"Non-Baller" Wines, Take 5

Weygandt Wines - Washington, D.C.
Tasted Saturday, July 23, 2011 by isaacjamesbaker with 601 views

Introduction

My DC tasting group got together on a 100-degree day for the fifth installment of our "non-baller" tasting, i.e., unique wines that don't break the bank. It took me a good half-hour after I got to the tasting to cool down enough to feel comfortable. The whites were really refreshing after the heat, but the reds showed really well too. All wines were poured and tasted blind. I scored all the wines and took a few guesses before unveiling. As always, great people and great times. This tasting was all over the place, but I honestly liked every wine in the lot.

Flight 1 (11 Notes)

  • 2007 Domaine Servin Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux 86 Points

    France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

    tasted blind. honey, white flowers and pineapple on the nose. the palate is bold and big. good minerality and concentration. some brine as well. guessed an 07 chablis, and realized that i liked this more than the last time i tasted it.

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  • 2010 Wind Gap Wines Trousseau Gris Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard 90 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    light straw color. the nose shows lemon zest and a hint of seaweed. the palate is plump with white peach. smooth with good minerality. i picked up a distinct hint of white tea that reminded me of a loire chenin blanc.

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  • 2009 Adegas Gran Vinum Albariño Rías Baixas Esencia Divina 88 Points

    Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas

    lemon drop candy, granny smith apples on the nose. the palate shows great tropical pineapple and mango along with lemonhead candy, backed up by minerals and solid acid. great fruit and acid balance. what a wine to drink on a 100-degree day.

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  • 2009 Coleman Nicole Pinot Noir Rosé Morris Ranch Vineyard 86 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    pale salmon color with a bit of orange. nose shows white currants, overripe strawberries and a bit of cheese rind. realyl interesting nose. there's a flavor that reminds me a lot of melon rind. tangy acid. guess: new world rose, possibly grenache.

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  • 2010 Bedrock Wine Co. Mourvèdre Ode to Lulu Rosé 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Valley

    pale pink color. floral nose with melons. plump on the palate, with ripe strawberry and melon fruit. i really liked this rose. guessed it as a new world and was pleased to see this mourvedre from sonoma. solid wine.

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  • 2008 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Bourgogne Passetoutgrains 86 Points

    France, Burgundy, Bourgogne Passetoutgrains

    color of strawberry kool-aid. cranberries, cola on the nose along with some beef and charcoal. the palate is much different. soft tannins, cool red fruit, cherry candy. i guessed this as a pinot with about 5-10 years on it, and was surprised to see this was an 08. a fun, unique pinot, one that should probably be drunk in the short term.

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  • 2006 Charles Joguet Chinon Franc de Pied Les Varennes du Grand Clos 89 Points

    France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

    bright ruby colored. smoky, rustic fruit. the palate is fresh and bouncy with red fruit. some nice sour cherry in here, tobacco as well. smooth tannins. sweet finish. i guessed this as a bierzo, and was surprised to see it as a cab franc.

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  • 2006 Domaine du Tunnel (Stéphane Robert) St. Joseph 88 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph

    medium purple colored. dark plums with some pickle juice on the nose. bright on the palate. good tannic trip. a bit of alcohol, but it didn't bother me as much as some other people. lots of black olive, pickle brine and a distinct flavor of ash on the finish. solid wine. guess: rhone syrah. this is a solid wine for a good price.

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  • 2007 Celler Escoda-Sanahuja Conca de Barberà La Llopetera 89 Points

    Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Conca de Barberà

    dark purple colored in the glass. stinky, smoky, plummy, tar-filled nose. some minerality on the nose as well. the palate is silky and elegant, full of crimson fruit, charcoal and solid tannins. guess: no idea. the only thing i was thinking of was a syrah, but i couldn't nail a region. i couldn't believe that this was a spanish pinot. really unique stuff, although it didn't remind me at all of pinot. if you're banking your enjoyment of this wine on its pinot-likeness, then you'll hate it. but for my palate, this wine was delicious regardless. it does get what i like to call "crazy points" for its uniqueness.

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  • 2008 Reynvaan Family Vineyards Syrah The Unnamed 93 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

    wine of the night for me, no doubt. medium purple colored. plums, boysenberry, blueberry skin and olives on the nose. silky, paint-like mouthfeel on the palate. dense, rich, with caramel-covered blueberries, chocolate, ash and raisinettes. guess: reynvaan syrah. (of course, i knew a reynvaan lover brought this bottle, but this is still classic reynvaan walla walla syrah.) the crowd didn't love this as much as i did, but oh well. different strokes, and more for me. i didn't find this goopy or overblown at all. on the contrary, the velvety smoothness of it showed tremendous balance.

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  • 2007 Muxagat Vinhos Douro Mux Tinto 90 Points

    Portugal, Douro

    what a dark wine. inky in the glass. plum, charcoal and iron on the nose. gritty tannins but the smooth and silky fruit smooths it out. dark blueberries, charcoal, chocolate shavings. long finish. great way to end the tasting.

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