Smorgasbord of Wines With Focus on 2006

This was a multi-purpose tasting. Originally envisioned, we were going to taste exclusively through 2006 wines to commemorate our 4th wedding anniversary. With too many wines in storage, we decided to make this a hodge-podge tasting with a focus on some 2006 wines. There were some surprises included. Overall a very solid tasting.

The Argyle was very good and is definitely a wine we will continue to buy. I was a little disappointed by the Scholium. It is at a crossroads right now.

• 1998 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 92 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  This is a very good North American bubbly. Nice apple and oak notes. Toast, sweet spice on well rounded palate. Good finish. Very enjoyable.

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• 2008 Scholium Project Naucratis Lost Slough Vineyards 89 Points

  USA, California, Central Valley, Clarksburg

  I'm no sure what is going on here. Third time I've had this over last 8-10 months (this time out of magnum) and my impression has declined over the course of 3 tastings. This has nice citrus, good acidity, and sweet spice, but those notes were a bit overwhelmed by some waxy floral notes. Out of whack a little. With nearly another case in the cellar, I hope this recovers.

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The Peter Michael was a surprise stunner, especially based on my last taste. The Ampeau was a disappointment while the rest fell into place where I figured they would. The En Remilly was a crowd pleaser.

• 1993 Robert Ampeau & Fils Meursault 1er Cru Les Perrières 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault 1er Cru

  Mild disappointment. Certainly, for the price, this is an easy future pass. Nose of citrus, red apple and spice, but overwhelmed by toasted oak. Way too much oak for a 1993 -- if it has not integrated a little bit by now, I'm not sure it well ever fully come into good balance. Muted grapefruit and fruit on pleasant palate, although one that lacks acidity. This also lacked some development on the mid-palate. Finish was good. Some nits near that are too substantial to look past for a wine that tops $100.

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• 1998 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Pucelles 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  This is in its prime drinking window, and may be slightly on decline as evidenced by second day taste. Even so, this is really lovely. Citrus, tart apple with charred oak on nose. Good golden color. Palate has absolutely superb acidity with bright apple, tropical fruit and sweet sweet spice. Good texture and mid-palate development. A long mouthwatering finish.

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• 2006 Marc Colin et Fils Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly Blanc 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru

  A fan favorite at the wine tasting, this is a definite "drink it while young" wine. As a youngster, it is really enjoyable. Fresh, lemony citrus and sweet spice. Nice minerality and tart apple. Clean, but it lacks acidity and mid-palate complexity. Shorter finish. This is a very nice wine which is priced appropriately in the $40 range, but there are some noticeable nits, particularly in terms of medium and long term development.

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• 2006 Argyle Chardonnay Nuthouse 86 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Green tint. Clean, with wet stone, minerals on nose and palate. Less citrus and fruit than Burgundies. Palate flattened out -- this needs more acidity. Shorter finish.

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• 2006 Peter Michael Chardonnay Point Rouge 96 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley

  I'm rather stunned looking back on my previous taste of this about 10 months ago. The numerical score and note indicated that this was a bit of a disappointment the first time around. On this night, though, this was absolutely stunning. Maybe the oak integrated substantially. Maybe bottle variation played a role. Whatever the case may be, this was my WOTN. Nice golden pale yellowish color. Citrus, red apple, sweet spice, clove, etc. Very nice texture on palate. Pure and smooth. Clove and sweet spice on palate. Nice complexity and mid-palate development. The acidity was an engine that kept driving this onto long finish. Terrific.

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All three were very good in their own right. The SQN was a tad bit disappointing while I enjoyed the Favir more than I thought I would.

• 2006 Bouchard Père et Fils Beaune 1er Cru Clos de la Mousse 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Quite nice offering. Menthol, tar, leather and ripe cherry on nose. Good acidity on palate with nice fruit and spice. Average finish.

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• 2006 Favia Pinot Noir La Josefina 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

  Very good offering. Darker cherry, chocolate, raspberry and stewed tomato on nose. Good pepper, sweet spice, cinnamon on palate. Nice round and full. Lower acidity than I prefer. Nice moderate finish.

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• 2003 Sine Qua Non Pinot Noir Omega 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

  A mild disappointment, but I still have this as 93 so it is a very good wine. Chocolate milk dominates the nose, with raspberry and lighter fruit. Smooth and decadent on palate. Chocolate dipped fruit, mocha, etc. Maybe a little too unfocused. Could use a bit more backbone and while this has a very nice finish, it is shorter and less intense than I remember. A little nip of heat? Possible. This is really lovely but its missing that extra oomph.

