DAWGS OFFLINE WITH RANDY SLOAN OF MATCH VINEYARDS - Nick & Sam's, Dallas, Texas (4/1/2007)

Randy was in town to pour his wines at the Côtes du Coeur (a charity auction that raised over 1 Million USD for the American Heart Association) and decided to have a nice dinner with the DAWGS. So here we go...

Arrive

Thank you just a skosh for your customary generosity in providing fantastic bubbles to get the evening started.

• 1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
  WIML94,WA98,WS93
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with a light mousse. Nose of brioche, pears and a little yellow apple. Flavors of yellow apples, pears and some cherry fizz on the finish. Medium acidity and body. Drink or hold. (94 pts.)

Drink red until you're dead

What a phenomenal selection of red to cut through the well marbled sides of cow we had for dinner. Nary a bad wine in the flight...nor the entire evening for that matter!

• 1994 Dominus Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIML95+,WA99,WS91
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted about 30 minutes to an hour before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of plums, blackberries and black cherries with a very light and pleasant floral undertone of acacia flowers. Flavors of mixed cherries and berries with a hint of bitters on the long finish. Silky smooth on the palate with medium acidity, integrated tannins and medium body. Last tasted in 2005 and this tasting was no comparison to that one. This wine seems to be emerging for its’ shell and promises greater things to come. (95 pts.)


• 1998 Château La Gomerie - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion
  WIML92,WA94,WS92
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted about 30 minutes to an hour before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of talc, spices, bell pepper and a touch of leather. Flavors of black cherries and blackberries. Medium acidity, tannins and body. Drink or hold. (92 pts.)


• 1998 Château Rol Valentin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
  WIML92,WA90,WS94
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted about an hour before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Pretty nose of violets, chocolate and a touch of briar patch. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and just a little mocha. Medium acidity with medium to firm tannins. Medium bodied. Drink now with an hour decant or hold a little longer. (92 pts.)


• 1999 B.R. Cohn Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection Olive Hill Estate Vineyards - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley
  WIML90,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted about an hour before serving. Garnet color in the glasss, clear hue throughout. Nose of anise, mint, dried herbs and some dark fruit. Later on during revisit also showed some roasted coffee bean notes. Flavors of black licorice and red berries. Light acidity, medium tannins and medium body. Drink now. (90 pts.)


• 1999 Whitehall Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley
  WIML93,WA89,WS94
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and splash decanted before serving. Purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Slightly subdued nose early on showing some white pepper notes with some saddle soap, plums and blackberries finally emerging. Flavors of blackberries, slightly sweet cherries and red licorice. Medium acidity, medium to firm tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink now with at least an hour in the decanter or can be held. (93 pts.)


• 1999 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, Washington
  WIML94,WA98,WS94
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted about 1 hour, double decanted back for transport and then decanted again about 30 minutes before serving. Nose of camphor, black cherries, plums and anise. Chewy flavors of black licorice, sweet plums and golden raisins. Medium acidity and tannins. Full bodied. Can be drank now with a fairly long decant or preferably wait a little longer. (94 pts.)


• 2004 Match Cabernet Sauvignon Butterdragon Hill - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  WIML92,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted right before serving. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of cigar box, plums, pepper, black cherries and just a little bit of melted black licorice. Flavors of black cherries with some blueberries on the finish. Medium to full acidity, firm tannins and full bodied. Hold at least 2-3 years before tasting again. (92 pts.)


• 2004 Match Cabernet Sauvignon Baconbrook - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
  WIML93,NOWA,NOWA
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted right before serving. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Really tight nose with some notes of dark fruits and a bit of rosemary perhaps. Big bruiser of a wine on the palate dominated mostly by black cherries at the moment. Medium acidity, firm tannins and definitely full bodied. Strikes me as a more traditional California Cabernet. Hold at least 2-3 years before tasting again. I’m predicting this will be a fairly long lived wine. (93 pts.)

Sweets of course

Thank you do wine+art for providing the Baumard, a perennial favorite.

• 1971 Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Quarts de Chaume
  WIML90, WA90,WS94
  
  Tasted April 1, 2007 at an offline. Opened and decanted right before serving (I believe). Dark gold color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of honey, apricots and a bit of diesel that blew off pretty quickly. Flavors of apricots with some lychee notes. Slightly racy acidity, light to medium body. Drink now. (90 pts.)

Thank you to the DAWGS that turned out on a Sunday night the give of their time, share their wines and welcome Randy back home Texas style. Many thanks to Randy for visiting with us and pouring his 2004 vintage.