Friday Tasting Group; Unthemed

• 1990 M. Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizeranne

  France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

  N: Closed; Some earth, choc, poss cherries?
  
  P: LM, poss Lt, body; NICE frt met by balancing acidity which fairly seamlessly morphs into a LONG finish with a swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. I'd drink NOW, but could well hold for a couple of yrs more. 13% ABV; My EXC-. Reviews or refs I was still able to find: 92 pts, 95, & 92 RJonWine; 89 pts Jeff Leve; 18.5, 18, & 16.5/20 (tasted Apr '17) Jancis Robinson; and 16.5/20 thewinedoctor.com .

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• 2005 Château Les Grands Chênes

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc

  PROBABLY ~70% Merlot, virtually all the rest C.S.
  
  N: RIPE, attractive, fairly intense, but TOUGH to parse
  
  P: Med, poss LM, body; NICE, almos swtish frt fairly quickly met by astringency, though without ever losing the initial swtness as it slowly, SEAMLESSLY morphs into a VERY LONG finish with a swtish tinge to those tannins. For now with food, but should continue to improve for at LEAST several yrs more, then conceivably making its 25th?!? My EXCEPTIONAL! 90 pts WS, 87 ea Wine Cellar Insider & James Laube, 86-88 Vinous, 15/20 Vinum, 17/20 La Revue du Vin de France, and 15.5 then 16/20 Jancis Robinson. Giving it 89 pts in 06/2015, the WA wrote, "a sleeper of the vintage, ...this over-achiever is capable of lasting at least another decade."

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• 2008 A. Rafanelli Zinfandel

  USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley

  N: Slightly closed; Some spice, brambleberries? More to give?
  
  P: Med body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt BEAUTIFULLY counterbalanced by an acidity which transitions into a LONG finish with a bitterswtness (40/60) to the remaining very, VERY fine tannins, While drinking SUPERBLY right now, this may not QUITE have peaked (?), & will EASILY go beyond its 15th! My EXCEPTIONAL-!

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• 2010 La Poderina Brunello di Montalcino

  Italy, Tuscany, Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino

  N; Closed; Vanilla with berries underneath? Intensity lurking?
  
  P: LM, poss Med, body; NICE, almost swtish frt quickly met by somewhat puckerish astringency which basically continues into through the LONG, very slightly astringent, bitterswt finish. NEEDS into '21, I'm guessing, then getting at least CLOSE to its 20th. My VG+/EXC-, though *certainly* with POTENTIAL for more! Reviews I was still able to fine: 94 pts RJonWine, 93 WS, and 92 Wine & Spirits.

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• 2003 Archery Summit Pinot Noir Arcus Estate

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

  Aged 10 mos in FR oak barrels, bottled in December 2004.
  
  N: RIPE, smoky, poss jammy?
  
  P: MF, poss Med, body; NICE, ALMOST swtish frt fairly quickly met by an ALMOST swtish astringency which transitions into a LONG (although very, VERY slightly faint) finish with a DISTINCT swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Not sure WHAT to make of this wine, + I doubt any further improvement. [In a bag, like the others of this tasting, NONE of these *experienced* tasters picked it as a P.N., more than one good-naturedly referring to it as a "Pinot-Syrah" when unveiled.] 14.5% ABV; My VG (based upon the "substance" it packs), though that's an outlier "rating" vis-a-vis virtually everything else on this strand. 91 pts from RJonWine was the only review I could still see referenced.

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• 2013 Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

  N: Slightly closed; Roses, poss tar; more to give?
  
  P: LM body; Nice, almost swtih frt met by a puckerish astringency which surprisingly quite resolves by the LONG, tangy/swt finish which AMAZES with its approachability. (There was a definite swtness to what very, VERY fine tannins I noted.) For now, but might improve into '19, then make its 10th, but I'm not sure about more. [FYI, the lady who supplied this has had it previously, appreciating its accessibility.] 14.5% ABV; My VG, certainly higher IF one seeks EARLY approachability for this appellation. 97 pts & #21/Top 100 for '17 in WE, 94 Int'l Wine Review, 92 ea WA & '17 Decanter World Wine Awards, 91 Suckling, and 17.5, then 16.5/20 Jancis Robinson. Nonetheless, please re DBP's 9/20/2017 note below, which mentions an 85 from Vinous, contrasting that to WE's 97!

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• 2001 Moccagatta Barbaresco Bric Balin

  Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco

  N: Flowers, roses, poss minerals?
  
  P: LM, poss Med, body; LOVELY frt fairly quickly met by puckerish astringency, though without ever REALLY losing its sense of initial frt. The finish is VERY LONG with a swtness to the remaining very, VERY fine tannins! A wine that MAY not even have peaked yet, I'd not be surprised if it made its 30th! :) 14.5% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL! Only reviews I could still access: 90 pts RJonWine & 17/20 (Tasted June 2011) Jancis Robinson.

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• 2015 Big Table Farm Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  A blend of all 8 northern Willamette valley Pinot sites the winery works; Unfined & unfiltered; 2393 cases [sold out @ winery]
  
  N: RIPE, JAMMY; QUITE intense; Perfume as well?
  
  P: LM body; NICE, almost swtish frt nicely off-set by a tangy astringency which transitions into a LONG, POSS very, VERY slightly faint, nicely balanced finish with a tangy/swtness to the very, VERY fine tannins. Might still improve through '18, then drink nicely for 3 yrs more. 13.9% ABV; My VG+, quite poss EXC-. 97 pts purely domestic wine report, 92 & "Editors' Choice" WE @ $48, 9.0-9.5/10 Vinography, 94 Suckling, 93 points Int'l Wine Report, 92 WS, 91 ea Vinous & Decanter, and 89 Prince of Pinot!

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• 1998 Château Monbousquet

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Kathleen, you QUITE outdid yourself with this "extra" bottle! :)
  
  TYPICALLY 60% Merlot, 30% C.F., & 10% C.S. aged "...18-24 mos in new oak barrels with racking every 3 mos. The final blending is done just before bottling, & the wine is neither fined nor filtered."
  
  N: Slightly closed; Seems ripe, rest tough to parse; Intensity lurking!
  
  P: LM body; LOVELY frt met by puckerish astringency which slowly, fairly seamlessly, transitions into a LONG finish with a tangy/swtness to those very VERY fine tannins. Approachable now, I'm guessing this is still another 3 or 4 yrs away from peaking, then EASILY going beyond its 30th! SENSATIONAL stuff! 13.5% ABV; My EXCEPTIONAL! 94 pts WA, 94, then 93 RJonWine, 93 WS, 90 Jeff Leve, 89-92 Tanzer, 17/20 La Revue du Vin de France, 16/20 Bettane et Desseauve, & 14/20 Jancis Robinson!

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"Exceptional" is (currently) my highest rating -- & there were *4* of those here?!? 'Nuff said... ;) :)

Note: My contribution was a 2013 Williams Selyem Hirsch Vyd Pinot, the notes for which I'm including with those of a 2015 Corton, both of which were imbibed for at least one family celebratory dinner.