Fast Times at the Frey's

Tasted Saturday, August 20, 2016 by rocknroller with 327 views

Introduction

This was planned as a ribfest with syrah initially that was changed to a salmonfest with pinots on what ended up being a very cool, rainy evening instead of a bright, sunny hot patio party.

Flight 1 (2 Notes)

  • 2002 Philippe Prié Champagne Tradition Brut 90 Points

    France, Champagne

    Medium gold color. 2.5oz pour over 30 minutes. This wasn't quite as attractive as it has been, but having said that it was still very good. It just didn't have the finesse and overall appeal previous bottles. I'm not sure if this was bottle variation or we're starting to see a decline. This bottle was a bit oxidative in style, that I don;t really recall from past bottles; sour apple, a bit of almond meal, yeast and some depth shows.

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  • NV Franck Bonville Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Prestige 91 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Light gold color. 2.5oz pour over 30 minutes. I preferred this to the '02 Prie tonight. We have these periodically, but I was surprised to see I hadn't had the Prestige cuvee in a couple years. This has been the one that I prefer too. Very nice stylistically. The nose has tart green apple, yeast, and a little floral hint. The palate shows good balance, minerals with tart pear and tart apple, lighter, clean, and tasty.

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Flight 2 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Lioght medium gold color. Drank a 2.5oz pour over 40 minutes. Drank this side by side with a '08 Kistler Durell. I've had this wine enough times now that I should be able to identify it in my sleep. The nose is tropical, though not overly so, oak and spice. The palate is tropical too, pineapple, melon, round, and some sharpness to the oak on the finish at time. I thought this was a tad flabby in the mid palate, though later I didn't notice it as much.

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  • 2008 Kistler Chardonnay Durell Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Medium gold color. Drank a 4 oz pour over an hour. Drank this next to a '10 Shafer RSR and there certainly was a big step up with the Kistler. A fairly big wine no doubt, but not such that it screams at you. I found it very attractive all around. The nose has lovely golden fruits, rich and complex with peah and melon in addition to a toasted oak that was complimenting the fruit well. The palate brings what you expect from the nose, a full bodied gem with depth and class, lemon, peach, butter brickle, almost a bit savory, great texture, it really caresses the mouth nicely, some toasted oak and long complex finish. Excellent. My #2 and group #3WOTN. 93+pts.

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Flight 3 (2 Notes)

Flight 4 (2 Notes)

  • 2010 St. Innocent Pinot Noir Temperance Hill Vineyard 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Medium red color. PNP, drank a 4 oz pour over 90 minutes. Always a treat, this was no different. What I love here is the overall brightness of the fruit and the sheer elegance of how this drink. The nose shows the pretty red raspberries with hints of strawberry, spice and floral notes. The palate is medium bodied, lifted, great acid and pretty red berry fruits with a touch of red currant too. The balance is outstanding and this is just so good; delicious. The earth just started to show as this was into its second hour. This has been drinking great for some time now and shows no indication of slowing down anytime soon. With a lot of hair splitting, this got my vote for WOTN. 93+pts.

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  • 2008 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Medium dark red color. PNP, open an hour or two before pouring. Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes plus. Wow, this was pretty intense. Darker fruits, but still more to the red side. Very complex showing deep red fruits on the nose, spices, oak, and damp earth. The palate is striking, great intensity and depth, not over the top big though, deep red berries and nice earth, good spice notes and tannins that are appealing and the finish is 30 seconds plus. This just kept getting better, and looks to be rock solid down the road. Group WOTN and my #3 in a tight three way race.

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Flight 5 (1 Note)

  • 1998 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Reserva Viña Tondonia 92 Points

    Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

    Medium gold color. PNP, drank a 2.5oz pour over 40 minutes. It's always fun to drink these "old" Lopez wines. They are just so interesting and complex. This was no different. It had that slightly oxidative character, though not too much so in this instance. A bit candied on the nose too, complex phenols, high toned with a candied lemon sweetness. the palate shows the same oxidative, nutty quality, full bodied, lemon, and a medium plus finish.

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Flight 6 (2 Notes)

  • 2013 AR.PE.PE. Rosso di Valtellina 89 Points

    Italy, Lombardia, Valtellina, Rosso di Valtellina

    Medium red color. PNP, drank a 2.5oz pour over an hour. Strawberries on the nose with plenty of youthful oak, smoke. The palate was lighter medium bodied, earthy, licorice, cherry, smoke, slightly sharp and very oaky right now. Definitely needed food and we were mostly done at that point. Also could benefit from a few years of age.

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  • 1982 Château Sociando-Mallet Flawed

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

    corked.

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Flight 7 (2 Notes)

  • 1990 Château Cru Peyraguey 86 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Very, very dark amber color. Drank a small pour over 30 minutes. This was quite advanced even for its age. The nose still has some appeal though with orange marmalade, and orange zest predominating. The palate however is rather sour, bitter, sour apple, bitter orange, brown sugar, sweet finish, a bit syrupy, interesting, but this bottle was well past peak.

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  • 2001 Château de Malle 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Small pour. Tangerine, meyer lemon, citrus zest, spice and good acid.

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Closing

I had the top three wines in a very tight 3 way race, flip a coin on any of them.
Group Voting:
#1 2008 Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve PN(3+3+3+2+2+2+1=16pts)
#2 2010 St. Innocent Temperance Hill PN(3+3+2+2+2+1=13pts)
#3 2008 Kistler Durell Chardonnay (3+2+2+1+1=9pts)
2010 Shafer RSR Chard (3+1=4pts)
2012 Talley Arroyo Gr PN (3+1=4pts)
2002 Prie Brut (2=2pts)
1998 Lopez Tondonia Res Blanc (1+1=2pts)
2010 Christopher Lia's PN (1=1pts)

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