'02-'07 Bergström, '95-'97 Musar, and more in Maine

Kirk's Apartment
Tasted Friday, February 26, 2010 by Kirk Grant with 969 views

Introduction

A small gathering of some friends from the WLTV forums with hopes that we could find some interesting and enjoyable wines to share...

Flight 1 - Opening Champagne (1 Note)

Disgorged in July of 2003...we enjoyed this as we waited for everyone to arrive...

  • NV Bruno Paillard Champagne Rosé Brut Première Cuvée 87 Points

    France, Champagne

    DISGORGED IN JULY 2003 - Peach in color with scents of bread, pear, and a faint hint of a mint leaf which was slighly weird...but interesting. In the mouth flavors of citrus, ugli fruit, kiwi, and lingering notes of tangerine. Very nice, but not as good as the last bottle.

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Flight 2 - Mini Musar Vertical (3 Notes)

We wanted to taste in the order (96,97, 95) because of the quality of the '95 and wanting to ensure that the '96 and '97 got a fair shake.
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  • 1996 Chateau Musar 90 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    In the glass this shows a pale ruby at the core with a pinkish tint at the meniscus. The nose of this wine is wonderful...with typical Musar tones of earth, concrete, Kirsh, funk, cedar, and red fruits. IN the mouth flavors of cranberry, rhubarb pie, wild strawberries, and a hint of soy are all slightly obscured by the VA. However, this is still quite typical for Musar in style...and an excellent bottle of wine.

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  • 1997 Chateau Musar 84 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    RUby in the glass with scents of concrete, red fruit, and a hint of floral tones...this does not "smell like Musar" to me. It's missing the tell tale funk, and faint bit of that "something" that makes Musar so interesting. IN the mouth the acidity is present and brisk followed by cranberries, light cedar, and wild strawberries. The fruit on this wine feels limited, and the wine is quite thin...and lacking something to really impress me.

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  • 1995 Chateau Musar 94 Points

    Lebanon, Bekaa Valley

    Pale ruby in the glass with scents of cedar, earth, tobacco, cranberries, pomegranate, saddle leather, raspberries, at the tail end there was a hint of clove and cement dust. In the mouth this light to medium bodied (depending on how long it had been in the decanter...it picked up weight with time open) wine bursts with a melange of red fruits, mushroom, a hint of cedar, and other earthy notes. This wine has always been a favorite of mine, despite the VA that is usually present, I find it gives this some character and in just the right amount adds to the intrigue of this wine.

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Flight 3 - Bergström Vertical tasting (7 Notes)

We evaluate the wines in pairs (07/05, 02/04, 03/06) with the best guess as to what vintages might be the most alike. While I enjoyed the 02 & 04 I was highly disappointed with the showing of the majority of these wines.
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  • 2007 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 87 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    A light bright ruby color in the glass with a slight bit of greenness evident on both the nose and the palate. There were pronounced scents of dill, light cedar, and a faint not of ham which was really quite interesting and unique. In the mouth flavors of cranberries, strawberries, licorice, and cedar were evident. I really enjoyed tasting this...but it's hard to believe that the greenness in this wine will go away with time.

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  • 2005 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    FOUR HOURS LATER: Violet in the glass with a smoky, toasty nose of coffee, and dark fruits. Flavors in this wine were more toward the dark fruits with blackberries, blueberries, tobacco, and a light hint of cedar on the nose.

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  • 2004 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    A brilliant ruby color in the glass with scents of earth, funk, hints of cedar, red fruits, and a faint bit of greenness at the tail end. The scents screamed of textbook OR Pinot to me. In the mouth there was firm tannin, framed by bright acidity followed with flavors of wild strawberries, sour cherries, mushroom, and a faint hint of the greenness creeps in at the tail end of the medium long finish. If I had more....I would be waiting another 3-5 years to open a bottle. This could still improve with time.

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  • 2002 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Deep violet with a ruby meniscus with vast and deep scents of earth, funk, mushroom, Kirsh, plum, and a faint hint of smokiness and roses. In the mouth flavors of black cherries, graphite, dark chocolate, and a lingering hint of wild Maine blueberries along a medium long finish.

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  • 2003 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 84 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    A deep violet in the glass with scents of espresso, faint hints of bacon fat, and a strong toasted oak component to this wine...it simply did not smell or taste of Pinot Noir to me. The heat from the 15% was quite evident on the palate, and the nose. This wine does not appear to be improving with more time sideways. Consume soon.

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  • 2006 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard Flawed

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    There was a faint hint of wet bag when we started to taste this...with vibrant fruit on the palate. The consensus in the group was that this was corked/flawed.

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  • 2005 Bergström Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Violet at the core with a ruby rim with scents of earth, red fruit, roses, with a hint of cedar and smoky tones. In the mouth this light to medium bodied wine offers flavors of strawberries, cranberries, and a hint of rhubarb along a medium length finish.

