WS Grand Tour in NYC

Our first of these events, but prob not the last. Really appreciated the way they kept the numbers reasonable. Was able to get pours of everything we were interested in with minimal waits. Also enjoyed the VIP piece. Spent about 2 hours tasting (versus the full 4 hours) as there was just too much wine. But very fun.

• NV Baron-Fuenté Champagne Grande Réserve Brut

  France, Champagne

  The only champange at the event that I wasn't familiar with so figured it was worth a try. The unique calling card of this champagne is the effort at using as much Pinot Meunier as possible. All estate fruit. This seems to lend it almost a green herbal note. A more basic set of bubbles. Good, not great.

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• NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier

  France, Champagne

  For the price point this always feels like a reasonable deal to me. Somewhat more interesting than some of the other big house champagnes. Not one that makes me feel it’s necessary to contemplate, but a few different notes in it.

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• 2013 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Bussia

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  This didn’t really stand out to me all that much. It’s clearly much too young. More of the drying tannin. Very light, but not in a ‘great acidity and balanced way’. Almost in a ‘lacking flavor’ way. I wonder if it would gain a bit more heft with some time.

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• 2013 Pio Cesare Barolo

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  Interesting contrast to the Aldo Conterno. This too is a bit on the light and much too young side, but there were a few flavors poking through that boded well for development. It’s got just a touch of cherry. A bit more precision. Still the strong tannic structure. Could become an interesting wine.

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• 2005 Alana-Tokaj Tokaji Betsek

  Hungary, Tokaji

  Another wine that surprised me a bit. Very tasty. This is a light and easy sipper. Low alc. Good sweetness, but not overpowering. Mostly I get this feeling of freshness. Could see it working as a pre-dinner drink or something after dinner when you are not feeling that hungry but just want a touch of sweet.

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• NV Alvear Pedro Ximénez Montilla-Moriles Solera 1927

  Spain, Andalucía, Montilla-Moriles

  We have some bottles of this so I just went with a very small pour. The easiest way to describe it is raisins melted down into a glass. Maybe a bit of other dried fruit. It’s almost the opposite of the Tokaj – a little bit goes a very long way.

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• 2012 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  I still seem to struggle with the Argiano wines that aren’t the Suolo. This just didn’t stand up to the competition around it (Casanova di Neri or Valdicava). Quick sip. I think perhaps lacking in some of the depth of flavor.

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• 2012 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  Clear step up with some similar flavors. Get the red fruits and the leather, but here there is an elegance to the wine towards the middle that I quite liked.

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• 2010 Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  My favorite of the Brunellos and the wine that prompted my husband to suggest that we need more Brunello in our cellar. Bit more floral than some of the other ones. Still with the red fruits. Nice tannins and structure. This wine is 8 years old and still a complete baby. Interesting that the person working the booth was trying to convince us these are drinkable even early (something I don’t really care about). While this was good, the 2001 we had recently would have blown its socks off and I think the difference was just a few more years of age.

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• 2015 Penfolds Bin 389

  Australia, South Australia

  The wine that got me into wine so I have a special place in my heart for it. It’s got that darker aussie flavor. A bit of black raspberry. Can tell the Bordeaux influence, but miss the mix of more savory notes that comes with the ‘adult’ Grange (this wine often being referred to as the Baby Grange)

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• 2014 Susana Balbo Brioso

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo, Agrelo

  Surprising to me how many wineries at this event we had either been to or were planning to visit. This is one that we did on our honeymoon and for that reason only added it as a bonus to the original plan. It’s an easy wine. Very fresh. Lots of red raspberry. More of a table wine style, but if I was looking for something on the list at a reasonable price I’d go with it.

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• 2005 Château Calon-Ségur

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  My WOTN (I went back for a second pour just to confirm). It clearly benefits from being one of the more aged wines. Has had some time to bring the gangly pieces together. Mostly library, but one that is fresh with lots of windows and light coming in (e.g. not the mustiness). It’s got a hint of fruit. More complex than many of the wines we had before. Very nice.

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• 2015 Bodega Colomé Malbec Estate

  Argentina, Valles Calchaquíes, Salta, Calchaquies

  Another winery we visited during our honeymoon. This was my favorite in the Salta region. Again a wine that is pretty reasonably priced for what it is. Comes from the highest vineyard (they say in the world). It’s very dark red fruits and that new world style, but with something that keeps it a bit more in check. Enjoyable.

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• 2014 Viña Cobos Malbec Bramare Marchiori Vineyard

  Argentina, Mendoza, Lujan de Cuyo

  Not my style. Too intense and lacking the acidity to keep it reasonable. A bit alcoholic as well.

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• 2013 Alpha Omega Proprietary Red

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  Also a bit fruit forward although not as intense as the Cobos was. This is a totally fine wine. Feels like fairly standard Napa Valley. Fruit and structure. Just somehow missing the ‘je ne sais quoi’.

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• 2015 Hentley Farm Grenache The Old Legend

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  I remember having this wine at the winery. I’m always a sucker for Grenache in its many forms. This one was quite nice. Reminded me a bit of the SQN style. Very pretty and floral and cranberry and a dry wine that seems almost sweet. But not overdone. There’s a lightness to this that perhaps doesn’t exist in SQN. I liked it.

