WTN - Steak Night

[GordonCooks]

A wino buddy's 50th birthday was the occasion for gathering at our favorite steak house and enjoying a couple of red wines

1998 Justin Isosceles

Thick and inky with lots of blackberry, currant, green herbs, and pepper. A very controversial wine – I hear a lot of people saying it’s much too “green” but I’ve never had a bad bottle (and I like the Cab Franc hints)

2000 Torbeck Shiraz Woodcutter’s Barossa Valley

Light for a Barossa Valley Shiraz – balanced with lots or raspberry, spicy herbs and saddle through and through.

1997 Penfold’s Grange –

Opaque right to the rim - Very approachable with lots of stewed pitted fruit and blueberries. Secondary notes of cocoa, humidor, display prominently with a lingering finish but considered medium when compared to other Granges – more like Grange light

1995 Penfold’s Grange

Just as opaque, showing more crimson than violet seemingly (probably just the room) Very rich nose with blackberry and coffee grounds. It displayed more distinct layers, jamminess, and better structure than the 97 with hints of mint and pencil in the middle. A different mouth feel – viscous with large but manageable tannins and a longer finish. Young and massive compared to the 97

1986 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey

Creamy and buttery with oak and petrol and not much fruit – This one may be over the hill or a bad bottle – recent bottles of 88 have been much better

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Edited May 2, 2005 by GordonCooks (log)

[Rebel Rose]

I have not had the 1998 Justin Isosceles yet (although I have some in the cellar). I would be surprised if it didn't have some herbaceous tones as 1998 was a cool, rainy vintage and the most difficult vintage in the last 15 years. On the other hand, I prefer cabernets that have some herb and spice notes and find many cabs to be uninteresting without that element. As long as it's not green bell pepper, mind you, or sagebrush, or . . .