BRW and I got together yesterday before he

[winoweenie]

leaves on a 4-5 week trip to Tenn and Michigan. His daughter is getting married in Aug in the Bahamas so he's taking a bunch of stuff to her in Tenn and also he bought a cabin on a lake in Mich and he's taking furn up there. As he'll be without his beloved wine cellar I decided to open something a little special for him yesserday and chose the 1997 Whitehall Lane Reserve. Made from the grapes from their Leonardini vineyard we both came to the same conclusion....WOWSIE!!!!!HOLY-KATRINA!!! GRACIOUS SAKES!!!! and alla' them other exclamation thingies. On pouring the 1st glass the aroma was almost overpowering. Seamless entry, heavy center and an honest-to-goodness solid 5-lapper finish. I've never really thot about the 100-pointer but this is surely what it would taste like. A highly allocated wine that was only sold at the tasting room and then only a 4 pack. Reserving the ultimate I'll give this sucker a 99/99. 60 at the winery. 14.2% alc. WW

[Innkeeper]

Highest rating ever; glad you enjoyed it!

[wondersofwine]

Coincidentally, Ray Coursen spent several years as winemaker at White Hall after being promoted by Art Finkelstein and then went on to found Elyse. I went to an Elyse wine dinner last Wednesday in Raleigh and will post on it when I get the chance. (I think he left White Hall in 1993 so can't take credit for the 99-100 pointer that you enjoyed.)
Ray Coursen worked with vineyard management for a time (pruning, trellising, etc.) so he may have had some say in how the vineyard was maintained and they say great wine starts in the vineyard.

[This message has been edited by wondersofwine (edited 06-12-2009).]