TNs from Guy's 59th Winefest

•1994 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Proprietor Grown - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/13/2010)
Nose of cake spices, black tea, chocolate and rich cherry fruit. This wine is regal and elegant. Palate expands to a very long finish with richness of fruit and finesse. Slides all the way to the bottom of your stomach. Damn is that good. (97 pts.)

•2003 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella Vigneto Monte Lodoletta - Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella (8/13/2010)
Who needs dessert? Seemless, sweet but amazing. This is a big by wine for sure. Licorice and dark chocolate spread over dark red fruit. Port like without the extra sweetness. Very memorable. (97 pts.)

•2005 Futo - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (8/13/2010)
This wine held up to the big boys: Maya, Harlan, Bryant and Pride. Highly extracted, hedonoistic, fruit bomb. Black cherry with a drizzle of vanilla and cocoa that explodes in the mouth. Ooff! (96 pts.)

•1999 Harlan Estate - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/13/2010)
Schwing. This nose was loched and loaded for pleasure. Licorice, road tar, and huge dark fruit on the nose. A tough of kerosene but not obtrusive. Flavor profile was amazing: Asian spices, coffee, clove, soy and cinnamon. Very exotic and smooth. Well balanced. Crazy, stupid delish. (95 pts.)

•2005 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (8/13/2010)
Elegant, great acidity, lemon peel and lemon oil. Ample oak, great mid palate. (95 pts.)

•2005 Bodegas Alto Moncayo Campo de Borja Aquilon - Spain, Aragón, Campo de Borja (8/13/2010)
Huge, thck wine. Great viscocity. Fills your whole mouth. Everything a grenache should be and more. Plums, plums and more plums were my primary fruit in this monster. Wow. This is good stuff. One of best grenaches to date. (95 pts.)

•1997 Dalla Valle Maya - USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville (8/13/2010)
Rose nose with allspice at front of tongue. Dark color, showing no age. Primary flavors were mocha and mature cherry. Huge backbone. Tghis is a cool wine at its present stage. (94 pts.)

•2007 Cayuse Syrah Bionic Frog - USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley (8/13/2010)
This was my first encounter with the Frog. Nose of Road tar from Rt 66. Pure syrah fruit flavors. Cherry, plum, and a bit of blackberry. Some blood sausage and smokiness rises fromt he fruit. At first smell, my brain hurt. This wine is nirvana, pure, inviting and edgy. Have been on the list for a few years but haven't graduated to the Frog allo yet. Can't wait. Addicitive. (94 pts.)

•2005 Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - USA, California, Napa Valley (8/13/2010)
Very floral nose, great entry, no mid palate though. Not a ton of weight to this wine. Smoky cassis and bright cherry. A lot of vanilla with smooth, sweet tannins. (90 pts)

•2002 Alban Vineyards Syrah Reva Alban Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Edna Valley (8/13/2010)
This wine underperformed since last tasting. Has the normal Alban funk which I have grown to love. Like sitting in a barn. Decent amount of tar on nose and palate. Somewhat closed at first. Needs food which made the fruit show up a bitmore. Didn't hold up tot eh other wines of the night though. (88 pts.)
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