Lot 30
The Judgment of Naples

1 – 3 Liter 1999 Valandraud
1 – 3 Liter 1996 Leoville Las Cases
1 – 3 Liter 1995 Château Mouton Rothschild
1 – 3 Liter 1987 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon
1 – 3 Liter 1986 Château Gruaud Larose
2 – 1.5 Liter 1996 La Mondotte
1 – 1.5 Liter 1992 Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cask 23
1 – 1.5 Liter 1991 Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon
3 – 1.5 Liter 1991 Beringer Private Reserve
3 – 1.5 Liter 1991 Silver Oak Alexander Valley
4 – 1.5 Liter 1991 Dominus
6 – 750ml 1999 Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon
12 – 750ml 1990 Leoville Las Cases

In 1976, in honor of the U.S. Bicentennial, English wine-writer Steven Spurrier organized a comparative tasting of top Californian wines against their counterparts from Bordeaux and Burgundy. The results of that tasting shocked the world of wine, and are still hotly debated to this day. In 2006, the “Judgment of Paris” was re-created, again to surprising and thought-provoking results. This lot combines some of the finest Cabernet-based wines from each side of the pond, allowing its winner the opportunity to reach his own conclusions - a Judgment of Naples, if you will.

Four of the original participants from the 1976 tasting are included here; from France are Château Mouton Rothschild and Leoville Las Cases, while California returns with Chateau Montelena and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars’ famed “Cask 23.” Added to these veterans are newer stars in the firmament; now fabled names such as Valandraud, La Mondotte, Dominus and Shafer’s Hillside Select. Unlike the 1976 event, there will be no concerns about provenance at your Judgment. Each of these bottles has been cellared since release in the cellar of a single collector and most will be in pristine large format bottles; Magnums and Double Magnums.

Four Double Magnums will lead the French Brigade in their attempt to reclaim the title; the hedonistic 1999 Valandraud, the profound 1995 Mouton, a mammoth 1986 Gruaud Larose, and the amazing 98-point 1996 Leoville Las Cases, a wine that has been called “one of the great modern day wines of Bordeaux” - the quintessential Saint-Julien. Also from 1996 is the celestial 97-point La Mondotte, presented here in Magnum. A true super-star, it both unctuous and atypically powerful, a wine of extraordinary concentration and richness. A full case of the 1990 Leoville Las-Cases rounds out the Gallic contingent, one of the stars of that vintage.

The strength of California’s line-up lies in its Magnums, six in total. The champion of the red wine portion of the 1976 tasting, Stag’s Leap Cellars, is back with its 1992 Cask 23. Like all Cask 23’s, it is exceedingly easy to drink, with a voluptuous texture, fabulously rich, expansive, extracted flavors and silky in the finish. Its all-star brethren include Chateau Montelena, the 1976 champion in the Chardonnay/White Burgundy grouping, presented here with its incredible 95-point Estate Cabernet. Multiple Magnums of vinous all-stars accompany these two champions; Silver Oak’s Alexander Valley and Beringer’s Private Reserve, also from 1991, and four Magnums of the sublime 1991 Dominus. Consistently the recipient of 99-point reviews, this sensational wine from Christian Mouiex is already a modern day legend.

The Californian contingent concludes with a rare Double Magnum of 1987 Caymus and six bottles of the brilliant 97-point 1999 Shafer Hillside Select. A wine of stunning intensity, tremendous purity, full body and a remarkable, seamless finish, it may well be the winner of this new event. If it does, it won’t be for a lack of world-class competition.

DONORS: Eileen & Joe Small