First Flight Domaine des Aubuisières 1998 Cuvee de Silex Vouvray - Pale straw, peach and citrus. Fresh and off-dry. Cloudy Bay 1999 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc - Straw color. Green chile and grapefruit, big and acidic. Domaine des Baumard 1989 Savennières - Clear gold, earth and truffles and white fruit. Big, full and tart. Best of the flight.
Second Flight Monzio Compagnoni 1997 Rosso di Nero Vino da Tavola Nigoline di Corte Franca - Clear ruby, attractive black-cherry, smoky and perfumed aromas. Fresh and crisp, tart fruit and a light, pleasant bitterness in the finish. Williams Selyem 1995 Allen River Vineyard Russian River Valley Pinot Noir - Dark garnet. Ripe Pinot nose, tomato skin and cherries. Big fruit and pleasant earthy flavors. Michel Ogier 1992 Cote-Rotie - Hazy dark purple with an amber glint. Distinctive smoky bacon and grilled-meat aromas. Lean, a bit green, but good smoky black-fruit flavors follow the nose. Rocca Albino 1995 Vigneto Brich Ronchi Barbaresco - Dark garnet. Lovely, delicate floral notes over black fruit. Full, tannic, still young.
Third Flight Chateau Cos d'Estournel 1982 Saint-Estephe - Very dark garnet. Leather and cedar and still youthful fruit. Tannins still showing but soft and accessible. Very long finish. Chateau Pichon Longueville 1982 Pauillac - Very dark garnet. Earthy, floral, cedar and spice. Delicate, subtle ... and delicious. My choice as wine of the night, although the race between it and the '82 Cos is very close. Robert Mondavi 1990 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Inky dark reddish-purple. Blackcurrant with a hint of mint. Structured and full, good fruit and resolving tannins.
Fourth Flight La Jota 1991 Napa Valley Howell Mountain Selection Cabernet Sauvignon - Pleasant but muted fruit, a bit plummy. Bigger on the palate, a load of tannin. La Jota 1990 Napa Valley Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon - Very dark garnet. Ripe black fruit, much more open than the '91, and a bit more evolved and accessible as well. Chateau Cos d'Estournel 1989 Saint-Estephe - Inky dark ruby. Plummy, leather, black fruit aroma and flavor, pleasant but seems simple, especially in comparison with the 1982. Chateau Angelus 1989 St. Emilion Grand Cru - Dark garnet. Leathery black fruit, full and ripe aromas and flavors.
Dessert wine Chateau Rabaud-Promis 1988 Sauternes - Clear pale gold. Caramel and honeyed apricots. Honey-sweet, with surprisingly steely acidity to hold it in balance.
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