A Thursday Night Embarassment of Riches

My buddy Tooch and his girlfriend made a trip back to DC for a good ol' fashioned Weygandt Wines BYO. Since it had been almost a year since our group's last tasting, a whole lot of people made it out and, of course, brought the good stuff. There were probably 30 bottles at this tasting, a good dozen of which I didn't get to taste. There were a lot of Juras in the tasting, but I only tried one. Instead, I focused on the whites (which were excellent) and some of the other Old World reds. Not a bad wine in the bunch, but I couldn't choose a wine of the night. There were just too many good ones. What a tasting, what a group of friends. I'm a blessed guy. Cheers!

I was thrilled to see some German rieslings in this tasting, especially considering I didn't bring one. I'm usually the Mosel contributor, but we had some others step up and provide some amazing riesling.

• 2009 Rudi Pichler Grüner Veltliner Federspiel 88 Points

  Austria, Niederösterreich, Wachau

  Not a bad way to start off the tasting. Initially a bit closed, but with some air and time the wine opened up to show slate, lemon and white pepper. Very bold palate, with delicious acid, and gummy white peach fruit. Finish is laced with minerals. Classic Rudi.

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• 2008 Domaine de Montbourgeau L'Etoile 88 Points

  France, Jura, L'Etoile

  This is an extreme wine, even for Jura chardonnay. Seriously, it smells like my wetsuit after surfing, complete with seaweed, brine and salt. Hints of lemon and sherry round out the nose. Massive acid on the palate, along with clean flavors of lemon, quince, almonds and sea salt. This wine is quite young, and I imagine it would show better in a few years. Poweful enough to stand up to pretty much any sharp cheese.

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• 2010 Domaine Servin Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  I pretty much knew this wine was going to be awesome, but it still surprised me. Very young, but stunning. Lemons, limes, limestone, salt, crushed rocks on the nose. High acid from start to finish, buttressed by green pears and apples, bright minerals, seaweed and salty air. Long, crisp finish. Bring on the oysters because this stuff is simply beautiful.

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• 2002 Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese 90 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  I always welcome a Christoffel Erben riesling to a tasting, and this 2002 showed quite well. Vibrant peach on the nose, hints of petrol and honey as well. Smells young. The palate shows nice balance between fruit and acid. Lovely white peach and lychee, along with minerals the first signs of petrol. More of a boisterous wine than an elegant one, but it's delicious.

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• 1990 Von Schubert Maximin Grünhäuser Abtsberg Riesling Kabinett 93 Points

  Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

  An absolutely beautiful aged riesling. Gorgeous aromas of petrol, orange peel, marmalade and a hint of white flower. Huge acid on the palate provides freshness and elegance, supporting the rich flavors of dried pineapple, mango and apricot. Fleshed out with nougat and bracing minerals. This is everything I love about Mosel riesling, and Maximin Grünhauser in particular. I'd love to taste this again in five years. There was a lot of discussion amongst the older folks at the tasting that 1990 was their favorite vintage. With a wine like this, it's understandable.

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• 2005 Koehler-Ruprecht Kallstadter Saumagen Riesling Spätlese 84 Points

  Germany, Pfalz

  Hmmm... strange wine. First of all, it's only seven years old but it's got the orange color of a 20-year-old riesling. Aged aromas of peach juice, honeycomb and dried mango. The palate has a lot of honey, dried apricot and even caramel flavors. I can't believe this is only a spätlese, as the sweetness is reminiscent of an auslese. Lower acid than the other rieslings in the tasting, but low acid for 2005 in general. I don't know how this wine got so old so quickly, but it's a riesling to drink in the near term.

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• 2010 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Sonoma Coast 86 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Aromas of peanut shell, buttered popcorn and green apple. Actually some solid acid on the palate, nice bit of kick. Flavors of lemon candy, butter and green apple. I like the cut to this wine.

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We all toasted to Tooch and Summer's return to DC with a beautiful sparkling Vouvray.

• 2002 Domaine Huet Vouvray Pétillant Réserve Brut 92 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray Pétillant

  We all toasted with this wine. It doesn't matter what you're toasting to if this wine is in your glass. Lovely baked bread, pear, sea breeze and chalk on the nose. Full on the palate, but balanced by lovely acid. Fresh pear and quince flavors mix with crossaint, chalk and herbs. Crisp and mineral-driven on the palate. Lovely stuff that could age for a long time.

