 | | VinoCellar.com Wine Forums | |
| |
| | | Author | Messages | |
wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12265
 | | 05/13/2006 9:43 PM |
| NEAL FAMILY VINEYARDS DINNER - Nick & Sam's, Dallas, TX (5/11/2006)
mjneal was in Dallas to work several events and requested a private dinner on Thursday night so some of the locals and regular Neal customers gathered together at Nick & Sam's for wonderful wine and huge steaks. 10 people in total attended and mjneal was generous enough to donate enough wines from the winery that we only needed to buy one white from the restaurant wine list to round things out (N&S does not allow BYOB).
- 2000 Olivier Leflaive Meursault - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
WIML90,PURPLE91,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and served immediately in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of spiced pears, whetstone and apple crisp. Flavors of lemon zest, minerals and yellow apple. Came across a little green on the palate but not enough to be docked any points. Light acidity. Drink now. Based on the restaurant wine list price of $84.00 I’m guessing the value based on current retail pricing would be recommended. (90 pts.)
- 2004 Neal Family Zinfandel - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
WIML91,PURPLE93,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and served immediately in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of dark plum, boysenberry and pepper. Later started to show so coffee notes. Flavors of black berries, pepper, a little strawberry and some red licorice. Later on showed some blueberry. Good tannins and acidity, well in balance. Full throttled Zinfandel, probably the best Neal Zinfandel to date. Drink over the next 3 years is my recommendation but this wine will likely still show well 5 years from now. Based on the winery release price of $24.00 a bottle I’d say the value here is between recommended and highly recommended. (91 pts.)
- 1999 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
WIML91,PURPLE91,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and decanted about 30 minutes before serving in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of fennel, saddle soap, plum, kirsh and a bit of rose petal. Flavors of black cherries, black berries and black licorice. Tannins and acidity still showing well and balanced. Drink over the next 3-4 years is my recommendation, could use 30 minutes to an hour in the decanter beforehand. Estimating the original release price at $45.00 a bottle I’d say the value here is between recommended and highly recommended. (91 pts.)
- 2000 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
WIML92,PURPLE92,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and decanted about 30 minutes to an hour before serving in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of mocha, rose petals, black berries, leather and a touch of thistle. Flavors of black cherries, red cherries and red currants. Drink over the next 4 years or so, being sure to save at least one bottle for its’ 10th anniversary. Definitely one of the betters wines I’ve had from the 2000 vintage. I don’t believe this wine was ever officially released from the winery but I’m guessing pricing would be about the same as the 2001 vineyard designates so based on an estimated price of $65.00-$70.00 a bottle I’d say the value is recommended. (92 pts.)
- 2002 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
WIML92,PURPLE92,NOWA,WS92
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and decanted about 1 hour before serving in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Dark garnet turning towards purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of leather, pepper and a mix of dark fruits. Flavors of black berries, roasted coffee, red berries and something akin to loganberry. Firm tannins and bracing acidity, I’d recommend sitting on this wine for close to 5 years before opening. Based on an estimated winery release price between $65.00-70.00 a bottle I’d the say the value here is recommended. (92 pts.)
- 2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley
WIML90,PURPLE90,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and briefly decanted before serving in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of crushed red berries with a touch of smoke and a little floral component. Perhaps a little boysenberry in there as well. Flavors of Bing cherries, black cherries and black currants. Later showed a little anise. Moderate to firm tannins and good acidity. I’d wait at least another year before opening a bottle. Still too young. Based on a winery release price of $45.00 a bottle I’d say the value here is recommended. (90 pts.)
- 2003 Neal Family Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Dust - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
WIML92,PURPLE90,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and briefly decanted before serving in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of melted licorice, “Rutherford Dust”, some coffee notes, a little white pepper and something that reminded me of “paraffin”. Flavors of black currants, bitters and black licorice. Firm tannins and good acidity, well balanced overall. I’d recommend holding at least 3 years before opening a bottle. Based on a winery release price of $80.00 a bottle I’d say the value here is recommended. (92 pts.)
- 2002 Neal Family Petite Sirah - USA, California, Napa Valley
WIML89,PURPLE88,NOWA,NOWS
Tasted May 11, 2006 at Nick & Sam’s in Dallas, TX. Opened and decanted about 1-1/2 to 2 hours before serving in a Schott Zweisel Red Wine glass. Dark purple color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of blueberries with some leather notes. Sharp flavors of boysenberry and maybe a little dried plum. Firm tannins, racy acidity. I’d say this wine needs significant time in bottle to resolve and blossom. I have no idea as to pricing on this bottling so no value recommendation. (89 pts.)
Many thanks to mjneal for bringing all of the wines from the winery. It was a great time and we look forward to seeing Mark again soon.
Posted from CellarTracker | |
Joe
-----
Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
|
| | 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:crazy4wine |  | New Today:1 |  | New Yesterday:0 |  | Overall:2055 |
 | People Online: |  | Visitors:104 |  | Members:7 |  | Total:111 |
|
|
| |
| |
|