On Friday night, MLV and I attended an off-line dinner at Chef Allens with Gove Celio and Mark and Margaretha Neal from Neal Vineyards.ÂDue to some people canceling and/or attending dinner the night before, it was just us and them and then either their current or potential distributor joined us.ÂWe had a very enjoyable evening.ÂIt was nice to see Gove again and to spend some time with the Neals. Dinner was excellent and we had a good night with the wines overall.ÂThey brought the Neal, we brought the Domaine du Viking and the Clos Pepe Estate and we bought the Biale Petit Syrah off the list (after we had ordered a Havens Syrah Hudson Vineyard and both bottles they brought out were corked).

 

 

1989 Domaine du Viking Vouvray Tendre

Unbelievable value - lighting was not great but color was far lighter than expected - looked and tasted quite young with a long future ahead. About the sweetness level of a Spatlese (perhaps a borderline Auslese) - decent acids level prevented any flabiness –

Citrus notes, a dash of honey with minerality on the finish. Excellent and happy we have a couple more. I think the wine was enjoyed by all.

 

93 points

 

2004 Clos Pepe Estate Pinot Noir

Decanted for sediment (of which there was a lot) and air. Probably in the decanted for 2 hours before tasting (except for initial taste to make sure it was ok)

This wine is evolving nicely and showed beautifully. Pure vibrant fruit. Long finish - balanced with a dash of smoke, and earthiness but no funk at all. Very pure pinot.

93-94 points - the best showing by far of his wine to date

 

 

2004 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon

These were decanted for about an hour I believe before I tasted them.ÂApparently we also tasted this at Otis’ CDP but I did not have much recollection of it from then.ÂFar more approachable than I recall other Neal Cabs being at this age.ÂCertainly could use time but with decanting is more drinkable than its siblings.ÂDark in the glass, rich in the mouth.ÂDark fruits, decent oak balance and clean nice finish.Â91-2 with potential to improve.

 

2005 Robert Biale Petite Sirah (off the list) – Very dark in the glass, decent floral nose, over-oaked, overly sweet and not very enjoyable.ÂIf I had to score it, it would be in the 84-5 point range.

 

200(not sure on the vintage) Havens Wine Cellars Syrah T Block Hudson Vineyard