Heritage Blind Tasting in Vegas

First flight was the blind tasting. Then we tasted all the wines that everyone brought, including some brought from Heritage Auction

• 2011 Domaine Michel Niellon Chevalier-Montrachet 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Round, lots of fine oak showing, a bit of baby fat, Burgundy "melon" notes with a little reduction or straw basket, but also a touch of cream, a touch of tropical fruits, slightly elevated alcohol, good acidity, this is showing like a killer Cali Chard, which I though it was! But the balance was good, too comlex, and alcohol a bit low for that. Total opposite of the Drouhin Batard '08! Heritage Blind Tasting in Vegas--Blind line-up.

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• 1998 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Richebourg Grand Cru

  Very pale cloudy ruby with orange hints; firm sweet earth notes, soft, good chalky tannins, cherry skin with a little tangy berry notes but quite dry and earthy at the same time. Perfume started drifting out of the glass after 20 minutes. Like Paul S. said: "it was very impressive without being particularly alluring." Guessed '99 Rouseau Chambertin. So cool to have this in a blind line up. I thought I was guessing way beyond a reasonable choice for this. Heritage Blind Tasting in Vegas--Blind line-up.

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• 1996 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Bonnes Mares 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Bonnes Mares Grand Cru

  I thought this was good, but it seemed just a bit too bright and acidic compared to the '98 DRC. I had no idea it was older! Function of the vintage I suppose. This had cranberry, cherry notes, forest floor, pine and anise touches. I wrote "very pretty, somewhat subtle". Guessed '05 Chevillon Les Cailles. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting line-up.

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• 2007 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto Toscana IGT 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Pretty amazing. Opaque purple-red; very aromatic with anise, cassis, blackberry, smoke, mienrals, gravel, licorice, soft cigar tobacco notes. Quite structured, but with just a little plummy softness and "red" smoke. Smooth and soft with excellent backbone. Guessed Troplong-Mondot '03. I think first time I've had this. I am impressed! Heritage Auction Blind Tasting line-up.

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• 1986 Château Mouton Rothschild 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Moderate purple-ruby; notes of earth, barnyard, brett, black fruits, and berries, stwed fruits and prunes, band aid and licorice with gravel minerality. Almost thought this was an old CdP but it was too dry, too structured and too dark, but guessed 2000 St. Ducru-Beaucaillou. Glad I did! I liked this but really very bretty. Good brett, but bretty! Heritage Auction Blind Tasting line-up.

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• 2000 Château L'Evangile 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Dark purple-ruby hues; I got a whiff of alcohol aff the bat, showing quite ripe with red berry fruits, ripe cranberry and cherry, pruple grape candy, a hint of dried herbs, dry, gravelly minerals, dried berries at the same time. Still pretty ripe, very full body, pretty high alcohol, and a hint of V.A., I was confused with this. Don't know why but I guessed '04 Brunello Riserva. Didn't think this was that impressive but well made for sure. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting line-up.

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• 1993 Colgin Cabernet Sauvignon Herb Lamb 94 Points

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Dark ruby, low staining in the glass; rightaway got notes of mint, eucalyptus, with red cassis, smoke, tobacco, some subtle oak notes, some ripe fruits in the core, and just a very nice balance, vibrancy, pure fruits, complexity and tastiness that I usually don't find in Cali cab. Stellar. And still very fresh and in a good spot. Guessed '01 Heitz Martha's. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting line-up.

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• 2008 Sine Qua Non Syrah B 20 90 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Opaque purple, huge over the top blueberry, blackberry, fresh jammy purple notes, bitter overextracted finish, boatloads of oak, sweet entry, full body, high alcohol. No, I didn't care for it. Don't know why I guessed Saxum James Berry '10, which I'm sure would have been a zillion times better/or at least more balanced. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting line-up.

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• 2005 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Brut Rosé Belle Epoque 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was a bit subdued, a bit of stewed strawberry, slight earthy component, nice balance, good minerality, but for some reason it wasn't exciting to me, probably because I was having so much fun at this dinner I wasn't paying attention. This edition had a led light on the bottom lighting up the floral design. Thanks Puay! Heritage Blind Tasting in Vegas

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• 2005 Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Special Club Blanc de Blancs 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Nice but bubbles dropped off sort of quick which I've noticed with lots of Special Club bottlings. Richer, seemed pinot heavy (even though a BdB!) touch oxidative or age showing not in a bad way.

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• 2008 Joseph Drouhin Bâtard-Montrachet 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru

  Stellar wine--amazing earthy notes, dark pit fruits, minerals, silky with great structure. Kicked '11 Niellon Chevalier's butt. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting--dinner wines.

