Wine Spectator's Grand Tour, Las Vegas NV 2012
Grand Ballroom Mirage Casino, Las Vegas NV
Tasted Saturday, May 5, 2012 by wtianseter with 1,589 views
Introduction
Attended with my Son and Son-in-law. We all had a great time and got the opportunity to compare our palates on lots of super wines. 222 wines served, you needed to plan your attack. Chateau Margaux always had a significant line -- its been years since I had Margaux but no way was I going to loose the opportunity to taste more variety of wine just to taste a C. Margaux. We had to take a food break at about 1 hour in. It was great to be able to talk to the owners and winemakers at many of the stations
Flight 1 (38 Notes)
Closing
I found this a good experience for the price and plan to try to go to some more. All my scores are without any reference to others' scoring other than all were supposedly 90 points or greater by WS. Talk about over stressing the palate!!
2009 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Boulder Bluff 92 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Chehalem Mountains
This was our 2nd favorite Pinot of the night. Acid front and light smooth flavors. Lingering light and smooth tannins. The wine is what I call a feminine type character Pinot --- Light lush and smooth with only the hints of the earthiness. We had this wine with our food and it went well with all including the sweet deserts
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2007 Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 90 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Wine lead with sweetness and dry character. Some bite on the end. Full bodied Amarone
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2006 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec Vista Flores 90 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Vista Flores
Big bold wine. Pleasing texture and good balance. Nice wine. Only 250 6-pacs available in the US; 500 total worldwide. I've got the wine distributor's card to find some if I can't easily find myself.
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2007 Beni di Batasiolo Barolo Vigneto Corda della Briccolina 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Alcohol nose and then fruit. Taste had nice fruit that was initially light and balanced flavors that built as the wine was held in the mouth. Long lingering tannins. This was my #2 favorite Barolo of the night
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2008 Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour Private Reserve 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Light on the front with a great finish. Some mild bitterness. This wine is way too young for prime drinking. Really nice wine but I was disappointed that it was not better.....I enjoyed the 06 much more about 2 years ago. One person leading the pouring indicated they believed any vintage should held for drinking until it was 10 years after the vintage date
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2006 Avignonesi-Capannelle 50/50 Toscana IGT
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Big bold and balanced. Great sangiovese taste but smoothed and filled by the Merlot. Only had a sip -- not enough time to do a real tasting therefore no rating value
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2009 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 91 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Definitely a Napa Cab Style. Nice Oak. Lots of moderat tannins that made the finnish stay around
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2007 Pio Cesare Barolo 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
A good representation of what an outstanding Barolo should be. Lots of alcohol on the nose and taste but wine stands up to it. Love to see how it is in about 5 years
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2008 Concha y Toro Cabernet Sauvignon Don Melchor 92 Points
Chile, Maipo Valley, Puente Alto
Big fruity and nice tannin. A bit sweeter than I remember in previous vintages. This is a prototypical Chilean Cab with a touch more sweetness
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2009 Viña Cono Sur Pinot Noir Ocio 92 Points
Chile, Casablanca Valley
Taste leads with fruit and acid. A fairly big Pinot. A surprising balanced wine for SA Pinot. This was my 3rd favorite Pinot of the night
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2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
High alcohol nose. Slightly hot on the palate. A nice nebbiolo/Barolo. Great tannin in the mouth and on the finish
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2008 Château Cos d'Estournel 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
This wine has a prototypical St Estephe nose. A good bit of fruit in the mouth and nice silky finish
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2009 Croft Porto Vintage 90 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Immediate flavore was sweet and fruity. This Port needs time to let its complexity develop around the sweetness. This wine is drinking as well as any Tawny I have had; but give it time to grow to enjoy what it can be.
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2007 Damilano Barolo Cannubi 95 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
My first note on this wine is a simple: Yes! It is my favorite Barolo of the evening. The fruit, alcohol, and tannins are memorable and lasted a long time with great balance. I want more!
