa
 (100 points) Outer quote mark The prodigious 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, including fruit from some of the oldest Cabernet vines still in existence in Napa. This full-bodied classic displays notes of forest floor, earth, crème de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice and some pen ink. It is dense, full-bodied, prodigiously rich, massive in intensity, yet relatively light on its feet. This great ballerina of a wine has extraordinary ripeness but pulls back from the edge before going over the top. There are 1,000 cases of this classic, which should age effortlessly for 30+ years. (RP) Inner quote mark (12/2015)  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2014 Realm The Absurd Napa
(100 Points) A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, is the 2014 The Absurd, basically a choice of their finest barrels, or as winemaker and owner Benoit Touquette says, “The crème de la crème.” This is another perfect wine equaling their incredible 2013. Yet the 2014 is slightly more forward and showy, as many 2013s are just beginning to shut down. There are 250 cases of this majestic wine that has an opaque purple color, extraordinary nose of spring flowers, blueberry, blackberry, creosote, charcoal, toast and spice. The wine has unbelievable fruit on the attack, midpalate and finish, compelling purity, texture and a finish of close to a full minute. It is (as advertised by the winery) a “showcase of the best of Napa Valley with the freedom of expression that results from no rules.” Drink now-2035.  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2001 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes
(100 Points) Like lemon curd on the nose, turning to honey and caramel. Full-bodied and very sweet, with fantastic concentration of ripe and botrytized fruit, yet balanced and refined. Electric acidity. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is absolutely mind-blowing. This is the greatest young Sauternes I have ever tasted. Best after 2010. 12,500 cases made.“JS Wine Spectator Issue: Sep 15, 2004 Top 100: 2004, Rank: 1

Menu
Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie
Bone Marrow with Lemon Gremolata and Whole Wheat Toast points
Tuna and Wild Mushroom Tartar with Basil Aioli
Cabernet Sauvignon Braised beef cheeks with smoked bacon and root vegetable hash
Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee with Pineapple Rum Sauce and Pecan Almond Cookie Dish

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $995 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com