Peter Creasey
Peter Creasey
Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon '02 -- Customary straw color, fine bead, fleeting bouquet, yeast, citrus notes, well structured, biscuits, full with elegance, fine balance.
DuMOL Carneros Clare Chardonnay '07 -- Solid yellow, softly piercing aromas, tropical fruits, citrus fruits, nice complexity, so well endowed but tastefully, wonderfully true to its varietal fruit.
Peter Michael Knights Valley Belle Côte Chardonnay '07 -- Pale gold, abundant aromas, fruits, cream, oak/vanilla, spices, big profile, rough side of mellow, quite rich, full bodied.
Kongsgaard Napa Valley The Judge Chardonnay '06 -- Medium yellow, big bouquet, citrus fruits, floral notes, oak in evidence, thick texture, complex, balanced acidity, lush.
Opus One Napa Valley '94 -- Dark red, mellow scents, blackberries, leather, mellow tannins, some cedar, some spice, maybe a bit restrained in style, good showing.
Caymus Napa Valley Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon '94 -- Dark red, shy bouquet, black and blue berries, mushrooms (?), very smooth texture, no edges, tobacco, complex, luscious.
Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon '94 -- Dark red, classic Cabernet nose, medium ripe fruits, cherries, dark berries, integrated tannins, nice balance, moderate length.
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon '94 -- Dark red, appealing fruit aromas, damp nuances, plums and berries, excellent balance/structure, drinking really fine.
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Insignia '94 -- Dark red, lovely medium ripe fruits, light vanilla, spicy complexity, totally harmonious elements, silky texture, Claret-like, fine purity, at or near peak.
Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard '94 -- Dark red, complex aromas, some herbs, black fruits, wood, supple rather than assertive profile, eucalyptus (?), enjoyable, elusive qualities.
Mystery Wine -- Dark red, classy bouquet, black cherries, currants, some tobacco, Cabernet elements in harmony, almost youthful vibrancy, tannins well buffered, delicious and impressive.
After difficult deliberations, I finally ventured a guess that it might be the Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon '94. In retrospect, not a bad guess; however, it was the Harlan Estate Napa Valley '94, a wine that didn't enter my thought processes.
. . . . . . Pete
DuMOL Carneros Clare Chardonnay '07 -- Solid yellow, softly piercing aromas, tropical fruits, citrus fruits, nice complexity, so well endowed but tastefully, wonderfully true to its varietal fruit.
Peter Michael Knights Valley Belle Côte Chardonnay '07 -- Pale gold, abundant aromas, fruits, cream, oak/vanilla, spices, big profile, rough side of mellow, quite rich, full bodied.
Kongsgaard Napa Valley The Judge Chardonnay '06 -- Medium yellow, big bouquet, citrus fruits, floral notes, oak in evidence, thick texture, complex, balanced acidity, lush.
Opus One Napa Valley '94 -- Dark red, mellow scents, blackberries, leather, mellow tannins, some cedar, some spice, maybe a bit restrained in style, good showing.
Caymus Napa Valley Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon '94 -- Dark red, shy bouquet, black and blue berries, mushrooms (?), very smooth texture, no edges, tobacco, complex, luscious.
Dunn Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon '94 -- Dark red, classic Cabernet nose, medium ripe fruits, cherries, dark berries, integrated tannins, nice balance, moderate length.
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon '94 -- Dark red, appealing fruit aromas, damp nuances, plums and berries, excellent balance/structure, drinking really fine.
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Insignia '94 -- Dark red, lovely medium ripe fruits, light vanilla, spicy complexity, totally harmonious elements, silky texture, Claret-like, fine purity, at or near peak.
Dominus Estate Napa Valley Napanook Vineyard '94 -- Dark red, complex aromas, some herbs, black fruits, wood, supple rather than assertive profile, eucalyptus (?), enjoyable, elusive qualities.
Mystery Wine -- Dark red, classy bouquet, black cherries, currants, some tobacco, Cabernet elements in harmony, almost youthful vibrancy, tannins well buffered, delicious and impressive.
After difficult deliberations, I finally ventured a guess that it might be the Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon '94. In retrospect, not a bad guess; however, it was the Harlan Estate Napa Valley '94, a wine that didn't enter my thought processes.
. . . . . . Pete
