Flor de Pingus, San Ramon Toro and Friends
Saturday night consisted of a couple of friends sharing some great stories and dinner, the kids watching Megamind, and some incredible bottles of wine. The first wine we opened was a 1998 St Supery Cab that my wife and I purchased in NAPA 12 years ago. The wine has been stored in my wine cellar the entire time and I think we purchased it for less than $20. (Boy do I wish we purchased more!)This wine was opened next to some high powered and highly touted wines (Flor De Pingus boasts scores of 98 points and San Ramon 95-96) and while all of the wines were incredible I thought the St Supery was outstanding. The Flor de Pingus was good but I think could use several years in proper storage. The San Ramon is the Humphrey Bogart of the bunch...simply elegant. It's the guy in the corner with the black pant, white jacket tuxedo who looks kinda scary and cool all in the same breath. All of the wines were impressive and I would highly recommend any of the three for purchase and for the wine cellar. Everyone knows how I love to try the same wine over the years and taste the ever changing love in the bottle. I hope you will do the same as well!
St Supery '98
Bold aromas offer classic blackberry and currant Cabernet character, complemented by an undercurrant of oak and cedar with wisps of vanilla. The enticing flavors of briar and berry, toasted oak and a hint of licorice, combine with well-integrated tannin for a complete and fulfilling wine. This wine will only get better with time in the bottle.
Flor de Pingus '09
Seriously concentrated nose. Nutty sweet and dark. On the palate, much of the same. Deep concentrated flavors with sweet fruit super soft and flashy finish. Very long and polished. I don't normally go for this modern a style but this is a pretty impressive effort. Heavy blueberry flavors...this is a wine for the cellar...buy a case and open a bottle every 2 years and enjoy!
San Ramon Toro '04
2004 San Roman is everything that's great about wine, flavor intensity (blackberry and black cherries with some clove notes) and elegant finish (which is pure, with fresh acidity and loads of length). Drink now for its sheer power and deliciousness, or cellar for at least 10 years to enjoy more nuances of flavor. Not surprisingly, this iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove is made by the former winemaker of Spain's legendary, highly collectible Vega Sicilia.