Last Wednesday I had one of the most interesting tasting experiences of my life: A group of cardiothoracic surgeons holding their congress in Vienna chartered me to tutor a tasting for them. They had brought 18 wines put together in 3 flights of 6.
Never before I had commented on such an eclectic array of wines, among these a German pinot noir (1998 Spätburgunder Spätlese trocken, Familie Schlumberger, Laufen, Baden) and one from Burgundy (1995 Santenay 1er Cru Passe-Temps, Bernard Morey & Fils), the German batting the latter into the doldrums, btw.
Valinière 2000 is a Vin de Table from the Herault region, so concentrated it was judged untypical for the AOC Faugères. It's made by Paul Barral from antediluvian Grenache vines, blended with
15% syrah. It was probably the most concentrated wine I have ever had in my life.
From Rioja there were two 1994s: Barón de Oña Reserva and Gran Reserva 904 from la Rioja Alta. Although the former was the more concentrated wine (both come from the same stable, btw), I preferred the classic traditional sweetness of the latter.
A Châteauneuf towards the end of its useful life (1992 Domaine Marcoux Vieilles Vignes) led to the second flight devoted mainly to Claret: 2000 Amiral de Beychevelle (quite good), 1999 Lilian Ladouys (fine), 1997 Léoville-Barton (very fine) and 1995 Magdeleine (very evolved). A 1999 Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz showed why these Oz jams are so successfull. Chapoutier's
1990 Hermitage (very evolved, but still with with plenty of life) closed this flight.
Tsar Simeon 1995 from Bulgaria was a quite nice cabernet, reminding me of its Chilean cousins. A 1995 Barolo (Azelia, Luigi Scavino) was very typical. We finished with four Californians, two of them absolutely stunning and world class by any standard: 1999 Couterpoint, Laurel Glen (very promising); 1996 Ridge Monte Bello (probably the finest younger Californian Cabernet I ever had, but my experience is not *that* broad); 1984 Ridge Monte Bello (very evolved in a traditional Bordeaux style, beginning to dry out); and 1985 Stag's Leap Cask 23 (Wow! Absolutely incredible intensity of pure and in the same time complex fruit, an eye opener to great Cal cabs).
Thanking a few attendants with a bottle each, the "Corker General" (Robert Repogle from Chikago - I just saw his cellar was reviewed here:
or
- and scroll down)
presented me a bottle of Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 1994.
Having no idea about this wine (but presuming it being quite good, judging from where the donator's cellar was reviewed), could someone give me an idea about what I have to expect - and when to drink it? Apparently the bottle has been stored since release at
55°F; my longtime underground cellar is at 50°F.
Thank you in advance,
M.