AGELVIS in town Party Time 

July 11, 2026

Another fun event with the several Cellar Tracker members in attendance. A real mixed bad of wines and the importance of prepping wines was in full swing. Showing up to an event and pop and pouring shows a lack of preparation. Throw your wine in a decanter as it does all the work and the wine will show better.

CellarTracker! AGELVIS in town Party Time (SQN, Aubert, Lascombes, 98 Fox Creek Shiraz)

Really a mixed bag of wines tonight. Prepping wines matter as my Fox Creek and Lascombes were just stellar but then Jason brought out two SQN and how can you go wrong with that.

Top wines:
2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c (For sure groups favorite) 96 points
2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3~1a, b & c (96 plus)
1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve (Stellar Bottle) 96 points
2017 Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard 94 points
2009 Château Lascombes (Day 2 and really showing well) 94 points

Chardonnay Flight

Very good showing for the Aubert and really my favorite Chardonnay from California although like Tyler for the money.

  • 2017 Kistler Chardonnay Kistler Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Universal. Good but pales in comparison to the Aubert CIX. Lemon, oak, vanilla, spices, floral and pear. Rich and a bit too much for my palate. Dial that oak back guys. (91 pts.)
  • 2017 Aubert Chardonnay CIX Estate Vineyard – USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Universal. Outstanding wine and way better than the Kistler Kistler Chardonnay. Saline, minerals, apple, lemon, slate, dust and floral notes. Medium finish and nice acidity. Outstanding effort and drink through 2031. (94 pts.)

Bordeaux Flight

Lascombes dominated the Troplong Mondot. Perfectly stored bottle but not my cup of tea and I love Right Bank wines.

  • 2009 Château Lascombes – France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (7/9/2026)
    Day 1: Glasvin Bordeaux. Natural cork. Durand opener. Wow is this showing well. Blueberries, cherry, dust, gravel, spices, wood, floral and minerals. Very balanced effort and love it. 94 points
    Day 2: Very good with gravel, blueberries, cherry, plum, spices, rose petals, dust, earth, minerals and cigar ash. Medium plus finish. A Bordeaux for the Napa drinker. 94 points (94 pts.)
  • 2009 Château Troplong Mondot – France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Not flawed but just a complete mess of a wine. The 09 while left bank killed this across the board. Tight with gravel, spices rocks, earth and floral notes. Astringent wine and offers almost no pleasure. Maybe generous with my score. Jeb with 100 points??? 15.5% alcohol not good. (87 pts.)

Worldwide Wines

Fox Creek was given a 98 by Parker in the day and it is legit. The 98 Ge is not. Not a good wine and the guests that brought it were disappointed as well.

  • 1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (7/10/2026)
    Day 1: Glasvin Kane. Natural cork. Durand opener. Perfect cork and little to no sediment. Stellar bottle with blackcurrants, coffee beans, pepper, mint, spice, dust, menthol and tar. Medium to long finish and amazing quality for under $100. 96 points (96 pts.)
  • 2017 Emiliana Gê – Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Ok let’s slap the 98 Suckling on the wine and let me say this is 10 points lower. Eucalyptus, sour fruits, dust, earth and floral notes. Hot wine with medium finish. Easy pass for me. (88 pts.)
  • 2015 Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso – Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Universal. This would have benefitted by being open a day prior. Never understood the lack of preparation at wine events. Super tight. Earth, raspberries, dried flowers and spice. Too astringent for my tastes. Hold. (89 pts.)
  • N.V. Frederiksdal Kirsebærvin – Denmark, Lolland (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Universal. Well interesting to try this but not good. Bumble gum, pumpkin and sweet. Lacks acidity and a few sips and spit is all I could handle. (60 pts.)
  • 1990 Graham Porto Centenary Malvedos – Portugal, Douro, Porto (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Universal. Carmel, spice, coffee beans, dust, dried currants and earth. Medium finish and still plenty of life left. (91 pts.)

Cabernets

None of them really showed that well and the Spence for the win.

  • 2016 Dominus Napanook Red – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Normally not a fan of the Napanook but the 23 is excellent. This wine was still tight and not showing as much as probably it should. Minerals, spices, orange peel, dust and wood. Not very balanced overall. Did bring some home to try day 2 as no one wanted anymore.
    Day 2: Fighting to get to 90 points but not quite there. Dust, sour cherry, dried flowers, pepper, dust, saddle wood and earth. Bone dry wine. 14.5% Alcohol and natural cork. 89 points (89 pts.)
  • 2015 Spence Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain – USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Heavy on the anise to start along with minerals, earth, sour cherry, wood and floral notes. A well made wine but lacks fruit at this stage. (92 pts.)
  • 2015 Vaso Cabernet Sauvignon – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Oak, dill, spices, light fruit and earth. Not bad but not worth $100. (89 pts.)
  • 2014 JCB Cabernet Sauvignon Nº 10 – USA, California, Napa Valley (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Mr. T nails this wine as it is hot and for me lacks balance. Sweeter style Cab with dark cherries, plum, spices and floral notes. For the price I am out. (87 pts.)

SQN

Well what can one say. Great.

  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Syrah Atlantis Fe2O3~1a, b & c – USA, California, Central Coast (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. My wine of the night along with the Fox Creek Shiraz. Very smooth wine with floral, spices, raspberries, cherry, stone, pepper, black olives, perfume and menthol. Long finish and super balanced wine. Outstanding stuff. 96+ (96 pts.)
  • 2005 Sine Qua Non Grenache Atlantis Fe2O3~2a, b & c – USA, California (7/10/2026)
    Glasvin Kane. Outstanding and showing really well. Pop and pour with raspberries, spices, earth, white pepper, cherry, dried flowers and stone. Very smooth and balanced wine. Medium to long finish. (96 pts.)