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There were a bunch more Jura reds that I wish I could've tasted. But, alas, too much wine, so little time.

• 2005 Domaine Roblet-Monnot Auxey-Duresses Le Val Rouge 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Auxey-Duresses

  The third time I've tried this wine was the best. This is such a savory Burgundy, with aromas of venison, peppercorn, blood and iron. Fine tannins and high acid on the palate. I love the cranberry, peppered steak and pickle flavors in this wine. This would be delicious with some filet or game bird.

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• 2010 Domaine Overnoy-Crinquand Trousseau Arbois Pupillin 90 Points

  France, Jura, Arbois Pupillin

  A fun, funky trousseau with aromas of pickling spices, dried herbs, sour cherry and coffee grinds. The palate shows tangy acid matched with grippy tannins. Lovely floral, pickle and herb flavors accent the bright red fruit. I'd love to try this again and see how it evolves over the course of a day or two. Probably a solid life ahead of it.

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• 2004 Albert Mann Pinot Noir Grand H 89 Points

  France, Alsace

  This was a fun pinot to throw into the tasting. Aromas of loam, underbrush, mud and wet logs. The only fruit is a hint of sour cherry. Pretty much smells like you fell on your face while hiking in the woods, but I love it. The palate shows a little more sour cherry and cranberry fruit, along with tree bark and more loam. Tannins still gritty, bright acid. Fun stuff, but I can't imagine most people would like it as much as I do.

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• 1990 Paolo Scavino Barolo 86 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  I liked this wine, but not as much as some others at the tasting. Aromas of dried mushrooms, sheep wool and stinky cherries. Grippy tannins on the palate, bright acid, lots of red fruit along with pickles, mushrooms and a hint of balsamic. Not exactly my cup of tea, but pleasant.

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• 2011 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Franc de Pied 91 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon

  Lovely Chinon from an epic producer. This wine opened up with time, but it's clearly a young pup in need of some maturation. Aromas of boysenberry and raspberry mixed in with pepper, snow peas and wet leaves. Juicy sour cherry fruit on the palate along with green pepper, black olives and iron. Minerals linger on the finish. Great tannin-acid balance. Classic Baudry that will age for a decade easily.

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• 2008 Clos Rougeard (Foucault) Saumur-Champigny 93 Points

  France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny

  Wow, another great showing by Clos Rougeard. Sexy aromas of black cherry, plum skins, chewing tobacco and black olive. Grippy tannins and high acid on the palate, just the way I like it. A medley of flavors: black cherry, raspberry, black olive, bell pepper, smoke and sage. The combination of pure fruit and herbal flavors is spot on. Delicious now, but a wine to lay down for 5-10 years.

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• 2009 Cecile Tremblay Chambolle-Musigny Les Cabottes 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny

  What a pure, vibrant, sexy Burgundy. Elegant nose of rose petals, truffles and fresh cassis. Gorgeous mixed berry fruit on the palate and flavors of loam and roses. Medium acid and silky tannins provide near-perfect balance. Such elegance. Cecile Tremblay does it again. There's a lot more compelxity in this wine that needs a few years to show itself. Beautiful.

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California syrah was out in full force. What a way to finish off the evening.

• 2005 Ridge Syrah Lytton West Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  I had this wine four years ago and loved it. Still do, maybe more so. Aromas of plums, smoke and brambles. Dark fruit on the palate, but it remains elegant. I love the rose, violet and loam flavors that accent the deep fruit. I was glad we got some good California representation in this tasting. Still a long life ahead for this stuff.

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• 2007 Cabot Vineyards Syrah Kimberly's 89 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Aromatically powerful, showing blackberries, plum and cocoa powder. On the palate, this wine is somehow pure, silky and dense at the same time. Velvety plums, chocolate shavings, hints of leather, tar and pepper. Long finish. Delicious stuff with life ahead of it.

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• 2009 Bedrock Wine Co. Syrah Sonoma Coast 92 Points

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

  Whoa, this Sonoma Coast syrah came to fight. Gorgeous aromas of red plums, olives, juicy steak and potpourri. Plush tannins and medium acid on the palate. This wine pays homage to Northern Rhone with it's meat and olive flavors, but the blueberry and raspberry flavors are pure Sonoma. So silky and pure. Undeniably yummy, and even the Rhone-loving Tooch really liked it.

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