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2002 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, California, Napa - Wine Review

Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

This seems to be at or close to peak at this point.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has cassis, cedar, slight char and a slight earthiness.  On the palate, this is soft with thin tannins.  Cassis layered with earthiness and spice.  Nice finish.  Showing a very nice complexity.  Worked well with food.  This was a huge wine in its youth that has developed beautifully.  

2004 Bartolo Mascarello Barolo, Italy, Piedmont - Wine Review

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

This is remarkably approachable at this point.  Ruby in color, clear and bright.  The nose has cherries and rose notes with a bit of dust and spice.  On the palate, there are silky tannins.  Nice cherry fruit layered with dry forest floor.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  It was decanted for a few hours and that seemed to do the trick.  No hurry on it, but with some air, it is ready to go.  

2004 Bruno Giacosa Barolo Falletto di Serralunga d'Alba, Italy, Piedmont - Wine Review

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

Despite a four hour decant, this still needed more time.  After a few hours more in the glass, it really started to open up.  Ruby in color.  Gorgeous nose of cherries, slight dried cherries, rose and slight tar.  Firm tannins.  The palate has depth with layers of cherries and some forest floor.  Great acidity.  Long finish.  Plenty of upside here.  Hold for a few more years.  

2010 Château d'Yquem, France, Bordeaux, Sauterne

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

What can you say about d'Yquem?  An amazing wine.  The nose has honey and crem brulee.  Unctuous.  Sweet not cloying.  THe honey and crem brulee continue thru to the palate.  A slight burnt note which I enjoy.  A finish that goes on forever.  Gorgeous wine.  

2014 Epoch Estate Wines Syrah Block B Paderewski Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles - Wine Review

Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

As to be expected, this is quite young and tight.  Yet, the nose is so precise it should develop beautifully.  Black raspberries, black pepper, roasted meats and violets.  On the palate, this took some time to open.  Vigorous tannins.  Black raspberry fruit tightly packed.  Deep.  Long finish.  Don't open for a few years without a long decant.  

2013 Epoch Estate Wines Syrah Block B Paderewski Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles

Score: 
95
Grade: 
A

My favorite of the 12, 13 and 14 trio of these wines (though all are good).  This also seems to be the one with the most upside potential.  Inky purple in color.  The nose is dusty with black raspberries, black pepper and slightly roasted meats.  On the palate this is flat out delicious.  Deep with black raspberries, black cherries, juicy acidity and some chocolate.  Long finish.  Tightly packed it explodes in the glass.  Great wine.  

2012 Epoch Estate Wines Syrah Block B Paderewski Vineyard, USA, California, Paso Robles

Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Inky purple in color.  The nose has cedar, black raspberries and black pepper.  On the palate, jammy black raspberries with some black cherries and chocolate.  Good acidity.  This is a very rich and open Syrah but still quite young.  it will be interesting to see how these develop with ten or twenty years on them.  I think they will be just fine and not too dissimilar from the better Northern Rhone reds.  Time will tell.  

1999 Château Mouton Rothschild, France, Bordeaux, Pauillac - Wine Review

Score: 
94
Grade: 
A

Really nice showing for this first growth from an under appreciated vintage IMO.  Ruby in color with purple swirls.  The nose is great.  Classic.  Cassis, barnyard, cigar tobacco and slight cherries.  On the palate, this took some time to open and then kept on opening.  It started a bit hollow, but kept putting on weight.  Cassis with layers of dry forest floor and funk.  Good balance.  Nice finish.  Food friendly.  Always a treat.  

2005 Scarecrow Cabernet Sauvignon, USA, California, Napa, Rutherford - Wine Review

Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+

Gorgeous wine.  Still drinking quite youthfully, this has decades left.  Inky purple in color, magenta at the rim.  Great nose with cassis, blueberries, cedar and violets.  On the palate this has such a luxurious texture.  Lush with cassis.  Also some charred earth.  Tight layers that expand in glass.  Great precision.  Long finish.  This may yet improve a bit and will certainly gain in complexity.  Year n and out, one the best Cabs offered anywhere.  

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