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The December 2010 Internet-Only Auction Part 2 New World Highlights

SPECTRUM WINE AUCTIONS END OF YEAR INTERNET EXTRAVAGANZA
Day 2 of our event showcases New World wines with a special focus on California.

Highlights include:

CAVALCADE OF CALIFORNIA CABERNET
We are offering some of Napa’s and Sonoma’s top names most of them procurable with a very reasonable bid!

Peter Michael
The Peter Michael Winey has been making top-rated cabernet blends for several years now. These wines combine, in unique fashion, New World fruit purity and concentration with Old World restraint and finesse.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 “Pavots” (Lots 836-38)
“The 2005 Les Pavots (3,600 cases of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot) is a sensational wine, with a style that suggests a hypothetical blend of a great St.-Emilion and Pomerol.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 “Pavots” (Lot 839)
“A monumental effort is the 2002 Les Pavots, a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 7% Petit Verdot. And there is even more good news – there are 2,800 cases of this exceptional wine.. Superb purity and a finish that goes on for 50+ seconds is the stuff of modern-day California legends. This beauty is already beginning to age well yet should last easily for 18-22 years.” (Wine Advocate 98)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 “Pavots” (Lots 840-41)
“A blue/black/purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of toast, blackberries, crème de cassis, licorice, and cedar. Full-bodied, with silky tannin, low acidity, and layers of concentrated, pure black fruits judiciously wrapped in subtle toasty oak, this wine can be drunk early, but promises to hit its peak in 5-7 years, and last for two or more decades.” (Wine Advocate 96)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 “Pavots” (Lot 842)
“The powerhouse, opaque purple/blue-colored 1996 Les Pavots is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 6% Cabernet Franc. The nose offers up blackberry, licorice, cassis, and pain grille aromas. The superb extract, well-defined personality, and smoky, licorice, Asian spice, and blackberry flavors provide a thrilling tasting experience.” (Wine Advocate 96)

Dunn Vineyards
Not for the faint of heart, Randy Dunn’s wines represent a bygone, classical era of California winemaking. Many of these are just starting to enter their prime window of drinkability!

Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 “Howell” (Lot 937)
“Rich, full-bodied, and powerfully tannic, it is classic Dunn stuff.”  (Wine Advocate 92-94)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 “Howell” (Lot 938)
“Dark and intense, with a tight, compact, tightly wound band of earth, anise, leather, game meat, currant and blackberry, revealing layers of complexity and concentration before the tannins and cedary oak clamp down.” (Wine Spectator 93)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 “Howell” (Lot 939)
“The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain is similar in all respects to the Napa Valley, but somewhat heavier in the mouth, with an aggressive tannic bite, and more length. It possesses mineral-tinged blackberry and cassis fruit, massive body, and extraordinary purity and length.” (Wine Advocate 96)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 “Howell” (Lot 940)
“Look out for the behemoth 1994 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. This black/purple-colored wine adds a few more nuances (minerals, licorice, and floral scents) to the lavish display of crème de cassis. Full-bodied, with a blockbuster level of extract and density, this is an outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon for readers with patience, good genes for longevity, or the foresight to purchase it for their children.” (Wine Advocate 96)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 “Howell” (Lots 941-42)
“What makes the 1992 California Cabernet Sauvignon vintage so incredible is that one of its hallmarks is the voluptuous, opulent, and succulent nature of the fruit. In Dunn's offerings, that translates into wines that are massive and rich, but with sweeter, more expansive, chewy mid-palates.” (Wine Advocate 97)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 “Howell” (Lot 943)
“The massive 1990 Howell Mountain exhibits huge tannin, but immense concentration.” (Wine Advocate 96)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1987 “Howell” (Lots 944-45)
“The massive 1987 Cabernet Sauvignon-Howell Mountain is super-rich, extremely tannic, and very long.” (Wine Advocate 94)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1982 “Howell” (Lot 946)
“…the blockbuster 1982 Howell Mountain Cabernet is beginning to shed much of its tannins and reveal lavish quantities of sweet cassis fruit. This full-bodied wine is more flattering to smell and taste … The nose offers that mineral component often seen in the Howell Mountain wines, a nice touch of oak and vividly pure cassis and black-raspberry fruit. Although this splendidly opulent, fleshy, chewy wine reveals some noticeable tannin, the overall impression is one of lushness, as well as stunning richness and length. This gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon should continue to drink well for 10-15 more years. In a blind tasting, Dunn's Cabernet would offer many 1982 Bordeaux stiff competition.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Araujo Estate
Bart Araujo has been setting the gold standard in Napa for many years with these incredibly exciting, highly rated productions from the renowned Eisele vineyard.

Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 “Eisele” (Lot 958)
“As I indicated last year, this is a fabulous effort that manages to conceal its 100% new French oak aging. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by beautiful aromas of blueberries, black currants, acacia flowers, licorice, and spice. The tannins are softer than I remember, but this is certainly one of the vintage’s most extraordinary wines. Full-bodied with a seamless integration of tannin, acidity, alcohol, and wood, it is exceptionally pure and full as well as impeccably balanced.” (Wine Advocate 98)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 ‘Eisele” (Lot 959)
“A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the wine has a dense ruby/purple color and some sweet and spicy notes intermixed with white chocolate, black currant, crushed rock, and some underbrush and floral scents. It is medium to full-bodied, firmly structured, and reminiscent of a top first- or second-growth Bordeaux because of the tannin structure and austerity.” (Wine Advocate 94+)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 “Eisele” (Lot 960)
“One of the candidates for “wine of the vintage,” the 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard represents 1,600 cases produced from a 40-acre vineyard, which tells you how Draconian Araujo’s selection process is. The final blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot has resulted in a beautifully pure wine displaying an extraordinary floral, black currant, and mineral-scented bouquet, with no hint of new oak. The purity, richness and full-bodied power yet surreal finesse and impeccable balance should be cherished by wine lovers. This beauty can be drunk now and over the next two decades. Wow!” (Wine Advocate 98)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 “Eisele” (Lots 961-62)
“A potential candidate for perfection is the exquisite 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard. A 1,650-case blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot made from extremely low yields, it boasts superb intensity, flavor, elegance, and nobility in addition to a marvelously complex nose of minerals, licorice, cedar, crème de cassis, vanilla, and spice. Exceptionally rich, nuanced, and precise, it is a magnificent expression of Cabernet Sauvignon that offers the elegance of a Bordeaux with the power and potency of Napa Valley Cabernet. A tour de force…” (Wine Advocate 98-100)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 “Eisele” (Lots 963-64)
“The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard was produced from the largest crop of this glorious trilogy (1,700 cases from a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc). Its saturated purple color leads to a restrained but impressive nose of cassis, toast, earth, and a hint of cedar. Full-bodied and multi-layered, with impeccable balance and a noteworthy juxtaposition of power and elegance…” (Wine Advocate 97)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 “Eisele” (Lot 968)
“The 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon Eisele Vineyard (a 1,750-case blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Merlot) boasts explosive aromas of incense, crème de cassis, minerals, and flowers. It is medium to full-bodied, with great harmony, and a sweet attack as well as finish. This is a classic example of power and richness allied to considerable elegance.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1995 “Eisele” (Lots 972-73)
“I believe the 1995 is the finest produced under the Araujo regime. It is close to perfection.” (Wine Advocate 98)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1994 ‘Eisele” (Lot 974)
“…the 1994 is still a profoundly rich, silky-textured wine with an uncanny balance between its smooth tannin and layers of cassis and blackberry/mineral-tinged fruit.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Diamond Creek
The late Al Brounstein produced wines renowned for their ability to age.

Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 “Red Rock Terrace” (Lot 1095)
“Firm and concentrated, with mint, sage, currant and earthy berry flavors that slowly unfold.” (Wine Spectator 92)

Dominus Estate
The “Midas Touch” of Moueix is fully evident in these two classics!

