Winestreet Does France and Italy

Kozlak's, North Oaks, MN
Tasted Thursday, April 12, 2007 by Siggy with 715 views

Introduction

Winestreet Spirits' semi-regular tasting featured an eclectic lineup of wines from France and Italy, including white Burgs, super-Tuscans, young Bordeaux, and a killer 2003 Jaboulet La Chappelle. The tasting fee was $50, which once again proved to be a great deal. Brad Weiss gave a very interesting series of mini-lectures as the flights were being poured. The food was frankly mediocre. Thanks to Brad and Brian for a very educational and fun tasting.

Flight 1 - White Burgundy (5 Notes)

I had never heard of Darviot-Perrin before this tasting. The wines were pleasant enough but pretty simple, and aren't ones that I will seek out (prices range from $65-100).

Flight 2 - Super Tuscans (5 Notes)

I don't own a lot of Super Tuscans, and the only one from this lineup that I really liked was the 2000 Sammarco. I appreciate the independent, experimental spirit behind the Super Tuscan movement, but so many of them taste sweet, extracted, oaky, and absent a sense of place. They could come from anywhere - California, Spain, Australia, etc. Lettie Teague's article from several months ago nails it, in my view.

Flight 3 - Bordeaux & Jaboulet (5 Notes)

I'm glad that I bought some 2004 Mouton and Jaboulet. I agree with Brad's view that 2004 is an interesting vintage to buy selectively.

  • 2004 Château Mouton Rothschild 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Deep black/red color. Knockout nose of smoky black fruits, iron, and plums. The palate is really tight, giving up inky blackberry fruit, tobacco, and espresso before the blast of tannins kicks in. Promising, but not a knockout wine like the 2003. This looks to be 2004 First Growth that is worth buying if the price is right.

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  • 2004 Château Clerc Milon 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Black color. Coffee and black fruits. Showing lots of oak on the nose and palate. More structure than the D'Armailhac.

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  • 2004 Château d'Armailhac 87 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Medium maroon color. Nice nose of espresso and pencil lead. Soft, plummy fruit and espresso. Light to medium bodied. This bottle was quite approachable. Not a bad quaffer if the price is right.

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  • 2002 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

    Great nose of red cherries, cedar, pencil lead, and herbs. The palate is shut down pretty hard -- the midpate just kind of vanishes. Soft mouthfeel. This was tough to evaluate because it was so closed. Judgment reserved.

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  • 2003 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle 94 Points

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    Rich, complex, multi-layered nose. My flavor notes are all over the map on this wine because it was so dynamic and complex: violets, purple fruit, iron, minerals, white and black pepper, etc. This wine has a core of very dense, jammy, ripe young fruit, along with a wonderful smoky gaminess that just oozes Hermitage. Delicious but too young at this stage. Glad I own some of these. WOTN for me.

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