Houston Cellar Classic 2010
The Tasting Room - Uptown Park
Tasted Saturday, October 23, 2010 by cartime with 828 views
Introduction
In previous years, I missed out on a lot of the bolder reds as I worked my way up from sparklers to whites to reds. This year I ran the risk of killing my palate and went straight for the big boys. The quality of the wines being tasted in the VIP section made it worth going to, although I do think that this event is getting too popular for its own good. It was ridiculously crowded. Food quality was down from previous years, and most of the pourers knew little about the wines they were serving (or worse, just had wrong information). I'll probably still go back next year, although that's more of a reflection of the dearth of big tasting events in Houston rather than the quality of this one.
NV Pommery Champagne Brut Royal 89 Points
France, Champagne
Simple flavors of pear, citrus, and brioche. Nicely balanced. Nothing exciting, but a decent Champagne for the price.
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1999 Pommery Champagne Cuvée Louise Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne
Smooth mineral and pear palate, only slightly toasty. Very fine, short-lived bubbles. Moderate plus acidity. Nice, but not sure this is worth the high price tag.
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2009 Alexana Pinot Gris Revana Vineyard 89 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Floral, stone fruit nose. Slightly sweet palate with peach flavors and nice acidity.
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2008 Nickel & Nickel Chardonnay Searby Vineyard 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Citrus, fresh butter, and saline minerals. Creamy, yet not heavy on the palate. Excellent acidity and a medium-plus citrusy finish. Very nice non-malo Chardonnay.
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2008 Far Niente Chardonnay 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Ripe tropical fruit (esp. guava) nose with blood orange citrus and toasted spices. Same feeling as last time, although I'm thinking perhaps my real issue isn't so much the oak as it is the ripeness of the fruit.
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2007 Littorai Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Roasted red cherry, cola, and earth. Feminine palate of red fruits, sous bois, and spice. A little singe of alcohol on the finish.
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2006 Rubicon Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Cask 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Fruity nose of ripe blackberry, raspberry, and vanilla. Medium bodied palate of ripe fruit and new oak. Lacking complexity. Not a good value.
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2007 Montes Purple Angel 90 Points
Chile, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley
Black plum, cassis, and coffee aroma. Dark fruit on the palate masked by firm tannins. This needs lots more time - I wonder if the fruit will hold out long enough. Drink in 4-6 years.
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2006 Benziger Family Winery Tribute 88 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Mountain
Very ripe black fruits and vanilla. Nice tannins. Good concentration on the palate, but not much complexity - I get dark fruit and sweet oak and not much else. Not a good value.
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2005 M by Michael Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This is an amazing inaugural vintage for this wine. Bordeaux-like nose of red fruit, cassis, leather, chocolate and spices. Medium-full bodied palate of black cherry and currant with cocoa and earthy mineral notes. Young earthy tannins give nice structure. Very elegant - doesn't hit you over the head with fruit and oak like so many other Napa cabs. This will improve over the next 5 years and will drink well for so many more. 93+.
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2008 Bodega Numanthia Toro Numanthia 89 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Toro
This didn't show as well as previous vintages did on other occasions. Maybe it's just too young. Sweet nose of red berries, cocoa, and baking spices. Bright red fruit and fig palate. Firm, dusty tannins. Hold.
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2007 Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Oakville 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville
Cassis, herbs, cocoa, and coffee. Nice concentration on the palate - not overdone. Firm tannins. Definitely needs some time.
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2005 J. Lohr Cabernet Sauvignon Carol's Vineyard 87 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
Port-like nose of sweet prune, vanilla, and EtOH. Too ripe and over-oaked for my tastes.
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2005 Sterling Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Diamond Mountain Ranch Vineyard 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Diamond Mountain
Classic nose of cassis, blackberry, herbs, and earth. Medium-bodied palate with dark fruit, not too ripe, and a nice earthy, herbal quality. Nice tannic structure that should allow this to develop over the next couple of years. 90-91.
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2008 Golan Heights Winery Yarden Mount Hermon Red 87 Points
Israel, Galilee
This really didn't show very well today. Much riper fruit than I remember, with less of those meaty, herbal characteristics that appealed to me the first time I tried this. Sweet fig and blackberry, caramel, and faint herbs.
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2006 Burgess Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Bretty, black fruit nose. Rich palate of raspberry, blackberry, earth, and herbs. Nice concentration and acidity. Medium plus finish. The Brett on the nose is overpowering and really ruins this otherwise well-done wine. 87-88.
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2006 Frog's Leap Merlot 89 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
Good, simple Merlot with earthy plum flavors. Not terribly exciting, but a pleasure to drink.
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2008 Ridge Lytton Springs 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
Blackberry, plum, chocolate, and baking spices and herbs. Velvety tannins and nice acidity. Can't go wrong with Ridge.
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2007 Nice Malbec 90 Points
Argentina, Mendoza
Blackberry, plum, coffee, and a hint of greenness (in a good way). Nice structure, and a medium-plus finish.
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