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• 2014 Hickinbotham Cabernet Sauvignon Trueman

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Really like Chris Carpenter wines from the US and it seems his Aussie versions are no different. He’s clearly going for more of a Bordeaux or old world style. Somehow able to bring out some more savory notes. This leads with lavender and leather rather than fruit. Another wine that I came back to later in the day. I appreciated it.

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• 2012 Château Haut-Brion

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  As the only first growth a wine that we made sure to hit before the VIP timing ran out. This was soft and more approachable than I would have expected for a 2012. Some more sour notes to the fruit. The thing is, just an ok wine. And not clear if it’s got a big path for development. At this stage nothing that jumps out.

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• 2011 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  This was a bit of a surprise for me as I generally haven’t found that I love this producer. There was something compelling though about the wine. An herbal/spice note that made me take note. Still a very young wine and not ready to drink, but could see some stuffing that could turn into something quite interesting. Some cedar as well. I enjoyed it.

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• 2009 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  The 82 a few months ago was a complete killer so looked forward to this. It’s a nice wine. Good flavors. A hint of depth. Only downside was missing a bit of the acidity I’d like to see.

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• 2005 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Oakville

  Very nice and here again the age was evident and really made the wine stand out compared to some of the others being poured. It’s much too young at this point. Lots of cracked black pepper. A hint of alcohol, but suspect that would blow off pretty quickly. Hints of fruit. Nice.

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• 2011 Château Angélus

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Have yet to get wow’ed the way I would expect from this producer given the reputation and this was no different. Very tight wine. Mostly tasted of tannin. Not clear that there’s much going on behind that. Hard to tell if this could develop into much.

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• 2012 Viña Vik Milla Cala

  Chile, Rapel Valley, Cachapoal Valley

  Again more of an easy drinker. A winery we wanted to visit when we were in Chile, but they were closed because of a holiday. Slightly sweet fruit. But good.

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• 2015 Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Another very young wine that is just too tight and not ready yet. Darker fruits (mostly currant). Lots of tannins that are almost chewy in the mouth. Would be fun to revisit in 10 years

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• 2014 Luce della Vite Lucé

  Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT

  Again, too young to be drinking now, but a nice wine. There’s almost a bit of ash and toast to this wine in addition to the oak and red currants. Needs more time.

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• 2014 K Vintners Roma River Rock Vineyard

  USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Walla Walla Valley

  Had looked into visiting this winery since we’re headed to WW next week, but the statement of creating wines that are meant to drink now made me reconsider. I will say I was pleasantly surprised by this. There is a nice structure to it that I wasn’t expecting. Good for drinking now as billed, but wonder if it couldn’t last a bit longer.

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• 2014 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection

  USA, California, Napa Valley

  There’s definitely a style to Caymus esp in these younger vintages. Although I’m terrible at blind, I wonder if I wouldn’t be able to pick it out. After all, how many red wines manage to taste like bubble gum? And the standard gum flavor. Very bright and fruit forward. Some blackberry as well. It’s not necessarily my style, but I can appreciate the hedonistic side of it.

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• 2014 Mt. Brave Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  Chris has a bit of a love affair with Merlot which is easy to understand given right bank wines. This was nice and fresh and very young. Interesting to try next to the 2009 to see what a bit of age can do (age definitely a positive)

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• 2009 Mt. Brave Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Mt. Veeder

  From a decanter. Very nice. Still on the young side, but more integrated than the 2014. Lots of red currant. A bit more interesting.

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• 2009 Bodegas Muga Rioja Selección Especial

  Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja

  It is easy to see why wine lovers like this producer so much. He just has very well made wine. It’s again very well structured and a nice balance across the different flavors and even with the touch of chalkiness at the end a compelling wine.

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• 2013 Bodegas y Viñedos Alión Ribera del Duero

  Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero

  This was just ok. A wine that would work if you needed something that you didn’t plan to pay that much attention to, but nothing really jumped out. Hard too on the heels of the Muga which was quite tasty.

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• 2015 Innocent Bystander Pinot Noir Yarra Valley

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

  Another wine that just wasn’t my style. A bit too overdone.

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• 2013 Rutini Apartado Gran Blend

  Argentina, Mendoza, Maipú

  When we were in Mendoza a few years ago we visited a local wine shop and picked up a few wines from this producer. Haven’t popped the corks (wine was young) and so was interested to see what we might be in for. This is very smooth and easy to drink. Alcohol a bit more prevalent than I would like. It reminds me of the standard Argentinian style.

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• 1998 Domaine de Chevalier

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Not on the initial list, but hard to pass up someone pouring a wine with 20 years of age. And really it does help quite a bit. This was much more well-structured and balanced and in a place where I’d want to pull the cork now versus feeling like infanticide. Very enjoyable and a nice way to end the tasting.

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WOTN was def the 2005 Calon Segur, but there were a number of other interesting ones (2005 Heitz, 1998 Domaine Chevalier, 2011 La Mission). If I had one drawback I think the biggest issue was everything was just very young. Would have appreciated seeing wines with a bit more age as well (have heard previous ones had multiple vintages where one would be new release and one would be the longer term)