Blind tasting at Rob & Bev's
Tasted Saturday, March 22, 2014 - Sunday, March 23, 2014 by drrobvino with 492 views
Introduction
Just good friends and good wine.
Flight 1 (8 Notes)
Closing
A nice time was had by all. Will do again in a month or so.
Tasted Saturday, March 22, 2014 - Sunday, March 23, 2014 by drrobvino with 492 views
Just good friends and good wine.
A nice time was had by all. Will do again in a month or so.
2005 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Special Club Grands Terroirs de Chardonnay 92 Points
France, Champagne
(3/22/2014)
Very thick and rich mousse, very tiny bubbles.
Nose is quite developed, with a forefront of fresh yeast and baked bread crust, followed by green apple and lime aromas, as well as chalky minerality.
The palate shows a mostly dry wine (hint of sweetness from the dosage), with med body and med(-) alcohol (12.5% abv). This 9 year old vintage Champagne shows off complex flavors of citrus, green apple, baked bread crust, and chalk. There is a slight spice that is also evident, and the med+ acidity cuts like a knife to keep this wine energetic and precise, leading into the med+ length citrus, yeast and chalk finish.
This is a very good quality wine, just entering into it's drinking window. It will continue to improve for another 5 years in bottle, and will drink well through 2025+. Very nice.
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2011 Dominique Roger (Domaine du Carrou) Sancerre Rosé 89 Points
France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre
(3/22/2014)
Tasted blind at a party. Pretty med orange/salmon color. Youthful nose of light intensity apricot and nectarine, with some chalk and minerals in the upper register. Flavors of med intensity peach, tart raspberry and orange zest, showing off med+ acidity, with some creaminess evident on the med length, polished finish, which showed off chalky notes. Quite a nice rosé, when I found out it was rosé of PN from Sancerre, I was pleasantly surprised. Was even better the next day. Nice and very quaffable.
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2008 Chasseur Chardonnay Lorenzo Vineyard 82 Points
USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
(3/22/2014)
Just a big ole California Chard, in a way overdone oaky style. Not consistent with my previous bottle from 10 months ago.
Unfortunately, I used to collect these wines, and now I have them ready to drink, and they make my face contort with each drink due to the lack of balance, opulent fruit, and loads of butter and smoky nuts from the oak. This is disappointing, because these were not inexpensive wines. I will bring them to parties where people will hopefully like and enjoy them. This wine is still drinking ok, for those who like this style, and will likely continue to drink well through 2017 or so.
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2008 Brewer-Clifton Pinot Noir Mount Carmel 87 Points
USA, California, Central Coast, Sta. Rita Hills
(3/22/2014)
This Sta Rita Pinot showed a med ruby core, with a pale brick color at the rim.
The developing nose offered up med intensity notes of predominantly bright red fruit like strawberry and raspberry, with some gentle spiciness, as well as a caramel note, maybe from the oak.
The palate showed off a dry wine, med(-) in body and med+ in alcohol, with med+ intensity notes of strawberry pie, ripe raspberry fruit, cola, and a bit of pipe tobacco. The flavors are mostly fruity, although not in an over-bearing way that is typical of so many Calif PN's (for which I am thankful, since I have 3 more bottles). There is med acidity, and the tannins are med intensity but rounded and quite supple, allowing this wine to be in an ideal drinking window right now, through 2017+. Pretty good Sta Rita Pinot IMHO. I like this region for balanced PN's better than RRV.
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2005 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape 92 Points
France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape
(3/22/2014)
Tasted blind at a party.
Med ruby and brick color at the core, fading to a pale brick rim.
The developing, old-school nose shows off herb/garrigue, menthol, black pepper, tart plum, tart cherry fruit.
The palate showed off a med bodied, med alcohol wine, with med intensity spice box flavors, tart red cherry fruit, some pleasant mint notes, and charcoal flavors. The fine, med tannins are rounding out nicely, supported by the med acidity, leading into a med length spice and red fruited finish. As the wine was in the decanter over 2 hours, the tannins gained weight and the wine put on considerable body, showing good pedigree and age ability of this wine.
This is a high quality wine that is just entering into its drinking window, and will improve for another 4-5 years, and drink well through 2025 or so. Bravo.
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2011 Kinkead Ridge Syrah 91 Points
USA, Ohio, Ohio River Valley
(3/22/2014)
Tasted blind, this wine really baffled the group. Obviously a high quality wine, terroir-first with aromas of moist earth, leather and barnyard funk, followed by some dark plum aromas. Flavors of bright red fruits and deep black fruits, with soil and mineral tones adding complexity and interest. Well balanced, potentially old-world wine, maybe a fine Cotes du Rhone? Alas, an Ohio Syrah. Really mind-blowing stuff out of this small shack on an Ohio River hillside. Will drink well through 2018.
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1999 Château d'Armailhac 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
(3/22/2014)
Deep brick ruby at the core, gently fading to a med tawny and brick rim.
The nose is developed, showing off med intensity notes of old saddle leather, pipe tobacco, ripe figs, deep cassis, and wet soil. Just has a whole lot going on. Smells like old school Bordeaux, which is exactly what we were hoping for.
The palate showed off a dry wine, med body and med alcohol, with dry and dusty med intensity tannins that were rounded and quite fine, supporting the deep soil-driven flavors, cooked mushrooms, smoked meats, prune/fig, and cassis. The med/med+ acidity was just right to allow this humble house to have majestically presented this beautifully drinking bottle at its 15th birthday. The finish is med+, repeating flavors from the palate! with apparent minerality and soil tones. Screams of terroir.
This is a very good quality wine, drinking perfectly right now. Although it could last another 5-7 years, I can't imagine further development, so I'd err on the side of NOW, and enjoy what this wine has to offer.
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2006 Pierre Damoy Chapelle-Chambertin 91 Points
France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru
(3/22/2014)
Tasted blind at a party.
Nose was a bit funky with tart red cherry fruit and minerality.
This wine was huge and not yet ready to drink, with med+ tannins and med+ acidity, have to shave your tongue after each drink. That being said, the pedigree shined through the tannins, showing that this wine will be large and in charge in 4-5 more years or so.
Drink starting 2018-2030 or so.
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