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Flight 4 - Palate cleanser before starting the blinds (1 Note)

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  • 1995 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    Pale yellow with a fine bead giving off scents of baked bread, green apples, and a faint hint of skunk. In the mouth flavors of lemon, green apples, and chalk ebb and flow seamlessly making it difficult to pinpoint any specific component of this wine. There is a beauty and refinement to this Champagne that is nothing short of wonderful...I will look forward to this in the future.

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Flight 5 - Blind Whites (6 Notes)

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  • 2004 Bressan Pinot Grigio 93 Points

    Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT

    Canary yellow in the glass with a very interesting and complex nose of different floral tones, beeswax, pollen, and faint citrus tones. In the mouth there is intense acidity followed by flavors of quince, lemon, and wet stone. This wine is so very complex, and difficult to pinpoint. This is unlike any other Pinot Grigo I've ever had. This is a great "wine geek" wine to share with people that are interested in different and obscure wines.

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  • 2008 Rheingraf Riesling Trocken 91 Points

    Germany, Rheingau

    Light yellow in color with floral tones with hints of lime, stone fruit, and minerals. In the mouth tart acidity is followed by tart green apple, pear, lemon, lime, and minerality along a medium length finish. This was lovely, and could only grow more interesting with some time sideways...a wonderful deal and a great introduction to what looks to be a very great growing year.

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  • 1989 Domaine Ernest Burn Gewurztraminer Goldert Clos Saint Imer La Chapelle 95 Points

    France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru

    A deep golden hue in the glass with a faint hint of burnt rubber, lyche, saffron, apricot, and honey. In the mouth this was powerful, and delicate, without being too cloying or unctious as flavors of apricot, peach, honey, and a hint of botrytis unfold along a long 45+ second finish.

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  • 2001 Bartlett Winemaker's Reserve

    USA, Maine

    In the glass this was an orange/amber color with scents of pink starburst candy, bacon, cider, pine, plain bubble gum, red candied apple, and a hint of menthol. In the mouth there is brisk acidity in this medium-full bodied wine with tart flavors of pears apple, pear, golden delicious apples, and an array of red fruits along a medium length finish. OUTSTANDING

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  • 2003 Fürstlich Castell'sches Domänenamt Schloss Casteller "Schlossberg" Silvaner Castell 80 Points

    Germany, Franken

    Canary yellow in the glass with tropical fruits, floral tones, and a slightly smoky note amongst the minerals. In the mouth flavors of pears, golden delicious apple, spice, and dried apricot with evidence of the heat from this vintage on the palate...this was a wonderful wine, and should be amazing in better growing years.

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  • 2007 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Kerner 91 Points

    Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler

    Pale yellow with an obvious scent of filipino mango, pineapple, and minerality. In the mouth flavors of lemon, pineapple, and quince linger nicely along a medium length finish.

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Flight 6 - Blind reds (4 Notes)

WLTV FORUM MEMBERS

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  • 2007 Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes 88 Points

    France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon

    A light violet color in the glass with scents of earth, faint cedar, and blueberries on the nose. In the mouth this light bodied wine offers flavors of tart cherry, earth, faint cedar, and a lingering note of strawberries along a medium length finish.

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  • 2006 Perticaia Montefalco Rosso 85 Points

    Italy, Umbria, Montefalco, Montefalco Rosso

    A deep violet color in the glass with scents of kirsh, vanialla, cedar, and raspberry. In the mouth this medium bodied wine is quite tannic with firm acidity and a slightly "new world" style with flavors of sour cherry, raspberry, and plum along a short finish. I would like to see this wine again after 3-5 years sideways.

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  • 2001 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Cannubi Flawed

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Corked...

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  • 2001 Johann Schwarz Rot Flawed

    Austria, Burgenland, Neusiedlersee

    Violet in the glass with a ruby rim at the edge. On the nose scents of espresso , cacao, black currant, a faint smokiness, with obvious tones of new oak and a hint of burnt rubber. In the mouth this was very plush, round, and big with flavors of cherries, chocolate, tobacco, and cedar along a medium length finish that feels out of balance and "over done". Some liked this, others thought it was flawed...I'm still holding my opinion for this bottle.

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Flight 7 - Dessert... (3 Notes)

Flight 8 - Ending the tasting with a wine from a fellow forum member! (1 Note)

Brandon is an active member in the WLTV forum...and I thought it would be neat for all of us to get a chance to taste a wine from someone in the forum. Everyone had something positive to say...

  • 2008 Coleman Nicole Pinot Noir Rosé Sonoma Coast 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Hazy pink in the glass with scents of watermelon jolly ranchers and strawberry on the nose. In the mouth it is quite linear and enjoyable with flavors of strawberry, cucumber, and cranberry along a short-medium length finish.

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Closing

In the end...this was a wonderful night with some great new friends and some interesting experiences with unique wines.
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