Second Sunday Group: 2014 Volnay

The 2nd Sunday group gathered for our regular double blind tasting. For this group, we are presented a couple of double blind warm ups before the main flight. The warm ups are discussed & unveiled before moving on to the themed main flight. We spent forty five minutes or so tasting and evaluation the eight wines for the main flight before ranking the wines and then making guesses as to what we were tasting. Wines are ranked 1-8, one point for each place, and then unveiled from last place to first place. After the tasting, dinner is served with the additional wines brought by the group, nonblind. For this tasting we had ten tasters and the cost was $60.

Tasted double blind. We arrived a bit late due to unusually heavy traffic going into the city, so we only spent a couple of minutes with these two wines. The Ceretto really didn't do much for me, and I recall having this a few times across a few vintages and I don't ever recall it getting my attention. The Langoureau impressed, I thought, and punched above its class.

• 2015 Ceretto Langhe Arneis Blangé 87 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC

  Double blind. Pale color with notes of apple and citrus. Initially creamy on the palate, with citrusy lemon flavors, tuening sharp and tinny across the midpalate and finish where the acid becomes dominant.

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• 2015 Domaine Sylvain Langoureau Saint-Aubin Blanc 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Saint-Aubin

  Double blind. Deeper color then warm up #1, with notes of apple, toast, pear and chalk. Medium-bodied with flavors of orchard fruit, almond and citrus. Picks up a subtle toasted note on the finish. Very nice. Guessed Meursault.

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As a flight the color on these was very consistent. Additionally, I thought it was fairly obvious that this was a flight of pinot noir, though at least one in the group mentioned Italy as an origin for these wines. A couple of others thought these were too acidic, but I have to disagree. I thought the tannin and acid were right for the level of fruit. I thought these were very pure, clean, balanced wines and I enjoyed them very much. I guessed 2014 Burgundy as they were obviously young and after going through the flight, had a bit too much acid to be from Oregon. These were very pretty, enjoyable wines, albeit young. I will definitely look to add a few to my cellar and enjoy at some point well down the road.

• 2014 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Bousse d'Or 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Ruby color. In one word, this is "pretty," and I am immediately smitten. Cherry, clay and florals with a nice earthy undertone. The floral notes become more apparent as this opens in the glass. Medium-bodied; good tannin and acid. Flavors of dark cherry and spice that linger through the finish. Very clean; pure. 92+ pts with plenty of potential. I am immediately thinking Pinot, likely Burgundy, perhaps Chambolle.
  
  My #2, Domino's #1
  Group #3, 34 pts

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• 2014 Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru Clos de la Cave des Ducs 91 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Ruby color. Aromas of underbrush, cherry and sandalwood, but also a bit hot. Some tannin; cherry and spice flavors- good finish. Somewhat closed- obviously young, but well-balanced with harmonious tannin, acid and fruit. 91+ pts, 93+ potential.
  
  My #4, Domino's #2
  Group #2, 32 pts

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• 2014 Lucien Le Moine Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Ruby color. Another that immediately draws me in with its bouquet of black cherry, sandalwood, herbs, violets and rose petals. Lovely cherry fruit, white currant and spices on the palate. There's no doubt we have pinots in this flight, and this to me is also Burgundy with its acid and tannin structure. Becomes more perfumed as it opens, along with a terrific underbrush/forest floor quality. A slight earthiness also eventually develops on the palate. Very well-balanced. 93+ pts.
  
  My #1, Domino's #3
  Group #1, 22 pts

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• 2014 Domaine de Montille Volnay 1er Cru Taillepieds 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Ruby color. Aromas of cherries, spice and something a bit woody, maybe stemmy, though I wouldn't go quite that far with it. Medium-bodied and a bit tight and tannic, showing cherry, cinnamon and holiday spice flavors. Tannins remain a bit firm throughout the course of the tasting. Young and tight, but good potential here.
  
  My #6, Domino's #8
  Group #8, 77 pts

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• 2014 Domaine Henri Boillot Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Initially a bit weird and funky with an almost cheesy aroma, with cherry and evergreen qualities underneath. Chewy tannins along with flavors of dark cherry, currant and clay. Really opens up as it sits, and that odd cheesy note completely blows off. Lovely dark cherry, tea, underbrush and spice aromas with a subtle floral undertone. Dark cherry and spice flavors on the lingering finish. Shows a good bit of acid (as do all the wines in the flight).
  
