| | A great gathering, Mirela and Helgo, Kay and Matt, Todd and Deb (we finally met her), Meredith and Mathalie helped with the prep and conversation...This is Act 2 of what has become dinner in the Provinces, my city friends making the trek to the country with a promise of good food and even better wine... - 2012 Arnot-Roberts Rosé - USA, California
First two wines served as an aperitif for my gourmand guests. Drank this next to a Chateau Margui, very different styles of Rose and divided the group on preference. The AR was the more fruit forward of the two
Consistent with prior notes, crisp acidity, dry, strawberry/bright red fruits and citrus on the mid palate. Noticed some must on the finish. The wine finishes medium to short (90 pts.)
- 2012 Château Margüi Côteaux Varois Perle de Margui - France, Provence, Côteaux Varois
Drank next to an Arnot Roberts Rose to compare styles. Very different, this one split the crowd. Would say the Margui is the more elegant of the two wines, AR more fruit forward.
My prior notes hold: nose of white flowers, citrus, ocean. Palate is elegant and fruity - light strawberry, peaches and grapefruit. Bright red fruits, nice acidity, lingering finish.
Very Provencal in style...the color sets this apart, a translucent light peach/salmon. I thought this was slightly better than the Arnot Roberts on this night (90 pts.)
- 2009 Aubert Chardonnay Lauren Estate Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
The flight of whites after the aperitif paired this Aubert with an 09 Douhin Clos des Mouches. Fun to compare, same grape different worlds and different styles. Intersting that my French guest preferred the Aubert to the Burg
I find Auberts add compkexity and nuance as they are opened, in this regard more like a red wine. No different here, great out of the bottle but was really open for business after 20 minutes
Medium gold color, nose of citrus, oak and nuts. Palate had a viscous texture with notes of citrus, poached pears, quince, orange peel, lemon zest, mineral/shells, mild vanilla oak.
This is a serious wine, a white that could be lingered over for some time. Next bottle I may have to find a venue where it doesn't dissapear as quickly as it did this evening. Should be drinking well for at least the next 5 years (94 pts.)
- 2009 Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru
The flight of whites after the aperitif paired this against an 09 Aubert Lauren Vineyard. Interesting pairing of same grape and age, old vs new...very different wines
Consistent with prior notes - this is a consistently great white burg (IMO). Golden straw color. Nose has floral, pear and slight roasted or hazelnut aroma. Flavors of honey, citrus, medium oak. Lemon pie and smokiness are the signature on the mid and back palate. In a twist on the tasting, my French guests preferred the Aubert, my American guests preferred the Drouhin...go figure...
Both wines were great as a first course and had the stuffing and complexity to pair with peppers, olives and cheeses and not wash out (93 pts.)
- 2005 Patricia Green Cellars Pinot Noir Estate Etzel Block - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
This was after the white flight and served with my fabulous mushroom risotto with white truffle oil, turned out to be a great pairing. From a magnum, this guy has been sitting in my cellar since release, purchased direct from the vineyard, excellent provenance. Decanted for about 90 minutes prior to serving.
Medium ruby color, no bricking. Ironically I thought it might be getting late for this wine. Nose was barnyard (especially out of the bottle), red fruits, rose and lavendar, savory. Nose was much more complex after the decant. Served in Reidel tulip Pinot glasses. Some of crowd would have sat and smelled it for an hour...
Palate was bright red fruit, raspberry, plums, earth, black tea.
One of our tasters summed it up: "big, plummy pinot center subtly shaded with chocolate and coffee-like fringes. Big, and tannic without being overwhelming."
This is an extraordinary wine - one of the best Oregon Pinots I have had the pleasure of tasting. Thinking it may have been entering mid age I opened my only magnum - my guess is this bottle would have had another 10-15 years in it...the upside was sharing a really special bottle with some close friends. WOTN for a few (96 pts.)
- 2000 Château La Conseillante - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Bought this after a wonderful experience with the wine in Zurich. Not a well known Pomerol (to me at least), but worthy of any in the vintage.
With the main course this evening, our simple marinated skirt steak and grilled salmon, Meredith made a quinoa/feta side...perfect for the two main course reds this evening. This was paired next to a PNV Auction Wine - Hourglass 07 - to contrast styles.
Decanted 2 bottles for ~2 hours prior to serving, had mellowed nicely with the air. Consistent with prior notes: Color is deep ruby/maroon, looks like a younger wine on color alone. Nose is youthful, red/black fruits, vanilla. Palate of dark cherry, black and red fruits, cassis, blackberry liqueur. Guests noted some licorice and earth on the back palate. Texture is particularly notable with this wine. The vintage and Merlot driven blend make for an elegant, plush mid palate and long finish.
Really great wine, still a baby with a long life ahead of it, but not too young to drink now. Interesting note, my American guests preferred this to the Napa, my French guests thought the Napa was better (painful admission for them...). The group lingered over these wines for about 90 minutes...great side/side tasting
PS - +2 days still drinking well but looses some of the complexity and texture (95 pts.)
- 2007 Hourglass Cabernet Sauvignon Premiere Napa Valley 36 24 36 - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
First of these bottles that have been opened, have had the regular Hourglass Cab from 07, equally good wine, the PNV bottles tend to need more age as a rule of thumb.
With the main course this evening, our simple marinated skirt steak and grilled salmon, Meredith made a quinoa/feta side...perfect for the two main course reds this evening. This was paired next to Pomerol - La Conseillante 2000 - to contrast styles. Decanted 2 750s for about 2 hours prior to serving.
Inky purple color, no signs of age. Nose is youthful, black/red fruits, anise, oak. California fruit all the way on this wine, nice contrast with the Pomerol. Ripe ark fruits, blueberry pie, cedar, plums, dark currants. Huge viscous mouth feel and close to 60 second finish.
Having the benefit of a multinational crew this evening, we got the twist *again* that our French guests acutally preferred the Napa (a difficult admission) and the American guests preferred the Pomerol...
This is a really special wine. Had the pleasure of meeting Jeff and Carolyn Smith on our PNV trips in the past. Great attention to detail and a really special property make for some great wine. The PNV is a notch up from their core offering. Still young, will hang on to my magnums...
PS +2 days, the last few splashes are still drinking well (96 pts.)
- 1963 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage - Portugal, Douro, Porto
A fitting close to a big evening, we went back to the cellars for dessert of chocolates and rum cake. Decided to open my first bottle of this for a special group of people (a birth year wine for me...)
Splash decanted and drank over an hour (would benefit from more air time). Color is fading, medium garnet with bricking at the edges. Intense nose, some heat in the beginning, spices, red fruits, cedar. Some were content to sit and sniff for the first 10 minutes. Palate was a cherry liqueur, spices, cinnamon, fruitcake. Mid and back palate had burnt sugar, caramel, mocha. Very nuanced and textured
Charming and special wine, hope this will keep for the next 10 years...this got even the non Port drinkers in the group interested...hard to put a score on this, what do you compare it to? Great experience for all... (94 pts.)
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