DAWGS Impromptu Dinner June 10, 2006

wine+art was flying solo on a Saturday night and felt like some wine, tapas and titillating with others his intellectual superiors so we all decided to gather at De Tapas in Addison anyway.

Must have looked like ravenous wolves by the time we finished.

• 2004 La Conreria d'Scala Dei Priorat Les Brugueres Blanc 91 Points

  Spain, Catalunya, Priorat

  WIML91,WA92,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Rot Wein glass. Visited several times over the evening. Dark yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose and palate are basically identical to the last tasting on June 1, 2006: aromas of pineapple, apple and pear coupled with flavors of pears, yellow apples, minerals and butterscotch. Fresh acidity, good overall balance with a medium finish. Ratings same as last time as well. Based on the retail price I paid of $22.99 I’d say the value here is highly recommended.

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• 2003 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Riesling Kabinett 88 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  WIML87-88,WA85,WS90
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Rot Wein glass. Visited several times over the evening. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Fairly significant sulphur on the nose at first but that seemed to quickly disappait with time in glass and the bottle being opened and partially poured. Once the sulphur cleared picked up some floral notes along with some apricots. Flavors of orange foam, apricot and peaches. Medium bodied with somewhat crisp acidity. Lack liDrink over the next 5-7 years re-evaluating along the way. I’d recommend splash decanting and immediately returning to bottle just before serving in order to help blow off some of that sulphur right up front. I’m thinking this wine is close to the $20.00 a bottle mark so I’d say the value at that price point is between agreeable and recommended. It would definitely be recommended if it wasn’t for the obnoxious up front sulphur on the nose.

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• 1999 Swanson Sangiovese Salon Wine Selection 90 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  WIML90,NOWA,WS84
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Rot Wein glass. Visited several times over the evening. Ruby color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of red cherries, tobacco and/or some smoke with some red berries as well. Flavors of red cherries, red berries and bitters early on but later developed some notes of pkums and red currants with about 2 hours being opened. Tannins are well integrated at this point, almost velvety in texture at this time. Coupled with the light acidity I’d recommend drinking now with a minimum amount of time in the decanter. Based on the $75.00 a bottle price I paid direct from the winery I’d say the value here is barely acceptable. Too many 90 point Sangiovese from Italy at a third of that price point.

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• 2001 Finca Sandoval Manchuela 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Manchuela

  WIML90,WA91,WS89
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Visited several times over the evening. Garnet color in the glass, fairly clear throughout. Nose was fairly tight eventually giving way to some aromas of leather, mixed dark fruits, white pepper and some herbal notes. Flavors of Bing cherries, black licorice and black berries. Drying tannins and young acidity with good weight on the palate. Can be drank now with an hour in the decanter but should age nicely another 5-7 years. Considering this wine is still readily available at around the mid-$20s price point I’d say the value here is at a minimum recommended, likely highly recommended.

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• 1999 Bodegas Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero Malleolus 90 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  WIML90,WA90,WS89
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Visited several times over the evening. Garnet color in the glass, fairly clear throughout. Big Kirsch nose with some secondary aromas of leather, anise and a mix of dark fruits. Flavors of black berries, black cherries, black currants and just a touch of cocoa eventually showed. Rounded tannins with good clean acidity. Can be drank now with an hour in the decanter but should age nicely another 5-7 years. Considering you can still purchase this wine from Wine Library for $31.99 a bottle I’d say the value here is recommended.

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• 2003 Bodega Vistalba Corte B 90 Points

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo, Vistalba

  WIML90,NOWA,WS90
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Blend of Malbex, Cabernet Sauvignon, Bonarda and Merlot. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Visited several times over the evening. Initially a pretty tight nose that eventually gave way to aromas of black berries, blueberries, “a bit of dustiness” followed by some leather and a ultimately a floral component. Interesting blend, huh? Flavors up front were of cumin and anise followed by some black berries and dark plums. Tannins are pretty well integrated with some good, clean acidity as well. Drink over the short term. Considering this wine is still widely available and can be purchased for $19.99 a bottle I’d say the value here is definitely recommended, possibly highly recommended.

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• 2003 Outpost Grenache 92 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain

  WIML92,NOWA,NOWS
  
  Tasted June 10, 2006 at an offline. Opened and served immediately in a Spiegelau Authentis Magnum glass. Visited several times over the evening. Dark garnet almost purple color in the glass, little cloudy throughout. Huge nose chalked full of aromas of mocha, melted black licorice, black berries, smoke and a medley of dark fruits. Big on the palate with juicy and full flavors of blackberries, anise, dark plums, black cherries and a bit of a peppery finish. Well rounded tannins and crisp acidity to boot. You would never confuse this Grenache as being from the Rhone or Spain! Heck, you’d probably not confuse it as being Grenache! Not a lot of typicity going on here but I have to thank Eric White for insisting I buy some of this wine. Just pop, pour and enjoy while completely ignoring the bottle has the word “grenache” on the front. This one should be fun to watch over the next 5-7 years but I’ll likely plow through mine no later than 2010. Based on the direct from winery price of $35.00 a bottle I’d say the value here is highly recommended.

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This was one FANTASTIC time. How could it not be with 4 people splitting 7 bottles of wine, closing down the restaurant and even a little She-male watching in between.