2nd Annual 4th of July Tasting

This was the 2nd addition of the 4th of July event and as always great food, friends and wines. Cheers to all that attended.

CellarTracker! 2nd Annual 4th of July Wine Event

• 2013 Rare Champagne – France, Champagne (7/4/2026)
  Glasvin Champagne. Really great showing on the 4th and my favorite overall at this stage of the game. Citrus, lemon, minerals, chalk, saline orange peel and pear. Refreshing and nice acidity. No hurry on these. 95.5 points (95 pts.)

• 2019 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Fleur de Lis Vineyard – USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley (7/4/2026)
  This one got better with more air over the night. Earth, minerals, menthol, strawberries, cherry, violets and a citrus note on the medium plus finish. No hurry on these and drink through 2033. 92+ (92 pts.)

• 2020 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina – France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (7/4/2026)
  Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Very tight on opening this so gave the Mag air by removing the cork for 4 hours. Replaced over night.
  Day 2.25: Going to do a lengthy decant. Big style CDP with pepper, spices, floral, dark fruits, menthol, tar and violets. Very concentrated effort and showing well right now but think more air will be necessary. 94+
  Day 2:75: Improved with that long eight hour decant. Big style with dark fruits, floral, earth, pepper, tar, violets, stone and dried twigs. Medium to long finish. Still extremely young but really want to try it in case I want to order more which I will be doing. 94.5 points
  Day 3: Ok now we are talking. I knew this would improve over 3 days. Charcoal, floral, earth, black pepper, dark currants, dust, underbrush, Garrigue and stone. Super concentrated and should improve over 20 years from vintage. Long term ager for sure. 95 points
  Recommendation: Easy purchase for the cellar. Drink 2032 and beyond. (95 pts.)

• 2018 Roy Piper Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/4/2026)
  Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Early stages and showing promise but will do a full 8 hour decant on this one. Cassis, pencil lead, blueberries, spices, floral, wood, earth and cigar notes. Very Bordeaux like on early impressions today. 94-96.
  Day 2: Not one bit surprised this improved on day 2. Cassis, blueberries, graphite, wood, spices, baking choclate, earth, leather and dried flowers. This wine was fun for my wine friends to try as many were not familiar with Roy Piper wines and I have never sampled one either. Drink 2030 and beyond. 96 points (96 pts.)

• 2019 Adversity Cellars The Papas – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/4/2026)
  Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Excellent showing on day 1 with cherry, earth, plum, spices, wood and menthol. Medium to long finish and concentrated wine. Beautiful showing. 94.5 points
  Day 2: Even better and bright fruit featuring cassis, Bing Cherries and Cassis. Menthol, wood, spices, floral and earth. Very concentrated effort and should age for another 15 plus years. Beautiful wine. 95 points
  Recommendation: I highly recommend this wine. (95 pts.)

• 2010 Croze Cabernet Sauvignon XV Anniversary Cuvée – USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford (7/4/2026)
  Day 1: Bordeaux like with funk, Cassis, pencil lead, wood, dust, earth, blueberries and mild spices. Medium plus finish. Very good. 94 points
  Day 2: If we did this tasting on all the wines day 2 this would have won by a landslide. Man is this good. 3 times prior never had any left on day 2 and this wine has another 20 plus years in the cellar. WOW! Funk, iodine, Cassis, blueberries, earth, glycerin, dust, exotic spices, rose petals, minerals and gravel. Medium plus finish and nice acidity. Top 20 of the year candidate. 97 points
  Recommendation: Easy purchase and need to source more of this wine. (97 pts.)

• 2012 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/4/2026)
  Glasvin Kane. Served blind and was impressive indeed. I had the 2012 Caymus Napa and gave that 89 points many years ago. The 2011 of Special Selection was not good (poor vintage) but this one turned heads at the tasting and while not official voting this was wine of the night for the group. Roy Piper 18 second. Fruit forward but not that super sweet fruit that sometimes these wines bring. Decanted six hours. Dark purple with blueberries, dark cherry and plum. Wood, earth, vanilla, menthol and spices. Everyone knows I am not a big Caymus fan but this was excellent. Well done Jason. (94 pts.)