 | | VinoCellar.com Wine Forums | |
| |
| | | Author | Messages | |
GreenDrazi
Atlanta, GA
Grape Puncher
Posts:938
 | | 03/09/2006 2:12 AM |
| Atlanta Off-line Dinner with Mark Neal & Gove - 03/07/2006
A great dinner at Bone’s restaurant with Mark Neal, winemaker Gove Celio, and 13 others with a bunch of excellent wines. Mark and Gove were perfect, gracious hosts and I can not thank them enough for the evening. As a quick recap of the Neal wines, the crowd at my table seemed to prefer (no show of hands) the ‘03 Rutherford Dust, but I give the edge to the ‘02 Second Chance & Howell Mntn. I took home a little of the ‘03 Rutherford (ok, I thought there was a lot leftover, but was fooled by those heavy Neal bottles), gassed it and tasted again tonight. For the evening, we were split over two tables and I know there were a few wines on the other table that I missed. So, if anyone can add to this list or make corrections, please do so.
2003 Ramey Chardonnay Hyde Vineyard - Napa, California
Great stuff but I hardly had a chance to do more than just quaff it. Almost brought one of these myself. No score.
1996 Muga Prado Enea Gran Reserva - Rioja, Spain
The waiter ran off with a glass of this right at the start of the evening. Brown edge with ripe fruit, it was almost past it’s prime for me - trailing off to a slightly leathery, almost vinegar quality. S86
2004 Neal Family Zinfandel - Napa, California
No decant. This was even better than when I had it a month ago and has picked up even more depth. Similar notes as before - fruit forward with black and red fruits along with an asian spice component adding complexity and depth uncommon for a Zin and just a faint touch more of pepper than last time. I think the Petite Sirah really rounds out the flavor and gives this nice depth and fullness. Low acidity with a good mid-palate and nice lingering finish. S91
1994 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa, California
No decant. I’m sure this was G&PN’s WOTN (LOL!) - he was using it to rinse glasses with. Good cassis with some cherry red fruit at the core and ample spice with oak throughout. Silky and lithe, I think this may well be in it’s prime. S91
1998 Chateau Leoville Barton - Bordeaux, France
Fully decanted 3 hr’s and recorked. Good, intense, deep nose of black fruits and violets. Dark cassis with some violet flavors and red fruit along with ample minerality and grainy tobacco. Smooth texture on the palate throughout. Good balance with acidity, but a little austere with a faint touch of Brett on the nose. S88
1998 Chateau Palmer Medoc Margaux - Bordeaux, France
Fully decanted. Violet nose. This was just a bit tight and reserved with cassis flavors along with plum and graphite with just a hint of mint. Was laced with a little brett and VA on the nose. S89
1999 Del Dotto Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa, California
No decant. Deep dark cassis with some black fruit flavors with mocha on the mid-palate. Has ample, well integrated oak and is nicely structured. S92
2002 Larkmead Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa, California
Impressive. Just wish it wasn’t at the other table for most of the night! Flavors were a mix of deep cassis and black fruits with red fruit around the edges that became intense and almost ruby port like at times. The texture was supple and captivating. S92
2001 Whispering Dove Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa, California
No decant. Good nose and vibrant red fruits on the surface. Medium body with reasonably nice texture but could use more depth. Moderate finish. S89
1999 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa, California
Bottle decanted 1 ½ hr’s before I tasted it. What a pleasure to drink. Thanks to Mark for bringing this one. Well integrated dark cassis with some black cherry turning to bright cherry and just a hint of mint and spice. Tannins had a silky texture. S90
2002 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Second Chance - Napa, California
Bottle decanted 1 hr before I tasted it. Solid, deep nose. Black fruits with abundant chocolate and some red fruit at the core. A dusty edge with vanilla underpinnings along with nice, slightly chalky tannins. A terrific rich and full finish. S94
2002 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate - Napa, California
Decanted. The restaurant brought a bottle of this out from their cellar about midway through the evening. There wasn’t much to go around, but I certainly enjoyed the pour that I had. No decant. Great depth in the deep dark cassis with mocha and more black fruits. This has very supple, subtle tannins and a lingering finish. S92-94 Might have even surpassed the ‘02 Second Chance, but needed more time out of the bottle.
2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - Napa, California
Bottle decanted 1 hr before I tasted it. Similar notes as before but a little less integrated due to less decant time. Previous notes - nose of dark cassis. Flavors of concentrated, dark cassis with some red fruit at the core, a little anise spice, some plum and just a hint of vanilla. Silky, fine tannins forming a dense structure which softens over time with a solid, almost monolithic, consistent palate with some acidity and mineral notes adding to the finish. S90-91
2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Dust - Napa, California
Bottle decanted 1 hr before I tasted it. Terrific nose of vibrant cassis. Ripe, rich and intense dark cassis with black cherry at the core and a hint of licorice on the finish with some mocha increasing on the mid-palate the longer it was decanted. Full bodied, yet the structure and the supple, slightly chalky tannins are quite open for a Neal Cab. This wine has been in bottle for only a few weeks and starts a little dis-jointed, but really comes together nicely the longer it was decanted. S92-93
I will be buying some off the mailer. This has some components and flavor profiles similar to the ‘03 Nap Cab.
2001 Switchback Ridge Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard - Napa, California
The guest who brought this offered to open it if he could get an allocation of Neal’s Petite Sirah - LOL! Can’t say I blame him. Opened very late in the evening. Wow. Big, massive, and complex. Dark black fruits with blue fruit and pepper mixed in along with some mint. Killer stuff but didn’t spend enough time with it. S93-95
1998 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes - Bordeaux, France
No decant. Excellent, floral nose of honey. Rich honey flavors with honeysuckle and lemon. Lush lingering finish. This is an often overlooked sauternes. S92 | | | |
| ChangeMe
Master of Wine
Posts:11169
| | 03/09/2006 2:35 AM |
| | The date | | | |
| wino4ever
Grape Fermenter
Posts:578
| | 03/09/2006 12:58 PM |
| Quote:
The date
Maybe he's from Europe.  | | | |
|
| | You are not authorized to post a reply. |
|
| |
ActiveForums 3.7 |
| |
| |
|
| | Proposed Change to American Viticultural Area Naming Standards Monday, March 10, 2008
| Wine Primers - Links to Your Wine Education Tuesday, February 12, 2008
| Wine Country Report: Day trip to the Willamette Valley Monday, February 11, 2008
| VinoCellar's Favorite Wine Links Saturday, February 09, 2008
| Wine Retailer Reports - Thanks Winetex! Monday, February 04, 2008
|
|
| |
| |
| |  | Membership: |  | Latest:georgestinyshoes |  | New Today:2 |  | New Yesterday:0 |  | Overall:2046 |
 | People Online: |  | Visitors:75 |  | Members:1 |  | Total:76 |
|
|
| |
| |
|