Last October, Wine Spectator held their 43rd annual wine experience which was held at the Marriott Marquis hotel at 1535 Broadway in midtown Manhattan. The Grand Tastings were two days of over 265 worldwide wineries on two floors, showcasing wines that scored 90+ points on the Spectator ratings scale.

It was an amazing opportunity for the wine consumer to sample many outstanding wines of the world.

My plan was to spend the first night with red Bordeaux and Napa Valley Cabernet and then on the second night to move on and sample the “others”.

The problem was that the great Chateaux and California wineries poured different vintages on the second night than on the previous evening, and that was too much of a temptation to pass up, so on the second night, I ignored the rest of the world and spent my tine with Bordeaux and Napa Valley. Some might say that’s not much of a burden.

Some of what I sampled:

New World

2008 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Mt. Veeder (Napa Valley): Opaque dark brick, mint, graphite and cooked fruit on the nose, silky, chewy black fruit with mint notes, firm tannin.

2014 Joseph Phelps Insignia (Napa Valley): Opaque dark red, purple rim, toasted tar on the nose, thick red fruit ending with firm tannin and acidity.

2014 Staglin Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford (Napa Valley): Clear medium red, brick rim, cooked red fruit on the nose, silky black fruit, silky tannin, great balance.

2014 Walt Pinot Noir Sierra Mar (Santa Lucia Highlands): Opaque dark red, purple rim, closed nose of grass, chewy and chunky with firm acidity on the sweet finish.

2016 Diamond Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Volcanic Hill (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, violets, tar and pickle juice on the nose, juicy and chewy red leather fruit with moderate tannin and acidity.

2017 Shafer Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District Hillside Select (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, roasted nuts on the nose, chewy and chunky dark chocolate fruit, good grip.

2018 Stag’s Leap Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon S.L.V. (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, stinky slate and dark chocolate on the nose, plummy, chewy and chunky fruit, silky grip, long finish.

2018 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Trailside Vineyard (Napa Valley): Clear medium red, purple rim, sweet tar on the nose, juicy dark fruit with firm tannin.

2019 Outpost Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mt. (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, crushed blueberries on the nose, chewy dark fruit with lip smacking tannin and a long finish.

2021 Chimney Rock Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap District (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, roasted nuts on the nose, chewy dark fruit. firm tannin.

2021 Favia Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville (Napa Valley): Opaque black, purple rim, pickle juice on the nose, tight and concentrated with mint notes, big tannin.

Old World

2010 Chateau Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan): Clear dark red, brick rim, smoky tar and black leather on the nose, silky fruit with black pepper and bitter almond notes, great balance, long finish.?

2010 Chateau La Mission Haut Brion (Pessac Leognan): Opaque black, purple rim, toasty tar on the nose, thick dark chocolate fruit ending with silky tannin and a long finish.

2014 Ornellaia Bolgheri (Tuscany): Opaque dark red, brick rim, smoke and crushed dark cooked fruit on the nose, silky and chewy black fruit with bitter almond notes, firm grip.

2014 Domaine Faiveley Latrcieres Chambertin Grand Cru (Burgundy): Clear medium brick, tarry earth and cooked fruit on the nose, silky red fruity with earth and red leather notes, great balance.

2019 Chateau Haut Batailley (Pauillac): Opaque black, purple rim, roasted nuts on the nose, chewy fruit with firm tannin.

2015 Chateau Cheval Blanc (St. Emilion): Clear medium brick, closed nose of dark chocolate, silky fruit ending with tight tannin.

2018 Chateau Leoville Las Cases (St. Julien): Opaque dark red, purple rim, perfume of tarry black fruit, silky dark fruit with cigarette smoke notes, good grip.

2019 Chateau Lynch Bages (Pauillac): Opaque black, purple rim, dusty and tarry nose, tight with concentrated silky fruit with black pepper notes, firm ending.

2020 Chateau Pichon Baron (Pauillac): Opaque black, purple rim, smoky stone on the nose, chewy bright dark fruit with crisp acidity.

2020 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte (Pessac Leognan): Opaque black, purple rim, closed nose of crushed red berry, chewy red fruit with firm tannin.