The Macks In Bennett Valley
Tasted Saturday, April 7, 2012 by Frank Murray III with 772 views
Another edition of the blind format, mixing CA and French pinot. I had some sense of what was coming to the event but very limited. We simply asked people to bring what they wanted to pour and get it on. We did the whites all non-blind, sitting outside with crackers, cheese and fruit. For the reds, we went inside and put the wines up against Rosso Pizza for the food, which based on what Rosse puts out, the flavors really matched well for me. We did 3-4 reds per flight, revealing the wines after all at the table had finished the flight and formed their impressions.
On this night, I preferred the French, finding most of the CA wines sweet or rich, yet with the wines like the Cortochot C-C or Grivot Richebourg really shpwing me what burg can do when it is on, especially that damn Grivot.
As for scoring, we did 5 points for 1st, 3 points for 2nd and 1 point for 3rd. Of the 12 people at the table, most voted their top 3, in order to create the scoring. I don't have time to do all that data here but I will simply list the reds:
3rd place--2 first place votes. 10 points. 2007 Ceritas Escarpa
2nd place--4 second place votes. 12 points. 2006 Cortochot Charmes-Chambertin
1st place--1 3rd place vote, 2 2nd place votes and a sweeping 7 1st place votes. 42 points. 1999 Grivot Richebourg
And for what it's worth, I thought the 2004 Davissat Les Clos was by far my white wine of the day.
So, Jim Mack wins with his Grivot (and he also put in the Dauvissat). Jim, you're the man. And, thanks to you and Gloria for hosting us all for the dinner and a great time!
2009 Ceritas Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Aromatically this remined me of a chablis. with a an oceanic-like nose. Yellow apple, orange oil and lime. Texturally was a bit heavier than a chablis and this wine fattened up some with air but even with the texture filling in, maintained a cool and rocky finish. CA chard doing some good things again.
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2000 Arcadian Chardonnay Bien Nacido Vineyard
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Maria Valley
This wine at over 10 years old is hanging right in there. Joe Davis made a great chard out of this fruit and it's really lithe, fruity with lemon oil, citrus and a long finish. The length here is very nice and it maintains an even balance.
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2004 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clavoillon Flawed
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru
Oxidizing. The nose was off, showing an odd aromatic, the wine was flat. Too bad.
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2004 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Drinking very nice. Mineral, sea shell, some yellow apple undertones. Fresh and still good. No signs of pox here.
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2004 Vincent Dauvissat (René & Vincent) Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru
Beautiful. Marine notes, sea shell, lemony and a great lean and refreshing texture. Lean apple, too. Really drinking super and no signs of any pox or decline.
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2008 Domaine Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux Vieilles Vignes
France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru
Orchard fruit, lemon and nice acidity. Doesn't have the intensity of the 04 Dauvissat Clos or 04 Fevre Preuses we tasted alongside it but for around 35 bucks, this wine drinks very well and remains a favorite of mine. A few comments around the table echoed the same positive marks.
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2008 Bouchard Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Domaine
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Spicy green apple, which also infuses the core of the wine. The texture still exhibits the new oak, but to see this wine early on and taste it, creates a nice reference point for the future bottles I own.
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2011 Copain Pinot Noir Tous Ensemble Rosé
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Drinks fresh and leaner styled with watermelon and strawberry. Will be good for summer.
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