Wine Tasting Featured on McNees.org WineSite Journal

Wine Tasting Feature on Rick's WineSite Journal

Host or Sponsor:

Downers Grove Wine Shop
Downers Grove, IL

Venue:

Isabella's Restaurant
4121 South Main Street, Downers Grove, IL

Featured Wine (s):

Altamura '99 $61

Caymus '99 $75

Chalk Hill '99 $62

Pepper Bridge '00 $53

Shafer '00 $55

Showket '99 $100

Silver Oak '99 $80

Staglin '99 $108

Stuhlmuller Cabernet '00 $29

Trefethen Halo '98 $143

Tenuta dell 'Ornellaia '98 $145

Labels:

Label

My
Ranking

Journal entries/notes: Wine, Rating, Price, Comments -
(In order of tasting)

Stuhlmuller Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 $29 -
Cedar Anise, cherry and smokey plum.
RM 88

Silver Oak Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $80 -
Sweet cherry and plum give way to nutmeg and blueberry with a big long finish of soft firm tannins and sweet oak.
RM 92.

Chalk Hill Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $62 -
WE 90 WS 86
Complex Bordeaux style blend (%) - Cab 83 Petit Verdot 13 Malbec 4 Cab Franc 4 Merlot 2
Tannic full, firm cherry, berry and an earthy sense of anise/vanilla aftertaste.
RM 89

Pepper Bridge Walla Walla Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 $53 - WS 91
Dark and full bodied - mineral and herbal flavor overtakes the fruit.
RM 87

Altamura Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $61 -
Full forward currant and sweet cherry - smooth polished, balanced with well integrated tannins - smooth soft finish reveal sweet oak.
RM 93/94

Caymus Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $75
Cherry, currant an anise with a smokey mocha and earthy finish that falls off too quickly.
RM 89.

Trefethen Napa Valley Halo 1998 $143
Amarone like - over ripe currant and berry tastes of raisiny fig with tightly wound tannins in a smooth polished and well balanced wine.
RM 92

Staglin Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $108
WS94
Medium currant and sweet cherry with a mineral and mocha pepper finish.
RM 90

Shafer Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 $55
WE 93
Full forward currant and sweet cherry fruit - nicely balanced and polished.
RM91-92

Showket Napa Valley Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 $100
WS 93 RP 90
Black cherry, plum and currant, smooth and polished with pleasant long finish.
RM 92.