1997 (Lot 1099)
“The 1997 Dominus, a blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and 4.5% Merlot, is showing fabulously well. With 14.1% alcohol and a pH that would make many New World oenologists shudder (about 3.95), this wine is a fleshy, silky-textured, opulent wine with a gorgeous nose of roasted herbs, coffee, jammy black cherry and plum-like fruit.” (Wine Advocate 94)

1992 (Lot 1100)
“The 1992 Dominus is similar in style to the 1990. It exhibits an open knit, opulent, rich, easy-going character with gorgeous levels of earthy, cassis fruit intertwined with scents of herbs, coffee, and chocolate/mocha ice cream. Rich and full-bodied, with thick, viscous flavors and low acidity, this is a forward, exceptionally concentrated, easy to understand Dominus that should drink well for 20 years.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Heitz
It doesn’t get any better than Heitz “Martha’s”! Here’s your opportunity to own a piece of California’s wine history!

Martha’s 1976 (Lot 1166)
“One of the ripest, richest Martha's Vineyard Cabernets, this wine is aging marvelously as the tannin has become less noticeable and the fruit more dominant. It reveals a deep, saturated, plum/purple color, and a huge, tell-tale, mint, cassis, and vanillin bouquet with vague earth and licorice notes.” (Wine Advocate 92)

Martha’s 1974 (Lot 1168)
“I had this wine twice over a period of thirty days, rating it an astounding 99 and 98 points. A monumental California Cabernet Sauvignon, it appears to have approached its plateau of maturity but should easily last for 20-25 more years. There is no rust, amber, or brown to the saturated dark purple color. The spectacular, huge, Mouton-Rothschild-like nose of mint, cassis, lead pencil, and toast is remarkably youthful. Staggeringly concentrated, this full-bodied, super-rich wine possesses moderate tannin, fresh, lively acidity, and a blockbuster, rich, fleshy finish. This is a monumental effort!” (Wine Advocate 98)

Joseph Phelps
Phelps Insignia has become a Napa First Growth!

Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 “Insignia” (Lot 1677-1687)
“…This stunning effort should hit its peak in 5-8 years, and last 40 years. I would not be surprised to see it become the greatest Insignia to date…”  (Wine Advocate 97-100)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 “Insignia” (Lot 1182)
“Dense, rich and focused, youthful and concentrated, with hints of maturity on the edge of the core currant, mineral and spicy berry flavors. Wonderful vibrancy and intensity for a wine this age, which only bodes well for the future. A classic.” (Wine Spectator 97)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1979 “Insignia” (Lot 1183)
“Still sleek and seductive, holding its core of minty black cherry, currant, mineral and anise flavors, and still with enough tannin to sustain it. Complex and supple finish.” (Wine Spectator 92)

Pride
Pride has become an enormously successful winery producing user-friendly, lush, approachable wines that age remarkably well! They border on cult status!

Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 (Lot 1269)
“The deep ruby/purple-colored 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon (58% from Napa and 42% from Sonoma) possesses a full-bodied mouth feel as well as loads of cassis fruit, and smoky, subtle oak in the background. Round, plump, and hedonistic, it should drink well for a decade.” (Wine Advocate 92)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Lot 1270)
“Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a classic nose of tobacco leaf, black currant, licorice, and smoke, the wine is medium to full-bodied, has a supple texture, an attractive textural mouth feel in addition to a plush, heady finish. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.” (Wine Advocate 92)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 (Lots 1271-73)
“The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon is structured and closed, but good. There are 3,000 cases of this 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its inky/purple color is followed by scents of pure crème de cassis intertwined with licorice, smoke, and cigar tobacco. Sweet tannin forms a backdrop for a wine of admirable texture, intensity, and purity. A tremendous experience to smell and taste, it should be at its peak between 2006-2020.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 “Reserve” (Lot 1275)
“The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (a blend of equal parts Napa and Sonoma fruit) offers abundant quantities of crème de cassis notes, medium to full body, a big, beefy, smoky character intermixed with scorched earth, coffee, and blackberries, and a rich, dense, smooth style. Drink this superb Cabernet over the next 12-15 years.” (Wine Advocate 93+)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 “Reserve” (Lot 1276)
“A potentially perfect wine…offers gorgeously fresh, lively, but super-concentrated fruit. Inky blue/purple to the rim, with a spectacular nose of crème de cassis, licorice, camphor, and a hint of vanilla, this wine is sensationally rich, has remarkable intensity, a multi-dimensional palate, and fabulous concentration and depth. It needs another 1-3 years of bottle-age, and should easily and effortlessly evolve for 20 or more years.” (Wine Advocate 99)

