Old World Grab Bag
Dino Restaurant, Washington, DC
Tasted Wednesday, March 24, 2010 by ianinvirginia with 708 views
Introduction
All wines were tasted blind, with a flight of white first and a flight of red. Cool and diverse group of DC-area wine lovers, very laid back tasting, with creative observations and good conversation. I rated the company a 98+ and look forward to seeing how the group matures in future pours.
Flight 1 - Whites (7 Notes)
Ended up being a Loire-dominated show, interestingly. Dean Gold might have admonished us for not showing love for Italian whites if he had been there. Maybe we were intimidated by his list.
Flight 2 - Reds (6 Notes)
Nice diversity here varietal wise but another clear lean toward the cheese-eating surrender monkeys we love so dearly. Next time I'll suggest a French restaurant and we can all bring Brunello.
Closing
Was happy that the Clerc Milon I brought went over well and that I didn't try to drink it with people to whom I'd have to explain why a big funky nose is actually wonderful. I feel the Montrachet I brought underperformed, but I think it's because it was a bit warm and probably 2 years too early to really get interesting. But I was glad I was able to nail which ones were my wines, and overall, it was great to have been a part of this tasting. Not only did I meet some great people, but it really added to my experience within Loire quickly.
2005 Nicolas Joly Clos de la Coulée de Serrant 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières-Coulée de Serrant
Big, gorgeous, apple blossom and butter nose, cider and pear pulp on the midpalate, honeyed and smooth finish but leaves a bit of residual sugar without enough acidity to balance it for me.
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2002 Domaine Bernard Morey et Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Morgeot 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
Subdued nose but pineapple and smoke come through, honey and pineapple on the mid-palate,buttery mouthfeel, some cedar and light minerals and good acid on finish, well balanced and elegant but not as exciting as expected.
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2006 Didier Dagueneau Pur Sang 91 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé
Racy lime, steel and pepper skin nose, more lime in mouth and nice light crisp body and finish, with great minerality, very focused wine.
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2006 Richard Leroy Anjou Les Noëls de Montbenault 93 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou
Nose of brown apple and fall spice, reminiscent of an apple orchard in late harvest. In the mouth, very silky and full bodied, more apple and some brighter tropical tones, with a cidery handoff through the mid-palate to a crisp finish. Now that I think about it, it was like the experience of eating an apple, but in *reverse.* And delicious at that.
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2004 Domaine Jo Pithon Savennières La Croix Picot 90 Points
France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières
Honey and light apple nose with some kind of slight medicinal tinge, lighter bodied, citrus and toasted bread on the mid-palate, drier on the finish. A little less curvy than others from the blind flight with similar flavor profiles (which also turned out to be Chenin Blanc) but still very feminine.
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2007 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese 89 Points
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Tasted blind, pear and vanilla nose, medium bodied, a bit of candy (specifically those chalky Valentine's hearts) and some white pepper on the finish. Once unveiled as a Riesling and re-tasted 40 minutes later, I approached this totally differently and the "pear and vanilla nose" became tropical and the candy notes well, made sense. Still young though and maybe in a weird place on that finish.
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2000 Domaine Laroche Chablis Grand Cru Les Blanchots Réserve de l'Obédience 89 Points
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Nose of grapefruit but with a musky, phenol tinge, like the smell of a camping tent in the morning after the sun has been on it for awhile and the heat wakes you. Honey and buttery pear in the mouth, but with a clean, firm mineral finish. Nose takes away a point or two for me but the final two thirds are actually very impressive. These notes are from a blind tasting, should have taken another try after the bags came off.
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