BYOB Night at Foreign Legion

Foreign Legion, Mpls, MN
Tasted Friday, April 8, 2016 by rocknroller with 547 views

Introduction

This was a BYOB tasting dinner put on by Nico and Chef Russell Klein of Meritage. Seven of us gathered for what was a great wine night with many fine bottles shared from around the room.

Flight 1 - Our Group Wines (9 Notes)

  • NV Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Light gold color. Drank 1+ glass over an hour. This turned out to be a splendid bottle, after one that had not performed nearly as well on NYE. Good to see it back in top form and hopefully a good sign for the remaining bottles. Really refined, fine aggressive bead, elegant with pear glace, floral notes, very bright and quite light on its feet while delivering impressive depth, light dough and yeast, and nice minerality all translating nicely from nose to palate. 92+pts to 93pts.

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  • 2009 Nino Negri Ca' Brione Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio IGT

    Italy, Lombardia, Terrazze Retiche di Sondrio IGT

    Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. Fascinating blend of of 30% sauvignon blanc, 30% chardonnay, 30% incrocio manzoni, 10% nebbiolo (off the skins). This is an intellectual wine. You will just sit and think about it, complex, aromatic, and really good. The SB shows through as does the Chard and there are clearly elements that can't be attributed to either. Very aromatic, fresh cut herbs, shellfish, lychee, citrus, brine on the nose. The palate is briny, shellfish flavors, lobster like; round with good body, nice acid, fresh herbs, lychee, citrus and tropical fruits. A fun pairing with the lobster bisque. 90+pts.

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  • 2010 Shafer Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 40 minutes. This was good as usual, big and buttery, stone fruits, brisk minerality, a little floral, lighter oak, holding up well. Great with the creamy lobster bisque. 91+pts.

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  • 2013 Thomas Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Light medium red color, very pretty in the glass. Decanted just under 2 hours; Drank 1+ glass over 2 hours. Very nice from the start and continued to develop more nuance through the evening. Very elegant, lighter body but with so much depth, very fresh, cherry, lovely dried leaves, wood spice, slight sauvage is emerging. There is such purity and precision here. Can't wait to see these develop, that is if they survive that long.

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  • 2004 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over 90 minutes side by side with the '06. Picked up steam after about 20 minutes in glass, funk that blows off, becoming more floral and earthy, anise, loamy, dark berry and cherry fruit, medium full body, dusty, firm tannins, gravel, metallic minerality. Still youthful, but coming into its own. The nose was more enticing and the palate slightly more resolved than the '06 at this point giving it the edge. Both were fabulous with the venison pasta Bolognese, really taming the tannins and complementing each other.

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  • 2006 Fattoria di Fèlsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia 93 Points

    Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

    Dark red color. Decanted just under 2 hours. Drank 1 glass over 90 minutes side by side with the '04. This was showing pretty well, metallic minerality up front, earth, wood spice, black raspberry, licorice. The palate has sour cherry, tart raspberry, subtle darker fruit notes of cassis, lots of gravel and minerality, wood, deeper fruit than the '04, firm tannins. Could use some time for the wood and tannins to resolve more. I prefer the '04 at this point. 92+ to 93pts.

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  • 2005 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Very dark red color. Decanted for 90 minutes. Drank 1 glass over an hour. This wasn't as good as the last time we had it. The nose was still good, but there was more wood and some alcohol showing. Dark fruits, spices, black raspberry liqueur. This may be in no man's land right now. Score reserved.

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  • 2000 Joh. Jos. Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese 93 Points

    Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer

    Deep gold color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. This was delightful again. A wonderful, mature wine with loads of lush fruit, honey, nectarine, apricot, layered, deep, nice fusil character, long. Fantastic.

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  • 1989 Château Suduiraut 94 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Deep amber color. Drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Wow, immense, powerful, bright, orange, apricot, orange marmalade, orange peel, dessicated honey, botrytris infused, spicebox, full bodied, honeyed texture, long and satisfying on the nose and palate. Great bottle, just drinking superbly 94+pts.

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Flight 2 - Shared Wines (11 Notes)

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