  My #3, Domino's #5
  Group #4, 42 pts

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• 2014 Domaine Michel Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Clos des Chênes 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Notes of cherry, matchstick, spice and clay. Flavors of cherry and spice, with firm tannin and good acidity. By comparison to the rest of the flight this is a bit thin through the midpalate. As it sits it develops some nice floral qualities, more perfumey than flowery, but nice. Cherry and spice continue on the palate, with a bit of a sappy quality on the finish.
  
  My #5, Domino's #7
  Group #6, 52 pts

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• 2014 Monthélie-Douhairet-Porcheret Volnay 1er Cru Champans 87 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Ruby color. Opens with a cheesy note, stronger than wine E; funky, almost sweat sock. There's red fruit, cherry and spice underneath. Medium tannins with tart acidity and flavors of cherry and spice. The funk never completely blows off, and I wonder if this is flawed or just funky- enough of the group seems to like it, so I guess just funky (though I'm the only one who seems to find it funky). Flavors of sour cherry and spice. 87-88 pts.
  
  My #8, Domino's #4
  Group #5, 43 pts

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• 2014 Domaine Dublère Volnay 1er Cru Pitures

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Double blind. Ruby color. Aromas of cherry, clay and spice. Flavors of dark cherry, spice and dark berries, with a soft finish. Seems a bit tight/restrained. Opens a little as it sits, showing a floral note as well as forest floor. Becomes a bit more firm on the palate as the tannins come forward. The components are there, this just seems to need more time.
  
  My #7, Domino's #6
  Group #7, 58 pts

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Enjoyed nonblind with grilled flank steak and homemade pasta with pesto.

• 2000 Fontanafredda Barolo Paiagallo La Villa 92 Points

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Popped and poured with dinner. Rose, cherry and red plum fruit. Balanced, with integrated tannin and flavors of currant and cherry with hints of spice in the finish. Ends with good length. An excellent showing for this wine. At peak for my palate.

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• 2005 Nickel & Nickel Cabernet Sauvignon C. C. Ranch

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Perfumed- almost floral- along with grapey dark fruit and brown sugar notes. Medium tannins with flavors of dark fruit and plum. Enjoyable with dinner.

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• 2002 Domaine St. Martin Chambertin-Clos de Bèze 88 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

  Looks a little older than I'd have expected. Aromas of pepper, perfume and slightly raisiny fruit. On the palate, tea and dried cherry flavors. Disappointing. Perhaps this needed more air to fully wake up and strut its stuff, but I did not get a chance to revisit this & confirm my suspicion.

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• 2007 Domaine de Marcoux Châteauneuf-du-Pape 90 Points

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

  Nonblind with dinner following the tasting. Notes of red fruit dominate at first, then as it opens further in the glass it tends toward the darker end of the spectrum and adds alluring spice and garrigue aromas. Medium- to full-bodied and nicely balanced with an enjoyable "candied sweetness" to the red fruit on the palate. Asian spice, licorice and just a hint of something a bit riper than plum showing on the finish. I may be a couple of points short on the score as I transcribe this note and reflect.

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• 2005 Château Fombrauge 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Deeply colored, showing notes of black currant, blackberry and incense with hints of green tobacco and florals underneath. Tannins are still slightly firm but have a sweet edge, carrying flavors of black fruit and ash. Enjoyable now, but I would probably hold this a few years yet if I had any. Drink 2020+.

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• 2014 Tablas Creek Syrah 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles Adelaida District

  Notes of pepper, dark fruit, blue fruit and brown sugar. Full-bodied; palate follows the bouquet.

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• 2013 Sans Liege The Offering 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Aromas of dark fruit, pepper and spices- peppercorns and cardamom- and perhaps just a touch of VA too. Loads of dark fruit on the palate, with a nice peppery edge. Finishes with good length and plenty of fruit.

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• 2013 Carmes de Rieussec

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From 375ml. Light youthful color. Pineapple and tropical fruit on the nose and palate. Bright acidity, picking up stone fruit qualities in the finish. Nice.

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• 2001 Château Suduiraut 97 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  From 375ml. Oh yeah, this is the real deal. You know it's going to be, or at least should be, better than second labels such as Carmes and Castelnau, et al., and even though you're ready for it, you're still blown away. The depth and concentration is there, but there's still also a bright racy quality too- the acid just carries everything along keeping it from being cloying or overly sweet. Aromas of honey, baked apricot, ripe peach, marmalade and spice (almost Guiraud-level spice here). As I said, concentrated but also light, with flavors of apricot, stone fruit, spice and orange zest. Gorgeous underlying acidity and a long, lingering finish. Delicious but nowhere near peak maturity in half bottle format. Very happy to have two 750s of this, which will continue to sleep in the cellar.

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