San Antonio Wine Geeks - The Gathering without Steves (or how we found Lafite)
The Monterey
Tasted Wednesday, March 30, 2011 by Nutty08 with 699 views
Introduction
The usual gang, with the return of JB, along with myself, JW, TC, DL along with our more attractive companions. Sadly, this was our first gathering in quite some time without either of the Steve's.
Flight 1 (9 Notes)
Flight 2 - The Loot (2 Notes)
After multiple hours of jealous looks, long circular trips to the bathroom, and squinty stares trying to read the labels, we finally sent JW to attempt a wine swap. Luckily they fell for it (they happened to very nice generous people with an interest in wine).
DL recalls it this way: "I believe the conversation at the next table went something like this, "Hi. I'm J-n W---. I'm the wine consultant here. Can I get a splash of that Lafite? How about that Dom? How about the Pichon Baron? Oh. My friends over there. They don't really like good wine. Can I get a splash of that Cristal?"
Closing
Again!
2007 Peay Vineyards Roussanne/Marsanne Estate 90 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
I don’t think these guys make a poor wine. Lush honeysuckle, floral nose. Nice acidity on the palate with pear and apricot flavors, though has a pleasant mouth coating texture despite the acidity. A little wet stone on the finish. Quite good, though not as complex as I had hoped. 89-90
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NV Carpenè Malvolti Kerner Veneto IGT 88 Points
Italy, Veneto, Veneto IGT
An interesting bubbly, with nice sweetness on the palate that’s balanced with a pleasing acidity. Melon on the nose. Simple, but would make a great summer bubbly to have around.
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2001 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée 93 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
This evolved the most through the evening. The fill was slightly low, and I’m unsure of the providence of the bottle. Started quite funky, with roasted/dried fruit nose though plenty of spice notes. Through the evening it really started to open up, adding depth and losing the dried fruit tone and showing much concentrated dried fruit, explosive spice notes and a very lengthy spicy finish. Typical Pegau, this house delivers a solid CdP with fantastic exotic spice notes with impressive consistently. 93-94
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2006 Carlisle Syrah James Berry Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles
Plush, ripe, berry nose with a little coffee. Palate has incredible depth, concentration, with tons of pure primary berries, currants, and plum, with a touch of pepper. This wine is most impressive so how seamless and polished it is, with great ripeness, but with precision and balance. The balance and poise remind me of SQN. Great length on the finish with berries and coffee.
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2005 Domaine Serene Pinot Noir Grace Vineyard 91 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills
Ripe nose, with lush cherry and licorice notes with a little earth. Pleasant with a slight floral aspect. Palate is smooth and concentrated, slightly sweet fruit, but enough acidity to keep it fresh. Lengthy cherry and earth on the finish. Nice depth and complexity though nothing to make this a distinct Oregon pinot for me, still a very good one. 91-92
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2004 Outpost Grenache 88 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain
Disappointing compared to the Pegau. Bright, red fruit nose with cassis and a little black cherry. Palate is lush, ripe, with pure red fruit profile, slightly sweet and syrupy. Long berry finish. Monolithic, lacking depth and complexity, though admittedly pure fruit flavors, if slightly over done for me. 88-89
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2003 Core Hard Core 88 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County
An odd wine. Nose with a green herbal note and a little plum. Palate is ripe, but delicate, with high toned currants and hint of spice that come through on a medium finish. Mid palate seemed a little thin. Maybe this has seen its best days? An interesting experimental blend.
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2009 Cartha Pinot Noir 92 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast
Quite good. Strong earth profile on the nose with a damp forest floor element along with dark black cherry notes that are what I usually pick up in Sonoma Coast wines. Darker fruit profile then the Oregon pinot. Lush fruit palate, round, but balanced and well made. Medium finish with a nice mineral tone on the back end. I really liked this, especially for the price. 91-92
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1995 Château Pontet-Canet 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Not as expressive as the bottle I had earlier this year, but guessing on how tight this was, it probably a better preserved bottle. Decanted an hour prior to tasting. Pauillac nose of flint, cedar, hint of caramel, touch of cassis. Palate is smooth, with fine drying tannins and slightly austere, but with a pure cassis character. Nice length on the finish wit cedar spice and flint. If this bottle is representative, approachable now, but could use 5+ more years.
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