Bonham's and Butterfield Pre-auction tasting
San Francisco
Tasted Thursday, October 27, 2011 by aagrawal with 935 views
Introduction
This was a superb pre-auction tasting by Bonham's. I got my first taste of DRC (stunning) and got to taste many superb wines. There were stunners in each category: Champagne, White Burgundy, Red Burgundy, Bordeaux, etc. Of course, tasting at an event like this doesn't give the same enjoyment as focusing on one wine for an evening, but this was still superb for expanding my palate.
NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 94 Points
France, Champagne
Refreshing, cript, hint yeasty; clean palate, lemon-lime acidic finish, mouthwatering. 94
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NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs 91 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Yeasty, bready, fresh, nice palate flavor. 91-92
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NV Alain Soutiran Champagne Flawed
France, Champagne
Corked? Odd...
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1997 Jacquesson & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Avize 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Lovely sweet fruit, complex; palate hints earth, nice flavor. 93.
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NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée de Réserve 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Slight funk, earth; less fruit, interesting, not superb. 90-91
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2001 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Petrol, peach; great sweetness, balance, clean, fruit balance; mouthwatering finish. 91+
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2002 Coche-Dury Meursault Les Chevalières 95 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault
Excellent, oily, little citrus; balanced, long finish, smooth, fantastic acid on the finish. This wine stood out at the tasting, even though I don't generally love white burgundies. 94-95
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1996 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Les Perrières 88 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru
Funky, earthy, manure; manure/brett palate. 88
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1998 Domaine Robert Groffier Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Hauts-Doix 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Huge manure; structured, good balance, but very young. 92++
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2001 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Mazoyères-Chambertin 93 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazoyères-Chambertin Grand Cru
Balance of manure/fruit; cherry, great complexity. 93+
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2002 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echezeaux 97 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru
OMFG nose. Crushed berries, violet, intense even with the few sips that I got in my glass at the tasting; structured, tannic, but approachable. Near perfect. My first taste of a DRC (especially from a great vintage) and I'm impressed.
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2005 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Vosne-Romanée Vieilles Vignes 92 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée
Slightly closed, good fruit; burly, structured, tannic, very young, great fruit. Lots of potential with much time for improvement. 92
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1993 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Riserva Monfortino 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Balanced, lovely red fruits, hint of dirty diaper, still a hint tannic. Actually needs more time (or much more decanting). 93+
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1999 Château Trotanoy 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Bell pepper, spicy green; hint vegetal, still young, excellent.
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2000 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Aromatic, intense, great blackberry, red berries, drinking well but palate less expressive than the nose for now. Drinking well now but I think it will improve and open more. 93+
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2003 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron 93 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Pure black fruit; very young, very good fruit. Primary, needs time. 93
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2001 Poggio Antico Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 91 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino
Dark deep color, hint smoky. Still very young, tannic; great fruit. 91+
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1999 Viña Sastre (Bodegas Hermanos Sastre) Ribera del Duero Pago de Santa Cruz 91 Points
Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Tannic, big complex nose. Good. 91
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1992 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Tourtine 90 Points
France, Provence, Bandol
Balanced, lovely. Lost a lot of fruit. 90
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1995 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne 90 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage
Hint manure, red fruits. Palate has good fruit, structure. Needs 3-5 years minimum. 90-91
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2005 Domaine Joël Champet Côte-Rôtie La Viallière 91 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
Cinnamon, black pepper, young, too tannic, pepper. Monolithic. 91
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2006 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau 92 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Very, very young, tannic palate; red fruit, cranberry; nice crisp finish. Needs at least 5-10 years before it becomes distinctive. 92
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1994 Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 90 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Sweet vanilla, good fruit; ready, nondescript. 90
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2003 Peter Michael Les Pavots 93 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Knights Valley
Blackcurrant, blackberry; good fruit. Needs 10 years. 92-93
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2004 Woodward Canyon Cabernet Sauvignon Old Vines 85 Points
USA, Washington, Columbia Valley
Thinner nose, smoky, overoaked. 85
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2004 Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Blend of big fruit, smoky, raspberry; tannic, very young, big, cinnamon, complex. Needs some time for me to better evaluate it. 93-94
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