Claret 2003 “Reserve” (Lot 1277)
“The 2003 Reserve Claret (83% from Sonoma and 17% from Napa) is a blend of two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon. A gorgeous effort, it boasts a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a stunning perfume of mocha, espresso roast, chocolate, black cherries, berries, and spice box. A fabulous texture, multidimensional mouth feel, and excellent purity result in a full, complete wine that coats the palate and finishes with no hard edges. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years.” (Wine Advocate 94)

Claret 2002 “Reserve” (Lot 1278)
“The 2002 Reserve Claret possesses a lush texture as well as a huge, upfront, flamboyant bouquet of vanilla, spice box, blueberries, white chocolate, licorice, and toasty oak. This 400-case blend of two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon is elegant yet incredibly rich, dense, and seamless.” (Wine Advocate 97+)

Claret 2001 “Reserve” (Lot 1279)
“The 2001 Reserve Claret, which is a 450-case blend of two-thirds Merlot and one-third Cabernet Sauvignon, is a spectacular wine, offering up a dense purple color and a nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberries, crème de cassis, chocolate, and espresso roast. The wine is full-bodied, opulent, layered, with tremendous purity and persistence on the palate. It is a stunning example of mountain viticulture that can be drunk now, although it is still an adolescent in its evolutionary development and will age for 15-20 years.” (Wine Advocate 99)

Spottswoode
Simply put - a Napa classic!

Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 (Lot 1347)
“Elegant and stylish, with pure, rich, vibrant and focused black cherry and blackberry fruit that's supple and polished. The aromas capture the ripe berry fruit, adding a pretty floral array, and the tannins are firm yet fine-grained. Long and persistent on the finish. One of the best from Spottswoode in recent memory.” (Wine Spectator 95)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 (Lot 1348)
“The elegance, purity, complexity, and striking beauty of the 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate are something to behold. This is a prodigious example of marrying the power and richness of Napa Cabernet with a sense of restraint, elegance, but tremendous, authoritative flavor intensity. As I said last year, if Chateau Margaux were making wine in Napa, this might be what it would taste like.” (Wine Advocate 97)

Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 (Lot 1349)
“A blue/purple color accompanies a gorgeous perfume of crushed rocks intermixed with blueberries and black currants as well as subtle touches of toasty oak and white chocolate. A classic example of power allied with elegance, it possesses undeniable finesse yet tremendous flavor intensity without being heavy. This beauty is one of the most provocative and intense efforts of the vintage, yet it is strikingly delicate for its concentrated personality.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 (Lot 1351)
“Elegantly framed, with rich, appealing herb, currant, chocolate and black cherry flavor that's complex and concentrated, finishing with firm, well-integrated tannins.” (Wine Spectator 94)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1993 (Lot 1353)
“Smooth, supple, elegant and graceful, with rich, concentrated currant, anise and blackberry fruit that's beautifully defined. Plenty of acidity and firm, earthy tannins give it balance. Long, lingering aftertaste.” (Wine Spectator 93)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 (Lot 1354)
“Supple, graceful, harmonious style, deftly balanced, with ripe, rich, polished currant, anise, sage, cedar and blackberry. Holds its focus on a long, lingering finish. Tannins are softening, but the depth and vitality of the flavors are impressive.” (Wine Spectator 92)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 (Lots 1355-56)
“Wonderful balance and orchestration of flavor. Ripe, rich currant, black cherry, plum and berry flavors are vivid and well-defined. Hints of olive, cedar, sage and anise fill out a very complex and sophisticated finish.” (Wine Spectator 93)

Cabernet Sauvignon 1986 (Lot 1358)
“This has everything: deep color, rich, ripe aromas and bold fruit flavors, a velvety texture, depth and balance. It's delicious now but will improve for years.” (Wine Spectator 96)

Ridge
If there were a wine hall of fame, Paul Draper would be enshrined as a charter member. His legend lives on in the form of these classic Monte Bello.