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2009 d'Arenberg The Cadenzia 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
This wine needs time to develop. The wine has tons of Fruit and Tannin. Once developed I expect the wine will score a good 3 points higher when aged. The wine was way too tight to appreciate; its gunna be BIG.
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2007 Doña Paula Malbec Selección de Bodega 92 Points
Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Gualtallary
As good as I remember it. This is a big wine with Fruit, balance, and tannin. Nice long finish
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2009 Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Jack's Masterpiece 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
This is the most approachable Hall wine I have had at this yung an age. It is nice (92+) and currently drinkable but needs to be given time to develop fully. This is a big powerful wine that hits hard with chocolate, but definitely a Hall style wine
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2004 Château Haut-Bailly 91 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Tar Nose. Lots of bite and some bitterness on the end. Well balanced; Wonderful long-lasting tannins. A good wine.....can use more time in bottle
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2005 Kanonkop Pinotage 90 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Quite a nice Pinotage. Lighter than expected (medium body). Bite on the middle tongue and on the finish with nice tannin
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2010 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Russian River Valley 91 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Lots of fruit up front. Acid and mineral notes. Wait about 3 years for more full development
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2009 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne 94 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Super wine! Minerals, acid and citrus followed by mellow butter and mild tannin. More please!
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1999 Luce della Vite Lucé 90 Points
Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT
Nice body with good Sangiovese taste but to me something was missing. Fruity and slightly sweet residual; good tannin finish. Served from a 6l bottle (Methuselah?)
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2006 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Costasera 91 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Nice mouthful of flavor but not as full a wine as I remember the non-riserva I have had. Needs time to open up fully.
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2010 Mollydooker Shiraz Velvet Glove 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
A nice wine but in my opinion not up to the hype. Big fruit bomb and full mouth wine -- Some bitterness that belies its name
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2004 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial 91 Points
Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja
I liked this tasty wine. Full fruit and lots of dry tannins that went well together (3 years in new oak and 4 years in bottle)
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2008 Joseph Phelps Insignia 93 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
Big and Bold. Too early to drink; hasn't had time to mellow. Lots of tannins, nice finish
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2007 Prunotto Barolo Bussia 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Big full wine- lots of flavor. Good balance, moderate fruit. a good wine 92+-
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2007 Renato Ratti Barolo Rocche 92 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Alcohol nose. Medium body, nice balance. Very pleasant flavor
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2008 St. Clement Cabernet Sauvignon Oroppas 92 Points
USA, California, Napa Valley
A nice Meritage. Lots of chocolate and a smooth tannic finish
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2008 Paolo Scavino Barolo Bric dël Fiasc 91 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo
Big, Bold. Alcohol, muted fruit and a touch of fire on the tongue
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2010 Siduri Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard 93 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Lucia Highlands
My favorite Pinot of the night. Smooth, balanced, Fruit & earth flavors with a lovely tannic finish
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2009 Château Smith Haut Lafitte 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Exceptional quality wine. Fruit and balance with smooth silky tannins that last a long time
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2009 Spice Route Chakalaka 89 Points
South Africa, Coastal Region, Swartland
Big fruity and flowery wine that has a typical South American astringency on the edge. A very good value.
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2010 Terredora di Paolo Greco di Tufo Loggia della Serra 90 Points
Italy, Campania, Greco di Tufo DOCG
The best GdT I have ever had. Spicy, fruity, and crisp with nice acid, but has a little edginess and sharpness. Good balance
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2007 Torres Cabernet Sauvignon (Black Label) Mas La Plana
Spain, Catalunya, Penedès
Heavy, bold & hearty. Didn't have the opportunity to taste enough to judge nuances - no numeric rating (Good wine)
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2007 Vietti Barbaresco Masseria 93 Points
Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Exceptional Barbaresco! Nice fruit and smoothness; bold yet elegant (feminine nature)
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NV Warre Porto Otima 20 Year Old Tawny 89 Points
Portugal, Douro, Porto
Sweet, crisp and fruity with good balance
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2007 Zenato Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 89 Points
Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico
Heavy yet light color--good taste with a heavy biting edge
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