| | This month's theme was supposed to be summer wines. Well, the whole idea was that it would be in the 80s and the weather would actually be "summer-like." While mother nature didn't cooperate, there were a lot of fun wines to be had. - 2011 F.X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Ried Frauenweingärten - Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau
Nose: Nice and balanced nose with fresh tones of white fruits, white peaches, white pepper, snap peas, and some citrus tones. There is nice complexity with solid depth.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with crisp medium/high acidity. The acidity is very refreshing and youthful with tones of white fruits, white peaches, minerals, and white pepper.
Overall: This is youthful and it feels like it could use some time. The tones are fresh, but they are just lacking some depth at this time. (90 pts.)
- 2008 DuMOL Chardonnay Chloe - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Nose: The nose is stereotypical with rich and buttery tones of creams, marmalade, vanilla beans, oranges, oak, and some custard tones. There is good depth to this, but the oak is a bit on the dominant side.
Taste: Full bodied with lower acidity. The palate isn't flabby so much as it's very rich and oak dominated with tones of vanilla, creams, oranges, custard, and oak.
Overall: This held the style well, but the oak and oak influences were a bit over dominant. This is a big chard and it needs to be drunk sooner rather than later. (86 pts.)
- 2012 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé - France, Provence, Bandol
Nose: Fresh and crisp nose with tones of cherries, red fruits, white fruits, minerals, pears, and some red berries. There is nice depth to this, but it's not too expressive and more straightforward.
Taste: Light bodied with refreshing medium/high acidity. While the acidity was very noticeable, it wasn't overpowering and provided a nice spine for the tones of red fruits, white fruits, minerals, pears, and some red berries.
Overall: This wasn't really what I expected. I wanted something that possessed more depth and class instead of just being a good rose. (90 pts.)
- 2009 Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumes - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet
Nose: There is a lushness to the nose with upfront tones of lemon curds, oranges, white peaches, and quince tones. This is showing more like a california chardonnay and is lacking depth.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium acidity, but it's a bit flabby on the mid-palate The feel is also more lush with upfront tones of quince, lemon curds, oranges, oak, and some white peaches.
Overall: This was basically the same as it was 4 months ago. It's not all too exciting and isn't really going to gain with age. (87 pts.)
- 2011 Domaine de la Pépière Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie Vieilles Vignes Clos des Briords - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine sur lie
Nose: Very aromatic and fresh with tones of oyster shells, crushed rocks, white fruits, lemon zest, and white florals. There is nice depth to this as well.
Taste: Light bodied with noticeable and crisp high acidity. The structure is very noticeable and youthful. Beneath the structure are fresh and light tones of oyster shells, white fruits, crushed rocks, and white florals.
Overall: This was just as pretty as it always has been. There is a real freshness to this and I wish I had bought more. (91 pts.)
- 2009 Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Riesling Senior Faß 6 - Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Nose: The nose has a very mineral backdrop with tones of green apples, crushed rocks, flinty tones, white fruits, and some pears. There is very nice depth and style to this.
Taste: Light bodied with medium/high acidity. The acidity is more refreshing with lovely and balanced tones of green apples, crushed rocks, white fruits, peaches, and some bits of pears and minerals.
Overall: This was really good. It had some more flesh and fruit on the palate, but it was real pretty across the nose and palate on the whole. (91 pts.)
- 2006 Rhys Alesia Pinot Noir San Mateo County - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, San Mateo County
Nose: Nice and warm with balanced tones of red fruits, cherries, spice tones, roses, and some dark red berries. There is solid depth with everything melding well together.
Taste: Very pretty medium body with nice medium+ acidity. Very well balanced with silky tones of red fruits, cherries, spice tones, and some tart dark red berries.
Overall: This is very pretty and drinking perfectly. There is good balance to this with a nice tart quality to the fruit. (90 pts.)
- 1995 Château Montus Madiran - France, Southwest France, Madiran
Nose: Gorgeous and flowing nose with robust tones of violets, cedar, black cherries, licorice, spice tones, and dark red fruits. There is very good depth to this and the nose has a very perfumed quality as well.
Taste: Full bodied with robust tannins and medium/high acidity. The tannins are chewy, but they aren't too overpowering with silky tones of violets, black cherries, leather, licorice, cedar, and dark red fruit tones.
Overall: This is a very beautiful wine. While there is a robustness to it, it is also very perfumed and balanced. There is very good depth and layering right now. This is certainly drinking well right now, but it has plenty of life and should be long lived. (92 pts.)
- 2004 Bergström Pinot Noir Nysa Vineyard - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Nose: There is a candied quality to the fruit with tones of tart red cherries, cola, dark red fruits, spices, plums, and some pine tones. There is good complexity, but it's lacking some depth.
Taste: Medium/full bodied with medium acidity. The feel is nice with well balanced tones of tart red cherries, cola, spice tones, and some pine tones.
Overall: This was a good pinot noir that is drinking at it's peak. There is good balance, but it's lacking some depth that would really make it. (88 pts.)
- 2011 Pierre-Marie Chermette Fleurie Poncié - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Fleurie
Nose: There is a very noticeable mineral quality to the nose with balanced tones of crushed rocks, red fruits, red cherries, roses, and red berries. It is very aromatic, with a nice red fruit base.
Taste: Medium bodied with fresh medium+ acidity. Well balanced with the tones of crushed rocks, red fruits, cherries, and red berries leaning more higher toned.
Overall: This is a very good beaujolais. The red fruits are higher-toned and well balanced. (89 pts.)
- 2011 Peter Michael Chardonnay Belle Côte - USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Nose: Extremely huge and overdone nose with very oak driven tones of toasted marshmallows, vanilla, creams, clarified butter, and navel oranges.
Taste: Full bodied and very rich with low acid. The feel is extremely rich and buttered with big tones of vanilla, toasted marshmallows, oak, and navel oranges.
Overall: This was overdone and extremely rich. (78 pts.)
There was a much smaller than normal turnout, but that was fine. It was a fun afternoon the company more than made up for the weather. |
