1992 Etienne Sauzet Puligny Premier Crus
San Francisco
Tasted Monday, December 5, 2011 by wickedwax with 590 views
Introduction
A good friend decided to open a horizontal of five of Sauzet's 1992 Puligny Premier Crus. All bottles were purchased at exactly the same time and have been stored together in the exact same condition for the 18 or so years they have been cellared. Of course, there could always be bottle variation, but this was about as close as you could get to having limited variables. We weren't quite sure which order to taste them, so I suggested that we taste them by elevation, assuming that the higer elevation vineyards would be racier with less body and that as you go to lower elevations, the wines should, in theory, be richer and fuller.
Flight 2 - 1992 Sauzet (5 Notes)
Flight 3 - Champagne Intermezzo (1 Note)
Flight 4 - Various Reds (3 Notes)
Flight 5 - Dessert Wines (3 Notes)
Closing
Interestingly, the higher elevation vineyards (La Garenne, Les Champs-Canet and Les Folatieres) seemed to hold up the best. Meanwhile, the lower elevation vineyards (Les Referts and Les Perrieres) were more advanced. Perhaps the extra acidity helped to preserve the higher elevation vineyards? Granted, Les Perrieres was under young vines for Sauzet at the time, so perhaps that may have played a factor in that wine. It is unfortunate that we were not able to taste the Combettes as many seem to consider that to be Sauzet's greatest Premier Cru and it is situated in between Champs-Canet and Les Referts. Nevertheless, it was an amazing opportunity to look at terroir and it was a lot of fun to have them with some of the first of the season's Dungeness Crab and spend it with many wonderful people.
NV Champagne Fleury Champagne Carte Rouge Brut
France, Champagne
Not knowing the background of the wine, we noticed just the slightest tinge of copper in the color which led us to believe that it was a BdN. Aromas of cherry, yellow stone fruit, lemon, spice, toast and minerals confirmed it. Seemed fairly low in dosage, but had good richness and roundness to it. Smooth texture with good length.
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2001 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Brand
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
Tasted after being opened 3 days. Wonderful aromas of honey, peaches, cream, white flowers and a streak of minerality. Not quite as sweet as one would guess from the nose (but it also did list an Indice 1 which may have led you to guess that as well). Medium-full bodied with good richness and a slight creaminess, but with good acidity to keep it well-balanced. Very good length.
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2001 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
Tasted alongside the 2001 Brand, both of which were on their third day. The Clos St. Urbain was not giving too much up save for some strange onion type aroma with more intense minerality. There was some fruit there, but it was obfuscated by the onion type aroma. Not sure if the wine was in a strange place. The palate wasn't as racy as the Brand yet still quite rich with good length.
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1998 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Rangen de Thann Clos St. Urbain Vendange Tardive
France, Alsace, Alsace Grand Cru
Tasted on third day of being open. I've had this once before and both bottles have shown this hue of what I call motor oil (not used motor oil of course). Rich and ripe apricot, honey, hazelnut and caramel notes on the nose. I told the owner of the bottle that had I tasted this blind, I would have never had guessed this to be Gewurztraminer. Nevertheless, it was quite good with good concentration and depth, yet with very good acidity to cut through all of its richness. Very good length.
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