Monte Bello 2001 (Lot 1465)
“…a stunning wine. Boasting abundant amounts of sweet black and red fruits intermixed with tobacco leaf, white chocolate, charred wood, and espresso roast, it is a full-bodied effort with superb purity, high tannin, and an austere finish.” (Wine Advocate 95+)

Monte Bello 1996 (Lot 1467)
“A blockbuster, powerful, concentrated Monte Bello, it possesses an opaque purple color, plenty of spicy oak in the nose (100% American oak has always been used for aging Monte Bello), and a deep, layered, concentrated style. There is plenty of tannin, but it is sweeter than that found in the 1997, and the wine is more concentrated and extracted. There is a touch of oak in the flavors, which are otherwise dominated by minerals and jammy black fruits. This is a terrific Monte Bello that will have 30+ years of life.” (Wine Advocate 95)

Monte Bello 1992 (Lot 1468)
“When I tasted this wine early in its life I felt it had outstanding potential. With another year of cellaring it has gained considerable weight. It now looks to be one of the greatest examples of Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon Ridge has produced.” (Wine Advocate 94-97)

Monte Bello 1991 (Lot 1469)
“…the 1991 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello exhibits the classic austerity found in Bordeaux, with a reserved but highly complex bouquet of licorice, cassis, and lead pencil. It is a rich, almost measured wine in its restraint, but there is considerable intensity, and the wine offers outstanding extraction of flavor, full body, and gobs of tannin.” (Wine Advocate 92)

Monte Bello 1990 (Lot 1470)
“An immense wine of uncommon depth, richness, concentration and complexity. Beautifully structured, tightly focused, with layers of currant, tar, earth, anise, mineral and sage, finishing in long, lingering aftertaste.” (Wine Spectator 97)

Monte Bello 1985 (Lot 1472)
“The sweet nose of cassis fruit, lead pencil, flowers, and minerals is followed by a full-bodied, opulent wine with a boatload of tannin. This huge, massive yet well-delineated and focused wine should prove to be uncommonly long-lived.” (Wine Advocate 94)

Monte Bello 1978 (Lots 1475-76)
“Packed with rich, complex, concentrated flavors that are intense, youthful and vibrant. Shows loads of currant, plum, mushroom, tar and spice, finishing with a long aftertaste and still enough tannin to sustain it another five to 10 years.” (Wine Spectator 92)

Monte Bello 1977 (Lot 1477) (Wine Advocate 92)
No tasting note available.

Monte Bello 1974 (Lot 1478)
“On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, with spectacular concentration, layers of jammy, admirably extracted fruit, good underlying acidity, and plenty of tannin in the long finish.” (Wine Advocate 92)

Sine Qua None

Sine Qua Non In Flagrante 2000 (Lot 882)
"...is a world-class, provocative effort. It reveals many of the same aromatic and flavor components found in the 2001 Midnight Oil and 2002 Syrah-dominated, unnamed offering. A black color is followed by a seamless effort loaded with blackberry, honey, and flower aromas, and an extraordinarily long, concentrated finish. As with all great wines, tasting notes/descriptors just can’t do it justice..."  (Wine Advocate 96)

Sine Qua Non Mr. K Straw Man 2004 (Lot 1613)

Sine Qua Non Roussanne Inamorata Vin de Paille 2001 (

Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions 2006 (Lot 1650)

Sine Qua Non Mr. K 2006 (Lot 1651)



Auction Sessions

Session #1 - The December 2010 Internet-Only Auction Part 2 - Old World Session.
Pre-Bidding Ends: 12/29/2010 9:30:00 AM PT
Live Internet Bidding Begins: 12/29/2010 10:00:00 AM PT
View lots in session 1

Session #2 - The December 2010 Internet-Only Auction Part 2 - New World Session.
Pre-Bidding Ends: 12/30/2010 9:30:00 AM PT
Live Internet Bidding Begins: 12/30/2010 10:00:00 AM PT
View lots in session 2