By: AJ McClellan
Not Your average Thursday, we had Justin from Gargiulo Vineyards in to taste us through the current lineup of wines. Justin was a blast, very knowledgeable with a great attitude towards wine. Gargiulo vineyards are located directly adjacent to the famed vineyard of Screaming Eagle and the quality of their wines are apparent. After the tasting we all hung out and drank some great wines while watching the Mavs beat up on the Heat!!
2007 Gargiulo Aprile – An impressive sample of Napa valley Sangiovese. Light and quaffable with classic dusty cherry and notes of apple pie spice on the back end.
2006 Gargiulo Money Road Ranch Merlot – A great bottle of Merlot, showing ripe notes of currant, raspberry, and blueberries. The palate was full of lush fruit and held an excellent balance.
2007 Gargiulo Money Road Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon – I was very impressed with this wine. Coming from a vineyard adjacent to the famed Screaming Eagle the fruit was fantastic with very pleasant tannins and a long finish of tobacco and leather.
2007 Gargiulo 575 OVX G Major Cabernet Sauvignon – Gargiulo’s Reserve, this bottle was excellent. Soft savory tannins with subtle notes of freshly picked cherries and plums on the palate. The finish showed light notes of barley, cooking spices, and worn leather. A great bottle of wine.
2007 Erna Schein Knockout – Big boy on campus with huge dark fruits and big spicy notes of black pepper.
1990 Chateau Monelena – This was one of the camps of the night. The fruit was still kicking with currants, and cherries there was also a subtle backing of chocolate and a subtle minerality.
2008 Dominus – This bottle was so good we couldn’t not help but to open another bottle. Great fruit with surprising softness.
1999 Trapet Chambertin –I was obsessed with this wine about four months ago and tasting this wine again was like being united with an old friend. Smooth on the palate with succulent red fruits and a damp earthiness that was exactly what I look for an a great Burgundian wine.
2006 Arcadian Westerly Pinot Noir – A fun bottle with fresh acidity and bright red fruits followed by a subtle minerality.
2009 En Route Pinot Noir – A more boisterous style of Pinot with loud cherries and raspberries backed by a wall of spice.
2005 Materium – THs bottle was drinking great with heavy cooking spice and a subtle note of cedar. The fruit was big and bold without being over powering. Excellent balance and length on the palate.
2003 Sequoia Grove Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon – I was surprised by this bottle. In a blind tasting I called it Australian Cabernet because if the hefty dose of Mint on the palate. A very nice wine for the price point.
1998 Pichon Lalande – Always a classic with old forest floor and dusty red and blue fruit Pichon never fails to show up strong in a tasting.
1983 l’Evangile – This wine is a stud. Fantastic floral notes of purple flowers and a subtle spice of nutmeg, and clove. The palate was full of life showing dry cranberries, and prunes.
1997 Rouget Vosne Romanee 1er Les Beaumonts – This bottle was a little disappointing with a almost flat palate and very little fruit, I kept it in my glass for an hour in hopes that it would rebound but it never did. Dave said that it got better towards the end of the night but I did not have the opportunity to taste it…