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• 2011 Sine Qua Non The Moment 91 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County

  Actually not half bad--Chard and no wonder: 57% Roussanne, 19% Petit Manseng, 17% Chardonnay and 7% Viognier that spent 16 months in a combination of concrete, new and used barrels, and stainless steel. I was wondering where the oak was! Pretty creamy, not oaky, with a bit of lift, really cool. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Really good, classic Mouton with exotic notes, soy, still some subtle mixed berries, earth, pipe tobacco, aged notes showing, supple, medium body. Really cool to taste this but wedged in between so many other great wines; no notes. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2004 Domaine William Fèvre Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis Grand Cru

  Super good Chablis and in a great spot now. Kept pouring this to balance out all of the other heavy hitters at this tasting. Classic, good depth and concentration, nice verve, barely showing much age, I like. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 1996 Domaine Leroy Nuits St. Georges 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges

  Amazing wine, and just village level? You gotta be kidding me. Perfumed, stewed strawberry, cherry skin, exotic notes, just a hint of funk, touch of anise, soft in the mouth, but good soft tannins, going really strong now. So cool. Maybe only thing lacking is a bit of structure? Wonder where they sourced the grapes. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 1989 Château La Conseillante 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Showing a bit too much age for my liking--dried leaves, tootsie roll, wet soil, a just a bit lighter than I would expect. Looks like bottle storage may have been the culprit here. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2001 Domaine Michel Gaunoux Pommard 1er Cru Les Grands Épenots 90 Points

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

  This seemed a little lack-luster to me. Low aromatics, kind of average palate--quite earthy, seems like the fruit disappeared. I've really liked other wines of his, but the last few i've had have been disappointing. Also this was wedged between some other very stellar wines. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 1978 Château Léoville Las Cases 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  Showing very well for its age. Don't have notes on this. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2007 Sine Qua Non Syrah Dangerous Birds 88 Points

  USA, California, Central Coast

  Huge, oaky, hot, gooey, jammy, not my style. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2004 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Madonna del Piano 94 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Incredible Brunello, savory with dried herbs, still some small red fruits with herbs and amaro and a hint of smoke and varnish and dried rose petals, etc. etc. Palate was just as exciting--smooth entry with perfect chalky grippy tannins, balanced on a high wire, fantastic depth and concentration without being heavy or overbearing or oaky. Long. Beautiful. Has a long life ahead of it too. Look at the other notes and you'll see what I'm talking about. Don't pass this one up.
  Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2010 Domaine Perrot-Minot Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Wow--stunning wine. The hits just don't stop tonight. Beautiful pure red fruits, perfume, gevrey spice notes, little bit of pine forest. Excellent depth, minerals, balance, finish. Oak started showing up a little about 30 minutes in but should integrate very well in 5-10 years. Very young wine on the table but did not mind at all. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2003 Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos des Porrets St. Georges 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru

  I remember this being pretty good, a bit soft on the entry, maybe even fading a little with diminished structure. No notes. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2000 Château Giscours 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Youthful still with plenty of black fruit, structure, black earth, dark leather. I like Giscours. No notes. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2004 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Clos de La Bussière 90 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey St. Denis 1er Cru

  Very good for a 2004. Good fruit, some dried herb notes, then a little hint of stem showed up but not distracting. Good acidity, medium body, red berries, slight showing of age. No notes. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2013 Dominio Pingus Ribera del Duero Flor de Pingus 89 Points

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  Really nice, full bodied, Cali-Cab like flavors and body, but oh so oaky. Someone mentioned 300%? Not sure but the oak is overwhelming. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2008 Château Mouton Rothschild 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  So good, very young, great cab character, classic Mouton style with a little exuberance and exotic notes, not s blockbuster but very good. No notes. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 2012 Coche-Dury Meursault Rouge 89 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Good wine but not quite on par with the whites. a little tangy cranberry, tart raspberry notes, medium body, somewhat acidic, but decent. Hard to judge as this was pulled out very late in the evening after lots of heavy hitting red wines. Didn't know CD made a red! No notes. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 1983 Château Guiraud 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Medium dark gold color; great nose on this, caramelized notes, baked apricot, pie drippings with old pineapple, petrol, bunch of stuff but I didn't take notes. Very good structure, not flabby, a bit of lift in there, complex, nicely balanced. This is how I like my Sauternes! Old with complexity and balance! So nice. 93-94. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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• 1960 Taylor (Fladgate) Porto Vintage 92 Points

  Portugal, Douro, Porto

  This was very pale ruby color--almost like a light Burgundy; slight condied cherry notes, a little rose floral bouquet, slight hint of anise, white raisin. Slick on the palate, in good shape, a bit thinner than I would expect even for 1960. Really lovely, however, and an amazing way to top off an incredible wine tasting night. Heritage Auction Blind Tasting Vegas--dinner wines.

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