| | As this was the same day as our quarterly wine party we were generally disinclined to put in an appearance, but the attendance of some new friends swayed us and glad we did. It was a very pleasant morning sipping some excellent wine and enjoying some excellent company. - 1921 Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Dry - France, Champagne
Wow - what a treat! This is almost sweet. Like sugared nuts. Touch of toast. There's hints of the age, but if tried blind you'd never guess a 1921. Very yummy. Many thanks to Quinn!
- 1989 Château Suduiraut - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
Was in a great spot on this day. Sweet, but not overly so. Good caramel and butterscotch. Part of an auction day so sauternes for breakfast and it paired quite well with the croissant and muffin.
- 1948 Federico Paternina Rioja Ollauri Gran Reserva Especial - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Just a special wine. Opened and was ready for business. Very soft, bacon, promiscuity, velvet. The kindof wine that is meant to be drunk with oily meat. Was drinking well over the few hours, but I think the first 45 minutes were its best (as opposed to the 70 Rioja we had that just kept opening up).
- 1996 M. Chapoutier Ermitage Blanc De L'Orée - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
My first time with this wine. In general I am a white rhone nut, but this had some tough competition on the table. It was nice and lean with hints of spice. I wrote that I thought it would be a good food wine and yet what was most missing for me was some acidity to balance the mouthful.
- 1970 R. López de Heredia Rioja Viña Tondonia - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
Unlike the 1948 which was open for business from the get-go, this needed some to start to show it's stuff. Get tomato paste, old leather, again the kindof wine that would be happiest with some oily meat.
- N.V. Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grand Siècle - France, Champagne
Unfortunately for this wine it was just totally out of its league compared to the other ones on the table. Felt like the kindof wine that was made for aging. Acidity almost overpowering. Get some rosewood of all flavors.
- N.V. Jacques Selosse Champagne Exquise Sec - France, Champagne
This wine really surprised me. Perhaps one of the biggest surprises of that day. I expected to like it, but something about the softness of the bubbles, the just hint of sweet (mostly rock candy), touches of spice that keep the sweet in its place... well - it was perfect for a morning treat. One of my wines of the day.
- 1996 Deutz Champagne Cuvée William Deutz - France, Champagne
Just completely over its skis compared to the rest of the line-up on the table. Didn't take detailed notes on it (we were gearing up for a long day as we had another tasting in the afternoon) so the most I can say is one of those wines where it's not worth wasting any of the palette or tolerance on it (at least compared to the others).
- 1994 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Rochioli Vineyard - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Beautiful wine. I liked it better than many of the burgundies that were poured. Eucalyptus, some fruit, very complex and constantly evolving. Well done.
- 2013 Jean-Marie Fourrier Vosne-Romanée Aux Réas Vieille Vigne - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
Second time with this wine. I got mostly aggressive alcohol initially. Kindof an herbal, backyard taste to it once the alcohol dies down. Fine wine, but in a tough crowd.
- 1996 Bollinger Champagne - France, Champagne
Toasty, strong acidity, and a very decent champagne. By the time this was poured I'd had the Selosse though and was having a hard time drinking much else (except the 1921 Hiedsick).
- 1982 Château Talbot - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
More of a velvety texture, softer, earth and hints of spice. Fruit mostly died at this point. Fun to try.
- 1993 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
Found this wine to be quite compelling which is saying something given everything else being poured on the table. Surprisingly young (I wrote that word multiple times in my notes). It's mostly pepper but there's hints of red fruit poking through. A good balance to it now, but feels like it has many more years and might even continue to improve (current CT window of 2013 is much too short).
- 2000 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova - Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
The trifecta - cigar, leather, and tobacco. Young, but approachable now.
- 2000 Château Clinet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Found myself enjoying this one even a bit more than I expected to. Leather, a bit less fruit, but very tasty. Young and a touch quick on the finish. With time the currant fruits start to poke through. Enjoyable.
- 2009 Sine Qua Non On The Lam - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
Manfred's whites are so fun and distinctive. It's glycerin and hints of sweetness and lime and it feels like this full mouthful and quite over the top except somehow he's extracted a nice acidity to it and so the wine all comes together. Perhaps not my absolute favorite of his whites, but very enjoyable nonetheless.
- 1990 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
By the time this wine was being poured I was quite sure I should be saving my palette for the afternoon tasting, but how does one turn down a '90 Rhone? Complex and interesting and excellent spice and red fruits and just an enjoyable wine. Glad I got to taste.
The '21 was prob the most intriguing and stunning although that '48 was something. I found myself mysteriously very taken with the Selosse Exquise which felt exactly like my kindof champagne (would be very intrigued to see it with some age). Overall a lovely morning/early afternoon. |