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The Lily's Garden was the winner here, and performed even better on the 2nd night. The Deus could have been a bad bottle -- the nose was dreadful. The Rudius was a solid run of the mill Syrah.

• 2006 Rudius Syrah Spirit Rock Alder Springs Vineyard 89 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Very good Syrah. Caramel, darker fruit and stewed tomato and fruit on nose. Woody char. Nice acidity on palate with candied fruit and wood. Nip of heat develops on mid-palate. Shorter finish.

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• 2006 Two Hands Shiraz Lily's Garden 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  While this lacked a little focus, it drank very well on the second night, meriting a bump from 90 to 91. This is a lush Aussie shiraz but Two Hands, at least in the Garden series, always seems to strike the right balance. Mocha, deep red cherry and raspberry on palate. Smooth rich and lush on palate with sweet spice and delicious red fruit. One second day, the acidity really held up and supported red fruit and chocolate and mocha. Nice mouthwatering finish.

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• 2006 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape Deus-Ex Machina 85 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Yikes. Could this have been a bad bottle? Based on some of the other reviews, I'm surprised this is the same wine. Cut grass, vegetal note on nose with unpleasant stewed fruit. The palate was considerably better with sweet spice and red fruit. The off putting note on nose really made this one a difficult taste. Moderate finish. Maybe this is too young or is going through an awkward phase. The nose was dreadful and while this recovered on the palate, it could not overcome the very poor start.

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I expected more from the Palmer, but it is still always neat to drink 30+ year old wine. The Rudius is a knockout, while the Seven Stones is a disappointment. This side by side tasting confirmed my notes from New Year's Eve when we had both as well. The Pipeau is a very solid QPR.

• 1975 Château Palmer 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  A little less than what I had hoped for. Port characteristics. Leather, good spice, red fruit, blueberry. There was some nice development on fully mature palate. Dark chocolate and menthol. A little bit of acidity poking through. I expected a little more harmony here.

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• 2006 Château Pipeau 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Needs some time to settle down but this has very good potential. Caramel, burnt bread, char on initial nose with dark fruit. Cassis and dark fruit on palate with very fine tannins. The tannins are lovely and indicate that this should age gracefully for the next 10 years.

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• 2006 Rudius Cabernet Sauvignon 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  This is an absolute knockout again, confirming first impression on New Year's eve. Dark cherry and fruit on nose. Mocha, espresso. Nice secondary notes on palate of muted leather, sweet spice. The tannins are absolutely super. Dark chocolate. Terrific lingering finish. This will age well but is simply outstanding right now and there truly is no need t wait. 94+

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• 2005 Seven Stones Cabernet Sauvignon 91 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena

  Once again, a disappointment and overshadowed by some less expensive wines (the Rudius is 2 for 2 against this wine). Confirms my NY Even impressions. Deep dark fruit. Nice tannic structure with dark wood and chocolate. Some stewed fruit. Less character, complexity and development than Rudius. This is very good. But a recent note epitomizes my feelings here -- it is not worth the admission price. At this price point, you really expect to be wowed. This is good. But not a wow wine.

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The Muscat was good but overshadowed by some really nice Rieslings. The Goldkap barely edged out the Eiswein.

• 2006 Mas Amiel Muscat de Rivesaltes 91 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Roussillon, Muscat de Rivesaltes

  Waxy pineapple. Could you a slight bit more acidity. Creamy fruit. Good concentration. Very refreshing, zesty citrusy offering.

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• 2006 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 94 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Excellent. Very concentrated with everlasting finish. After initial petrol blew off, this was loaded on the nose. Minerals, sweet tropical fruit, apricot and citrus. Concentrated and powerful but delicate on the palate with loads of minerality and fruit. Could use a bit more acidity, but this had great length and should drink well for decades.

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• 2006 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 91 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  Drinking very well right now and should age well. Deeply concentrated with melon, honey and citrus (after initial petrol blew off). Not as delicate as the Goldkapsel and it lacked the finesse and complexity, but this was very good in its own right. Impressive.

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• 2007 Ratzenberger Bacharacher Kloster Fürstental Riesling Eiswein 93 Points

  Germany, Mittelrhein

  Candied fruit with lush honey. This has extraordinarily good length and concentration. My only nit was that I thought it flattened out just a little bit on the mid-palate and while the finish recovered very well, this did not have the same mid-palate complexity and development as the Prum Goldkapsel, which we tasted right before. Nevertheless, this is sweet mouthwatering nectar.

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